Acme United Corporation (ACU) 10-Year Financial Performance & Capital Metrics

ACU • • Industrial / General

Consumer DefensiveHousehold ProductsSpecialty Tools & AccessoriesFirst Aid & Safety

AboutAcme United Corporation supplies first aid and safety, cutting, sharpening, and measuring products to the school, home, office, hardware, sporting goods, and industrial markets in the United States, Canada, Europe, and internationally. The company offers scissors, shears, knives, rulers, pencil sharpeners, paper trimmers, safety cutters, lettering products, glue guns, and other craft products under the Westcott brand name; and cutting tools under the Clauss brand. It also provides fixed blades, folding knives, sight cutting tools, and tactical tools under the Camillus brand; fishing tools and knives, as well as cut and puncture resistant gloves, telescopic landing nets, net containment systems, and tools and fishing gaffs under the Cuda brand; and sharpening tools under the DMT brand. In addition, the company offers first aid kit and safety solutions under the First Aid Only brand; portable eyewash solution and over-the-counter medication, including active ingredients aspirin, acetaminophen, and ibuprofen under the PhysiciansCare brand; bodily fluid and spill clean-up solution under the Spill Magic brand; various first aid kit, refill, and safety supplies, including CPR kits, burn kits, and automotive and emergency first aid kits under the First Aid Central; and alcohol prep pads, alcohol wipes, benzalkonium chloride wipes, various antiseptic wipes, castile soaps, and lens cleaning wipes under the Med-Nap brand. It sells its products directly and through its independent manufacturer representatives to wholesale, contract, and retail stationery distributors; office supply super stores; school supply distributors; industrial distributors; wholesale florists; mass market and e-commerce retailers; and hardware chains, as well as sells a selection of products through its websites. The company was formerly known as Acme Shear Company and changed its name to Acme United Corporation in 1971. Acme United Corporation was founded in 1867 and is based in Shelton, Connecticut.Show more

Revenue $194M +1.6%
EBITDA $20M +10.7%
Net Income $10M -43.7%
EPS (Diluted) 2.45 -49.6%
Gross Margin 39.26% +4.1%
EBITDA Margin 10.39% +9.0%
Operating Margin 7.27% +5.6%
Net Margin 5.15% -44.5%
ROE 9.78% -51.4%
ROIC 8.42% +8.5%
Debt/Equity 0.31 +17.8%
Interest Coverage 6.79 +59.4%

Technical Analysis

Key Insights

Based on financial data analysis

✓Strengths

✓Trading near 52-week high
✓Efficient asset utilization: 1.2x turnover

✗Weaknesses

✗Shares diluted 12.1% in last year

Price & Volume

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Growth Metrics

Revenue CAGR

10Y6.14%

5Y6.42%

3Y2.22%

TTM-23.38%

Profit (Net Income) CAGR

10Y7.66%

5Y12.7%

3Y-9.8%

TTM-58.42%

EPS CAGR

10Y6.06%

5Y8.9%

3Y-10.78%

TTM-50.1%

ROCE

10Y Avg9.53%

5Y Avg9.51%

3Y Avg8.47%

Latest10.77%

Peer Comparison

First Aid & Safety

Name	Market Cap	Current Price	P/E Ratio	Revenue Growth 1Y	Net Margin	ROE	FCF Yield	Debt/Equity
ACUAcme United Corporation	167.19M	43.92	17.93	1.56%	5.56%	7.01%	2.89%	0.31

Profit & Loss

	Dec 2015	Dec 2016	Dec 2017	Dec 2018	Dec 2019	Dec 2020	Dec 2021	Dec 2022	Dec 2023	Dec 2024
Sales/Revenue+	109.81M	124.57M	130.55M	137.32M	142.46M	164M	182.09M	193.96M	191.5M	194.49M
Revenue Growth %	0.02%	0.13%	0.05%	0.05%	0.04%	0.15%	0.11%	0.07%	-0.01%	0.02%
Cost of Goods Sold+	70.25M	79.02M	82.65M	86.67M	90.46M	104.41M	117.29M	130.4M	119.29M	118.14M
COGS % of Revenue	0.64%	0.63%	0.63%	0.63%	0.63%	0.64%	0.64%	0.67%	0.62%	0.61%
Gross Profit+	39.56M	45.55M	47.9M	50.65M	52M	59.59M	64.8M	63.56M	72.21M	76.35M
Gross Margin %	0.36%	0.37%	0.37%	0.37%	0.37%	0.36%	0.36%	0.33%	0.38%	0.39%
Gross Profit Growth %	0.04%	0.15%	0.05%	0.06%	0.03%	0.15%	0.09%	-0.02%	0.14%	0.06%
Operating Expenses+	32.21M	37.11M	40.1M	43.19M	43.57M	48.18M	52.03M	57.28M	59.02M	62.21M
OpEx % of Revenue	0.29%	0.3%	0.31%	0.31%	0.31%	0.29%	0.29%	0.3%	0.31%	0.32%
Selling, General & Admin	32.21M	37.11M	40.1M	43.19M	42.98M	47.93M	52.03M	57.28M	59.02M	62.21M
SG&A % of Revenue	0.29%	0.3%	0.31%	0.31%	0.3%	0.29%	0.29%	0.3%	0.31%	0.32%
Research & Development	690K	750K	752K	734K	596K	251K	0	0	0	0
R&D % of Revenue	0.01%	0.01%	0.01%	0.01%	0%	0%	-	-	-	-
Other Operating Expenses	-168K	-76K	25K	-68K	0	0	-196K	-246K	0	-118
Operating Income+	7.35M	8.44M	7.88M	7.46M	8.43M	11.41M	12.77M	6.27M	13.19M	14.14M
Operating Margin %	0.07%	0.07%	0.06%	0.05%	0.06%	0.07%	0.07%	0.03%	0.07%	0.07%
Operating Income Growth %	-0.01%	0.15%	-0.07%	-0.05%	0.13%	0.35%	0.12%	-0.51%	1.1%	0.07%
EBITDA+	9.4M	10.86M	10.78M	10.69M	11.88M	15.25M	16.98M	10.81M	18.26M	20.21M
EBITDA Margin %	0.09%	0.09%	0.08%	0.08%	0.08%	0.09%	0.09%	0.06%	0.1%	0.1%
EBITDA Growth %	0.03%	0.16%	-0.01%	-0.01%	0.11%	0.28%	0.11%	-0.36%	0.69%	0.11%
D&A (Non-Cash Add-back)	2.05M	2.42M	2.89M	3.23M	3.45M	3.84M	4.21M	4.54M	5.07M	6.07M
EBIT	7.18M	8.37M	7.85M	7.42M	8.37M	10.77M	16.1M	6.06M	25.83M	14.38M
Net Interest Income+	-565.21K	-868.51K	-1.33M	-1.86M	-1.79M	-919.71K	-908.22K	-2.36M	-2.98M	-1.94M
Interest Income	5K	119	29K	33K	40K	24.65K	14K	32K	119.32K	141.32K
Interest Expense	570K	869K	1.36M	1.89M	1.83M	944.36K	922K	2.4M	3.1M	2.08M
Other Income/Expense	-732.61K	-945.35K	-1.39M	-1.93M	-1.89M	-1.59M	2.4M	-2.61M	9.55M	-1.85M
Pretax Income+	6.61M	7.5M	6.49M	5.53M	6.54M	9.83M	15.18M	3.66M	22.73M	12.29M
Pretax Margin %	0.06%	0.06%	0.05%	0.04%	0.05%	0.06%	0.08%	0.02%	0.12%	0.06%
Income Tax+	1.82M	1.65M	2.44M	933K	1.03M	1.73M	1.52M	628K	4.94M	2.27M
Effective Tax Rate %	0.72%	0.78%	0.62%	0.83%	0.84%	0.82%	0.9%	0.83%	0.78%	0.82%
Net Income+	4.79M	5.85M	4.05M	4.6M	5.51M	8.1M	13.66M	3.03M	17.79M	10.02M
Net Margin %	0.04%	0.05%	0.03%	0.03%	0.04%	0.05%	0.07%	0.02%	0.09%	0.05%
Net Income Growth %	0%	0.22%	-0.31%	0.13%	0.2%	0.47%	0.69%	-0.78%	4.86%	-0.44%
Net Income (Continuing)	4.79M	5.85M	4.05M	4.6M	5.51M	8.1M	13.66M	3.03M	17.79M	10.02M
Discontinued Operations	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Minority Interest	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
EPS (Diluted)+	1.30	1.64	1.09	1.30	1.60	2.31	3.45	0.82	4.86	2.45
EPS Growth %	-0.04%	0.26%	-0.34%	0.19%	0.23%	0.44%	0.49%	-0.76%	4.93%	-0.5%
EPS (Basic)	1.44	1.76	1.21	1.36	1.65	2.42	3.93	0.86	4.98	2.71
Diluted Shares Outstanding	3.69M	3.58M	3.73M	3.54M	3.45M	3.51M	3.96M	3.72M	3.66M	4.1M
Basic Shares Outstanding	3.33M	3.33M	3.36M	3.37M	3.35M	3.34M	3.47M	3.53M	3.66M	3.7M
Dividend Payout Ratio	0.25%	0.23%	0.35%	0.32%	0.29%	0.2%	0.13%	0.63%	0.11%	0.22%

Balance Sheet

	Dec 2015	Dec 2016	Dec 2017	Dec 2018	Dec 2019	Dec 2020	Dec 2021	Dec 2022	Dec 2023	Dec 2024
Total Current Assets+	59.63M	64.96M	77.82M	72.99M	73.15M	83.69M	95.25M	105.6M	92.02M	95.46M
Cash & Short-Term Investments	2.43M	5.91M	9.34M	4.41M	6.82M	4.17M	4.84M	6.1M	4.8M	6.4M
Cash Only	2.43M	5.91M	9.34M	4.41M	6.82M	4.17M	4.84M	6.1M	4.8M	6.4M
Short-Term Investments	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Accounts Receivable	19.57M	20.02M	26.01M	25.1M	25.48M	27.17M	34.22M	32.6M	26.23M	28.24M
Days Sales Outstanding	65.03	58.66	72.73	66.72	65.3	60.48	68.6	61.35	50	52.99
Inventory	35.51M	37.24M	40.09M	41.33M	39.26M	50.7M	53.55M	63.33M	55.47M	56.25M
Days Inventory Outstanding	184.49	172.01	177.03	174.06	158.42	177.26	166.66	177.25	169.72	173.8
Other Current Assets	389.96K	0	0	0	0	0	0	750K	750K	0
Total Non-Current Assets+	21.79M	27.1M	36.91M	36.49M	37.6M	46.18M	49.19M	58.78M	57.22M	66.71M
Property, Plant & Equipment	7.4M	7.97M	13.73M	14.54M	17.02M	22.66M	27.16M	29.05M	30.03M	36.48M
Fixed Asset Turnover	14.84x	15.62x	9.51x	9.44x	8.37x	7.24x	6.70x	6.68x	6.38x	5.33x
Goodwill	1.41M	3.95M	4.7M	4.7M	4.7M	4.8M	4.8M	8.19M	8.19M	9.91M
Intangible Assets	11.95M	13.99M	17.88M	17.04M	15.79M	18.72M	17.23M	20.79M	19M	20.32M
Long-Term Investments	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Other Non-Current Assets	148.49K	24.94K	96K	88.9K	88.83K	0	0	750K	0	0
Total Assets+	81.42M	92.07M	114.73M	109.48M	110.75M	129.87M	144.44M	164.38M	149.24M	162.17M
Asset Turnover	1.35x	1.35x	1.14x	1.25x	1.29x	1.26x	1.26x	1.18x	1.28x	1.20x
Asset Growth %	0.03%	0.13%	0.25%	-0.05%	0.01%	0.17%	0.11%	0.14%	-0.09%	0.09%
Total Current Liabilities+	11.94M	12.82M	16.78M	13.36M	16.58M	20.2M	20.28M	22.13M	26.01M	22.87M
Accounts Payable	6.66M	7.34M	11.15M	7.98M	6.69M	7.6M	8.98M	10.51M	12.1M	9M
Days Payables Outstanding	34.62	33.9	49.24	33.62	27.01	26.57	27.94	29.43	37.03	27.82
Short-Term Debt	0	0	266.67K	266.67K	0	0	0	0	0	436.95K
Deferred Revenue (Current)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Other Current Liabilities	0	0	0	0	266.67K	3.34M	1.97M	404.59K	419.31K	0
Current Ratio	5.00x	5.07x	4.64x	5.46x	4.41x	4.14x	4.70x	4.77x	3.54x	4.17x
Quick Ratio	2.02x	2.16x	2.25x	2.37x	2.04x	1.63x	2.06x	1.91x	1.41x	1.71x
Cash Conversion Cycle	214.89	196.77	200.51	207.16	196.71	211.16	207.32	209.17	182.7	198.97
Total Non-Current Liabilities+	26.3M	33.13M	48.01M	43.78M	38.46M	46.95M	47.08M	63.22M	25.33M	32.32M
Long-Term Debt	25.91M	32.94M	47.16M	43.73M	36.42M	45.19M	44.12M	60.61M	23.39M	27.47M
Capital Lease Obligations	0	0	0	0	1.96M	1.65M	2.36M	1.68M	1.03M	3.37M
Deferred Tax Liabilities	0	0	0	0	49.28K	110.22K	599.28K	305.29K	899.34K	1.46M
Other Non-Current Liabilities	388.4K	190.14K	847.38K	53.13K	32.3K	0	0	622.44K	16.27K	13.36K
Total Liabilities	38.24M	45.95M	64.79M	57.15M	55.04M	67.15M	67.36M	85.35M	51.34M	55.19M
Total Debt+	25.91M	32.94M	47.43M	43.99M	39.43M	47.71M	47.48M	63.42M	25.51M	32.84M
Net Debt	23.49M	27.03M	38.09M	39.59M	32.6M	43.55M	42.64M	57.32M	20.72M	26.44M
Debt / Equity	0.60x	0.71x	0.95x	0.84x	0.71x	0.76x	0.62x	0.80x	0.26x	0.31x
Debt / EBITDA	2.76x	3.03x	4.40x	4.12x	3.32x	3.13x	2.80x	5.87x	1.40x	1.63x
Net Debt / EBITDA	2.50x	2.49x	3.53x	3.70x	2.74x	2.86x	2.51x	5.30x	1.13x	1.31x
Interest Coverage	12.89x	9.71x	5.81x	3.94x	4.61x	12.09x	13.85x	2.62x	4.26x	6.79x
Total Equity+	43.18M	46.12M	49.94M	52.33M	55.7M	62.72M	77.08M	79.03M	97.9M	106.98M
Equity Growth %	0.1%	0.07%	0.08%	0.05%	0.06%	0.13%	0.23%	0.03%	0.24%	0.09%
Book Value per Share	11.71	12.89	13.41	14.77	16.13	17.87	19.49	21.25	26.77	26.10
Total Shareholders' Equity	43.18M	46.12M	49.94M	52.33M	55.7M	62.72M	77.08M	79.03M	97.9M	106.98M
Common Stock	11.88M	11.97M	12.09M	12.09M	12.09M	12.1M	12.65M	12.7M	12.97M	13.25M
Retained Earnings	37.34M	41.86M	44.47M	47.55M	51.57M	58.03M	69.87M	70.97M	86.72M	94.5M
Treasury Stock	-12.96M	-13.87M	-13.87M	-14.24M	-14.24M	-14.52M	-16M	-16M	-16M	-16M
Accumulated OCI	-2.53M	-2.34M	-1.63M	-2.06M	-1.99M	-825.97K	-1.38M	-2.09M	-1.71M	-2.75M
Minority Interest	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

Cash Flow

	Dec 2015	Dec 2016	Dec 2017	Dec 2018	Dec 2019	Dec 2020	Dec 2021	Dec 2022	Dec 2023	Dec 2024
Cash from Operations+	1.08M	8.86M	4.81M	4.48M	14.7M	5.72M	5.14M	2.89M	28.9M	11.98M
Operating CF Margin %	0.01%	0.07%	0.04%	0.03%	0.1%	0.03%	0.03%	0.01%	0.15%	0.06%
Operating CF Growth %	-0.77%	7.2%	-0.46%	-0.07%	2.29%	-0.61%	-0.1%	-0.44%	8.99%	-0.59%
Net Income	4.79M	5.85M	4.05M	4.6M	5.51M	8.1M	13.66M	3.03M	17.79M	10.02M
Depreciation & Amortization	2.05M	2.42M	2.89M	3.23M	3.43M	3.75M	4.05M	4.58M	5.07M	0
Stock-Based Compensation	513.99K	440.54K	684.35K	869.05K	968.47K	1.26M	1.81M	1.8M	1.94M	0
Deferred Taxes	-201.55K	100.53K	660.7K	396.23K	162.64K	60.94K	489.06K	-294K	594.06K	0
Other Non-Cash Items	0	-2	9.82M	11.17M	309.35K	1.39M	-3.35M	377.45K	-9.45M	9.24M
Working Capital Changes	-6.08M	43.4K	-3.48M	-4.62M	4.32M	-8.84M	-11.51M	-6.61M	12.95M	-7.28M
Change in Receivables	-16.95K	499.94K	-5.23M	807.99K	-784.56K	-2.03M	-7.23M	1.84M	6.33M	-2.46M
Change in Inventory	-2.6M	-1.48M	-1.85M	-1.58M	2.09M	-10.05M	-3.21M	-9.61M	3.65M	-329.9K
Change in Payables	-1.07M	610.5K	3.73M	-3.07M	-1.53M	460.18K	1.5M	1.91M	1.55M	-2.98M
Cash from Investing+	-1.91M	-8.81M	-14.38M	-3.23M	-1.68M	-13.95M	-6.37M	-14.23M	7.43M	-12.94M
Capital Expenditures	-1.92M	-1.84M	-7.15M	-3.23M	-1.68M	-2.57M	-6.37M	-4.3M	-4.67M	-7.15M
CapEx % of Revenue	0.02%	0.01%	0.05%	0.02%	0.01%	0.02%	0.03%	0.02%	0.02%	0.04%
Acquisitions	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Investments	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Other Investing	4.98K	-29.37K	-11.23B	-379.92K	0	0	0	-300K	-301.74K	0
Cash from Financing+	1.14M	3.47M	12.91M	-6.05M	-10.61M	5.29M	2.04M	14.28M	-38.44M	2M
Debt Issued (Net)	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Equity Issued (Net)	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Dividends Paid	-1.2M	-1.33M	-1.41M	-1.48M	-1.61M	-1.6M	-1.79M	-1.9M	-1.99M	-2.22M
Share Repurchases	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Other Financing	1.25M	-1.71M	-823.53K	-768.08K	-1.69M	-1.64M	-342.29K	-351.62K	-655.42K	-1.46M
Net Change in Cash	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Free Cash Flow+	-838.87K	7.02M	-2.34M	1.24M	13.02M	3.15M	-1.23M	-1.71M	23.92M	4.83M
FCF Margin %	-0.01%	0.06%	-0.02%	0.01%	0.09%	0.02%	-0.01%	-0.01%	0.12%	0.02%
FCF Growth %	-1.34%	9.37%	-1.33%	1.53%	9.46%	-0.76%	-1.39%	-0.39%	14.97%	-0.8%
FCF per Share	-0.23	1.96	-0.63	0.35	3.77	0.90	-0.31	-0.46	6.54	1.18
FCF Conversion (FCF/Net Income)	0.23x	1.51x	1.19x	0.97x	2.67x	0.71x	0.38x	0.95x	1.62x	1.19x
Interest Paid	563.84K	841.63K	1.26M	1.86M	1.86M	930.36K	908.78K	2.12M	3.18M	1.9M
Taxes Paid	2.41M	1.78M	1.57M	887.59K	422.34K	755.34K	875K	978.38K	5.77M	2.25M

Key Ratios

Metric	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024
Return on Equity (ROE)	11.61%	13.1%	8.44%	8.99%	10.21%	13.68%	19.54%	3.89%	20.11%	9.78%
Return on Invested Capital (ROIC)	8.61%	9.06%	7.34%	6.22%	7.02%	8.8%	8.48%	3.67%	7.76%	8.42%
Gross Margin	36.03%	36.57%	36.69%	36.88%	36.5%	36.34%	35.59%	32.77%	37.71%	39.26%
Net Margin	4.37%	4.7%	3.1%	3.35%	3.87%	4.94%	7.5%	1.56%	9.29%	5.15%
Debt / Equity	0.60x	0.71x	0.95x	0.84x	0.71x	0.76x	0.62x	0.80x	0.26x	0.31x
Interest Coverage	12.89x	9.71x	5.81x	3.94x	4.61x	12.09x	13.85x	2.62x	4.26x	6.79x
FCF Conversion	0.23x	1.51x	1.19x	0.97x	2.67x	0.71x	0.38x	0.95x	1.62x	1.19x
Revenue Growth	2.42%	13.44%	4.8%	5.19%	3.74%	15.12%	11.03%	6.52%	-1.27%	1.56%

Revenue by Segment

	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024
Product B	-	-	-	-	-	79.92M	91.22M	104.63M	114.46M	119.28M
Product B Growth	-	-	-	-	-	-	14.14%	14.70%	9.39%	4.21%
Product A	-	-	-	-	-	84.08M	90.87M	89.33M	77.04M	75.21M
Product A Growth	-	-	-	-	-	-	8.07%	-1.69%	-13.76%	-2.37%
United States	-	-	-	-	125.72M	-	-	-	-	-
United States Growth	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Europe	-	-	-	-	10.06M	-	-	-	-	-
Europe Growth	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Canada	-	-	-	-	6.68M	-	-	-	-	-
Canada Growth	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-

Revenue by Geography

	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024
UNITED STATES	96.62M	110.79M	115.41M	121.25M	125.72M	140.19M	152.47M	165.21M	163.21M	166.15M
UNITED STATES Growth	-	14.67%	4.16%	5.06%	3.69%	11.51%	8.76%	8.35%	-1.21%	1.81%
Europe	6.38M	6.96M	8.21M	9.29M	10.06M	12.83M	15.27M	14.98M	14.4M	15.08M
Europe Growth	-	8.96%	17.98%	13.16%	8.33%	27.47%	19.07%	-1.93%	-3.83%	4.67%
CANADA	6.8M	6.82M	6.93M	7.04M	6.68M	10.99M	14.34M	13.78M	13.89M	13.26M
CANADA Growth	-	0.29%	1.63%	1.51%	-5.14%	64.51%	30.54%	-3.92%	0.81%	-4.54%

Frequently Asked Questions

Valuation & Price

Acme United Corporation (ACU) has a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 17.9x. This is roughly in line with market averages.

Growth & Financials

Acme United Corporation (ACU) reported $145.9M in revenue for fiscal year 2024. This represents a 99% increase from $73.3M in 2011.

Acme United Corporation (ACU) grew revenue by 1.6% over the past year. Growth has been modest.

Yes, Acme United Corporation (ACU) is profitable, generating $8.1M in net income for fiscal year 2024 (5.2% net margin).

Dividend & Returns

Yes, Acme United Corporation (ACU) pays a dividend with a yield of 1.23%. This makes it attractive for income-focused investors.

Acme United Corporation (ACU) has a return on equity (ROE) of 9.8%. This is below average, suggesting room for improvement.

Acme United Corporation (ACU) generated $5.0M in free cash flow for fiscal year 2024. Positive FCF indicates the company can fund dividends, buybacks, or reinvestment.

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