Shares of gun makers have been surging as Democratic candidate Joe Biden who vowed to increase gun regulation widened his lead in the polls against President Donald Trump since their debate.
Smith & Wesson’s stock is up 135 percent this year, while Sturm Ruger has gained 51 percent. Shares of both jumped around 8 percent since late September.
The policies of Biden and running mate Kamala Harris include prohibiting the sale of military-style rifles and high-capacity magazines and requiring owners of military-style weapons to either register or sell them to the government.
Such policies further stoked demand for firearms.
If the Democrats gain control of the Senate, giving them majorities in both houses, the demand is expected to peak up.
Trump’s victory drove the industry into a two-year slump, with customers no longer worried they would lose access to firearms.
According to Aegis Capital analyst Rommel Dionisio, he anticipates that a Biden-Harris victory triggers a surge in sales of modern sporting rifles, magazines, and ammunition.
But even before a chance of a Biden victory loomed, there already was a surge in gun demand this year due to fears about the pandemic and civil unrest.
Smith & Wesson CEO Mark Smith noted that the industry was unable to keep up with demand.
Dionisio noted that even if Trump wins, the potential for more protests across country could drive demand for handguns for self-defense,


South Korea’s Weak Won Struggles as Retail Investors Pour Money Into U.S. Stocks
RBI Holds Repo Rate at 5.25% as India’s Growth Outlook Strengthens After U.S. Trade Deal
Gold and Silver Prices Slide as Dollar Strength and Easing Tensions Weigh on Metals
Oil Prices Slide on US-Iran Talks, Dollar Strength and Profit-Taking Pressure
Vietnam’s Trade Surplus With US Jumps as Exports Surge and China Imports Hit Record
Dollar Near Two-Week High as Stock Rout, AI Concerns and Global Events Drive Market Volatility
Gold Prices Slide Below $5,000 as Strong Dollar and Central Bank Outlook Weigh on Metals
Silver Prices Plunge in Asian Trade as Dollar Strength Triggers Fresh Precious Metals Sell-Off
India–U.S. Interim Trade Pact Cuts Auto Tariffs but Leaves Tesla Out
China Extends Gold Buying Streak as Reserves Surge Despite Volatile Prices
Trump’s Inflation Claims Clash With Voters’ Cost-of-Living Reality
U.S. Stock Futures Slide as Tech Rout Deepens on Amazon Capex Shock
Bank of Japan Signals Readiness for Near-Term Rate Hike as Inflation Nears Target
U.S.-India Trade Framework Signals Major Shift in Tariffs, Energy, and Supply Chains
Trump Lifts 25% Tariff on Indian Goods in Strategic U.S.–India Trade and Energy Deal
Dollar Steadies Ahead of ECB and BoE Decisions as Markets Turn Risk-Off 



