Taser maker Axon Enterprises guided high late Thursday after smashing earnings estimates for the third quarter. Axon stock rocketed on Friday amid a slew of price-target hikes.
Heading into the Nov. 5 election, analysts saw Axon stock as a potential beneficiary of a Trump win. Former President Donald Trump survived an assassination attempt in July to win the 2024 U.S. election this week. He will begin his second presidential term in January.
Axon Earnings Acceleration
The company reported earnings of $1.45 per share, easily beating views for $1.20. Revenue of $544.3 million came in slightly ahead of views. Year over year, Axon earnings surged 42% and sales jumped 32%, according to FactSet.
Though robust, the Q3 sales pace marked a slight slowdown from more than 34% in the prior two quarters. But earnings growth accelerated sharply from Q2's 8% pace.
For the entire year, Axon is now targeting revenue of about $2.07 billion, a 32% increase from 2023. Analysts were expecting $2.04 billion going into the Q3 report and they now expect $2.064 billion, FactSet shows. The company also said Thursday that it expects 2024 adjusted EBITDA of about $510 million, up from $460 million-$475 million previously. Analysts projected $500.8 million as of Friday.
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Taser Maker Axon Stock Surges
Shares of the Taser maker soared 28.7% to 603.18 in Friday's stock market action. Axon stock made a fresh 52-week high and has now more than doubled year to date, vaulting 134%.
Six analysts hiked price targets on Axon stock on Friday, FactSet shows. No one cut. Two firms, Baird and Needham, raised their price targets on the Taser maker to a Street-high 600, implying a further 14% upside for shares from Friday's intraday price. Baird hiked its price target from 460, a 30% increase.
The Taser stun-gun and Axon body camera maker has continually expanded its target markets. It took another step with its May deal for "airspace security" leader Dedrone.
Northcoast Research analyst Keith Housum told Investor's Business Daily in July that law enforcement should continue to be well funded if Trump wins the election, benefiting Axon stock.
