---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0000950170-23-054531"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "ACU"
cik: "0000002098"
company_name: "ACME UNITED CORP"
filed_at: "2023-10-23T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-06-09T17:27:24.103167+00:00"
event_type: "earnings"
sentiment: "positive"
materiality_score: 0.75
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.75
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# Acme United Q3 record EPS $0.58 vs $0.02 YoY; sales up 1% to $50.4M

## Summary
- Net income $2.2M ($0.58 diluted EPS) vs $64K ($0.02) in Q3 2022; nine-month EPS $1.83, up 91%.
- Gross margin improved to 38.7% from 32.0% on productivity gains and lower inbound freight.
- Bank debt reduced 41% to $38M; generated $27M free cash flow and cut inventory $12M in 12 months.
- Acquired Hawktree Solutions (exclusive Canadian Red Cross license for first aid/safety products), accretive expected Q4 2023.
- New product placements for 2024 at major drug/hardware chains; annual productivity savings of $5M.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0000950170-23-054531
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: ACU
- cik: 0000002098
- company_name: ACME UNITED CORP
- filed_at: 2023-10-23T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: earnings
- sentiment: positive
- materiality_score: 0.75
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.75
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 2.02, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/2098/000095017023054531/0000950170-23-054531-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/2098/000095017023054531/acu-20231023.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0000950170-23-054531
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0000950170-23-054531.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0000950170-23-054531.txt

## Key facts
- Earnings Releases
  ACME UNITED CORP reported the three months ended September 30, 2023 results: revenue $50.4 million, net income $2.2 million, EPS $0.58 per diluted share.
  - Period: the three months ended September 30, 2023
  - Revenue: $50.4 million
  - Net income: $2.2 million
  - EPS: $0.58 per diluted share
  - Result: reported results
  source text: PER DILUTED SHARE SHELTON, CT – October 23, 2023 – Acme United Corporation (NYSE American: ACU) today announced that net sales for the three months ended September 30, 2023 were $50.4 million compared to $49.7 million in the same period of 2022, an increase of 1%. Net sales for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 were $149.6 million compared to $149.8 million in
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/2098/000095017023054531/0000950170-23-054531-index.htm

This AI-assisted summary is a reading aid. Review the linked SEC EDGAR filing before relying on any specific claim.