Insider Selling: Acme United (NYSE:ACU) COO Sells 981 Shares

Acme United Co. (NYSE:ACU) COO Brian Olschan sold 981 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, August 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $56.75, for a total value of $55,671.75. Following the transaction, the chief operating officer directly owned 51,099 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $2,899,868.25. This represents a 1.88% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link.

Acme United Price Performance

NYSE:ACU traded up $2.24 during mid-day trading on Wednesday, reaching $59.59. 31,785 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 18,892. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $49.14 and a 200 day moving average price of $45.49. The firm has a market capitalization of $227.04 million, a PE ratio of 12.19 and a beta of 0.47. Acme United Co. has a 1-year low of $35.50 and a 1-year 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.

Acme United Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, July 23rd. Stockholders 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 dividend yield of 1.1%. Acme United’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 26.89%.

Institutional Trading of Acme United

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in ACU. Bank of America Corp DE boosted its holdings in Acme United by 3,048.9% during the second quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 1,480 shares of the company’s stock worth $61,000 after buying an additional 1,433 shares in the last quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. acquired a new position in Acme United in the second quarter worth approximately $65,000. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. bought a new position in shares of Acme United in the second quarter valued at $75,000. Raymond James Financial Inc. bought a new position in shares of Acme United in the second quarter valued at $76,000. Finally, New York State Common Retirement Fund acquired a new stake in shares of Acme United during the 2nd quarter valued at $104,000. 62.10% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Trending Headlines about Acme United

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

Acme United Company Profile

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.