RGR

We rate STURM RUGER & CO INC (RGR) as a Hold with a composite score of 54.1/100 at a current price of $37.28. The stock presents a mixed quantitative picture — neither compelling enough to warrant new accumulation nor weak enough to justify selling for existing holders. Our factors are split, and the overall profile suggests patience is warranted.

The rating is primarily driven by strength in stability (82th percentile) and value (58th percentile), which together account for the majority of the composite score. Offsetting weakness in investment (30th percentile) and momentum (50th percentile) tempers our overall conviction. We assign a No Moat rating (26/100), Medium uncertainty, and Poor capital allocation.

Key items to watch: the path to profitability. Any material change in these dynamics could warrant a reassessment of our rating. The moat trend is stable, which suggests the competitive landscape is stable for now.

STURM RUGER & CO INC holds a top-quartile position (#0 of 50) within the Manufacturing sector, based on our composite quantitative scoring across quality, value, momentum, and stability factors. The composite score of 54.1/100 places it at rank #1383 in our full 7,333-stock universe. At $710M in market capitalization, STURM RUGER & CO INC is a small-cap player in the Manufacturing space, which limits certain scale advantages but may allow for more agile strategic execution.

Revenue contraction of -3% combined with momentum at the 50th percentile paints a cautious picture of the near-term business outlook. The market appears to be pricing in continued challenges, and a catalyst for reversal is not clearly visible from current data.

The margin cascade tells an important story: gross margins of 15% (-27.6pp vs sector) narrow to operating margins of -2% (-3.6pp vs sector) and net margins of -0.5%, yielding a gross-to-net conversion rate of -4%. The significant margin erosion from gross to net suggests elevated operating expenses, high interest costs, or other structural drags that warrant monitoring.

At a current price of $37.28, STURM RUGER & CO INC is trading near fair value based on current fundamentals. Our value factor score of 58/100 reflects a composite assessment across multiple valuation metrics including price-to-earnings, price-to-book, EV/EBITDA, and price-to-sales ratios relative to both sector peers and the broader market. Valuation metrics are mixed, with no strong signal of mispricing in either direction.

The stock currently trades at a P/E of 374.2x (a 1582% premium to the sector median of 22.3x), EV/EBITDA of 62.3x (at a premium), P/B of 2.2x, P/S of 1.2x. The above-sector P/E multiple suggests the market is pricing in superior growth or quality, which our analysis finds only partially justified by current fundamentals.

We assign a Medium uncertainty rating to STURM RUGER & CO INC. The stock presents a balanced risk profile: current negative profitability (net margin -0.5%) and low beta of 0.39 — while defensive, this may indicate limited upside participation in bull markets. While not risk-free, the core business fundamentals are adequate to withstand moderate economic stress, and the range of potential outcomes around our fair value estimate is manageable.

Specific risk factors that inform our assessment include: current negative profitability (net margin -0.5%); low beta of 0.39 — while defensive, this may indicate limited upside participation in bull markets; elevated valuation multiple (P/E 374.2x) that leaves limited margin for error. Each of these factors independently widens the distribution of potential outcomes, and in combination they create a risk profile that demands careful position sizing. The stability factor at the 82th percentile and quality factor at the 53th percentile provide a quantitative summary of the overall risk landscape.

Key risk mitigants include: conservative leverage (22% D/E) limits balance sheet risk; above-average stability (82th percentile) suggests predictable business dynamics. These factors partially offset the identified risks and provide downside protection in adverse scenarios. On balance, the risk-reward profile is favorable for long-term investors.

We rate STURM RUGER & CO INC's capital allocation as Poor. Key concerns include low returns on equity (-1.1%), negative profitability, weak asset returns (ROA -0.9%). Exemplary capital allocators generate ROE above 20% and maintain conservative leverage — STURM RUGER & CO INC significantly underperforms these benchmarks, raising questions about management's ability to create shareholder value.

Investors should scrutinize management's reinvestment decisions and balance sheet trajectory before committing capital. Poor capital allocation often compounds over time: overlevered balance sheets limit strategic flexibility, while low returns on capital destroy shareholder value. We would need to see sustained improvement in profitability metrics and balance sheet discipline before considering an upgrade.

In summary, STURM RUGER & CO INC receives a Hold rating with a composite score of 54.1/100 (rank #1383 of 7,333). Our quantitative framework assigns a No Moat (26/100, trend: stable), Medium uncertainty, and Poor capital allocation. The average factor score across quality, value, momentum, stability, and investment is 55/100.

Our analysis supports a neutral stance on STURM RUGER & CO INC. While the quantitative profile is not weak enough to warrant selling, it lacks the multi-factor strength required for a buy recommendation. Existing holders should maintain positions and monitor for catalysts — either fundamental improvement or valuation compression — that would shift the risk-reward balance.