Gun Stance May Hurt Struggling Dick’s Sporting Goods

Will investors support the chain for being socially conscious?

In the wake of the school shooting in Parkland, Fla., that left 17 people dead, student survivors have started a movement for greater gun control. Two students from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School explain how social media, crowdfunding and political activism have helped spread their message. Photo: Getty Images

Two weeks ago, after Dick’s Sporting Goods announced that it would stop selling assault rifles and raise its age requirement for gun purchases to 21, the retailer’s shares rose 1% even as the broader stock market fell sharply. In the wake of the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, investors seemed eager to distance themselves from gun sellers while rewarding socially-conscious firms. But now comes the real test: Will they stick by a retailer that is suffering as a result of its new gun policy?

Dick’s, which...