Brian Olschan Sells 981 Shares of Acme United (NYSE:ACU) Stock

Acme United Co. (NYSE:ACU) COO Brian Olschan sold 981 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, August 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $56.75, for a total transaction of $55,671.75. Following the sale, the chief operating officer 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 legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink.

Acme United Trading Up 2.0%

NYSE ACU opened at $60.77 on Friday. The firm’s fifty day moving average price is $49.81 and its 200 day moving average price is $45.72. Acme United Co. has a 12 month low of $35.50 and a 12 month high of $61.26. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.30, a current ratio of 4.41 and a quick ratio of 1.91. The company has a market capitalization of $231.53 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.43 and a beta of 0.47.

Acme United Announces Dividend

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

Acme United News Summary

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

• Positive Sentiment: Institutional ownership remains substantial at approximately 62.1%. Bank of America sharply increased its position, while JPMorgan Chase, Mirae Asset, Raymond James and the New York State Common Retirement Fund initiated stakes during the second quarter. These purchases may provide additional demand and institutional credibility for ACU. Institutional trading report
• Positive Sentiment: Acme United’s quarterly dividend remains $0.16 per share, or $0.64 annualized, with a yield of roughly 1.1%. The payout ratio of about 26.9% suggests the dividend is supported by current earnings and may appeal to income-focused investors.
• Neutral Sentiment: ACU is trading well above its 50-day and 200-day moving averages, indicating strong momentum. Its current ratio of 4.41, quick ratio of 1.91 and debt-to-equity ratio of 0.30 point to solid liquidity and moderate leverage. At the same time, the stock’s proximity to its annual high may increase the risk of profit-taking.
• Negative Sentiment: COO Brian S. Olschan sold 10,909 shares for approximately $616,449 in transactions from August 3 through August 12, reducing his holdings by about 21%. Director Rex Lynn Davidson also sold 3,684 shares worth approximately $208,072, cutting his direct ownership by 37.2%. The concentrated insider selling near recent highs is a cautionary signal, although the transactions may reflect personal liquidity needs rather than a negative outlook. SEC insider filing

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Acme United

A number of hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the business. Jane Street Group LLC raised its position in Acme United by 61.0% in the 1st quarter. Jane Street Group LLC now owns 9,839 shares of the company’s stock valued at $390,000 after purchasing an additional 3,729 shares during the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC increased its stake in Acme United by 116.6% in the second 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 period. Cetera Investment Advisers raised its holdings in shares of Acme United by 8.2% in the second quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 5,672 shares of the company’s stock valued at $235,000 after buying an additional 428 shares during the last quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. purchased a new stake in shares of Acme United in the second quarter valued at about $65,000. Finally, New York State Common Retirement Fund acquired a new stake in shares of Acme United during the second quarter worth about $104,000. 62.10% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other 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.