Acme United Reports 12% Increase in Earnings per Share for the Fourth Quarter of 2025

SHELTON, Conn., Feb. 26, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Acme United Corporation (NYSE American: ACU) today announced that net sales for the quarter ended December 31, 2025 were $47.5 million compared to $45.9 million in the fourth quarter of 2024, an increase of 3%. Net sales for the year ended December 31, 2025 were $196.5 million compared to $194.5 million in 2024, an increase of 1%.

Net income was $1.9 million, or $0.46 per diluted share, for the quarter ended December 31, 2025 compared to $1.7 million, or $0.41 per diluted share, for the same period in 2024, an increase of 10% in net income and 12% in diluted earnings per share.

Net income for the year ended December 31, 2025, was $10.2 million, or $2.49 per diluted share, compared to $10.0 million, or $2.45 per diluted share, for 2024, an increase of 2% in both net income and diluted earnings per share.

Chairman and CEO Walter C. Johnsen said, “Our team successfully navigated customer uncertainty and increased costs due to tariffs during 2025. The tariffs were suddenly imposed in April and changed abruptly many times throughout the year. Sales to our retail customers were particularly impacted as they postponed and cancelled promotions. We are now seeing improvement in retail activity.”

Mr. Johnsen continued, “In January 2026, we acquired My Medic, which sells tactical, trauma and emergency response products directly to consumers. Revenues in 2025 were approximately $19 million and the purchase price was $18.7 million. We are actively working to integrate My Medic and build its revenues by expanding its product offering and distribution in the U.S. and Canada.”

Mr. Johnsen added, “We have a strong balance sheet and we continue to reap the benefits of our investments in increased distribution capacity, productivity improvements and cost reduction initiatives. As a result, we believe that we continue to be well-positioned for growth, including through acquisitions,” and look forward to a strong year.

For the three months ended December 31, 2025, net sales in the U.S. segment were constant compared to the same period in 2024. For the year ended December 31, 2025, net sales in the U.S. segment declined 1% compared to 2024. Sales of first aid and medical products were strong. However, sales of school and office products were lower mainly due to the cancellation of customer orders as a result of tariff uncertainty.

European net sales for the three months ended December 31, 2025 increased 31% in U.S. dollars and 22% in local currency compared to the fourth quarter of 2024. On October 1, 2025, the Company’s German subsidiary acquired a line of cutting and sharpening tools that contributed approximately $0.5 million in fourth quarter sales. Net sales for the year ended December 31, 2025 increased 8% in U.S. dollars and 4% in local currency compared to 2024.

Net sales in Canada for the three months ended December 31, 2025 increased 14% in both U.S. dollars and local currency compared to the same period in 2024. Net sales for the year ended December 31, 2025 increased 14% in U.S. dollars and 16% in local currency compared to 2024. The increases in sales for both periods were due to strong sales of first-aid products.

Gross margin was 38.2% in the three months ended December 31, 2025 versus 38.7% in the same period last year. Gross margin was 39.4% for the year ended December 31, 2025 compared to 39.3% for the same period in 2024.

The Company’s bank debt less cash as of December 31, 2025 was $18.1 million compared to $21.5 million as of December 31, 2024. During the year ended December 31, 2025, the Company distributed approximately $2.3 million in dividends on its common stock, purchased the cutting and sharpening line of products in Germany for approximately $1.6 million and generated approximately $13.6 million in free cash flow, before the purchase for cash of a new $6 million manufacturing and distribution facility in Tennessee in July 2025 to expand the Company’s Spill Magic business.

Conference Call and Webcast Information
Acme United will hold a conference call to discuss its quarterly results, which will be broadcast on Thursday, February 26, 2026, at 12:00 p.m. ET. To listen or participate in a question-and-answer session, dial 877-407-0784. International callers may dial 201-689-8560. The confirmation code is13758729. You may access the live webcast of the conference call through the Investor Relations section of the Company’s website, www.acmeunited.com. A replay may be accessed under Investor Relations, Audio Archives.

About Acme United
ACME UNITED CORPORATION is a leading worldwide supplier of innovative safety solutions and cutting technology to the school, home, office, hardware, sporting goods and industrial markets. Its leading brands include First Aid Only®, First Aid Central®, PhysiciansCare®, Pac-Kit®, Spill Magic®, Westcott®, Clauss®, DMT®, Med-Nap®, Elite First Aid® and My Medic®. For more information, visit www.acmeunited.com.

Forward Looking Statements

The Company may from time to time make written or oral “forward-looking statements” including statements contained in this report and in other communications by the Company, which are made in good faith pursuant to the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements are based on our beliefs as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to us. When used in this document, words like “may,” “might,” “will,” “except,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “potential,” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Actual results could differ materially from our current expectations.

Forward-looking statements in this report, including without limitation, statements related to the Company’s plans, strategies, objectives, expectations, intentions and adequacy of resources, are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Investors are cautioned that such forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that may impact the Company’s business, operations and financial results.

These risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, the following: (i) changes in the Company’s plans, strategies, objectives, expectations and intentions, which may be made at any time at the discretion of the Company; (ii) the impact of volatility in global economic conditions, including the impact on the Company’s suppliers and customers; (iii) international trade policies of the United States or foreign governments and their impact on demand for our products and our competitive position, including the imposition of new tariffs, changes in existing tariff rates or the threat of any such action;*1(iv) the continuing adverse impact of inflation, including product costs, and interest rates; (v) potential adverse effects on the Company, its customers, and suppliers resulting from the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East; (vi) additional disruptions in the Company’s supply chains, whether caused by pandemics, natural disasters, including trucker shortages, strikes, port closures or otherwise; (vii) labor related costs the Company has and may continue to incur, including costs of acquiring and training new employees and rising wages and benefits; (viii) currency fluctuations; (ix) the Company’s ability to effectively manage its inventory in a rapidly changing business environment; (x) changes in client needs and consumer spending habits; (xi) the impact of competition; (xii) the impact of technological changes including, specifically, the growth of online marketing and sales activity; and (xiii) the Company’s ability to manage its growth effectively, including its ability to successfully integrate any business it might acquire; and (xiv) other risks and uncertainties indicated from time to time in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission

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