Shares of gun seller GrabAGun, backed by Don Trump Jr, tank on NYSE debut (2025)
Shares of GrabAGun, a gun retailer backed by Donald Trump Jr., fell sharply on their first day of trading on the NYSE. The stock dropped as investors reacted to the company's market debut and its planned merger with another firearms firm.
Background
- GrabAGun is a Texas-based online firearms retailer that went public on the NYSE in July 2025 (ticker: "GUN"). Don Trump Jr. sits on its board and holds a large equity stake, drawing intense political and media attention to the IPO.
- The company priced its IPO at $12/share, but shares crashed on the first day — a disastrous debut that wiped out hundreds of millions in market value. Investor skepticism centered on the valuation, heavy debt, and slowing gun sales after the pandemic boom.
- Celebrity- and political-backed IPOs often underperform after the hype fades. GrabAGun is being watched as a test of whether Trump-branded retail can succeed as a public company.
- Gun company IPOs are rare. The big players (Smith & Wesson, Ruger) are cyclical, surging after election fears or mass shootings and slumping afterward. GrabAGun is a smaller e-commerce player trying to carve out a niche.