By Steve Garcia -
TASER International Inc. (NASDAQ:TASR), http://www.taser.com/pages/default.aspx, a market leader in technologies that protect life recently showed why it is in my opinion, a good stock to look to for future growth and speculation. TASER International was founded in September 1993 and has remained committed to providing solutions to violent confrontation by developing products that enable people to protect themselves. Taser and its employees are committed to protecting life by providing innovative, high quality products and services that always exceed customer expectations. TASER International’s products protect human life, providing advanced Electronic Control Devices (ECDs) for use in the law enforcement, medical, military, correctional, professional security, and personal protection markets. TASER devices use proprietary technology to incapacitate dangerous, combative, violent, enemy or high-risk subjects who pose a risk to law enforcement/correctional officers, military, innocent civilians, or themselves in a manner that is generally recognized as a safer alternative to other uses of force which are many times deadly. TASER technology protects life, and the use of TASER devices dramatically reduces injury rates for law enforcement officers and suspects. Taser is committed to producing high quality equipment which reduces risk of violence, or use of deadly force.
In taking a look at Taser for the first nine months of 2009, adjusted revenues were $73.2 million, an increase of $6.8 million or 10.0% over the first nine months of 2008. Adjusted revenues excluded the impact of a $3.5 million revenue deferral related to the X26 to X3 trade-in credit program, the balance of which is expected to be recognized as revenue when the trade-in occurs or the offer expires at December 31, 2009. The impact of this deferral should be reported in the upcoming Quarterly conference call.
TASR recently announced that it received and shipped three significant orders in December 2009. The first order for 2,250 ADVANCED TASER M26 Electronic Control Devices (ECDs) and related accessories was for the Brazilian Ministry of Justice. The second order was for the Philadelphia Police, PA, for 1,000 TASER X26 ECDs and related accessories. The third order was for the Chicago Police Department, IL, for 386 TASER X26 ECDs and related accessories.
As non lethal weapons begin to play a more important role in the application of law enforcement as well as in the Military weapons realm, it would appear that Taser will be reaping the rewards of this new trend. Additionally, Taser has announced a new product. TASER International Inc. (Nasdaq:TASR), a market leader in technologies that protect life, introduced a groundbreaking new family safety platform called PROTECTOR(TM) during the International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) that ran from January 7 to 10 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
PROTECTOR is a revolutionary tool set that gives parents the ability to supervise their children’s mobile phone usage and driving behaviors. Parents can manage the contact lists and content of their child’s mobile phone, including calls, texts, emails, photos and video, and can automatically limit phone functionality to prevent dangerous distractions while driving. PROTECTOR uses integrated GPS, allowing parents to track their child’s location, monitor driving habits, and release vital records to the authorities in emergency situations.
“Our mission at TASER International is to protect life. PROTECTOR is our latest technology breakthrough to further our mission by empowering families to protect the most precious of lives: our children,” says Rick Smith, CEO and founder of TASER International. “Auto accidents are the leading cause of death among American teenagers, and distracted driving is becoming a major factor in these accidents. PROTECTOR will play a significant role in addressing this national tragedy.”
Read the full press release here: http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=129937&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1371281&highlight=
PROTECTOR is anticipated to launch as a subscription service in mid 2010. More information is available at www.PROTECTOR.com. Taser is strategically poised to benefit with these technologies in a meaningful and profitable way. The company has a Market Cap of about 365million dollars currently with shares outstanding of 62 million and a float of 59 million shares. Taser shares closed Friday at 5.64 on the NASDAQ. Having come off their most recent highs above 6 dollars.
Disclosure: Long TASR
Steve, I am not familiar with Taser, but you make a compelling argument for an investment opportunity. In particular, I see real potential for the Protector tool. I am interested in knowing the competitive environment that currently exists for their products and services…I will look into that. Thanks for writing about this and bring this company to my attention.