---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001193125-26-172010"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "ACU"
cik: "0000002098"
company_name: "ACME UNITED CORP"
filed_at: "2026-04-23T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-05-15T04:40:55.787396+00:00"
event_type: "earnings"
sentiment: "negative"
materiality_score: 0.75
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.75
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# Acme United Q1 sales up 14% to $52.3M; net income down 40% to $1.0M on tariff costs

## Summary
- Net income $1.0M ($0.24 diluted EPS) vs $1.7M ($0.41) YoY, down 40% and 41% respectively.
- Gross margin improved to 39.7% from 39.0%; tariff-related costs and Med-Nap quality protocols pressured earnings.
- My Medic acquisition (closed Jan 2026) added sales but minimal Q1 profit; expects majority of its profitability in Q4.
- Company added ~$10M of incremental inventory orders for H2 2026 due to Iran conflict supply concerns.
- Bank debt less cash rose to $38.6M from $27.2M; spent $14.6M on My Medic and $1.6M on German cutting line.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001193125-26-172010
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: ACU
- cik: 0000002098
- company_name: ACME UNITED CORP
- filed_at: 2026-04-23T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: earnings
- sentiment: negative
- 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/2098/000119312526172010/0001193125-26-172010-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/2098/000119312526172010/acu-20260423.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001193125-26-172010
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001193125-26-172010.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001193125-26-172010.txt

## Key facts
- Earnings Releases
  ACME UNITED CORP reported the quarter ended March 31, 2026 results: revenue $52.3 million, net income $1.0 million, EPS $0.24 per diluted share.
  - Period: the quarter ended March 31, 2026
  - Revenue: $52.3 million
  - Net income: $1.0 million
  - EPS: $0.24 per diluted share
  - Result: reported results
  source text: 2026 FINANCIAL RESULTS SHELTON, CT – April 23, 2026 – Acme United Corporation (NYSE American: ACU) today announced that net sales for the quarter ended March 31, 2026 were $52.3 million compared to $46.0 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2025, an increase of 14%. Excluding incremental sales resulting from the acquisition of the assets of My Medic on
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/2098/000119312526172010/0001193125-26-172010-index.htm

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