Bay Street News

Acme United Reports 29% Increase in Net Income for Second Quarter of 2024

SHELTON, Conn., July 19, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Acme United Corporation (NYSE American: ACU) today announced that net sales for the quarter ended June 30, 2024 were $55.4 million compared to $53.3 million in the second quarter of 2023, an increase of 4%. Excluding the impact of the Camillus and Cuda hunting and fishing product lines sold on November 1, 2023, net sales for the second quarter of 2024 increased 8% compared to the second quarter of 2023. Net sales for the six months ended June 30, 2024 were $100.4 million, compared to $99.2 million in the same period in 2023, an increase of 1%. Excluding Camillus and Cuda, net sales for the six months increased 5% compared to the same period in 2023.

Net income was $4.5 million, or $1.09 per diluted share, for the quarter ended June 30, 2024, compared to $3.4 million, or $0.96 per diluted share, for the same period in 2023, an increase of 29% in net income and 14% in diluted earnings per share. Net income for the six months ended June 30, 2024 was $6.1 million, or $1.47 per diluted share, compared to $4.4 million, or $1.25 per diluted share, for the same period in 2023, an increase of 37% in net income and 18% in diluted earnings per share.

On May 23, 2024, the Company acquired the assets of Elite First Aid, Inc. (“Elite First Aid”), a leading supplier of tactical, trauma and emergency response products based in Wake Forest, North Carolina. Elite First Aid had revenues in 2023 of approximately $4.2 million.

Chairman and CEO Walter C. Johnsen said, “Sales in the second quarter of 2024 were strong. We had significant market share gains and sales growth in first aid. Revenues of Westcott cutting tools increased due to gains in the craft market and growth in back-to-school sales. Our underlying growth was approximately 8% in the quarter after taking into account the revenues of the hunting and fishing lines which were sold last year to enhance our focus on Acme United’s primary product lines.”

Mr. Johnsen continued, “We are excited about our acquisition of Elite First Aid, which has significantly strengthened our emergency response product line and expanded our customer base. We also intend to offer the Elite First Aid products to our existing customer base in the coming quarters. I am gratified that the expansion of our product line will enhance our ability to help save lives in trauma situations.”

For the three months ended June 30, 2024, net sales in the U.S. segment increased 5% compared to the same period in 2023. Excluding Camillus and Cuda, net sales for the second quarter of 2024 increased 10% compared to the second quarter of 2023 mainly due to market share gains across multiple product lines. For the six months ended June 30, 2024, net sales in the U.S. segment increased 2% compared to the same period in 2023. Excluding Camillus and Cuda, net sales for the six months increased 6% compared to the same period in 2023.

European net sales for the three months ended June 30, 2024 increased 4% in U.S. dollars and 5% in local currency compared to the second quarter of 2023. Excluding Camillus and Cuda, net sales for the second quarter of 2024 increased 9% compared to the second quarter of 2023. Net sales for the six months ended June 30, 2024 increased 5% in both U.S. dollars and local currency compared to the first half of 2023. Excluding Camillus and Cuda sales for the six months, net sales increased 8% compared to the same period in 2023. The sales increase for both periods was due to market share gains in the office channel.

Net sales in Canada for the three months ended June 30, 2024 decreased 7% in both U.S. dollars and local currency compared to the same period in 2023. Excluding Camillus and Cuda, net sales for the second quarter of 2024 decreased 4% compared to the second quarter of 2023. Net sales for the six months ended June 30, 2024 decreased 7% in both U.S. dollars and local currency compared to the first half of 2023. Excluding Camillus and Cuda, net sales for the six months decreased 2% compared to the same period in 2023. Sales of school and office products have been impacted by a soft economy.

Gross margin was 40.8% in the three months ended June 30, 2024 versus 37.5% in the comparable period last year. Gross margin was 39.9% for the six month period ended June 30, 2024, compared to 36.6% for the same period in 2023. The increases in the three and the six-month periods ending June 30, 2024 were primarily due to productivity improvements in the Company’s manufacturing and distribution facilities.

The Company’s bank debt less cash as of June 30, 2024 was $33.1 million compared to $47.5 million as of June 30, 2023. During the twelve-month period ended June 30, 2024, the Company paid approximately $6.1 million for the acquisition of the assets of Elite First Aid Inc., distributed $2.1 million in dividends on its common stock and generated approximately $8.5 million in free cash flow. Additionally, the Company realized net proceeds from the sale of the Camillus and Cuda product lines of approximately $13.0 million.

Conference Call and Webcast Information
Acme United will hold a conference call to discuss its quarterly results, which will be broadcast on Friday, July 19, 2024, 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 is 13747775. 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 and Elite First Aid. 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 uncertainties in global economic conditions, including the impact on the Company’s suppliers and customers; (iii) the continuing adverse impact of inflation, including product costs, and interest rates; (iv) potential adverse effects on the Company, its customers, and suppliers resulting from the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East; (v) additional disruptions in the Company’s supply chains, whether caused by pandemics, natural disasters, including trucker shortages, port closures or otherwise; (vi) labor related costs the Company has and may continue to incur, including costs of acquiring and training new employees and rising wages and benefits; (vii) currency fluctuations including, for example, the fluctuation of the dollar against the euro; (viii) the Company’s ability to effectively manage its inventory in a rapidly changing business environment; (ix) changes in client needs and consumer spending habits; (x) the impact of competition; (xi) the impact of technological changes including, specifically, the growth of online marketing and sales activity; (xii) the Company’s ability to manage its growth effectively, including its ability to successfully integrate any business it might acquire; (xiii) international trade policies and their impact on demand for our products and our competitive position, including the imposition of new tariffs or changes in existing tariff rates; and (xiv) other risks and uncertainties indicated from time to time in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

         
CONTACT: Paul G. Driscoll Acme United Corporation 1 Waterview Drive Shelton, CT 06484
    Phone: (203) 254-6060    
 
ACME UNITED CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
SECOND QUARTER REPORT 2024
(Unaudited)
         
    Three Months Ended   Three Months Ended
Amounts in 000’s except per share data   June 30, 2024   June 30, 2023
         
         
Net sales   $ 55,425     $ 55,336  
Cost of goods sold     32,798       33,314  
Gross profit     22,627       20,022  
Selling, general, and administrative expenses     16,252       14,772  
Operating income     6,375       5,250  
Interest expense     578       860  
Interest income     (39 )     (28 )
Interest expense, net     539       832  
Other income, net     (28 )     (23 )
Total other income, net     (28 )     (23 )
Income before income tax expense     5,864       4,441  
Income tax expense     1,412       998  
Net income   $ 4,452     $ 3,443  
         
Shares outstanding – Basic     3,679       3,555  
Shares outstanding – Diluted     4,088       3,591  
         
Earnings per share – Basic   $ 1.21     $ 0.97  
Earnings per share – Diluted     1.09       0.96  
         
         
         
ACME UNITED CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
SECOND QUARTER REPORT 2024 (cont.)
(Unaudited)
         
         
    Six Months Ended Six Months Ended
Amounts in 000’s except per share data   June 30, 2024   June 30, 2023
         
Net sales   $ 100,382     $ 99,175  
Cost of goods sold     60,358       62,872  
Gross profit     40,024       36,303  
Selling, general, and administrative expenses     31,090       28,865  
Operating income     8,934       7,438  
Interest expense     1,054       1,779  
Interest income     (72 )     (45 )
Interest expense, net     982       1,734  
Other income, net     (72 )     (46 )
Total other income, net     (72 )     (46 )
Income before income tax expense     8,024       5,750  
Income tax expense     1,935       1,318  
Net income   $ 6,089     $ 4,432  
         
Shares outstanding – Basic     3,664       3,548  
Shares outstanding – Diluted     4,143       3,548  
         
Earnings per share – Basic   $ 1.66     $ 1.25  
Earnings per share – Diluted     1.47       1.25  
         
         
         
ACME UNITED CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
SECOND QUARTER REPORT 2024
(Unaudited)
         
Amounts in 000’s   June 30, 2024   June 30, 2023
         
Assets:        
Current assets:        
Cash and cash equivalents   $ 3,791     $ 3,401  
Accounts receivable, net     40,074       39,796  
Inventories     56,621       55,944  
Prepaid expenses and other current assets     5,662       4,330  
Total current assets     106,148       103,471  
         
Property, plant and equipment, net     30,570       27,263  
Operating lease right of use asset     5,176       2,374  
Intangible assets, less accumulated amortization     31,647       27,969  
Other assets           750  
Total assets   $ 173,541     $ 161,827  
         
Liabilities and stockholders’ equity:        
Current liabilities:        
Accounts payable   $ 10,319     $ 10,724  
Operating lease liability – short term     1,589       1,122  
Mortgage payable – short term     429       411  
Other accrued liabilities     15,656       13,013  
Total current liabilities     27,992       25,271  
Long term debt     26,419       39,979  
Mortgage payable – long term     10,073       10,485  
Operating lease liability – long term     3,684       1,407  
Other non-current liabilities     1,415       1,033  
Total liabilities     69,583       78,175  
Total stockholders’ equity     103,958       83,652  
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity   $ 173,541     $ 161,827  
         


Bay Street News