Hazmat Suit Supplier Shares Go Parabolic After Company Reports Massive Ebola-Related Sales Spike
The stock spike by 30% in after-hours trading on Wednesday after management released details on Ebola-related business activity.
"Lakeland has secured new orders relating to the fight against the spread of Ebola," management said in a new press release. "The aggregate of orders won by Lakeland that are believed to have resulted from the Ebola crisis amount to approximately 1 million suits with additional orders for other products, such as hoods, foot coverings and gloves."
So far, about 5,000 people have been killed in the recent outbreak of the virus. Most of those deaths have occurred in West Africa in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea.
In anticipation of demand, management cranked up its production capacity.
"Monthly production capacity for sealed seam ChemMAX and MicroMAX protective suit lines has increased by nearly 50% from August 2014, prior to Ebola-related product demand, to October 2014, and is on track for a 100% increase from that level by January 2015, with the ability for additional increases as needed," management said.
While most companies warn investors about the negative risks that come with fear-inducing phenomena like viral outbreaks, Lakeland sees dollar signs. "Ebola" is mentioned twelve times in this brief press release.
Here's a look at the pre-market trading via MarketWatch: