Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Acme United Corporation (ACU) vs Colgate-Palmolive Company (CL) Stock
Analyze side-by-side fundamentals, valuation, growth, and profitability to decide which stock is the better buy.
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Quick Verdict
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | ACU | 1.6% revenue growth vs CL's 1.4% |
| Value | CL | Lower P/E (25.7x vs 27.8x) |
| Quality / Margins | CL | 10.5% net margin vs ACU's 5.1% |
| Stability / Safety | CL | Beta 0.02 vs ACU's 0.51 |
| Dividends | CL | 2.3% yield, 5-year raise streak, vs ACU's 1.2% |
| Momentum (1Y) | ACU | +16.8% vs CL's +11.0% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | CL | 13.0% ROA vs ACU's 5.8%, ROIC 43.4% vs 8.4% |
Who Each Stock Is For
Income & stability
Growth exposure
Long-term compounding (10Y)
Sleep-well-at-night portfolio
Defensive / Recession hedge
Business Model
What each company does and how it makes money
Acme United Corporation is a manufacturer and distributor of first aid, safety, and cutting tools for consumer and industrial markets. It generates revenue primarily through sales of branded products across three main segments: first aid and safety products (around 50% of sales), cutting tools (roughly 30%), and measuring and craft tools (approximately 20%). The company's competitive advantage lies in its portfolio of established brands—like Westcott, First Aid Only, and Camillus—that have strong recognition in their respective niche markets.
Colgate-Palmolive is a global consumer goods company that manufactures and sells oral care, personal care, home care, and pet nutrition products. It generates revenue primarily from its Oral, Personal and Home Care segment — which contributes roughly 85% of sales — and its Pet Nutrition segment, which makes up the remaining 15%. The company's competitive advantage lies in its powerful global brand portfolio, particularly the dominant Colgate brand in oral care, and its extensive distribution network reaching over 200 countries.
Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Financial Metrics Comparison
Side-by-side fundamentals across 2 stocks. BestLagging
Financial Scorecard
CL leads in 4 of 6 categories (Financial Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency). ACU leads in 2 (Valuation Metrics, Total Returns).
Financial Metrics (TTM)
CL is the larger business by revenue, generating $20.4B annually — 104.5x ACU's $195M. CL is the more profitable business, keeping 10.5% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to ACU's 5.1%. On growth, CL holds the edge at +5.8% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | ACUAcme United Corpo… | CLColgate-Palmolive… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $195M | $20.4B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $20M | $3.9B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $10M | $2.1B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $5M | $3.6B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +39.5% | +60.1% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +7.2% | +21.3% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +5.1% | +10.5% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +2.6% | +17.8% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +1.9% | +5.8% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -14.8% | -105.1% |
Valuation Metrics
At 18.4x trailing earnings, ACU trades at a 51% valuation discount to CL's 37.7x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, ACU's 9.8x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than CL's 17.4x.
| Metric | ACUAcme United Corpo… | CLColgate-Palmolive… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $171M | $79.9B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $198M | $86.6B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 18.37x | 37.70x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 27.78x | 25.66x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 2.07x | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 9.79x | 17.40x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 0.88x | 3.92x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.72x | 220.31x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 35.50x | 21.99x |
Profitability & Efficiency
CL delivers a 5.8% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $6 in annual profit, vs $9 for ACU. ACU carries lower financial leverage with a 0.31x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to CL's 21.88x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), CL scores 6/9 vs ACU's 5/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | ACUAcme United Corpo… | CLColgate-Palmolive… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +8.7% | +5.8% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +5.8% | +13.0% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +8.4% | +43.4% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +10.8% | +41.6% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 6 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.31x | 21.88x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $26M | $6.7B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $6M | $1.3B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $33M | $8.0B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 10.92x | 12.37x |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in CL five years ago would be worth $14,394 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $12,944 for ACU. Over the past 12 months, ACU leads with a +16.8% total return vs CL's +11.0%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors ACU at 24.2% vs CL's 12.8% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ACUAcme United Corpo… | CLColgate-Palmolive… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +12.3% | +28.3% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +16.8% | +11.0% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +91.7% | +43.4% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +29.4% | +43.9% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +228.1% | +78.5% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +24.2% | +12.8% |
Risk & Volatility
CL is the less volatile stock with a 0.02 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than ACU's 0.51 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500.
| Metric | ACUAcme United Corpo… | CLColgate-Palmolive… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.51x | 0.02x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $46.19 | $100.18 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $35.31 | $74.55 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +97.4% | +99.0% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 65.7 | 68.5 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 7K | 5.7M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates ACU as "Buy" and CL as "Hold". For income investors, CL offers the higher dividend yield at 2.27% vs ACU's 1.20%.
| Metric | ACUAcme United Corpo… | CLColgate-Palmolive… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | — | $92.45 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 1 | 43 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +1.2% | +2.3% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 0 | 5 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.54 | $2.25 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | +1.5% |
Historical Charts
Charts are rendered on first load. Hover for details.
Chart 1Total Return — 5 Years (Rebased to 100)
| Stock | Mar 20 | Feb 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acme United Corpora… (ACU) | 100 | 184.19 | +84.2% |
| Colgate-Palmolive C… (CL) | 100 | 128.02 | +28.0% |
Colgate-Palmolive C… (CL) returned +44% over 5 years vs Acme United Corpora… (ACU)'s +29%. A $10,000 investment in CL 5 years ago would be worth $14,394 today (including dividends reinvested).
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acme United Corpora… (ACU) | $125M | $194M | +56.1% |
| Colgate-Palmolive C… (CL) | $15.2B | $20.4B | +34.1% |
Colgate-Palmolive Company's revenue grew from $15.2B (2016) to $20.4B (2025) — a 3.3% CAGR.
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acme United Corpora… (ACU) | 4.7% | 5.2% | +9.7% |
| Colgate-Palmolive C… (CL) | 16.1% | 10.5% | -34.9% |
Colgate-Palmolive Company's net margin went from 16% (2016) to 10% (2025).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 9 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acme United Corpora… (ACU) | 21.5 | 15.2 | -29.3% |
| Colgate-Palmolive C… (CL) | 33.1 | 30 | -9.4% |
Acme United Corporation has traded in a 9x–27x P/E range over 8 years; current trailing P/E is ~18x. Colgate-Palmolive Company has traded in a 22x–37x P/E range over 9 years; current trailing P/E is ~38x.
Chart 5EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acme United Corpora… (ACU) | 1.64 | 2.45 | +49.4% |
| Colgate-Palmolive C… (CL) | 2.72 | 2.63 | -3.3% |
Colgate-Palmolive Company's EPS grew from $2.72 (2016) to $2.63 (2025) — a -0% CAGR.
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
Acme United Corporation generated $5M FCF in 2024 (+492% vs 2021). Colgate-Palmolive Company generated $4B FCF in 2025 (+32% vs 2021).
ACU vs CL: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is ACU or CL a better buy right now?
Acme United Corporation (ACU) offers the better valuation at 18.4x trailing P/E (27.8x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Acme United Corporation (ACU) a "Buy" — based on 1 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.
02Which has the better valuation — ACU or CL?
On trailing P/E, Acme United Corporation (ACU) is the cheapest at 18.4x versus Colgate-Palmolive Company at 37.7x. On forward P/E, Colgate-Palmolive Company is actually cheaper at 25.7x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — ACU or CL?
Over the past 5 years, Colgate-Palmolive Company (CL) delivered a total return of +43.9%, compared to +29.4% for Acme United Corporation (ACU). A $10,000 investment in CL five years ago would be worth approximately $14K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ACU returned +228.1% versus CL's +78.5%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — ACU or CL?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Colgate-Palmolive Company (CL) is the lower-risk stock at 0.02β versus Acme United Corporation's 0.51β — meaning ACU is approximately 2865% more volatile than CL relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Acme United Corporation (ACU) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 31% versus 22% for Colgate-Palmolive Company — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — ACU or CL?
Colgate-Palmolive Company (CL) is the more profitable company, earning 10.5% net margin versus 5.2% for Acme United Corporation — meaning it keeps 10.5% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: CL leads at 21.3% versus 7.3% for ACU. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — CL leads at 60.1%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.
06Is ACU or CL more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Colgate-Palmolive Company (CL) trades at 25.7x forward P/E versus 27.8x for Acme United Corporation — 2.1x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis.
07Which pays a better dividend — ACU or CL?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends. Colgate-Palmolive Company (CL) offers the highest yield at 2.3%, versus 1.2% for Acme United Corporation (ACU).
08Is ACU or CL better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Colgate-Palmolive Company (CL) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.02), 2.3% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (CL: +78.5%, ACU: +228.1%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.
09What are the main differences between ACU and CL?
Both stocks operate in the Consumer Defensive sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.
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