---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001564590-23-006014"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "ACU"
cik: "0000002098"
company_name: "ACME UNITED CORP"
filed_at: "2023-04-21T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-06-16T21:48:10.031883+00:00"
event_type: "earnings"
sentiment: "positive"
materiality_score: 0.7
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.7
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# Acme United Q1 2023 sales up 6% to $45.8M; diluted EPS $0.28 (+27% YoY)

## Summary
- Net income $990K vs $830K (+19%); operating income +60% on higher sales and gross margin.
- Gross margin improved to 35.5% from 34.5% on productivity initiatives.
- US segment sales +9%; Europe -2% local currency; Canada -5% local currency on retailer destocking.
- Bank debt $48.4M vs $46.2M; inventory reduced $5.0M from Dec 2022, generated ~$11M free cash flow.
- Company on track for $5M annual productivity savings in 2023.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001564590-23-006014
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: ACU
- cik: 0000002098
- company_name: ACME UNITED CORP
- filed_at: 2023-04-21T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: earnings
- sentiment: positive
- 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/2098/000156459023006014/0001564590-23-006014-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/2098/000156459023006014/acu-8k_20230421.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001564590-23-006014
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001564590-23-006014.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001564590-23-006014.txt

## Key facts
- Earnings Releases
  ACME UNITED CORP reported the quarter ended March 31, 2023 results: revenue $45.8 million, net income $990,000, EPS $0.28 per diluted share.
  - Period: the quarter ended March 31, 2023
  - Revenue: $45.8 million
  - Net income: $990,000
  - EPS: $0.28 per diluted share
  - Result: reported results
  source text: today announced that net sales for the quarter ended March 31, 2023 were $45.8 million compared to $43.3 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2022, an increase of 6%. Net income was $990,000, or $0.28 per diluted share, for the quarter ended March 31, 2023
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/2098/000156459023006014/0001564590-23-006014-index.htm

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