---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001193125-25-244419"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "ACU"
cik: "0000002098"
company_name: "ACME UNITED CORP"
filed_at: "2025-10-21T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-05-17T03:07:13.320776+00:00"
event_type: "earnings"
sentiment: "negative"
materiality_score: 0.7
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.7
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# Acme United Q3 net sales up 2% to $49.1M; EPS falls 15% to $0.46 on higher tax rate

## Summary
- Net sales $49.1M (+2% YoY); net income $1.9M vs $2.2M (-14%); diluted EPS $0.46 vs $0.54 (-15%).
- Net income decline driven by higher effective tax rate (22% vs 8% in Q3 2024); operating income up 3%.
- First aid sales up 9% on strong online and refill sales; Westcott cutting tools hurt by tariff-led order cancellations.
- U.S. segment sales +1%; Europe +13% (USD) on ecommerce school/office; Canada +5% (USD) on first-aid strength.
- Bank debt net of cash reduced to $23.1M from $26.7M; generated $11.1M free cash flow; purchased $6M Tennessee facility.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001193125-25-244419
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: ACU
- cik: 0000002098
- company_name: ACME UNITED CORP
- filed_at: 2025-10-21T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: earnings
- sentiment: negative
- materiality_score: 0.7
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.7
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 2.02, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/2098/000119312525244419/0001193125-25-244419-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/2098/000119312525244419/acu-20251021.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001193125-25-244419
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001193125-25-244419.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001193125-25-244419.txt

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