Top Mid Cap Stocks To Own For 2015

Top Mid Cap Stocks To Own For 2015: Smith & Wesson Holding Corp (SWHC)

Smith & Wesson Holding Corporation (Smith & Wesson), incorporated on June 17, 1991, is a manufacturer of firearms. The Company manufactures a range of handguns, modern sporting rifles, hunting rifles, black powder firearms, handcuffs, and firearm-related products and accessories for sale to a range of customers, including gun enthusiasts, collectors, hunters, sportsmen, competitive shooters, individuals desiring home and personal protection, law enforcement and security agencies and officers, and military agencies in the United States and globally. It sell its products under the Smith & Wesson brand, the M&P brand, the Thompson/Center brand, and the Walther brand. The Company manufactures its firearm products at its facilities in Springfield, Massachusetts and Houlton, Maine. On July 26, 2012, it sold all of the assets of Smith & Wesson Security Solutions, Inc.

Firearms

During the fiscal year ended April 30, 2012 (fiscal 2012), the Company introdu ced multiple new handgun and modern sporting rifle models, and one new bolt action rifle platform. The Company's rifle introductions included the addition of the M&P15 300 Whisper to the Company's line of modern sporting rifles. As of April 30, 2012, the Company participated in three categories of the long-gun market and both core categories of the handgun market.

Handguns

The Company manufactures an variety of handgun models that include revolvers and pistols. A revolver is a handgun with a cylinder that holds the ammunition in a series of rotating chambers that are successively aligned with the barrel of the firearm during each firing cycle. There are two general types of revolvers: single-action and double-action. The Company's small-frame revolvers have been carried by law enforcement personnel and personal defense-minded citizens. The Company's revolvers are available in a variety of models and calibers, with applications! in virtually all profe ssional and personal markets.

The Companys M! &P15 Series of modern sporting rifles are designed to satisfy the functionality and reliability needs of global military, law enforcement, and security personnel. These rifles are also popular as sporting target rifles and are sold to consumers through the Company's sporting good distributors, retailers, and dealers. The Company has a range of product portfolio of modern sporting rifles, which includes a lower price-point, sport model, a .22 caliber model, and a fully automatic model designed for the exclusive use of military and law enforcement agencies throughout the world.

Hunting Firearms

The Company manufactures three lines of bolt-action rifles under its Thompson/Center brand consisting of several models in each line. The Company's hunting rifles are offered in 16 different calibers. Bolt-action rifles operate by the cycling of a bolt handle that allows for both the loading and unloading of rounds through a magazine fed system.

D uring fiscal 2012, the Company introduced the Dimension bolt action rifle platform. Under the Company's Thompson/Center brand, the Company also offers seven models of American-made single shot black powder, or muzzle loader, firearms. The Company offers eight models of interchangeable, single shot firearm systems that deliver numerous gun, barrel, caliber configurations, and finishes. These systems can be configured as a center-fire rifle, rim-fire rifle, shotgun, black powder firearm, or single-shot handgun for use across the entire range of big- and small-game hunting.

Handcuffs

The Company manufactures handcuffs and restraints in the United States. The Company fabricates these products from the carbon or stainless steel.

Smith & Wesson Academy

Through the Smith & Wesson Academy, the Company offers instruction designed to meet the training needs of law enforcement and security customers worldw! ide. Clas! ses are conducted at the Company's facility in Springfield, Massachusetts or o! n locatio! n around the world.

Specialty Services

The Company's services include forging, heat treating, finishing, and plating. It provides services to third-party customers.

The Company competes with Ruger,Taurus, Beretta, Glock, Heckler & Koch, Sig Sauer, Springfield Armory, Bushmaster, Rock River, Stag Arms, DPMS, Browning, Marlin, Remington, Ruger, Savage, Weatherby, CVA, Traditions, and Winchester.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Sue Chang and Saumya Vaishampayan]

  Smith & Wesson Holding Corp. (SWHC) shares jumped 16%. The gun makers quarterly results beat earnings forecasts and it raised its outlook for the year. The firm raised its full-year earnings per share estimate for continuing operations to a range of $1.39 to $1.42, beating the Wall Street forecast of $1.33 per share, according to FactSet.

• [By Dimitra DeFotis]

  Smith & Wesson Holding (SWHC) shares fell by 58 cents, or more than 5% to $10.90 after hours, erasing the day’s 3.5% gain. It reported earnings of 40 cents per share for the first quarter of fiscal 2014, which ended July 30, compared to 36 cents expected by analysts; and revenue came in better than expected at $171 million.According to itsprepared release, Smith & Wesson expectsnet sales for the second fiscal quarter to be between $135.0 million and $140.0 million and GAAP earnings per diluted share from continuing operations of between 20 cents and 22 cents.The company alsoincreased its revenue guidance for the full fiscal year, and sees net sales of between $610.0 million and $620.0 million, with earnings of between $1.30 and $1.35 for fiscal 2014.The Street is looking for earnings of $1.30 per share, or $1.36 fully reported, for fiscal 2014.

• [By Rich Duprey]

  After the ! rapid-fir! e growth it experienced last year, the firearms industry is ready for a breather. Both Sturm, Ruger (NYSE: RGR  ) and Smith & Wesson Holding (NASDAQ: SWHC  ) still look like they're shooting out the lights, but with FBI background checks for gun applications cooling down considerably, investors might want to lower their sights for gunmakers just a bit.

• [By Dan Dzombak]

  Smith & Wesson (NASDAQ: SWHC  ) has been making firearms in Springfield, Mass., since 1856. After getting exclusive rights to the patent for bored-through revolver cylinders from Rollin White, an ex-employee of Colt firearms, for 10 years Smith & Wesson was the only legal manufacturer of revolvers with the new technology, which allows for rear-loading revolvers. Smith & Wesson now enjoys one of the strongest brand names in the business, its name is nearly synonymous with revolvers, and the company boasts a 92% brand awareness according to a recent survey. The company is the maker of firearms under its own name as well as the M&P, Thompson/Center, and Walther brands. It also manufactures black powder weapons and handcuffs, and operates an academy for law enforcement and other security professionals.

source from Top Penny Stocks For 2015:http://www.topstocksforum.com/top-mid-cap-stocks-to-own-for-2015.html