Gunmaker Smith & Wesson (SWHC 1.56%) has rallied more than 70% over the past 12 months, as concerns about tighter gun control laws sparked higher firearm sales. The number of NICS background checks for firearm purchases has risen annually for 15 straight months, and year-to-date checks through July have already hit 16.03 million -- indicating that total checks for 2016 should surpass the 21.14 million checks in 2015.
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Smith & Wesson is a controversial investment, because its stock usually rallies after mass shootings in America. 63 people were killed and 75 were wounded in mass shootings so far this year, according to Mother Jones, making it the deadliest year since 2012, when 67 people were killed and 68 were wounded.
But controversies aside, it's hard for investors to ignore Smith & Wesson's long-term growth. Between fiscal 2011 and 2016, the gunmaker's annual revenue more than doubled. Will that growth continue, or will Smith & Wesson be derailed by the incoming headwinds in the gun market?
How fast is Smith & Wesson growing?
Smith & Wesson's full-year sales rose 31% annually to $723 million last year. Firearm sales rose 24% to $658 million, and accessory sales -- boosted by its acquisition of BTI -- more than tripled to $65.3 million. However, the company expects sales for the current year to rise just 2% to 5%. Analysts are more bullish and expect almost 7% growth. By comparison, Sturm Ruger's (RGR 0.26%) revenue rose just 1% to $551 million last year. The company doesn't provide forward guidance, but analysts anticipate 13% sales growth this year.
The disparity between Smith & Wesson and Sturm Ruger's growth can be attributed to the former's heavier exposure to assault rifles. Assault rifle sales have risen rapidly in response to proposed assault rifle bans, but if the government clamps down on those sales (more likely under a Clinton presidency), Smith & Wesson will lose more sales than Ruger.
Margins at both companies expanded, thanks to robust sales growth, boosting both companies' bottom lines. Smith & Wesson's net earnings from continuing operations -- boosted by its higher-margin accessories business -- rose 87% to $1.68 per share last year. The company expects its earnings to rise just 2% to 8% this year, while analysts forecast 4% growth. Ruger's net earnings rose 65% last year to $3.21 per share, but there aren't any Street estimates for its full-year earnings this year.
Cash flow and valuations
Smith & Wesson and Sturm Ruger are both very well-capitalized companies. Smith & Wesson's cash and equivalents rose 353% annually to $191 million last quarter, while Ruger's cash position improved 69% to $103 million. Both companies' free cash flows have risen substantially over the past five years, although Smith & Wesson's cash flow is clearly stronger.
Free cash flow comparison. Source: YCharts
But that's also because Sturm Ruger spends its FCF on dividends. Over the past 12 months, Ruger spent 37% of its FCF on dividends, which funded its trailing yield of 2.5%. Smith & Wesson, however, has never paid a dividend. Neither company has repurchased any shares over the past year.
Smith & Wesson currently trades at 17 times earnings, which is lower than the industry average of 19 but higher than Ruger's P/E of 16. Analysts currently expect Smith & Wesson to grow its earnings 15% annually over the next five years, which gives it a 5-year PEG ratio of 1. Since a PEG ratio below 1 is considered undervalued, Smith & Wesson looks fairly valued compared to its earnings growth potential.
The numbers aren't risky, but the political implications are
On paper, Smith & Wesson looks like a sound investment with solid fundamentals. However, investors should remember that gun sales are cyclical, and are largely boosted by shootings and threats of government intervention.
Working with the government can also backfire. Back in 2000, Smith & Wesson signed an agreement with the Clinton Administration to enforce safety and design standards, restrictions on magazine sizes, and limits on firearm sales. The NRA responded by calling for a boycott of Smith & Wesson guns, causing its annual sales to plummet 37% between 2000 and 2001. These headwinds make both stocks more volatile than their fundamentals suggest.
Therefore, I believe that Smith & Wesson is a risky long-term investment, since new gun control laws -- which could be passed if the Democrats win the presidency and a majority in either house -- would either trigger frenzied buying or throttle sales. Those cyclical peaks and troughs would make year-over-year comparisons difficult, confusing, and ultimately undermine investor confidence in the company as a long-term investment.
