Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Acme United Corporation (ACU) vs Kenvue Inc. (KVUE) 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 KVUE's 0.1% |
| Value | KVUE | Lower P/E (17.0x vs 27.8x) |
| Quality / Margins | KVUE | 9.5% net margin vs ACU's 5.1% |
| Stability / Safety | KVUE | Beta 0.22 vs ACU's 0.51 |
| Dividends | KVUE | 4.2% yield, vs ACU's 1.2% |
| Momentum (1Y) | ACU | +16.8% vs KVUE's -15.5% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | ACU | 5.8% ROA vs KVUE's 5.3%, ROIC 8.4% vs 7.8% |
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.
Kenvue is a consumer health company that sells over-the-counter medications, skincare products, and essential health items through well-known brands like Tylenol, Neutrogena, and Band-Aid. It generates revenue primarily from three segments: Self Care (pain relief, allergy, digestive health), Skin Health and Beauty (skincare, haircare), and Essential Health (oral care, baby care, wound care) — each contributing roughly one-third of sales. The company's key advantage is its portfolio of trusted, household-name brands with decades of consumer loyalty and recognition.
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
ACU leads in 3 of 6 categories (Valuation Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency). KVUE leads in 2 (Financial Metrics, Analyst Outlook). 1 tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
KVUE is the larger business by revenue, generating $15.0B annually — 77.0x ACU's $195M. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 9.5% (KVUE) to 5.1% (ACU). On growth, ACU holds the edge at +1.9% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | ACUAcme United Corpo… | KVUEKenvue Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $195M | $15.0B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $20M | $2.9B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $10M | $1.4B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $5M | $1.6B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +39.5% | +58.1% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +7.2% | +15.7% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +5.1% | +9.5% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +2.6% | +10.9% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +1.9% | -3.5% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -14.8% | +5.0% |
Valuation Metrics
At 18.4x trailing earnings, ACU trades at a 48% valuation discount to KVUE's 35.4x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, ACU's 9.8x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than KVUE's 18.0x.
| Metric | ACUAcme United Corpo… | KVUEKenvue Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $171M | $36.6B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $198M | $44.3B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 18.37x | 35.41x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 27.78x | 17.05x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 2.07x | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 9.79x | 17.98x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 0.88x | 2.37x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.72x | 3.80x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 35.50x | 27.44x |
Profitability & Efficiency
KVUE delivers a 13.5% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $13 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 KVUE's 0.90x.
| Metric | ACUAcme United Corpo… | KVUEKenvue Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +8.7% | +13.5% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +5.8% | +5.3% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +8.4% | +7.8% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +10.8% | +8.7% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.31x | 0.90x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $26M | $7.6B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $6M | $1.1B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $33M | $8.7B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 10.92x | 5.22x |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in ACU five years ago would be worth $12,944 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $7,941 for KVUE. Over the past 12 months, ACU leads with a +16.8% total return vs KVUE's -15.5%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors ACU at 24.2% vs KVUE's -7.4% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ACUAcme United Corpo… | KVUEKenvue Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +12.3% | +11.6% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +16.8% | -15.5% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +91.7% | -20.6% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +29.4% | -20.6% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +228.1% | -20.6% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +24.2% | -7.4% |
Risk & Volatility
KVUE is the less volatile stock with a 0.22 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. ACU currently trades 97.4% from its 52-week high vs KVUE's 76.0% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ACUAcme United Corpo… | KVUEKenvue Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.51x | 0.22x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $46.19 | $25.17 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $35.31 | $14.02 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +97.4% | +76.0% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 65.7 | 69.2 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 7K | 41.1M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates ACU as "Buy" and KVUE as "Hold". For income investors, KVUE offers the higher dividend yield at 4.22% vs ACU's 1.20%.
| Metric | ACUAcme United Corpo… | KVUEKenvue Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | — | $18.57 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 1 | 14 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +1.2% | +4.2% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 0 | 0 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.54 | $0.81 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | +0.6% |
Historical Charts
Charts are rendered on first load. Hover for details.
Chart 1Total Return — 5 Years (Rebased to 100)
| Stock | Jun 23 | Feb 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acme United Corpora… (ACU) | 100 | 175.13 | +75.1% |
| Kenvue Inc. (KVUE) | 93.98 | 64.61 | -31.3% |
Acme United Corpora… (ACU) returned +29% over 5 years vs Kenvue Inc. (KVUE)'s -21%. A $10,000 investment in ACU 5 years ago would be worth $12,944 today (including dividends reinvested).
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2015 | 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acme United Corpora… (ACU) | $110M | $194M | +77.1% |
| Kenvue Inc. (KVUE) | $14.5B | $15.5B | +6.8% |
Acme United Corporation's revenue grew from $110M (2015) to $194M (2024) — a 6.6% CAGR.
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2015 | 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acme United Corpora… (ACU) | 4.4% | 5.2% | +18.0% |
| Kenvue Inc. (KVUE) | -6.1% | 6.7% | +209.7% |
Acme United Corporation's net margin went from 4% (2015) to 5% (2024).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 8 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acme United Corpora… (ACU) | 21.5 | 15.2 | -29.3% |
Acme United Corporation has traded in a 9x–27x P/E range over 8 years; current trailing P/E is ~18x.
Chart 5EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2015 | 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acme United Corpora… (ACU) | 1.3 | 2.45 | +88.5% |
| Kenvue Inc. (KVUE) | -0.47 | 0.54 | +214.9% |
Acme United Corporation's EPS grew from $1.30 (2015) to $2.45 (2024) — a 7% CAGR.
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
Acme United Corporation generated $5M FCF in 2024 (+492% vs 2021). Kenvue Inc. generated $1B FCF in 2024 (+3323% vs 2021).
ACU vs KVUE: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is ACU or KVUE 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 KVUE?
On trailing P/E, Acme United Corporation (ACU) is the cheapest at 18.4x versus Kenvue Inc. at 35.4x. On forward P/E, Kenvue Inc. is actually cheaper at 17.0x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — ACU or KVUE?
Over the past 5 years, Acme United Corporation (ACU) delivered a total return of +29.4%, compared to -20.6% for Kenvue Inc. (KVUE). A $10,000 investment in ACU five years ago would be worth approximately $13K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ACU returned +228.1% versus KVUE's -20.6%. 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 KVUE?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Kenvue Inc. (KVUE) is the lower-risk stock at 0.22β versus Acme United Corporation's 0.51β — meaning ACU is approximately 132% more volatile than KVUE relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Acme United Corporation (ACU) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 31% versus 90% for Kenvue Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — ACU or KVUE?
Kenvue Inc. (KVUE) is the more profitable company, earning 6.7% net margin versus 5.2% for Acme United Corporation — meaning it keeps 6.7% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: KVUE leads at 11.9% versus 7.3% for ACU. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — KVUE leads at 58.0%, 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 KVUE more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Kenvue Inc. (KVUE) trades at 17.0x forward P/E versus 27.8x for Acme United Corporation — 10.7x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis.
07Which pays a better dividend — ACU or KVUE?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends. Kenvue Inc. (KVUE) offers the highest yield at 4.2%, versus 1.2% for Acme United Corporation (ACU).
08Is ACU or KVUE better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Kenvue Inc. (KVUE) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.22), 4.2% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (KVUE: -20.6%, 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 KVUE?
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. In terms of investment character: ACU is a small-cap quality compounder stock; KVUE is a mid-cap income-oriented stock. 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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