Stock Ratings / Consumer Discretionary / ACU

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Acme United Corporation. (ACU) — RQD Stock Rating Cockpit

$68.11 +1.89% NYSE • Live Quote vs Prior Daily Close (Synced Snapshot) EXT / AFTER-HRS: $68.51

Acme United Corporation. (ACU) earns a Roarable Rating of B (Buy) with 75/100 RQD Confidence. High-quality cash engine (39% profit margin, 9% return on capital) with steady institutional support. The company’s underlying cash engine and institutional positioning keep the composite score in the Green Buy zone.

📊 Historical Track Record: Scores of 75/100 (B) historically ranked in the Top 12% of excess returns over the next 90 days (+7.4% avg 90D alpha vs SPY • 69.7% hit rate) →

ROARABLE B • BUY Cap $261.1M

📤 Share Live RQD Speedometer Card: 𝕏 Post Reddit StockTwits ⬇ Live SVG Card

⚡ INSTANT AI QUANT PREVIEW • $0 FREE TIER Click Any Pre-Computed AI Quant Specialist Briefing on ACU Below — or Connect Your Own ChatGPT / Claude

🤖 Mara Quenwick • AI Quant Lead (Click for Instant Brief) Is ACU stock a Buy, Hold, or Sell right now according to Roarable's RQD model?

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As of 2026-11-02, Acme United Corporation. (NYSE: ACU) is rated B (Buy / BUY) by Roarable's 5-pillar RQD engine with a composite confidence score of 75/100 at a spot price of $68.11 (+1.89% 1D, market cap $261.1M). Pillar breakdown: Fundamental Cash Engine 15/20, Institutional 13F & Options Flow 15/20, Executive Insider Alignment 18/20, FRED Macro Regime Fit 14/20, and SEC Balance-Sheet Forensics 13/20. Across 1011 tracked Consumer Discretionary issuers, ACU ranks #72 in composite RQD confidence.

✓ Pre-computed one-to-many AI Quant brief

🤖 Ellis Vennor • AI Peer & Flow Quant (Click for Instant Brief) How does ACU compare to GPRO and LCUT in the Consumer Discretionary sector?

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Within the Consumer Discretionary sector (Industrial Machinery/Components), ACU carries a Roarable B (75/100 RQD), trailing P/E of 25.6x, gross margin of 39.4%, and ROIC of 9.2%. By comparison, GPRO (GoPro Inc. (Class A)) holds a E grade (25/100 RQD, P/E N/A, ROIC -35.0%, cap $206.4M) and LCUT (Lifetime Brands Inc.) posts a D grade (49/100 RQD, P/E N/A, ROIC -3.8%, cap $192.9M). Among the 5-stock peer group, CIX leads on earnings multiple (22.6x) while CIX leads on capital efficiency (21.1% ROIC).

✓ Pre-computed one-to-many AI Quant brief

🤖 Gideon Ashmere • AI SEC 10-K Forensics (Click for Instant Brief) What are the biggest fundamental strengths and SEC risk factors for ACU?

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Per ACU's SEC EDGAR XBRL 10-K filing (FY2025, filed 2025-12-31, CIK 0000002098), Acme United Corporation. generated $196.5M in revenue (+1.1% YoY), $10.2M in net income, and $7.6M in free cash flow against $171.0M in total assets and $11.9M in total debt. Key quantitative strengths: Strong cash generator (39% profit margin)—profits are backed by real money, not accounting tricks.. Primary risk factors monitored: Broader market pullbacks can still drag down strong stocks in the short run.. Institutional options positioning shows a 50% call / 50% put premium split.

✓ Pre-computed one-to-many AI Quant brief

🤖 AI Quant Disclosure: Roarable Analysts are proprietary AI Quant Specialists — not human financial advisors. Pre-computed one-to-many briefings above are free; interactive 1-on-1 Q&A, custom AI sifting/indicator alerts, and personal ChatGPT/Claude MCP connections require a $9.95/mo Pro account (currently waitlist-only).

INTERACTIVE SCENARIO DECK:

🛡️ Portfolio Crash X-Ray

EXT / AFTER-HRS: $68.51 (+0.58%)🧬 Cannibal Buyback (-1.52% YoY Shares)⚙️ Cash Engine: 15/20 (B) • 3.9% FCF Margin

Verify 90D Bucket Audit →

📊 Historical Track Record: Scores of 75/100 (B) historically ranked in the Top 12% of excess returns over the next 90 days (+7.4% avg 90D alpha vs SPY • 69.7% hit rate).

Audit Bucket Track Record →

RQD QUANT TACHOMETERBUY • B

3-of-3 JEV AI Jury Bullish

Cash

SEC

Whale

Impersonal quantitative research (0–100 RQD rubric) — not individualized investment advice. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Full Disclaimer

5-PILLAR SNOWFLAKE RADARRw B · Rk B+

Each axis scored 0–20

12M PRICE TARGET CONE+7.6% Base Target

WHALE OPTIONS SNAPSHOT: — (No Active Options Snapshot on file for ACU)Realized 20D OHLCV Swing Band: ±6%

Deterministic 5-Pillar Attribution (75/100 Composite)

🔍 WHY ACU SCORES 75/100 (B) — TOP 3 DRIVERS2 Bullish Pillars + #1 Risk Drag

▲ #1 Bullish Driver: SEC 10-K Forensic Risk+18/20 pts (24% of score)

Altman Z-Score 5.72 (FORTRESS SAFE (>3.0)) • Piotroski F-Score 8/9

▲ #2 Bullish Driver: Cash Engine Quality+15/20 pts (20% of score)

SEC XBRL FY 2025 (10-K): 3.9% FCF Margin ($7.6M FCF) & 39.4% Gross Margin

▼ #1 Drag / Risk Factor: Insider Conviction & Share Dilution13/20 pts (-7 pt drag)

Cannibal Buyback (-1.52% YoY Shares) & executive Form 4 sales trim 7 pts from alignment

📈 PAST 4 QUARTERS RQD vs SUBSEQUENT RETURNQ1 → Q2 → Q3 → Current

Q1 (-3Q)

Grade B-$62.50-2.1% Next Q

Q2 (-2Q)

Grade B$61.17+3.9% Next Q

Q3 (-1Q)

Grade B$63.58+7.1% Next Q

Current

Grade B$68.11+7.4% Hist 90D α

Trajectory: B- (67) → B (75)Full Audit →

⚔️ ADVERSARIAL OPPOSING CASE & FORENSIC KILL-SWITCH (WHY THE BULL/BEAR THESIS COULD FAIL)GIDEON ASHMERE // FORENSIC SHORT & KILL-SWITCH DOSSIER

⚔️ Adversarial Opposing Case: Why the ACU Bull Thesis Could Fail

Gideon Ashmere Forensic Desk →

Even with a 75/100 (B) score, ACU faces multiple-compression risk if 25.6x trailing P/E re-rate toward historical sector medians or if hyperscaler/enterprise customer concentration slows in upcoming 10-Q filings.

⚠️ Forensic Kill-Switch #1

Broader market pullbacks can still drag down strong stocks in the short run.

⚠️ Forensic Kill-Switch #2

Dilution & Margin Drag: Cannibal Buyback (-1.52% YoY Shares) — any gross margin slip below 36.9% triggers an automatic RQD downgrade.

⚠️ Forensic Kill-Switch #3

Technical & Forensic Kill-Switch: A daily close below the 50D SMA ($62.97) or 200D SMA ($50.43) invalidates the momentum regime and cuts Target Base ($73.32) toward Bear Floor ($55.85).

🎲 LIVE PREDICTION MARKET ODDS TIED TO $ACU• $2.4M Crowd Pool • Kalshi / Polymarket Composite

Contract: “ACU Beats Next Quarter EPS Consensus (Dec 30, 2026) & Holds Above 200D SMA”

YES 75%NO 25%Trade / Inspect Odds →

RSI-14 MOMENTUMBULLISH MOMENTUM

69.730 Oversold · 70 Hot

ALTMAN-Z SHIELDFORTRESS SAFE (>3.0)

5.72>3.0 Fortress Safe

PIOTROSKI F-SCOREHIGH QUALITY (7–9)

8 / 99-Pt Accounting

52-WEEK LASER RANGE95% OF RANGE

L: $36$68.11H: $70

1. Money & Cash Health● HEALTHY

Are profits real cash in the bank?

Real cash coming in backs up reported profits (39% profit margin and healthy balance-sheet cushion).

Factor Grade: BRQD 15 / 20

2. Big Money & Insiders● BUYING

Are whales & executives buying or selling?

Hedge funds and options traders are leaning bullish, showing strong institutional appetite.

Factor Grade: B-RQD 28 / 40

3. Hidden Risks & Market Weather● ALL CLEAR

SEC fine-print scan & interest-rate fit

Clean SEC fine-print check with low hidden accounting risk and favorable interest-rate weather.

Factor Grade: B+RQD 32 / 40

MULTI-MODEL JEV QUANT JURY DELIBERATION

3-of-3 JEV AI Jury Bullish on ACU

Cash & Moat Bull AI

ROIC & Free Cash Flow Model

BULLISH (75)

9.2% ROIC with 39.4% gross margin and 2.90% FCF yield.

SEC Forensic Auditor AI

10-K Accruals & Altman-Z Guard

BULLISH (90)

Altman-Z 5.72 and Piotroski 8/9 pass balance-sheet audit.

Whale & Macro Hawk AI

Options Skew, 13F & Fed NetLiq

BULLISH (70)

28/40 institutional & smart-money positioning score with 14/20 macro alignment.

Bull Case: Why Buyers Like ACU

✓Strong cash generator (39% profit margin)—profits are backed by real money, not accounting tricks.
✓Big institutional funds and options desks are actively positioning on the bullish side.
✓Clean SEC annual filing review with no major hidden accounting time-bombs.

Bear Case: What Could Go Wrong

!Broader market pullbacks can still drag down strong stocks in the short run.

ON-DEMAND RQD QUANT WORKSHOP • SPONSORED / PARTNER SPOTLIGHTHosted by Perry Belcher & Roarable Quantitative Research Desk

Scheduled RQD Strong Buys & Whale Accumulation Briefing (ACU Tape Review)

✓Breakdown of the highest-scoring RQD Green-Light breakouts across our 5,200+ rated universe
✓Forensic Red-Light accounting & dilution traps to review on your watchlist
✓Includes downloadable .ics calendar invite & nightly RQD rating-change email alerts

RQD INSIDER CLUB WAITLIST$49/YR PLANNED

Want Custom AI PineScript / Python Indicators & Priority Rating-Change Alerts?

Join Founding VIP Waitlist (No Card Required) →$100K Arena

ACU // CANDLESTICK & AUTO-TRENDLINE WORKSTATION6M: +66.77%⚡ TESTING RESISTANCE

2026-11-02O $66.85H $68.11L $66.85C $68.11VOL 37.9K

RES: $70.09SUP: $61.68SMA50: $62.97SMA200: $50.43

PRIMARY-SOURCE FORENSICS, SECOND-ORDER LINKS & AI ANALYST DESK

ACU Dilution Monitor, Expectations Hurdle, Butterfly Connections & Policy Exposure

🦋 ACU Butterfly Map → + Track ACU →

Share Count & Dilution Monitor (#25)

Multi-year comparable XBRL diluted share count not disclosed (ETF or recent listing).

Reverse-DCF Expectations Hurdle (#30)

19.3%/yr Implied 5Y Growth

vs. +1.1% actual YoY revenue growth (assuming 9.25% cost of equity & 16.5x terminal multiple).

Ellis Vennor Setup Ledger (#33)

No active Ellis Vennor swing setup published on ACU today. View full Setup Ledger →

🦋 Documented & Second-Order Butterfly Connections Open Graph →

No direct multi-tier Butterfly edges indexed yet for ACU. Explore sector supply chains on /butterfly.

AI Analyst Theses, Washington Policy & Company Video

🎬 No recent verified company-specific video clip queued for ACU today (we never pad ticker pages with unrelated generic clips). Browse Macro Video Desk →

DETERMINISTIC MULTI-FACTOR EQUITY AUDIT • SEC EDGAR XBRL × RQD PEER BENCHMARK

📊 Quantitative Sector Peer Comparison, SEC Filing Delta & Investment FAQ (ACU)

Consumer Discretionary Rank #72 of 1011 ⚔️ GPRO vs ACU Full Matrix →

1. Head-to-Head Consumer Discretionary Peer Comparison (ACU vs. GPRO, LCUT, EML, CIX)

Industry: Industrial Machinery/Components (208 Tracked Issuers)

Across 1011 tracked Consumer Discretionary securities in the Roarable RQD universe, Acme United Corporation. (ACU) ranks #72 by composite RQD confidence (75/100, grade B) and #662 by equity capitalization ($261.1M). Within this direct 5-issuer industry benchmark cohort, CIX leads on earnings valuation at 22.6x trailing P/E, while CIX leads on capital efficiency and profitability with 21.1% ROIC and 30.4% gross margin. ACU currently leads its immediate peer cohort in composite quantitative strength at 75/100 (B).

Ticker / Company	Roarable Grade	RQD Score	Trailing P/E	Gross Margin	ROIC	1D Change	Market Cap	Head-to-Head
ACU ACTIVE Acme United Corporation.	B	75/100	25.6x	39.4%	9.2%	+1.89%	$261.1M	Benchmark Subject
GPRO GoPro Inc. (Class A)	E	25/100	—	33.6%	-35.0%	-2.91%	$206.4M	/gpro-vs-acu →
LCUT Lifetime Brands Inc.	D	49/100	—	37.1%	-3.8%	+1.82%	$192.9M	/lcut-vs-acu →
EML Eastern Company	C+	66/100	23.3x	22.9%	5.6%	+3.25%	$166.5M	/eml-vs-acu →
CIX CompX International Inc.	B-	71/100	22.6x	30.4%	21.1%	-0.75%	$440.2M	/cix-vs-acu →

2. Multi-Year SEC XBRL Revenue, Cash Flow & Balance-Sheet Trajectory (FY2023–FY2025)

SEC EDGAR 10-K • FILED 2025-12-31 • CIK 0000002098

In its most recent audited fiscal period (FY2025, filed 2025-12-31), Acme United Corporation. (ACU) reported GAAP revenue of $196.5M (+1.1% vs. FY2024 revenue of $194.5M , and +2.6% cumulative change since FY2023) , GAAP net income of $10.2M, operating cash flow of $18.2M, and free cash flow of $7.6M (+57.0% YoY). On the balance sheet, ACU closed FY2025 with $171.0M in total assets against $11.9M in total debt (Altman Z-Score: 5.72, Piotroski F-Score: 8/9).

Fiscal Period	Filing Date	Revenue	Net Income	Operating Cash Flow	Free Cash Flow	Total Assets	Total Debt
FY2025 (FY)	2025-12-31	$196.5M	$10.2M	$18.2M	$7.6M	$171.0M	$11.9M
FY2024 (FY)	2024-12-31	$194.5M	$10.0M	$12.0M	$4.8M	$162.2M	$17.6M
FY2023 (FY)	2023-12-31	$191.5M	$17.8M	$28.9M	$28.9M	—	—

3. ACU Data-Verified Investor FAQ (RQD Rating, Sector Peers, SEC Forensics & Technicals)

✓ SCHEMA.ORG FAQPAGE JSON-LD ENABLED

Is ACU stock a Buy, Hold, or Sell right now according to Roarable's RQD model?

How does ACU compare to GPRO and LCUT in the Consumer Discretionary sector?

What are the biggest fundamental strengths and SEC risk factors for ACU?

Where is ACU trading relative to its 50-day, 200-day, and 52-week technical levels?

ACU last traded at $68.11 (+1.89% on volume of 37,938 shares), positioning the stock +8.16% above its 50-day simple moving average ($62.97) and +35.06% above its 200-day simple moving average ($50.43). Across its 52-week range of $35.50 to $69.83, ACU sits at the 95.0% percentile with a 14-day RSI of 69.7 (BULLISH MOMENTUM) and an implied next-earnings move of ±6.0% ($64.02 to $72.20).

ACU Investor FAQ & Complete 8-Part Research Index

100% OPEN ACCESS • SEC EDGAR × CBOE × FRED

Should I buy, hold, or sell ACU stock right now?

Acme United Corporation. (ACU) currently earns a Roarable Rating of B (Buy — BUY) with 75/100 RQD Confidence. High-quality cash engine (39% profit margin, 9% return on capital) with steady institutional support.

What is ACU's 12-month price target and RQD AI Jury consensus?

ACU's 12-month base price target is $73.32 (range $55.85 to $86.52), backed by transparent SEC XBRL cash-flow, Form 4 insider, and CBOE options flow analysis.

Direct Sub-Reports: ACU RQD Cockpit ACU 12M Forecast ACU Earnings & Move ACU Dividends & DRIP ACU Insiders & 13F ACU Whale Options ACU Profit Sankey ACU News & Why