Sturm, Ruger, & Company engages in the design, manufacture, and sale of small arms in the United States (NAICS: 332994) There are approximately 400 The United States produces small arms. Ruger's closest publicly traded rival is Smith & Wesson Holding Company. Other private competitors include Remington Arms, Browning Arms Company, OF Mossberg & Sons, Marlin Firearms, and Colt's Manufacturing Company. Sturm, Ruger & Company manufactures pistols, revolvers, rifles and shotguns. Sturm, Ruger & Company manufactures revolvers, pistols, rifles and shotguns. The company was founded in Southport, Connecticut in 1949 by Alexander McCormick Sturm and William B. Ruger. In 1969 Sturm, Ruger & Company was incorporated under the laws of the state of Delaware. It joined the New York Stock Exchange in 1990. Corporate offices are located in Southport, Connecticut, with manufacturing facilities in Newport, New Hampshire, Prescott, Arizona, and Mayodan, North Carolina, all of which are company-owned. The Mayodan, North Carolina plant was recently purchased and will begin operations in 2014. The company also leases a plant in Enfield, Connecticut. The new facility is expected to employ approximately 470 people. Ruger plans to invest $4.25 million to improve the facility, and the company expects to spend about $21.5 million over the next five years on equipment and machinery. Mayodan and Rockingham County where Mayodan is located offered up to $14 million in incentives to Ruger. The Mayodan plant was purchased to help reduce high backlog levels. Sturm, Ruger & Company sales increased 79 percent. Over the course of this project, Sturm, Ruger & Company stock rose. Stock tracking began on September 6, 2013 with the company's stock price recorded at $54.03. The final price was recorded on November 4, 2013 at $70.75. Ruger's three biggest gains occurred on September 11, September 19, and November 1, with earnings of $4.09, $3.44, and $3.96, respectively. The company's biggest losses occurred on September 16, September 27, and October 25, with losses of $1.00, $1.02, and $4.97, respectively. September 11th is the anniversary of the terrorist attacks of 2001 and 2012. On September 19th the CEO of Starbucks, in an open letter to customers asking them to leave their weapons at home while going to the coffee shop, and the financial markets were waiting for the Federal Reserve announces continuation of monthly asset purchases.