Revenue recovered from $317.4M in 2025Q1 to $380.3M in 2026Q3 and gross margin expanded to 35.7%, but operating margin swung between -3.0% and 11.5% and quarterly net income diverged sharply from operating results.
ACCO Brands Corporation (ACCO) annual income statement — 30-year revenue, gross profit & net income history
| Metric | TTM | Dec'25 | Dec'24 | Dec'23 | Dec'22 | Dec'21 | Dec'20 | Dec'19 | Dec'18 | Dec'17 | Dec'16 | Dec'15 | Dec'14 | Dec'13 | Dec'12 | Dec'11 | Dec'10 | Dec'09 | Dec'08 | Dec'07 | Dec'06 | Dec'05 | Dec'04 | Dec'03 | Dec'02 | Dec'01 | Dec'00 | Dec'99 | Dec'98 | Dec'97 | Dec'96 |
|---|
| Sales/Revenue | 1.57B | 1.52B | 1.67B | 1.83B | 1.95B | 2.03B | 1.66B | 1.96B | 1.94B | 1.95B | 1.56B | 1.51B | 1.69B | 1.77B | 1.76B | 1.32B | 1.33B | 1.27B | 1.58B | 1.94B | 1.95B | 1.49B | 712.32M | 697.91M | 701.73M | 784.26M | 910.8M | 901.89M | 922.41M | 770M | 536.84M |
| Revenue Growth % | 1.55% | -8.49% | -9.09% | -5.89% | -3.84% | 22.36% | -15.37% | 0.75% | -0.39% | 25.16% | 3.09% | -10.58% | -4.3% | 0.38% | 33.38% | -0.91% | 4.56% | -19.37% | -18.6% | -0.62% | 31.16% | 108.83% | 2.06% | -0.54% | -10.52% | -13.89% | 0.99% | -2.23% | 19.79% | 43.43% | 17.11% |
| Cost of Goods Sold | 1.06B | 1.07B | 1.11B | 1.23B | 1.4B | 1.41B | 1.16B | 1.32B | 1.31B | 1.29B | 1.04B | 1.03B | 1.16B | 1.22B | 1.23B | 903.7M | 915.1M | 893.2M | 1.09B | 1.35B | 1.38B | 1.05B | 434.91M | 419.7M | 424M | 443.97M | 499.74M | 556.31M | 521.94M | 440.63M | 315.95M |
| COGS % of Revenue | - | 70.16% | 66.67% | 67.36% | 71.64% | 69.64% | 70.25% | 67.61% | 67.66% | 66.32% | 66.92% | 68.33% | 68.63% | 69.13% | 69.67% | 68.55% | 68.78% | 70.19% | 69.34% | 69.55% | 70.88% | 70.45% | 61.06% | 60.14% | 60.42% | 56.61% | 54.87% | 61.68% | 56.58% | 57.22% | 58.85% |
| Gross Profit | 510.1M | 454.9M | 555.4M | 598.3M | 552.3M | 614.9M | 492.4M | 633.5M | 627.8M | 656.4M | 515.1M | 478.4M | 529.9M | 544.8M | 533.4M | 414.7M | 415.4M | 379.3M | 483.8M | 590.3M | 568.2M | 439.5M | 277.41M | 278.2M | 277.73M | 340.29M | 411.06M | 345.58M | 400.48M | 329.38M | 220.89M |
| Gross Margin % | 32.53% | 29.84% | 33.33% | 32.64% | 28.36% | 30.36% | 29.75% | 32.39% | 32.34% | 33.68% | 33.08% | 31.67% | 31.37% | 30.87% | 30.33% | 31.45% | 31.22% | 29.81% | 30.66% | 30.45% | 29.12% | 29.55% | 38.94% | 39.86% | 39.58% | 43.39% | 45.13% | 38.32% | 43.42% | 42.78% | 41.15% |
| Gross Profit Growth % | - | -18.1% | -7.17% | 8.33% | -10.18% | 24.88% | -22.27% | 0.91% | -4.36% | 27.43% | 7.67% | -9.72% | -2.73% | 2.14% | 28.62% | -0.17% | 9.52% | -21.6% | -18.04% | 3.89% | 29.28% | 58.43% | -0.29% | 0.17% | -18.38% | -17.22% | 18.95% | -13.71% | 21.59% | 49.12% | 13.46% |
| Operating Expenses | 410.5M | 346.7M | 592.4M | 553.6M | 517.5M | 463.9M | 380M | 437.3M | 440.8M | 472.8M | 355.8M | 315.3M | 356.3M | 402.1M | 338.7M | 300.2M | 300.9M | 299.5M | 689.9M | 517.8M | 503.3M | 314.8M | 226.76M | 276M | 227.43M | 249.99M | 355.16M | 290.85M | 317.98M | 255.04M | 172.16M |
| OpEx % of Revenue | - | 22.74% | 35.55% | 30.21% | 26.57% | 22.91% | 22.96% | 22.36% | 22.71% | 24.26% | 22.85% | 20.88% | 21.09% | 22.78% | 19.26% | 22.77% | 22.62% | 23.54% | 43.71% | 26.71% | 25.8% | 21.16% | 31.83% | 39.55% | 32.41% | 31.88% | 38.99% | 32.25% | 34.47% | 33.12% | 32.07% |
| Selling, General & Admin | 368M | 324.7M | 371.8M | 395.3M | 376.7M | 392.6M | 336.3M | 389.9M | 392.4M | 406.1M | 320.8M | 295.7M | 328.6M | 344.2M | 349.9M | 293.9M | 294M | 273.1M | 379M | 448.9M | 448.1M | 307M | 225.63M | 222.74M | 226.58M | 304.27M | 344.21M | 326.43M | 307.34M | 247.19M | 171.47M |
| SG&A % of Revenue | - | 21.3% | 22.31% | 21.57% | 19.34% | 19.38% | 20.32% | 19.94% | 20.21% | 20.84% | 20.6% | 19.58% | 19.45% | 19.5% | 19.9% | 22.29% | 22.1% | 21.46% | 24.01% | 23.15% | 22.97% | 20.64% | 31.68% | 31.92% | 32.29% | 38.8% | 37.79% | 36.19% | 33.32% | 32.1% | 31.94% |
| Research & Development | 0 | 22M | 23M | 25.8M | 26.3M | 26.6M | 19.7M | 21.8M | 23.8M | 23.5M | 21M | 20M | 20.2M | 22.5M | 20.8M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| R&D % of Revenue | - | 1.44% | 1.38% | 1.41% | 1.35% | 1.31% | 1.19% | 1.11% | 1.23% | 1.21% | 1.35% | 1.32% | 1.2% | 1.27% | 1.18% | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Other Operating Expenses | 3M | 0 | 197.6M | 132.5M | 114.5M | 44.7M | 24M | 25.6M | 24.6M | 43.2M | 14M | -400K | 7.5M | 32.3M | -32M | 6.3M | 6.9M | 26.4M | 312.3M | 68.9M | 55.2M | 7.8M | 1.13M | 53.26M | 853K | -54.28M | 10.95M | -35.58M | 10.64M | 7.86M | 688K |
| Operating Income | 99.6M | 108.2M | -37M | 44.7M | 34.8M | 151M | 112.4M | 196.2M | 187M | 184.5M | 159.1M | 163.5M | 173.6M | 145.8M | 139.3M | 115.2M | 109.7M | 79.8M | -206.1M | 72.5M | 64.9M | 124.7M | 96.9M | 47.3M | 19.6M | 17.98M | 54.4M | -11.61M | 82.5M | 74.33M | 48.73M |
| Operating Margin % | 6.35% | 7.1% | -2.22% | 2.44% | 1.79% | 7.46% | 6.79% | 10.03% | 9.63% | 9.47% | 10.22% | 10.82% | 10.28% | 8.26% | 7.92% | 8.74% | 8.24% | 6.27% | -13.06% | 3.74% | 3.33% | 8.38% | 13.6% | 6.78% | 2.79% | 2.29% | 5.97% | -1.29% | 8.94% | 9.65% | 9.08% |
| Operating Income Growth % | - | 392.43% | -182.77% | 28.45% | -76.95% | 34.34% | -42.71% | 4.92% | 1.35% | 15.96% | -2.69% | -5.82% | 19.07% | 4.67% | 20.92% | 5.01% | 37.47% | 138.72% | -384.28% | 11.71% | -47.96% | 28.69% | 104.86% | 141.33% | 9% | -66.95% | 568.53% | -114.07% | 10.99% | 52.55% | 21.54% |
| EBITDA | 166.1M | 181M | 36.1M | 120.8M | 114.2M | 236.7M | 183.1M | 266.5M | 257.7M | 255.7M | 211.1M | 215.5M | 231.1M | 210.4M | 193.7M | 148.1M | 146.2M | 87M | -198.4M | 121.4M | 120.7M | 163.2M | 118.45M | 72.46M | 48.01M | 57.25M | 93.09M | 28.67M | 116.41M | 101.54M | 63.74M |
| EBITDA Margin % | 10.59% | 11.87% | 2.17% | 6.59% | 5.86% | 11.69% | 11.06% | 13.63% | 13.28% | 13.12% | 13.56% | 14.27% | 13.68% | 11.92% | 11.02% | 11.23% | 10.99% | 6.84% | -12.57% | 6.26% | 6.19% | 10.97% | 16.63% | 10.38% | 6.84% | 7.3% | 10.22% | 3.18% | 12.62% | 13.19% | 11.87% |
| EBITDA Growth % | -4.6% | 401.38% | -70.12% | 5.78% | -51.75% | 29.27% | -31.29% | 3.41% | 0.78% | 21.13% | -2.04% | -6.75% | 9.84% | 8.62% | 30.79% | 1.3% | 68.05% | 143.85% | -263.43% | 0.58% | -26.04% | 37.78% | 63.46% | 50.92% | -16.13% | -38.51% | 224.67% | -75.37% | 14.65% | 59.29% | 20.49% |
| D&A (Non-Cash Add-back) | 66.5M | 72.8M | 73.1M | 76.1M | 79.4M | 85.7M | 70.7M | 70.3M | 70.7M | 71.2M | 52M | 52M | 57.5M | 64.6M | 54.4M | 32.9M | 36.5M | 7.2M | 7.7M | 48.9M | 55.8M | 38.5M | 21.55M | 25.16M | 28.41M | 39.27M | 38.69M | 40.28M | 33.91M | 27.21M | 15.02M |
| EBIT | 124.7M | 94.9M | -34.7M | 45.5M | 60.5M | 157.7M | 117.4M | 206.7M | 199.1M | 199.2M | 174.4M | 175.9M | 186.5M | 150.7M | 86.9M | 120.1M | 116.8M | 79.1M | -182.4M | 95.9M | 109M | 127.6M | 48.53M | 64.6M | 53.9M | 25.25M | 824.58M | 835.55M | 82.5M | 74.33M | 48.73M |
| Net Interest Income | -37.2M | -36.4M | -45.1M | -51.5M | -37.3M | -44.4M | -37.8M | -40M | -36.8M | -35.3M | -42.9M | -37.9M | -43.9M | -54.7M | -89.3M | -77.2M | -78.3M | -67M | -63.7M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Interest Income | 8.1M | 9.4M | 7.5M | 7.1M | 8.3M | 1.9M | 1M | 3.2M | 4.4M | 5.8M | 6.4M | 6.6M | 5.6M | 0 | 0 | 0 | -100K | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Interest Expense | 45.3M | 45.8M | 52.6M | 58.6M | 45.6M | 46.3M | 38.8M | 43.2M | 41.2M | 41.1M | 49.3M | 44.5M | 49.5M | 54.7M | 89.3M | 77.2M | 78.2M | 67M | 63.7M | 64.1M | 61.1M | 8.5M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other Income/Expense | -20.2M | -59.1M | -50.3M | -57.8M | -19.9M | -39.6M | -33.8M | -32.7M | -29.1M | -26.4M | -34M | -32.1M | -36.6M | -54.1M | -143.7M | -72.3M | -71.3M | -67.7M | -39.9M | -56.9M | -57.3M | -28.8M | -7.3M | -7.4M | -36.78M | -42.3M | -47.64M | -53.61M | -42.51M | -26.15M | -6.17M |
| Pretax Income | 79.4M | 49.1M | -87.3M | -13.1M | 14.9M | 111.4M | 78.6M | 163.5M | 157.9M | 158.1M | 125.1M | 131.4M | 137M | 91.7M | -4.4M | 42.9M | 43.7M | 12.1M | -246M | 15.6M | 7.6M | 95.9M | 23.88M | 4.37M | 1.06M | -24.32M | 6.76M | -65.22M | 39.99M | 48.18M | 42.55M |
| Pretax Margin % | 5.06% | 3.22% | -5.24% | -0.71% | 0.77% | 5.5% | 4.75% | 8.36% | 8.13% | 8.11% | 8.03% | 8.7% | 8.11% | 5.2% | -0.25% | 3.25% | 3.28% | 0.95% | -15.59% | 0.8% | 0.39% | 6.45% | 3.35% | 0.63% | 0.15% | -3.1% | 0.74% | -7.23% | 4.33% | 6.26% | 7.93% |
| Income Tax | 13.1M | 7.8M | 14.3M | 8.7M | 28.1M | 9.5M | 16.6M | 56.7M | 51.2M | 26.4M | 29.6M | 45.5M | 45.4M | 14.4M | -121.4M | 24.3M | 32.2M | 127.9M | 16.9M | 15.9M | 200K | 39.5M | 9.11M | 7.63M | 2.04M | -4.85M | 4.33M | -8.54M | 16.2M | 19.51M | 17.34M |
| Effective Tax Rate % | 16.5% | 15.89% | -16.38% | -66.41% | 188.59% | 8.53% | 21.12% | 34.68% | 32.43% | 16.7% | 23.66% | 34.63% | 33.14% | 15.7% | 2759.09% | 56.64% | 73.68% | 1057.02% | -6.87% | 101.92% | 2.63% | 41.19% | 38.17% | 174.68% | 193.11% | 19.94% | 64% | 13.1% | 40.5% | 40.5% | 40.75% |
| Net Income | 66.3M | 41.3M | -101.6M | -21.8M | -13.2M | 101.9M | 62M | 106.8M | 106.7M | 131.7M | 95.5M | 85.9M | 91.6M | 77.1M | 115.4M | 56.7M | 12.4M | -126.1M | -339.2M | -900K | 7.2M | 59.5M | 14.76M | -3.26M | -80.01M | -19.47M | 2.43M | -56.68M | 23.79M | 28.67M | 25.21M |
| Net Margin % | 4.23% | 2.71% | -6.1% | -1.19% | -0.68% | 5.03% | 3.75% | 5.46% | 5.5% | 6.76% | 6.13% | 5.69% | 5.42% | 4.37% | 6.56% | 4.3% | 0.93% | -9.91% | -21.49% | -0.05% | 0.37% | 4% | 2.07% | -0.47% | -11.4% | -2.48% | 0.27% | -6.28% | 2.58% | 3.72% | 4.7% |
| Net Income Growth % | 63.3% | 140.65% | -366.06% | -65.15% | -112.95% | 64.35% | -41.95% | 0.09% | -18.98% | 37.91% | 11.18% | -6.22% | 18.81% | -33.19% | 103.53% | 357.26% | 109.83% | 62.82% | -37588.89% | -112.5% | -87.9% | 303.06% | 552.54% | 95.92% | -310.92% | -900.29% | 104.29% | -338.21% | -17.01% | 13.7% | 17.27% |
| Net Income (Continuing) | 66.3M | 41.3M | -101.6M | -21.8M | -13.2M | 101.9M | 62M | 106.8M | 106.7M | 131.7M | 95.5M | 85.9M | 91.6M | 77.3M | 117M | 18.6M | 11.5M | -115.8M | -263M | -900K | 7.4M | 56.4M | 13.49M | 26.7M | 1.5M | -19.47M | 2.43M | -56.68M | 23.79M | 28.67M | 25.21M |
| Discontinued Operations | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 38.1M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -200K | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Minority Interest | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| EPS (Diluted) | 0.69 | 0.44 | -1.06 | -0.23 | -0.14 | 1.05 | 0.65 | 1.06 | 1.00 | 1.19 | 0.87 | 0.78 | 0.79 | 0.67 | 1.20 | 0.98 | 0.22 | -2.31 | -6.26 | -0.02 | 0.13 | 1.40 | 1.92 | -0.20 | -5.04 | -1.24 | 0.15 | -3.60 | 1.50 | 1.80 | 1.60 |
| EPS Growth % | 65.52% | 141.51% | -360.87% | -64.29% | -113.33% | 61.54% | -38.68% | 6% | -15.97% | 36.78% | 11.54% | -1.27% | 17.91% | -44.17% | 22.45% | 345.45% | 109.52% | 63.1% | -37385.03% | -112.85% | -90.71% | -27.08% | 1060% | 96.03% | -306.45% | -926.67% | 104.17% | -340% | -16.67% | 12.5% | 16.79% |
| EPS (Basic) | - | 0.45 | -1.06 | -0.23 | -0.14 | 1.07 | 0.65 | 1.07 | 1.02 | 1.22 | 0.89 | 0.79 | 0.81 | 0.68 | 1.23 | 1.03 | 0.23 | -2.31 | -6.26 | -0.02 | 0.13 | 1.43 | 1.96 | -0.20 | -5.04 | -1.24 | 0.15 | -3.60 | 1.51 | 1.82 | 1.60 |
| Diluted Shares Outstanding | 96M | 94M | 95.6M | 95.3M | 95.3M | 97.1M | 96.1M | 101M | 107M | 110.9M | 109.2M | 110.6M | 116.3M | 115.7M | 96.1M | 57.6M | 57.2M | 54.5M | 54.2M | 54M | 54.3M | 42.4M | 16.85M | 15.97M | 15.87M | 15.76M | 16.22M | 15.74M | 15.86M | 15.93M | 15.74M |
| Basic Shares Outstanding | 94.1M | 92.1M | 95.6M | 95.3M | 95.3M | 95.5M | 94.9M | 99.5M | 104.8M | 108.1M | 107M | 108.8M | 113.7M | 113.5M | 94.1M | 55.2M | 54.8M | 54.5M | 54.2M | 54M | 53.4M | 41.5M | 16.16M | 15.97M | 15.87M | 15.76M | 16.22M | 15.74M | 15.72M | 15.76M | 15.74M |
| Dividend Payout Ratio | - | 65.38% | - | - | - | 25.32% | 39.68% | 22.85% | 23.52% | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 1050.42% | - | - | - | - | - | - | 29.74% | 24.19% | 26.85% |
Quick answers to the most common questions about buying ACCO stock.
For fiscal year 2025, ACCO Brands Corporation (ACCO) reported total revenue of $1.52B. This represents a 184.0% increase compared to $536.8M in 1996.
ACCO Brands Corporation (ACCO) is profitable, generating $41.3M in net income for the fiscal year ending 2025 with a net profit margin of 2.7%.
ACCO Brands Corporation (ACCO) reported an operating income of $108.2M, resulting in an operating profit margin of 7.1%. This margin reflects the operational efficiency of the business before interest and taxes.
ACCO Brands Corporation (ACCO) generated $454.9M in gross profit for the year, representing a gross profit margin of 29.8%. This demonstrates the company's core pricing power and production efficiency.
Key Metrics
Top Statement Risk
Volatile quarterly margins and earnings
Metrics are mathematically derived from official filings.
Revenue Recovering After Mid-2025 Softness
According to reported quarterly figures, ACCO's revenue moved from $317.4M in 2025Q1 to $428.8M in 2025Q4 and $380.3M in 2026Q3, indicating a partial recovery from the mid-2025 contraction in sales volume and pricing.
Year-over-year revenue declines of 8.8% to 11.6% in mid-2025 suggest weakening end-market demand for office and back-to-school products. The sequential rebound through late 2025 suggests seasonal and inventory-driven factors may be contributing, and investors should monitor whether the 2026Q2 and 2026Q3 growth rates of 5.1% and -0.9% reflect durable demand or timing effects.
Gross Margin Expansion Masks Operating Volatility
As reported in the income statement, ACCO's gross margin climbed from 27.2% in 2025Q1 to 35.7% in 2026Q3, a notable structural improvement that the reported operating margin has not consistently mirrored.
The gross margin improvement suggests pricing actions or cost-of-goods reductions may be taking hold, though the data alone cannot isolate which factor dominates. Operating margin remained volatile, falling to -3.0% in 2026Q1, which implies SG&A absorption and fixed-cost pressure may be offsetting gross profit gains. Further investigation into the drivers of the gross margin shift is warranted.
Operating Income Swings Show Limited Operating Leverage
Based on reported figures, ACCO's SG&A remained relatively flat between $82.6M and $99.1M across the period, while operating income ranged from -$10.4M to $49.4M, indicating high sensitivity to gross profit fluctuations.
Because SG&A has held near $85M to $95M while gross profit varied widely, the cost base appears largely fixed, which amplifies operating income swings in both directions. This pattern suggests limited operating leverage at current revenue levels, meaning modest sales changes produce outsized earnings effects. Investors should monitor whether cost actions can reduce the fixed SG&A base.
Net Income Diverges Sharply From Operating Results
Reported net income of $19.4M in 2026Q1 occurred alongside an operating loss of $10.4M, a divergence that, per the reported filings, warrants closer examination of non-operating items.
The gap between operating and net income in several quarters, including 2026Q1 and 2025Q1, suggests the presence of non-operating gains, tax effects, or other items not visible in the summarized data. Quarterly EPS swings from -$0.14 to $0.31 further indicate that reported earnings may be influenced by items outside core operations. Stock-based compensation remained small relative to revenue, so it does not appear to be a primary driver of earnings volatility.
Margin Gains May Prove Difficult to Sustain
The short-seller case centers on whether ACCO's 35.7% gross margin in 2026Q3 is durable, given that the same metric was 27.2% just six quarters earlier and operating margin turned negative in 2026Q1.
Peer comparisons show Spectrum Brands and Central Garden operating at 4.4% and 8.5% operating margins, which suggests ACCO's recent profitability may be less secure than its gross margin implies. The 2024Q2 operating loss of $111.2M, though driven by items not detailed in the data, indicates the company has experienced severe earnings shocks within the period. Investors should consider whether the recent recovery reflects structural change or a cyclical peak.