Acme UnitedACU +1.96%82 Operating Margin % is 3.34% as of Mar. 2026, which is 51% below its 10-year median of 6.84. GuruFocus rates ACU with a GF Score™ of 82/100 and a GF Value™ of $40.47 (Modestly Overvalued). The stock has 7 warning signs investors should review. Among 1,946 Consumer Packaged Goods companies, Acme United ranks better than 58.58% on this metric.
Operating Margin % is calculated as Operating Income divided by its Revenue. Acme United's Operating Income for the
three
months ended in Mar. 2026 was $1.7 Mil. Acme United's Revenue for the
three
months ended in Mar. 2026 was $52.3 Mil. Therefore, Acme United's Operating Margin % for the quarter that ended in Mar. 2026 was 3.34%.
Good Sign:
Acme United Corp operating margin is expanding. Margin expansion is usually a good sign.
The historical rank and industry rank for Acme United's Operating Margin % or its related term are showing as below:
ACU'
s Operating Margin % Range Over the Past 10 Years
Min: 3.23 Med: 6.84 Max: 7.49
Current: 6.92
ACU's Operating Margin % is ranked better than 58.58% of 1946
companies
in the Consumer Packaged Goods industry
Industry Median: 5.27
vs ACU: 6.92
Acme United's 5-Year Average Operating Margin % Growth Rate was 3.60% per year.
Acme United's Operating Income for the
three
months ended in Mar. 2026 was $1.7 Mil.
Its Operating Income for the trailing twelve months (TTM) ended in Mar. 2026 was $14.0 Mil.
Acme United (AMEX:ACU) Operating Margin % Explanation
Just like Gross Margin %, it is important to see a company maintains its operating margin over time. Among the same industry, a company with higher operating margin is more efficient in its operation. It is also more stable during industry slowdown or recessions. Peter Lynch prefers those with higher margins than those with lower margins.
Be Aware
Operating Margin % can be manipulated by adjusting the rate of depreciation, depletion and amortization (DDA).
If a company is facing competition, its Operating Margin % may decline. Often the Operating Margin % declines well before the company's Revenue or even profit decline. Therefore, Operating Margin % is a very important indicator of whether the company is facing problems.
For instance, by 2012, Nokia (NOK)'s problems were well known and its stock had lost more than 90% of its market value since 2007. But Nokias Operating Margin % had already been in decline since 2002, although its Earnings per Share (Diluted) were still rising. Investors who paid attention to Operating Margin % would have avoided this huge loss. The same can be said for Research-in-Motion (RIMM).
Therefore, Operating Margin % is a very important screening filter for GuruFocus. GuruFocus's Buffett-Munger screener requires that the profit margin is either consistent or expanding. The Model Portfolio of the Buffett-Munger screener has outperformed the market every year since inception in 2009.
Acme United Operating Margin % Related Terms
Acme United Operating Margin % Historical Data
* Premium members only.
The historical data trend for Acme United's Operating Margin % can be seen below:
* For Operating Data section: All numbers are indicated by the unit behind each term and all currency related amount are in USD. * For other sections: All numbers are in millions except for per share data, ratio, and percentage. All currency related amount are indicated in the company's associated stock exchange currency.
ACU vs WALD, NUS, SKIN: Operating Margin % Comparison
For the Household & Personal Products subindustry, Acme United's Operating Margin %, along with its competitors' market caps and Operating Margin % data, can be viewed below:
* Competitive companies are chosen from companies within the same industry, with headquarter located in same country, with closest market capitalization; x-axis shows the market cap, and y-axis shows the term value; the bigger the dot, the larger the market cap. Note that "N/A" values will not show up in the chart.
Acme United Operating Margin % vs Consumer Packaged Goods Industry
For the Consumer Packaged Goods industry and Consumer Defensive sector, Acme United's Operating Margin % distribution charts can be found below:
* The bar in red indicates where Acme United's Operating Margin % falls into.
Operating Margin % - also known as operating income margin, operating profit margin and return on sales (ROS) - is the ratio of Operating Income divided by net sales or Revenue, usually presented in percent.
Acme United's Operating Margin % for the fiscal year that ended in Dec. 2025 is calculated as
* For Operating Data section: All numbers are indicated by the unit behind each term and all currency related amount are in USD. * For other sections: All numbers are in millions except for per share data, ratio, and percentage. All currency related amount are indicated in the company's associated stock exchange currency.
Acme United (ACU) has a Operating Margin % of 3.34% as of Mar. 2026. Operating margin is the ratio of total operating income to net sales. View historical data on Acme United and its competitors. This is 51% below median its historical median of 6.84. Over the past decade, Acme United's Operating Margin % has ranged from 3.23 to 7.49. According to the industry distribution chart, Acme United ranks #806 out of 1946 companies in the Consumer Packaged Goods industry, placing it in the top 41.4%.
Is Acme United's Operating Margin % too high?
Acme United's current Operating Margin % of 3.34% is 51% below median its 10-year median of 6.84. Over the past 10 years, this metric has ranged from a low of 3.23 to a high of 7.49. The Consumer Packaged Goods industry median Operating Margin % is 5.27. Acme United's value of 3.34% is 36.6% below this industry median. Based on the distribution chart, Acme United ranks #806 out of 1946 companies in the Consumer Packaged Goods industry, which is above the industry midpoint. Overall, Acme United has a GF Score™ of 82/100 and is considered Modestly Overvalued, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does Acme United's Operating Margin % compare to WALD and NUS?
According to the Consumer Packaged Goods industry distribution chart, Acme United ranks #806 out of 1946 companies for Operating Margin %. This puts Acme United in the upper half of its industry. The industry median Operating Margin % is 5.27. Acme United's value of 3.34% is 36.6% below this benchmark. Historically, Acme United's own Operating Margin % has ranged from 3.23 to 7.49 over the past decade. While the company's 10-year median is 6.84 vs. the industry median of 5.27, Acme United has consistently been below the industry average. See the competitive comparison table and distribution chart on this page for a detailed peer-by-peer breakdown.
What is a good Operating Margin % for a Consumer Packaged Goods company?
The median Operating Margin % among Consumer Packaged Goods companies is 5.27, based on 1,946 companies in the industry. Companies in the top quartile (top 25%) have a Operating Margin % significantly above this median, while those in the bottom quartile fall well below. However, Operating Margin % should not be evaluated in isolation — investors should consider it alongside profitability, growth, and financial strength metrics. Acme United's current Operating Margin % of 3.34% is 36.6% below the industry median. Use the industry distribution chart on this page to see where any company falls relative to its peers.
What does a high Operating Margin % mean?
A high Operating Margin % can signal that a stock is expensive relative to its fundamentals. Operating margin is the ratio of total operating income to net sales. View historical data on Acme United and its competitors. For the Consumer Packaged Goods industry, the median Operating Margin % is 5.27 — values significantly above this may indicate overvaluation, while values below may suggest a bargain or underlying issues. Acme United's current Operating Margin % is 3.34%, which is 51% below median its own 10-year median of 6.84. However, context matters — high-growth companies often justify higher valuations. Always evaluate alongside other metrics like GF Score™ and GF Value™.
Is Acme United stock overvalued right now?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Acme United (ACU) is currently considered Modestly Overvalued. The stock's GF Value™ is $40.47, compared to a current price of $47.93 — trading 18.4% above its estimated fair value. The current Operating Margin % is 3.34%, which is 51% below median its 10-year median of 6.84 and 36.6% below the Consumer Packaged Goods industry median of 5.27. Acme United's overall GF Score™ is 82/100 with 7 warning signs to review. Investors should evaluate multiple metrics — including profitability, growth, and financial strength — before making a decision.
How is Operating Margin % calculated?
Operating Margin % is calculated from a company's financial statements. For Acme United (ACU), the current Operating Margin % is 3.34% as of Mar. 2026. GuruFocus calculates this using data sourced from SEC filings and annual reports. See the calculation section and 30-year financial data on this page for the full breakdown.
Is Acme United (ACU) Overvalued in 2026?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Acme United stock appears to be overvalued.
The current stock price of $47.93 is trading 18.4% above its estimated GF Value™ of $40.47.
GuruFocus considers Acme United to be Modestly Overvalued.
Key valuation signals for ACU:
Operating Margin %: 3.34% (51% below median its 10-year median of 6.84)
GF Value™: $40.47 vs. price of $47.93 (18.4% above fair value)
Industry Position: 36.6% below the Consumer Packaged Goods median (#806 of 1946)
No single metric tells the full story. See the ACU stock analysis page for a complete view including 30-year financials, guru trades, and insider activity.
Acme United Corp is a supplier of first aid and medical products and cutting technology to the school, home, office, hardware, sporting goods, and industrial markets. Its principal products sold across all segments are first aid kits and medical products, scissors, shears, knives, rulers, pencil sharpeners, and sharpening tools. The Company sells its products to mass market and e-commerce retailers, industrial distributors, wholesale, contract, and retail stationery distributors, office supply superstores, sporting goods stores, and hardware chains. The Company's reportable business segments consist of the United States, Canada, and Europe, out of which the majority of the company's revenue is derived from the United States.
82GF Score
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