ACME UNITED CORP
ACU · Cutlery, Handtools & General Hardware · 3.8M shares · +4%/yr ↑ shares · EDGAR filings ↗
Net buyback after stock comp: -$710K (gross $1M, SBC $2M)
Reference price $42.00 · est. market cap ~$160M — last insider sale, 2026-05-28 (estimated from the dated SEC Form 4 price × shares outstanding — not a live quote)
Grade
C68Steady, conservatively-financed niche supplier of first-aid and cutting products with above-median but unremarkable returns.
Strengths
- Margins consistently above median (operating 7.5%/65.6th, net 5.2%/62.5th, ROA 6.0%/62.5th)
- Strong balance sheet (current ratio 4.2, low D/E 0.10) funding bolt-on acquisitions (My Medic)
Risks
- ROE only 8.7% — below top-quartile, no standout strength
- Weak revenue growth (1.1%, 31.6th pct) and China-sourcing/tariff exposure
Notable findings
- China exposureChanges in United States and foreign laws and policies governing international trade, export controls, manufacturing, and investment in the jurisdictions where we currently source or sell products, an
Quarterly revenue
Last 4 quarters · from SEC filings.
Key metrics
Gross margin
39.4%
Operating margin
7.5%
Net margin
5.2%
Return on equity
8.7%
Return on assets
6.0%
ROIC
9.0%
Revenue growth (QoQ)
10.1%
Net-income growth
1.6%
Debt / equity
0.1×
Net debt / EBITDA
0.4×
Current ratio
4.2×
Free cash flow
$8M
EBITDA
$21M
Tangible book value
$88M
Cash & investments
$4M
Stock comp / revenue
1.0%
Insider transactions · last 18 months
| Date | Insider | Type | Shares | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-05-28 | OLSCHAN BRIAN S | Sell | 4.8K | $42.00 |
| 2026-05-27 | JOHNSEN WALTER C | Gift | 5.8K | $42.23 |
| 2026-05-21 | OLSCHAN BRIAN S | Option exercise | 20K | $24.92 |
| 2026-05-21 | OLSCHAN BRIAN S | Tax withheld | 15K | $43.21 |
| 2026-05-13 | JOHNSEN WALTER C | Option exercise | 30K | $23.99 |
| 2026-05-13 | JOHNSEN WALTER C | Tax withheld | 24K | $40.53 |
| 2026-03-03 | MURPHY SUSAN H | Gift | 1.2K | $44.08 |
| 2026-02-27 | DRISCOLL PAUL G | Option exercise | 15K | $21.49 |
| 2026-02-27 | DRISCOLL PAUL G | Disposition | 15K | $45.88 |
| 2026-02-27 | OLSCHAN BRIAN S | Option exercise | 15K | $24.92 |
| 2026-02-27 | OLSCHAN BRIAN S | Disposition | 15K | $45.88 |
| 2026-02-27 | JOHNSEN WALTER C | Option exercise | 30K | $21.49 |
| 2026-02-27 | JOHNSEN WALTER C | Disposition | 30K | $45.88 |
| 2025-09-05 | HOLDEN RICHMOND Y JR | Option exercise | 2.5K | $21.20 |
| 2025-09-05 | HOLDEN RICHMOND Y JR | Disposition | 2.5K | $44.36 |
| 2025-08-13 | HOLDEN RICHMOND Y JR | Disposition | 2.5K | $44.58 |
| 2025-08-13 | HOLDEN RICHMOND Y JR | Option exercise | 2.5K | $22.66 |
| 2025-07-29 | MURPHY SUSAN H | Gift | 120 | $42.61 |
| 2025-06-03 | OLSCHAN BRIAN S | Sell | 1.0K | $40.01 |
| 2025-06-02 | OLSCHAN BRIAN S | Sell | 809 | $39.95 |
| 2025-05-20 | OLSCHAN BRIAN S | Sell | 306 | $39.90 |
| 2025-05-19 | OLSCHAN BRIAN S | Sell | 690 | $39.90 |
| 2025-05-16 | OLSCHAN BRIAN S | Sell | 5.0K | $39.95 |
| 2025-05-15 | OLSCHAN BRIAN S | Sell | 2.3K | $39.95 |
| 2025-04-28 | OLSCHAN BRIAN S | Sell | 138 | $41.12 |
| 2025-04-18 | OLSCHAN BRIAN S | Option exercise | 45K | $23.99 |
| 2025-04-18 | OLSCHAN BRIAN S | Tax withheld | 35K | $41.38 |
| 2025-02-28 | MURPHY SUSAN H | Option exercise | 5.0K | $19.23 |
| 2025-02-28 | MURPHY SUSAN H | Disposition | 5.0K | $39.09 |
| 2025-02-28 | Davidson Rex Lynn | Option exercise | 5.0K | $19.23 |
| 2025-02-28 | Davidson Rex Lynn | Disposition | 5.0K | $39.09 |
| 2025-02-28 | JOHNSEN WALTER C | Option exercise | 15K | $21.49 |
| 2025-02-28 | JOHNSEN WALTER C | Disposition | 15K | $39.09 |
All non-derivative Form 4 activity (SEC), newest first.
Notable events (8-K)
| Date | Items | |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-28 | Shareholder vote | filing ↗ |
| 2026-04-23 | ResultsExhibits | filing ↗ |
| 2026-02-26 | ResultsExhibits | filing ↗ |
| 2026-01-22 | Material agreementAcquisition/dispositionExhibits | filing ↗ |
| 2025-10-21 | ResultsExhibits | filing ↗ |
| 2025-07-23 | ResultsExhibits | filing ↗ |
| 2025-07-01 | Material agreementDebt obligationExhibits | filing ↗ |
| 2025-04-23 | Shareholder vote | filing ↗ |
Recent filings
| Form | Filed | Period | Accession |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-Q | 2026-05-06 | 2026-03-31 | 0001193125-26-209010 ↗ |
| 8-K | 2026-04-28 | 2026-04-28 | 0001193125-26-187237 ↗ |
| 8-K | 2026-04-23 | 2026-04-23 | 0001193125-26-172010 ↗ |
| 10-K | 2026-03-11 | 2025-12-31 | 0001193125-26-102079 ↗ |
| 8-K | 2026-02-26 | 2026-02-26 | 0001193125-26-074247 ↗ |
| 8-K | 2026-01-22 | 2026-01-22 | 0001193125-26-019610 ↗ |
| 10-Q | 2025-11-06 | 2025-09-30 | 0001193125-25-269422 ↗ |
| 8-K | 2025-10-21 | 2025-10-21 | 0001193125-25-244419 ↗ |
| 10-Q | 2025-08-06 | 2025-06-30 | 0000950170-25-103966 ↗ |
| 8-K | 2025-07-23 | 2025-07-23 | 0000950170-25-097714 ↗ |
| 8-K | 2025-07-01 | 2025-07-01 | 0000950170-25-092258 ↗ |
| 10-Q | 2025-05-07 | 2025-03-31 | 0000950170-25-065598 ↗ |