---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001564590-21-051909"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "ACU"
cik: "0000002098"
company_name: "ACME UNITED CORP"
filed_at: "2021-10-26T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-06-28T18:09:33.953414+00:00"
event_type: "earnings"
sentiment: "positive"
materiality_score: 0.6
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.6
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# Acme United Q3 2021 sales up 11% to $47.9M; net income up 30% to $2.05M

## Summary
- Diluted EPS $0.50 vs $0.46 YoY (+9%), nine-month EPS ex-PPP $1.97 vs $1.75.
- U.S. segment sales +12%; Europe flat; Canada +6% in USD, flat in local currency.
- Gross margin improved to 35.5% from 34.5%; nine-month margin held at 36%.
- Bank debt $38.1M; paid $9.3M for Med-Nap LLC acquisition, paid $1.7M dividends.
- Inventory increased ~33% over 18 months to buffer supply chain disruptions.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001564590-21-051909
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: ACU
- cik: 0000002098
- company_name: ACME UNITED CORP
- filed_at: 2021-10-26T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: earnings
- sentiment: positive
- materiality_score: 0.6
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.6
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 2.02, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/2098/000156459021051909/0001564590-21-051909-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/2098/000156459021051909/acu-8k_20211026.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001564590-21-051909
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001564590-21-051909.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001564590-21-051909.txt

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