Acme United (NYSE:ACU) COO Sells 4,000 Shares of Stock

Acme United Co. (NYSE:ACU) COO Brian Olschan sold 4,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, August 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $55.51, for a total value of $222,040.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief operating officer directly owned 47,099 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,614,465.49. The trade was a 7.83% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink.

Acme United Price Performance

Shares of ACU traded up $2.24 during trading hours on Wednesday, reaching $59.59. 31,785 shares of the company’s stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 18,892. Acme United Co. has a 12 month low of $35.50 and a 12 month high of $60.07. The company has a current ratio of 4.41, a quick ratio of 1.91 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.30. The stock has a market cap of $227.04 million, a PE ratio of 12.19 and a beta of 0.47. The firm’s 50 day simple moving average is $49.14 and its 200-day simple moving average is $45.49.

Acme United Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, July 23rd. Shareholders of record on Thursday, July 2nd were given a dividend of $0.16 per share. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, July 2nd. This represents a $0.64 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.1%. Acme United’s payout ratio is presently 26.89%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Acme United

A number of institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in ACU. BlackRock Inc. bought a new stake in Acme United during the second quarter worth about $8,578,000. Bard Associates Inc. bought a new position in shares of Acme United during the 2nd quarter valued at about $5,163,000. Geode Capital Management LLC increased its position in shares of Acme United by 116.6% during the 2nd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 75,267 shares of the company’s stock valued at $3,120,000 after purchasing an additional 40,524 shares during the last quarter. Diamond Hill Capital Management LLC Investment Advisor purchased a new position in shares of Acme United during the 2nd quarter valued at about $1,627,000. Finally, Bank of New York Mellon Corp bought a new stake in Acme United in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $1,509,000. Institutional investors own 62.10% of the company’s stock.

Acme United News Roundup

Here are the key news stories impacting Acme United this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Institutional ownership remains substantial at 62.1%, with Bank of America sharply increasing its position and JPMorgan Chase, Mirae Asset Global ETFs, Raymond James and the New York State Common Retirement Fund initiating positions during the second quarter. These purchases provide a favorable signal about institutional interest in ACU.
• Positive Sentiment: Acme United continues to pay a quarterly dividend of $0.16, or $0.64 annually, representing an approximately 1.1% yield and a payout ratio below 30%. The dividend adds income appeal and suggests the company has room to maintain shareholder distributions. Acme United insider trading and dividend information
• Neutral Sentiment: The stock is trading well above its 50-day and 200-day moving averages and near its 52-week high. Its valuation remains moderate, with a P/E ratio near 12, while low leverage and strong liquidity may support the recent momentum; however, the sharp advance could also increase the risk of profit-taking.
• Negative Sentiment: COO Brian S. Olschan sold 10,909 shares in a series of transactions from August 3 through August 12 for approximately $616,449. The largest sale was 5,304 shares, reducing his position by 11.29%; he still owns more than 41,000 shares, but the repeated selling may signal that an executive is taking profits after the stock’s rally. SEC insider ownership filing
• Negative Sentiment: Director Rex Lynn Davidson sold 3,684 shares for approximately $208,072, reducing his holdings by 37.17%. Multiple insider sales totaling roughly $825,000 could temper enthusiasm, although the transactions do not necessarily indicate a change in Acme United’s operating outlook. Rex Lynn Davidson Acme United insider sale

About Acme United

Acme United Corporation is a diversified manufacturer and marketer of cutting, measuring and safety products designed for consumer, professional and industrial end markets. The company’s product portfolio spans shears, scissors, cutters, rulers, pencil sharpeners, first aid kits and medical products, as well as fishing knives, survival tools and related accessories. Acme United serves a wide range of end‐use channels, including office supply, school, hardware, mass merchandise and sporting goods retail.

Founded in the 19th century and headquartered in Shelton, Connecticut, Acme United operates through a collection of well‐established brands.