Despite plans to exit gun manufacturing, Vista Outdoor (NYSE: VSTO) will still have a large presence at the National Rifle Association convention this week in Dallas.
Vista, a sports and recreation company known for its Federal Premium ammunition brand as well as Savage and Stevens firearms, is expected to showcase not only the guns but ammunition, hunting gear and accessories. A map of the show floor reveals Vista has one of the largest single spaces.
The Utah-based company also said its Savage brand is still making and selling firearms and plans to continue doing so.
"Savage is still a part of the Vista Outdoor portfolio, and like all of our brands, our focus is on developing innovative, new products that meet the needs of our consumers," the company said.
Vista generates more than half of its annual sales from shooting sports.
Overall, there are more than 800 companies exhibiting at the NRA show, taking place Thursday through Sunday, and many booked space a year in advance. In the case of Vista, it disclosed plans to exit the gun manufacturing business on Tuesday, leaving little time if any to change the exhibit space plans.
The gun-maker got caught in a retailer backlash after the Feb. 14 shooting rampage at Florida's Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School that killed 17 students and staff members.
REI and Canada's Mountain Equipment Co-op were among the outdoor retailers to halt orders for everything from Vista's CamelBak-branded water bottles to its Bell bicycle helmets.
VSTO stock hesitated 20 cents, or 1.4%, to $13.75 Thursday
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