Insider Selling: Acme United (NYSE:ACU) COO Sells $55,671.75 in Stock

Key Points

• COO Brian Olschan sold 981 Acme United shares at an average price of $56.75, generating $55,671.75 and reducing his ownership by 1.88%.
• Acme United shares rose to $59.59, near their 52-week high, while the company maintains a quarterly dividend of $0.16, equivalent to a 1.1% yield and a 26.89% payout ratio.
• Institutional ownership stands at 62.1%, with several firms initiating or increasing positions, although additional insider sales—including sales by Olschan and director Rex Lynn Davidson—could temper investor enthusiasm.

Acme United Co. (NYSE:ACU - Get Free Report) COO Brian Olschan sold 981 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, August 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $56.75, for a total value of $55,671.75. Following the completion of the sale, the chief operating officer owned 51,099 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,899,868.25. This represents a 1.88% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink.

Acme United Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:ACU traded up $2.24 on Wednesday, hitting $59.59. The company's stock had a trading volume of 31,785 shares, compared to its average volume of 18,892. The company has a market capitalization of $227.04 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.19 and a beta of 0.47. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.30, a quick ratio of 1.91 and a current ratio of 4.41. Acme United Co. has a 12 month low of $35.50 and a 12 month high of $60.07. The stock's 50-day moving average is $49.14 and its two-hundred day moving average is $45.49.

Acme United Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, July 23rd. Investors of record on Thursday, July 2nd were issued a $0.16 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, July 2nd. This represents a $0.64 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.1%. Acme United's dividend payout ratio is presently 26.89%.

Key Stories Impacting 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

Institutional Trading of Acme United

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Bank of America Corp DE lifted its stake in shares of Acme United by 3,048.9% in the 2nd quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 1,480 shares of the company's stock worth $61,000 after acquiring an additional 1,433 shares during the period. JPMorgan Chase & Co. acquired a new position in shares of Acme United during the second quarter valued at approximately $65,000. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. acquired a new position in shares of Acme United during the second quarter valued at approximately $75,000. Raymond James Financial Inc. bought a new stake in Acme United during the second quarter worth approximately $76,000. Finally, New York State Common Retirement Fund bought a new stake in Acme United during the second quarter worth approximately $104,000. 62.10% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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.

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