What happened
Shares of gun manufacturer Sturm Ruger & Company Inc (RGR 1.37%) jumped 20.8% in August, according to data provided by S&P Global Market Intelligence, as a number of positive factors drove the stock higher.
So what
The first catalyst was FBI data that showed 1.8 million background checks in July, the second highest on record. Gun demand has been weak the last two years, so a turnaround is positive news for Sturm Ruger & Company.
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The company also reported earnings that included a 2.6% decline in revenue to $128.4 million and a 50.9% rise in earnings per share to $0.86. Results topped estimates by $0.03.
The final catalyst was American Outdoor Brands reporting a strong quarter, which pulled all gun stocks higher late in the month.
Now what
Investors are looking for any signs of life in gun stocks right now and August had a few strong indicators. What investors should watch for is signs the rally in demand is sustaining or losing steam. That's what will tell us how stocks will react long-term. For now, the positive move in shares last month is giving more hope to gun stocks than they've seen in a long time.
