---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0000950170-24-045741"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "ACU"
cik: "0000002098"
company_name: "ACME UNITED CORP"
filed_at: "2024-04-19T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-06-03T17:05:00.061909+00:00"
event_type: "earnings"
sentiment: "positive"
materiality_score: 0.8
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.8
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# Acme United Q1 diluted EPS up 39% to $0.39; gross margin expands to 38.7%

## Summary
- Net sales $45.0M, down 2% YoY; ex-divested lines up 1%. Net income $1.6M, up 65%.
- Diluted EPS $0.39 vs $0.28, a 39% increase. Gross margin 38.7% vs 35.5%.
- Bank debt less cash dropped to $31.5M from $48.4M a year ago; generated $5.4M free cash flow in past 12 months.
- U.S. segment sales down 2%, Europe up 5% in USD, Canada down 7%.
- Management cites productivity improvements and reduced inbound shipping costs; new initiatives in first aid, cutting tools, spill clean-up.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0000950170-24-045741
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: ACU
- cik: 0000002098
- company_name: ACME UNITED CORP
- filed_at: 2024-04-19T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: earnings
- sentiment: positive
- materiality_score: 0.8
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.8
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 2.02, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/2098/000095017024045741/0000950170-24-045741-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/2098/000095017024045741/acu-20240419.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0000950170-24-045741
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0000950170-24-045741.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0000950170-24-045741.txt

## Key facts
- Earnings Releases
  ACME UNITED CORP reported the quarter ended March 31, 2024 results: revenue $45.0 million, net income $1.6 million, or $0.39 per diluted share, EPS $0.39 per diluted share.
  - Period: the quarter ended March 31, 2024
  - Revenue: $45.0 million
  - Net income: $1.6 million, or $0.39 per diluted share
  - EPS: $0.39 per diluted share
  - Result: reported results
  source text: FOR FIRST QUARTER OF 2024 SHELTON, CT – April 19, 2024 – Acme United Corporation (NYSE American: ACU) today announced that net sales for the quarter ended March 31, 2024 were $45.0 million compared to $45.8 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2023, a decrease of 2%. Excluding the impact of the Camillus and Cuda hunting and fishing product lines sold on November
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/2098/000095017024045741/0000950170-24-045741-index.htm

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