Firearms Manufacturers
Industry Profile Report
Dive Deep into the industry with a 25+ page industry report (pdf format) including the following chapters
Industry Overview Current Conditions, Industry Structure, How Firms Operate, Industry Trends, Credit Underwriting & Risks, and Industry Forecast.
Call Preparation Call Prep Questions, Industry Terms, and Weblinks.
Financial Insights Working Capital, Capital Financing, Business Valuation, and Financial Benchmarks.
Industry Profile Excerpts
Industry Overview
The 460 firearms manufacturers in the US sell handguns, rifles, and shotguns to distributors, retailers, government agencies, and private individuals. Firms may also manufacture other shooting, hunting, and outdoor products and accessories such as knives and cutting tools, sighting lasers, shooting supplies, and survival gear.
Changes in Federal and State Regulation
Federal and state legislatures frequently consider legislation that may alter the regulation of firearms.
Competition from Used Firearms Sales
Used firearms can often be bought at a savings of 30% or more compared to their new equivalents.
Industry size & Structure
The average firearms manufacturer employs about 50 workers and generates about $20.7 million annually.
- The firearms manufacturing industry consists of about 460 firms that employ 22,800 workers and generate about $9.5 billion annually.
- The industry is concentrated; the top 50 companies account for 89% of industry revenue.
- Large firms include Smith and Wesson; Sturm, Ruger & Company; Remington; Sig Sauer; and O.F. Mossberg.
Industry Forecast
Firearms Manufacturers Industry Growth
Recent Developments
Nov 11, 2024 - Manufacturing Activity Contracts
- US manufacturing activity contracted in October 2024, marking the lowest Manufacturing PMI registered in 2024, according to the Institute for Supply Management’s Manufacturing ISM Report on Business. The Manufacturing PMI registered 46.5% in October, down 0.7 percentage points from the 47.2% recorded in September. A reading above 50% indicates manufacturing expansion. Producer prices for firearms and ordnance manufacturers were flat in September 2024 compared to a year ago, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Employment by small arms, ammunition, and other ordnance declined 0.5% in September 2024 compared to a year ago. Employment has grown by nearly 30% since the pandemic.
- The US firearms manufacturers industry is projected to grow at a CAGR of 3.2% between 2024 and 2028, according to a forecast from Inforum and the Interindustry Economic Research Fund, Inc. The expected growth rate is slower than the overall economy's anticipated growth. Factors that continue to limit consumer spending are higher price levels and interest rates, though both are expected to improve in 2024. Production and supply chain systems have generally improved following the pandemic, with many imbalances diminishing. The report noted that consumer confidence levels are expected to improve in the forecast window, which bodes well for durable manufacturing industries. Additionally, consumer sentiment has seen a degree of improvement following sustained lower levels.
- The July 2024 National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF)-adjusted National Instant Background Check System (NICS) verifications for the sale of a firearm at retail totaled over 1 million, a decline of 4% compared to the previous year’s figure. NSSF reported that July 2024 was the 60th consecutive month to exceed one million adjusted background checks in a single month. The last time background checks were under a million was in July 2019, when 830,579 background checks were recorded. The first year of the pandemic, 2020, set a record for background checks at 21 million background checks for the sale of a firearm for the total year, with the highest monthly total of 2.3 million checks in March 2020. According to the report, the NSSF-adjusted NICS data does not directly reflect arms sales but offers a view of current market conditions.
- Consumer confidence levels increased in October 2024, improving in all five components of the Consumer Confidence Index, according to The Conference Board. The index was 108.7 in October 2024 from 99.2 in September 2024. Dana Peterson, chief economist at The Conference Board, noted that confidence was the highest among those between the ages of 35 to 54 and those in the income category of over $100,000. Per Peterson, “Consumer confidence recorded the strongest monthly gain since March 2021, but still did not break free of the narrow range that has prevailed over the past two years.” Plans to purchase homes and new cars rose on a six-month average basis.
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