Acme United Corporation (AMEX:ACU) Q3 2023 Earnings Call Transcript

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Chris Sakai: Okay, great. Thanks for your answers.

Operator: Our next question is from the line of Timothy Call with Capital Management Corporation. Please proceed with your questions.

Timothy Call: Congratulations on a great quarter.

Walter Johnsen: Thank you, Tim.

Timothy Call: All the hard work paying off.

Walter Johnsen: Yeah.

Timothy Call: With the easier sourcing now and all the new customers and expanding relationships you mentioned, along with the accretive acquisition you just made, and retailer inventory corrections being completed, it sounds like we should expect strong revenue growth looking forward.

Walter Johnsen: That’s my expectation as well. And as you know, the First Aid business is now 60% of our revenues and that’s been growing faster than the company in total for a number of years. And so, it’s not only gaining its influence, but now we’ve got the Westcott piece lapping performance, which reflected inventory corrections. And I think I’m fairly accurate in saying that is going to continue. So, you’re right. I mean, we should be seeing growth on the top-line, margins continuing to move in the favorable direction, and the productivity improvements continuing. Also with the debt reduction, there’s perhaps a little bit more to go. And so, that’s all positive.

Timothy Call: So, interest expense should decline on a year-over-year basis?

Walter Johnsen: That I don’t know. Yeah, it should, but they keep raising rates, and for reasons that are appropriate. But we certainly have less debt that’s impacted. And as you may recall, our debt structure had $11 million of fixed debt, and I think it was 3.8%, and those are mortgages on our properties. So, as we drop our debt, we’re dropping the variable piece of it. So, we will see as a percent of our interest rate actually decline.

Timothy Call: Well, with those smart moves and all of your hard work paying off, do you think management will ask the Board for a dividend increase over the next three to six months?

Walter Johnsen: We generally look at cash flow and the projections, and based on the cash flow that we’ve just generated and what I’m seeing on earnings, I think that’s something we should consider.

Timothy Call: Well, congratulations again on a strong quarter, and it’s great to see revenue growth, margin expansion, lower debt, and all the good moves you made. So, it’s paying off. Thank you.

Walter Johnsen: Thank you, Tim. Thank you.

Operator: Thank you. [Operator Instructions] We’ve reached the end of the question-and-answer session. I’ll now turn the call over to Mr. Johnsen for his closing remarks.

Walter Johnsen: Thank you. If there are no further questions, then this call is completed. I’d like to thank you for joining us and we look forward to updating you soon. Goodbye.

Operator: This will conclude today’s conference. You may disconnect your lines at this time. We thank you for your participation.

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