SWHC

[setravis]

Bullish into the Future......
continuing its move upward with support.
Keeps killing it's 52 week high.

The trend will continue upward based on strong earnings and a low debt.JMHO.....

Great looking chart with great looking earnings that came out premarket !

REALDEALS21, Another nice earnings report, can't beat that with a stick ! 
Up strong today.Numbers and ratings are strong behind this group leader.
I think we are ready for a new 52 week High.......

52wk Range: 5.50 - 14.85
Volume: 1,776,846
Avg Vol (3m): 640,132

Technicals
Close Above the 13-day MA
Gap Up
Percentage Gainer

Last Price Quote is:
7.19%above 13-day MA
10.00%above 50-day MA
RS Rating: 29 

Fundamentals
Earnings Expected on Mar 13

Key Data:
Market Cap (M): $490.93 
P/E Ratio: 54.04 
PEG Ratio: N/A 
Next Earnings: N/A
Last Analyst Rating: Outperform

Below are the 6 Month and 2 Year Charts

[setravis]

SPRINGFIELD, Mass., March 13, 2007 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX/ -- Smith & Wesson Holding Corporation (SWHC, Trade), parent company of Smith & Wesson Corp., the legendary 155-year old company in the global business of safety, security, protection and sport, today announced financial results for the third fiscal quarter and nine months ended January 31, 2007.

Sales for the third quarter ended January 31, 2007 were $53.9 million, which was 39.5% higher than sales of $38.6 million for the comparable quarter last year. Results for the quarter included January sales for Thompson/Center Arms. The acquisition of Thompson was completed on January 3, 2007, and third quarter sales reflect $3.3 million in sales from Thompson for the period from the acquisition date to January 31, 2007.

Firearms sales of $50.8 million for the third quarter of fiscal 2007 increased 41.0% over firearms sales of $36.0 million for the comparable quarter last year and reflected a 59.5% increase in Smith & Wesson pistol sales and a 66.5% increase in Walther pistol sales.

Pistol sales growth of 59.5% for the third quarter of fiscal 2007 was driven by several factors, including continued strong sales of the Military & Police (M&P) line to law enforcement agencies and to consumers. To date, 158 law enforcement agencies have purchased, approved for purchase, or approved for on-duty carry, our M&P polymer pistols, a product line we introduced a year ago. Law enforcement sales for the third quarter of fiscal 2007 increased by over 135% from the comparable quarter in fiscal 2006.

Sporting goods channel sales for the third quarter of fiscal 2007 increased by 29.6% over the comparable quarter last year. This marks the first quarter in which we are comparing performance against the fully direct sales force we established in mid-fiscal 2006. The increase was attributable to continuing progress in our sales and marketing programs and new product introductions, including the M&P series of products. Sales of the Walther product line benefited from our direct sales force and from sales and marketing programs, posting growth of 66.5% over the comparable quarter of fiscal 2006.

Net income for the third quarter of fiscal 2007 was $1.6 million, or $0.04 per diluted share, compared with $1.1 million, or $0.02 per diluted share, for the comparable quarter last year. Net income for the current quarter was impacted by approximately $1.7 million of non-cash charges for the amortization of the acquired tangible and intangible long term assets of Thompson/Center Arms, which equated to approximately $1.1 million on an after-tax basis, or $0.03 per share. Excluding these charges, net income would have been $2.6 million, or $0.07 per share.

Gross profit of $17 million, or 31.3%, for the third quarter of fiscal 2007 was 2.4 percentage points higher than gross profit of $11.3 million, or 28.9%, for the comparable quarter last year. Gross profit for the quarter was impacted by $1.3 million of non-cash charges related to the acquisition of Thompson/Center Arms. Excluding those charges, gross profit for the third quarter would have been 33.6%, an improvement of 4.7 percentage points over the comparable quarter last year. Operating expense as a percent of sales and licensing for the third quarter was slightly improved over prior year levels. That improvement was somewhat masked by increased sales and marketing expense related to the industry's annual SHOT Show, which occurred in January 2007, one month earlier than usual.

Sales for the nine months ended January 31, 2007 were $152.3 million, an increase of $46.2 million, or 43.6%, over sales of $106.0 million for the comparable period last year. Firearms sales of $143.7 million for the first nine months of fiscal 2007 grew by 45.9% over the comparable period last year.

Net income for the first nine months of fiscal 2007 was $7.8 million, or $0.19 per diluted share, a $3.3 million, or 72.7%, increase over net income of $4.5 million, or $0.11 per diluted share, for the first nine months of fiscal 2006. The fiscal 2006 results included a $3.1 million favorable environmental reserve reduction, an impact of $1.9 million net of tax, which contributed nearly one-half of the Company's net income for the nine months ended January 31, 2006, or $0.05 per diluted share on an after-tax basis.

Smith & Wesson President and CEO, Michael F. Golden, said, "We are extremely pleased with our results this quarter, which reflected the solid execution of our strategy to grow our core handgun business and diversify into new markets. We delivered record levels of profitable growth in our firearms business during the third quarter of fiscal 2007, supported by several new pistol and revolver products. At the same time, we achieved significant milestones in diversification through the launch of shotgun products and our formal entry into the hunting rifle market with the acquisition of Thompson/Center Arms. Operationally, we made significant strides in addressing the strong demand for our M&P15 tactical rifles by commencing in-house production to supplement our external supplier. We also increased our capacity to produce revolver cylinders with the implementation of new manufacturing processes and equipment. I continue to be extremely proud of our employees and their accomplishments on all fronts. We have delivered healthy, profitable growth in our core business and have entered all of the major long gun categories within two years of our decision to enter that market."

Diversification

Golden continued, "On January 3, 2007, we completed the acquisition of Thompson/Center Arms, a manufacturer and marketer of premium hunting firearms. This acquisition, which was immediately accretive excluding non-cash, purchase accounting charges, accelerated our entry into the hunting rifle category in the long gun market and provided us with access to long gun barrel manufacturing expertise, which is a key to our growth. We are very pleased with the results of this acquisition to date and the synergies we have identified. We have begun to install the Smith & Wesson Operating System within the Thompson manufacturing facility, and our initiatives have already delivered a 15% increase in production within our barrel manufacturing area.

"Our diversification strategy also includes entering the $350 million shotgun category of the $1.1 billion long gun market. In January, we introduced the Smith & Wesson Elite Gold, Elite Silver and 1000 Series of shotguns at the SHOT Show in Orlando, Florida. The shotguns were very well received by our customers and the trade media. Shipments will commence in the fourth fiscal quarter, and we expect to be in full production on all models by the summer of calendar 2007.

"The SHOT Show also provided a stage for the launch of our new hunting rifle products. Under the Thompson brand, we introduced the Triumph line of muzzleloader rifles as well as the ICON, Thompson's first bolt-action rifle. I am pleased to announce today that we will supplement this activity with the launch of the Smith & Wesson i-Bolt(TM), an internally designed and manufactured bolt-action rifle, at the NRA Show in April. Delivery of both the Thompson ICON and the Smith & Wesson i-Bolt will place us firmly in the $500 million rifle category of the long gun market.

"We continued to diversify our core handgun product portfolio in the third quarter by expanding our M&P polymer pistol series to include the M&P40c, a compact version of our .40 caliber pistol, and the M&P45, a .45 caliber M&P, which was unveiled at the SHOT Show and which will begin shipping in the fourth quarter of the current fiscal year. Like the rest of the M&P line of products, the M&P45 has been engineered with enhanced ergonomics, ambidextrous controls and proven safety features. We expect the M&P45 to attract strong interest from law enforcement agencies and the military. We will continue to develop new products in the M&P line in order to provide a broad selection for law enforcement, the U.S. government, and sporting goods customers," concluded Golden.

Outlook for Fiscal 2007

For fiscal 2007, which will end on April 30, 2007, we now expect net product sales to increase to approximately $225 million, which is $6.4 million higher than our earlier expectations that included our sales projections for Thompson/Center Arms. This increased expectation also includes our sales projections for Thompson/Center Arms, and would reflect an increase of approximately 40% over fiscal 2006 sales. Sales from Thompson/Center Arms for the period from the acquisition date through April 30, 2007 are expected to account for $19 million of fiscal 2007 sales. Both the M&P pistol series and the M&P tactical rifle series are expected to be key drivers of the sales increase for fiscal 2007. Our new shotgun line will have minimal revenue impact on fiscal 2007 as a result of the expected production ramp throughout the remainder of fiscal 2007. We expect sales growth in the sporting goods channel to grow at a healthy rate of 15% for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2007. We do not expect to see significant Federal government purchasing activity in the fourth quarter as the Defense Department budget debate continues in Washington. We recognized $5.3 million in Federal government orders in the fourth fiscal quarter of last year. Our sales expectations do not include the results of any potential future diversification initiatives, but do include growth in our existing sporting goods market, as well as continued sales penetration of the law enforcement, federal government, and international markets.

Net income for fiscal 2007 is now anticipated to be approximately $12.0 million, or $0.29 per diluted share. This would represent a 38% increase in net income over fiscal 2006. It should also be noted that fiscal 2006 net income included a $3.1 million favorable environmental reserve reduction, which accounted for a net of tax impact of $1.9 million, or $0.05 per diluted share, of fiscal 2006 net income. In addition, fiscal 2007 results are expected to be affected by approximately $5.0 million in non-cash, purchase accounting charges related to the acquisition of Thompson/Center Arms. The increase in net income is expected to result from increased sales volume, gross margin improvement, and our ability to hold operating expenses constant as a percent of sales and licensing.

We expect capital expenditures in fiscal 2007 of approximately $16.2 million, funded entirely by cash flow from operations. This increase of $1.9 million from our previous estimate reflects additional expenditures to support the recent introduction of the Thompson Triumph and ICON product lines.

At the end of the third quarter of fiscal 2007, we had no short-term borrowings. We expect positive cash flow in the balance of fiscal 2007, after the impact of our expectations for $16.2 million in capital expenditures.

Outlook for Fiscal 2008

We expect sales for the fiscal year ending April 30, 2008 of approximately $320.0 million, a 42% increase over forecasted sales of approximately $225.0 million for fiscal 2007. This increase in sales is expected to be driven by continued growth in our core handgun business, the ramp up of our long gun product lines and the full year impact of Thompson/Center Arms.

We expect net income for the fiscal year ending April 30, 2008 of approximately $27.0 million, or $0.60 per diluted share, which would reflect an increase of approximately 107% from our anticipated fiscal 2007 earnings. Gross margins are expected to be between 35% and 36% for fiscal 2008, while operating expenses as a percent of sales and licensing are expected to remain at fiscal 2007 levels.

Conference Call

The Company will host a conference call today, March 13, 2007, to discuss its third quarter results and its outlook for fiscal 2007 and fiscal 2008. The conference call may include forward-looking statements. The conference call will be Web cast and will begin at 8:00 am Eastern Time (5:00 am Pacific). The live audio broadcast and replay of the conference call can be accessed on the Company's Web site at www.smith-wesson.com, under the Investor Relations section. The Company will maintain an audio replay of this conference call on its website for a period of time after the call. No other audio replay will be available.

The Company expects to file its quarterly report on Form 10-Q no later than Monday, March 19, 2007, following a 5-day extension which has been requested in order to ensure its financial statements adequately incorporate the financial information of Thompson/Center Arms.

[setravis]

Dirty Harry Would Be Proud.......
Up strong today.Numbers and ratings are strong behind this group leader.


52wk Range: 5.90 - 14.85
Volume: 1,221,661
Avg Vol (3m): 502,300

Technicals
Close Above the 13-day MA
Percentage Gainer

Last Price Quote is:
10.04%above 13-day MA
14.81%above 50-day MA
RS Rating: 93 

Fundamentals
Key Data:
Market Cap (M): $490.93 
P/E Ratio: 54.04 
PEG Ratio: N/A 
Next Earnings: 06/14/2007
Last Analyst Rating: Outperform

[setravis]

Dirty Harry Would Be Proud.......
Up strong today.Numbers and ratings are strong behind this group leader.

The trend continues.......
On the 3 year chart got an Ascending Triangle (continuation) Pattern ...BreakOut

Support @ $16.67...16.13...15.54
Resistance @ $17.18...17.68

52wk Range: 8.27 - 17.23
Volume: 1,012,214
Avg Vol (3m): 878,276

Technicals
Last Price Quote is:
3.26%above 13-day MA
12.22%above 50-day MA
RS Rating: 21 

Fundamentals
Coverage Initiated: Buy

Key Data:
Market Cap (M): $667.73 
P/E Ratio: 138.64 
PEG Ratio: N/A 
Next Earnings: 09/06/2007
Last Analyst Rating: Buy

Below are the 6 month and 3 year charts.......

[setravis]

Press Release Source: Law Enforcement Associates


Law Enforcement Associates Launches Multi-City Training Series for New Birddog(TM) GPS Tracking Product
Wednesday August 29, 9:33 am ET


Value of Birddog Orders Since January Exceeds $625,000


YOUNGSVILLE, NC--(MARKET WIRE)--Aug 29, 2007 -- Law Enforcement Associates Corporation (LEA) (AMEX:AID - News), a leading provider of surveillance and security products to the global law enforcement, military, security and corrections markets, today announced it has scheduled a series of training seminars focused on usage of the company's new Birddog(TM) covert GPS tracking system. The sessions, which are only open to select, pre-qualified members of the law enforcement community, will be held during the coming weeks in Denver, Colorado; Seattle, Washington; St. Louis, Missouri; Tucson, Arizona and Fort Worth, Texas.


Paul Feldman, president of LEA, said, "These training sessions will give existing customers detailed instruction on the usage of Birddog's features and functions, and will provide prospective customers an opportunity to see the product in action. In light of the growing demand we are seeing for this system, we expect to add other training locations in the months ahead."

Feldman said that since the Birddog was introduced in January, LEA has received orders for approximately 90 systems with a combined value of more than $625,000. The Birddog is the latest addition to an extensive line of surveillance and security products LEA sells to law enforcement agencies around the world.

Eligible seminar attendees will be contacted by LEA in the coming weeks, or can reach the company for more information at 1-800-354-9669.

About Law Enforcement Associates Corporation

LEA is a leading security and surveillance technology company that manufactures and markets a diverse product line to the worldwide law enforcement, military, security and corrections markets. The company's Audio Intelligence Devices (AID) division has been serving the law enforcement sector for more than 30 years and is one of the most respected names in the surveillance equipment industry. LEA's products are used by a wide variety of government and non-governmental agencies, as well as public and private companies. These include military bases, nuclear facilities, embassies, government installations, oil refineries, United Nations and NATO locations. The company enjoys close working relationships with other prominent players in the security and surveillance industry, such as Smith & Wesson (NasdaqGS:SWHC - News), one of the world's largest manufacturers of quality firearms and firearm safety/security products; and FLIR Systems, Inc. (NasdaqGS:FLIR - News), a world leader in the design, manufacture and marketing of thermal imaging and stabilized camera systems. LEA's products have been used at high-profile events such as the Summer & Winter Olympics, Super Bowl, U.S. Golf Championship, and the Democratic and Republican National Conventions. Its products include the Under Vehicle Inspection System (UVIS), EDK123 (Explosive Detection Kit), Bloodhound GPS Tracking System, Letter-bomb Visualizer Spray, and a wide variety of Audio & Video Surveillance Equipment. Headquartered in Youngsville, N.C., the company has been featured in many industry publications and websites. For more information, please visit www.leacorp.com.

Forward-Looking Information:

The statements in this news release contain forward-looking information within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements involve certain risks, assumptions and uncertainties, including the inability to generate and secure the necessary product sales, or the lack of acceptance of the company's products by its customers. In each case actual results may differ materially from such forward-looking statements. The company does not undertake to publicly update or revise its forward-looking statements even if experience or future changes make it clear that any projected results (expressed or modified) will not be realized.



Contact:
     CONTACT:
     Pfeiffer High Investor Relations, Inc.
     Geoff High
     303-393-7044
     


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Source: Law Enforcement Associates

[setravis]

SPRINGFIELD, Mass., Aug 20, 2007 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX/ -- Smith & Wesson Holding Corporation (SWHC, Trade), parent company of Smith & Wesson Corp., the legendary 155-year old company in the global business of safety, security, protection and sport, announced today that it is has received an order for the company's M&P45 pistols from the New Hampshire Department of Safety. The contract calls for a total of 500 of the company's Military & Police (M&P) pistols chambered in .45 ACP to be issued to officers in the New Hampshire State Police and Highway Patrol divisions. The Smith & Wesson M&P45 pistols will replace competitive duty weapons currently used by the agency.

Officials at the New Hampshire Division of State Police and Highway Patrol indicated that the M&P45 pistol will provide their officers with several valuable features including interchangeable grip sizes, ambidextrous controls and proven safety features. The agency added that the M&P45's enhanced ergonomics, magazine disconnect safety, and ease of maintenance, were primary factors in their decision. The Smith & Wesson M&P45 pistol was selected by a committee representing multiple units of the New Hampshire State Police.

"After a close evaluation, it was evident that the M&P45 pistol provided our officers with the best combination of features for use in duty," said Colonel Fredrick Booth, Division Director of the New Hampshire State Police. "Along with its consistent reliability, the M&P45 proved to be very accurate and its unique internal design aided in reduced recoil and improved shootability. As we begin our transition to the Smith & Wesson polymer pistols, we are confident that the M&P45 will prove to be a valued asset to our officers."

"We are very pleased to be working with the men and women of the New Hampshire Department of Safety," said Leland Nichols, President and Chief Operating Officer of Smith & Wesson Corp., a wholly owned subsidiary of Smith & Wesson Holding Corporation. "Since we first debuted the M&P45 in February 2007, the pistol has been selected by numerous law enforcement agencies and has won various industry awards. We believe that the M&P45, along with the other models in the M&P Series, offers law enforcement and military professionals an ideal choice when selecting a duty firearm."

The M&P45 is manufactured with a traditional black or dark earth brown frame and is available with or without a frame-mounted ambidextrous thumb safety. With an empty weight of 29.6 ounces, the polymer pistol features a 4.5-inch barrel with an overall length of 8.05 inches. Providing one of the smallest grip sizes available on any .45 ACP pistol, the M&P45 comes standard with three interchangeable grips, allowing the user to customize the pistol to their preferred hand size. The M&P45 utilizes a steel dovetail mount front sight and a steel Novak(R) Lo-Mount carry rear sight. Tritium sights are available for low light conditions and a universal Picatinny-style equipment rail allows for tactical lights and lasers. The new frame-mounted ambidextrous thumb safety acts as a passive safety device allowing the slide to be pulled toward the rear, clearing the firearm without disengaging the safety. The M&P45 also incorporates a specially designed lanyard attachment for use by military and police.

About Smith & Wesson

Smith & Wesson Holding Corporation, a global leader in safety, security, protection and sport, is parent company to Smith & Wesson Corp., one of the world's largest manufacturers of quality firearms and firearm safety/security products and parent company to Thompson/Center Arms, Inc., a premier designer and manufacturer of premium hunting rifles, black powder rifles, interchangeable firearms systems and accessories under the Thompson/Center brand. Smith & Wesson licenses shooter protection, knives, apparel, and other accessory lines. Smith & Wesson is based in Springfield, Massachusetts with manufacturing facilities in Springfield, Houlton, Maine, and Rochester, New Hampshire. The Smith & Wesson Academy is America's longest running firearms training facility for law enforcement, military and security professionals. For more information on Smith & Wesson, call (800) 331-0852 or log on to http://www.smith-wesson.com. For more information on Thompson/Center Arms, log on to http://www.tcarms.com.


 
    Industry Contact: Gary Giudice 
    Blue Heron Communications 
    (800) 654-3766 
    [email protected] 
    Liz Sharp, VP Investor Relations 
    Smith & Wesson Holding Corp. 
    (480) 949-9700 x. 115 
    [email protected] 

SOURCE Smith & Wesson Holding Corporation


Gary Giudice of Blue Heron Communications, 1-800-654-3766, [email protected], or 
Liz Sharp, VP Investor Relations of Smith & Wesson Holding Corp., +1-480-949-9700 
x. 115, [email protected] 

http://www.smith-wesson.com 

Copyright (C) 2007 PR Newswire. All rights reserved ********************************************************************** As of Thursday, 08-16-2007 23:59, the latest Comtex SmarTrend? Alert, an automated pattern recognition system, indicated an UPTREND on 06-01-2007 for SWHC @ $14.18. For more information on SmarTrend, contact your market data provider or go to www.mysmartrend.com SmarTrend is a registered trademark of Comtex News Network, Inc. Copyright ? 2004-2007 Comtex News Network, Inc. All rights reserved.

[setravis]

Awesome...   Great Growth !
Gun sales are increasing with the threats against the second amendment.
SWHC has great sales growth that should continue.

Recent CandleStick Analysis
Very Bullish
Aug-29-2007 Bullish Engulfing 

Support @ $19.50...18.69...18.19
Resistance @ $20.73...21.54...21.90

52wk Range: 9.13 - 22.80
Volume: 219,270
Avg Vol (3m): 821,701
Market Cap: 798.56M
P/E (ttm): 63.93
EPS (ttm): 0.31

Technicals
Close Above the 13-day MA

Last Price Quote is:
2.98%above 13-day MA
10.21%above 50-day MA
RS Rating: 38 

Fundamentals
Earnings Expected on Sept 6

Key Data:
Market Cap (M): $785.51 
P/E Ratio: 62.64 
PEG Ratio: 1.53 
Next Earnings: 09/06/2007
Last Analyst Rating: Buy

[setravis]

AP
Smith & Wesson Raise 2008 Profit View
Thursday September 6, 5:33 pm ET 
Smith & Wesson Raise 2008 Profit Guidance to Match Wall Street Estimates


SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (AP) -- Gun maker Smith & Wesson Holding Corp. on Thursday raised its fiscal 2008 profit guidance to match Wall Street analyst estimates.
The company now expects earnings of 63 cents per share for the year. It had been predicting earnings of 62 cents per share.

The new guidance matches estimates from analysts polled by Thomson Financial.

Smith & Wesson said it also expects revenue for the year of about $330 million for 2008. Analysts expect revenue of $334 million.

Smith & Wesson shares rose $1.41, or 7 percent, to $21.45 in electronic after-hours trading. During regular trading, shares fell $1.15, or 5.4 percent, to close at $20.04.

52wk Range: 9.61 - 22.80
Volume: 2,269,701
Avg Vol (3m): 862,322
Market Cap: 840.46M
P/E (ttm): 67.28
EPS (ttm): 0.31

Technicals
Close Above the 13-day MA
Percentage Gainer

Last Price Quote is:
3.95%above 13-day MA
12.24%above 50-day MA
RS Rating: 38 

Fundamentals
Key Data:
Market Cap (M): $842.48 
P/E Ratio: 67.19 
PEG Ratio: 1.605 
Next Earnings: 12/06/2007
Last Analyst Rating: Buy

[setravis]

AP
Ahead of the Bell: Smith & Wesson Rises
Friday September 7, 9:01 am ET 
Smith & Wesson Up After Raising Forecast, Predicting Better Sales to Law Enforcement


NEW YORK (AP) -- Shares of gun maker Smith & Wesson Holding Corp. rose in premarket electronic trading Friday after the company raised its fiscal 2008 profit forecast.
The Springfield, Mass.-based company pointed to robust sales of new shotguns and hunting rifles, as well as better sales to law enforcement, government and international markets. It now expects to earn 63 cents per share for the year, 1 cent per share higher than its previous forecast, which matches the estimate of analysts polled by Thomson Financial.


Smith & Wesson reiterated its forecast of $330 million in sales, about $4 million below analyst estimates.

Merriman Curhan Ford analyst Eric Wold kept a "Buy" rating on the stock. He said Smith & Wesson holds about a 10 percent share of the domestic law enforcement market, but sales of its military and police pistols are improving quickly.

"With almost 18,000 law enforcement agencies (and 800,000 officers) up for grabs within the United States, we believe the company has only just begun to scratch the surface," he said. "We have estimated the domestic law enforcement market to represent about $100 million in annual sales."

The company said 231 law enforcement agencies use or have approved the military and police pistols.

After the bell on Thursday, Smith & Wesson reported stronger fiscal first-quarter earnings and sales than analysts expected.

The stock gained 96 cents, or 4.8 percent, to $21 in premarket trading. Shares finished at $20.04 Thursday.

[setravis]

Market Scan
Smith & Wesson: Armed and Prosperous
Melanie Lindner, 09.09.07, 10:33 PM ET

On a day when most stocks nose-dived, gun manufacturer Smith & Wesson (nasdaq: SWHC - news - people ) shot up 5.09%, or $1.02, to $21.06 on Friday.

On Thursday, the company reported record earnings of $74.4 million for the quarter ending July 31, and raised its guidance for the remainder of the 2007 fiscal year. Analysts attributed the gun maker's recent success to its product line expansion.

"Smith & Wesson has done a phenomenal job moving beyond the handgun market to include long guns like rifles," said Eric Wold of Merriman Curhan Ford & Co.

It gained traction in the market through its January purchase of Thomson/Center Arms, a New Hampshire-based hunting rifle company. According to James Maher of ThinkEquity Partners, sales of Thompson/Center products have increased 22% in each of the two quarters since the acquisition was completed. Prior to its purchase by Smith & Wesson, Thomson/Center Arms' sales were rising quarterly in the single digit percentages. "The union of Smith & Wesson and Thomson/Center Arms was mutually beneficial," said Maher. "The company is performing extremely well with both revenue and earnings exceeding expectations."

With the fall hunting season right around the corner, analyst Amit Dayal of Rodman & Renshaw LLC believes Smith & Wesson's sales will continue to rise. "We expect management to remain aggressive on their advertising and market efforts to meet the peak buying season driven by fall hunting sales," Dayal wrote. Like Wold, Dayal believes that "investors should be monitoring long gun sales during this hunting season very closely." Dayal currently has an "outperform" rating on the company, expecting the upward trend to continue through the second half of 2007.

Competing gun makers didn't fare as well as Smith & Wesson on Friday. CompuDyne Corporation (nasdaq: CDCY - news - people ) ended the week unchanged at $6.95. Eastern Company (amex: EML - news - people ) dropped 2.28% to $19.30 and Sturm, Ruger & Co. (nyse: RGR - news - people ) finished down 3.92%, or 68 cents, to $16.67.

[setravis]

AFTER HOURS - TOP STORY
Smith & Wesson Holding Reports Q2
Results; Shares Tumbles in After Hours
Smith & Wesson Holding Corporation (SWHC) reported second
quarter results ended October 2007. Second quarter revenues were
$70.78M; up more than 39% from second quarter results a year ago
and beating revenue consensus of $69.87M. Second quarter EPS
was 7c; no change from the same period a year ago, but beating
earnings consensus of 6c. The company also provided guidance
for the 2007 third quarter and fiscal year. The Company expects net
sales for the third quarter of fiscal 2008 to increase by approximately
5 to 10% over net sales for the third quarter of fiscal 2007 and anticipates
net income for the third quarter of fiscal 2008 to be break
even. The third quarter earnings forecast is below current consensus
estimates. The Company expects net product sales to increase to
approximately $300M in fiscal 2008 and expects net income for the
fiscal year ending April 30, 2008 of approximately $17.0M, or $0.40
per diluted share. The fiscal year 2007 revenue and earnings forecasts
are both below current consensus estimates. SWHC expects
the industry-wide inventory over-stock situation to improve in the
fourth quarter of fiscal 2008, and therefore expects net sales for the
quarter of 10% to 15% over net sales for the fourth quarter of fiscal
2007. The Company anticipates that gross margin as a percentage
of sales and licensing in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2008 to improve
to approximately 33%. SWHC expects net income for the fourth quarter
of fiscal 2008 of approximately $10M, or $0.22 per diluted share.
Shares of SWHC plunged $2.37 or more than 23% in After Hours,
early on Thursday evening.

[BigSully1]

update

[setravis]

AP
Supreme Court ruling lifts Smith & Wesson shares
Thursday June 26, 3:24 pm ET
By Marley Seaman, AP Business Writer 
Smith & Wesson stock jumps after US Supreme Court voids Washington DC handgun ban


NEW YORK (AP) -- Shares of Smith & Wesson Holding Corp. climbed Thursday, breaking free of a downturn in the broader market after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned a handgun ban in Washington DC.
By a 5-4 decision, the Court ruled that the district's handgun laws violated the Second Amendment to the Constitution by denying individuals the right to own guns.

 
Smith & Wesson shares rallied in heavy trading, rising 44 cents, or 8.6 percent, to $5.55. Analysts said the ruling will have little effect on Smith & Wesson's sales, however. Cowen & Co. analyst Cai von Rumohr said the Washington DC restrictions were far tighter than most others in the country, and DC is a small market.

"(More than 90) percent of the country, except for Illinois, Wisconsin and DC, already permit gun owners to carry concealed weapons," he said, adding that 37 states don't require a concealed carry permit, or have laws requiring that guns be issued to customers who meet the requirements for getting a permit.

"This is a nice symbolic victory that has relatively little significance to their business," von Rumohr added.

A Smith & Wesson spokesperson declined to comment on the ruling.

Wedbush Morgan Securities analyst Rommel Dionisio said it is hard to get a read on the effects of the ruling and what it might mean for other cities that restrict gun ownership. He said it is possible that some municipalities may change their laws.

Von Rumohr and Merriman Curhan Ford analyst Eric Wold said gun sales often pick up when prospective buyers expect more restrictive control laws to be passed. Wold said that is what happened after the Federal Assault Weapons Ban was passed in 1994.

Von Rumohr said he thinks gun sales would also increase if Sen. Barack Obama is elected president, as customers might expect more stringent gun control laws to follow.

In afternoon trading, shares of Sturm Ruger & Co. dipped 4 cents to $7.28.

Ammunition maker Olin Corp. lost $1.18, or 4.4 percent, to $25.48. As oil prices set all-time records and downgrades pressured financial stocks, the Dow Jones industrial average fell nearly 300 points and other major indexes suffered comparable declines.

[setravis]

After four months of basing this may be starting to turn around.

52wk Range: 3.72 - 22.80
Volume: 1,662,745
Avg Vol (3m): 714,714
Market Cap: 221.44M
P/E (ttm): 25.12
EPS (ttm): 0.22
Div & Yield: N/A (N/A)

Technicals
Percentage Gainer

Last Price Quote is:
2.77%above 13-day MA
-3.80%below 50-day MA
RS Rating: 98 

Fundamentals
Key Data:
Market Cap (M): $249.41 
P/E Ratio: 24.65 
PEG Ratio: 1 
Next Earnings: 09/04/2008
Last Analyst Rating: Outperform

Below are the 6 months and a 9 months charts

[setravis]

Smith & Wesson Stock Shoots Higher

The list of recession-proof businesses is short: booze, discount retail, consumer staples and now, it would seem, weaponry.

On Thursday, famed gunsmith Smith & Wesson(SWHC Quote) announced a deal to acquire the privately held Universal Safety Response, a maker of the kinds of gates, barriers, prefab guard houses and related equipment that organizations use to keep the riffraff out, and in so doing it pre-announced some rosy fourth-quarter revenue numbers. Investors cheered the news, sending Smith & Wesson shares up 19% to $5.88 on more than four-times the average daily volume.
The Springfield, Mass., company paid $52.5 million in combined cash and stock (based on Friday's market price) for Universal Safety, along with earn-out agreements that will go to Universal's former owners if the company hits earnings targets. Specifically, the deal calls for Smith & Wesson to pay up to 9.6 million shares and up to $26.2 million in cash.
In buying Universal, Smith & Wesson, maker of the .357 Magnum, has made its first step in a strategy to broaden its business beyond guns.
The company said in its press release that it expects Universal to bring in revenue of $100 million next year, and earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization of $15 million.
Meanwhile, Smith & Wesson said business has been so good that it will report sales of $99.5 million for its fourth quarter ended in April, up 20% from a year ago. That comes after a banner third quarter, when the company reported a 28% jump in total firearm sales. It didn't provide earnings numbers, but said its profit margin expanded to 31%.

The company will release full results for the quarter on June 22, after the market closes. Analysts are looking for earnings per share of 9 cents.

Gun-industry insiders have attributed the recent gun boom to President Obama: First-time gun buyers, it's been said, have rushed to buy firearms ahead of the new administration's assumed pursuit of tougher gun-control laws, according to a recent report by the Dow Jones Newswires. Other manufacturers have also seen their sales spike of late. Smith & Wesson rival, the onomonopieac Sturm Ruger(RGR Quote), has also been reporting brisk sales. Its profits in 2008 rocketed four-fold from 2007.
The news out of Smith & Wesson appeared to pull Stum Ruger shares higher as well. The stock was trading recently at $12.66, up nearly 9% on the session.