Top Anti-Crime Stocks

According to a report by the FBI, in 2012,  the number of violent crimes increased 0.7 percent, however, property crimes decreased 0.9 percent. Citizens are becoming more concerned about crime. Part of this may be due to an aging population. As the baby boomers age, the concern about the prevention of crime increases. Just notice the ads on television for burglar alarm systems.

The anti-crime corporate sector covers several industries, including private prisons, personal self defense products, firearms and ammunition for law enforcement, and anti-crime software. WallStreetNewsNetwork.com has turned up a list of a dozen anti-crime, law enforcement, and private prison related stocks, half of which pay dividends.

One example is Corrections Corp. of America (CXW),which owns and operates privatized correctional and detention facilities throughout the United States. The stock trades at 12 times trailing earnings and 17 times forward earnings. Earnings for the latest reported quarter were up a substantial 22.4% on a slight drop in revenues of 3.3%. The next earnings report will be in early February. The company pays a very generous yield of 6.0%.

In the personal defense arena, Taser Internations (TASR) makes the famous TASER gun, which is referred to as a conducted electrical weapon. The stock sports a fairly high price to earnings ratio of 49, with a forward PE of 46. Earnings for the latest reported quarter were up an incredible 39.1% on a 22.3% boost in revenues. The company is expected to report earnings again in late February. No dividend on this stock; it reinvests its earnings.

Verint Systems (VRNT) is a Melville, New York based provider of intelligence systems for law enforcement agencies. The company is involved in the detection of criminal, terrorist, and cyber attacks. The stock trades at 44 times trailing earnings, but a favorable 16 times forward earnings. Earnings for the latest quarter were up an amazing 311% of an 11.3% rise in revenues. The company reports in March.

To see a list of all the anti-crime stocks, along with data relating to PE, forward PE, PEG, yield, and type of business, go to  WallStreetNewsNetwork.com.

Disclosure: Author didn't own any of the above at the time the article was written.

 By Stockerblog.com

Ohio Now Allows Guns in Bars, Malls, and Cars: What About Gun Stocks?

Ohio Republican Governor John Kasich just signed a law that allows gun owners to carry concealed weapons into bars, restaurants, shopping malls, sporting venues, and motor vehicles.So is it time to pull the trigger on stocks of firearms manufacturers?

One of the largest gun and firearms manufacturers in the United States is Sturm Ruger & Co. Inc. (RGR), which trades on the New York Stock Exchange. This Connecticut based company has been manufacturing rifles, shotguns, pistols and revolvers since 1948. The stock trades at 14.7 times forward earnings, and pays a yield of 1.8%.

The other major American firearms manufacturer is the NASDAQ traded Smith & Wesson Holding Corp. (SWHC), a famous name in firearms which has been around since 1856. The company was founded by Horace Smith and Daniel B. Wesson, after selling out their first company, Volcanic Repeating Arms Company, to Oliver Winchester. The company manufactures and sells revolvers, pistols, rifles, hand cuffs, and clothing. They also own law enforcement training facilities. The company recently generated negative earnings; however, revenues were up 5.7% for the latest quarter.

TASER International Inc. (TASR) maker of the famous TASER guns, which are electroshock weapons that use electro-muscular disruption technology to cause neuromuscular incapacitation, which are sold to law enforcement, private security, military, corrections, and personal defense markets. The stock trades at 32.6 times forward earnings.

If you like stock lists like this you should check out the list of Anti-Terrorism Stocks and Defense and Aerospace Stocks at WallStreetNewsNetwork.com.

Disclosure: Author owns RGR.

By Stockerblog.com

The Crime Rate is Down: Check Out Anti Crime Stocks

The Federal Bureau of Investigation recently came out with the nationwide crime statistics, and the results are quite surprising. The overall crime rate is down for 2009, way down. Violent crime is down 5.5%, murder is down 7.2%, robbery down 8.1%, property crime down 4.9%, larceny theft down 4.2%, and motor vehicle theft down 17.2%. As a matter of fact, the crime rate has been dropping in all these areas since 2006. This is in spite of the fact that we have had a bad economy, a huge influx of illegal immigrants, high unemployment, a large number of job losses, a substantial number of foreclosures, numerous individual and corporate bankruptcies, and loss of wealth overall.

Why is this happening? Maybe everyone in law enforcement and crime fighting are doing their jobs better and more efficiently. Perhaps colleges and the best online criminal justice schools are preparing students better for law enforcement jobs and they are better able to keep the peace. Maybe the businesses involved in stopping crime are improving and putting a stop to felonies and misdemeanors. Maybe the bad economy has caused people to become more moral.

If the companies involved in helping law enforcement are a part of this, then maybe there is an investment opportunity in crime fighting stocks. Here are some companies that battle crime in various ways.

TASER International Inc. (TASR), which trades on NASDAQ, manufactures product lines for law enforcement and the prison corrections market, which includes the ADVANCED TASER M26 and the TASER X26. The stock recently generated zero earnings, and has a PEG ratio of 2.06.

iRobot Corp. (IRBT), another NASDAQ stock, makes robotic products for the law enforcement and the homeland security markets. The make a product called the PackBot EOD, which is a strong lightweight robot to conduct explosive disposal, hazardous materials, and search-and-surveillance for bomb squads and SWAT teams. The stock has a P/E of 47 and PEG of 2.46.

Brinks Co. (BCO) is in the business of transportation and cash logistics services, and also provides electronic security systems for single-family residences, commercial properties and multifamily housing. The stock has a P/E of 5.8, a PEG of 1.31, and pays a yield of 1.9%.

The largest private prison system by both market cap and revenues is Corrections Corp. of America (CXW), which is a Nashville, Tennessee based company with over 40 facilities. It has a P/E of 14.5 and a PEG of 1.38. The stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange.

The second largest prison company is Geo Group Inc. (GEO), based in Boca Raton, Florida. They have facilities in the United States, Australia, Canada, South Africa, and UK. It has a P/E of 14.5 and PEG is .98. The stock trades on the NYSE.

Cornell Companies Inc. (CRN) is a Houston, Texas prison company, which in addition to providing detention services, also provides educational services to detainees. It has a P/E of 16.5 and a PEG of 2.09. It trades on the NYSE.

Smith & Wesson Holding Corporation (SWHC) provides firearms to the law enforcement and security industry. The company also has the Universal Safety Response division, Inc., a full-service perimeter security provider. The stock has a PE of 6.5 and a PEG of 0.71.

Another firearm company is Sturm, Ruger & Co. Inc. (RGR). The stock has a PE of 9.6 and pays a yield of 2.5%.

If you like lists of stocks in interesting industries, check out the numerous lists at WallStreetNewsNetwork.com.

Author owns RGR.

By Stockerblog.com