Acme United (ACU) vs Helen of Troy (HELE)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.
Summary
Acme United (ACU) has outperformed Helen of Troy (HELE) over the past year, gaining 57.9% versus a loss of 5.4%. Over five years, ACU leads with a +72.1% price change compared with -88.7% for HELE. Helen of Troy is the larger company by market cap ($621.9 million vs $236.6 million), about 2.6 times the size.
Acme United pays a dividend yielding 1.04%, while Helen of Troy does not currently pay one.
Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology
Relative performance
Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.
Head-to-head
| Metric | ACU | HELE |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $61.71 | $26.70 |
| Market cap | $236.59M | $621.90M |
| 1-day change | -0.43% | +4.50% |
| YTD return | +53.76% | +20.24% |
| 1-year return | +57.91% | -5.41% |
| 5-year return | +72.12% | -88.68% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 25.93 | — |
| Forward P/E | — | 6.88 |
| EPS (TTM) | $2.38 | $-17.96 |
| Dividend yield | 1.04% | 0.00% |
| Annual dividend | $0.64 | $0.00 |
| 52-week high | $64.87 | $31.94 |
| 52-week low | $35.50 | $13.85 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -4.87% | -16.41% |
| Analyst consensus | none | hold |
| Avg. price target upside | -6.01% | +17.34% |
| Average volume | 37.09K | 422.63K |
| Shares outstanding | 3.83M | 23.29M |
| Employees | 649 | 1,854 |
| Sector | Consumer Discretionary | Consumer Discretionary |
| Industry | Industrial Machinery/Components | Home Furnishings |
Highlighted cells mark the higher value for growth, returns, margins and yield, and the lower value for P/E ratios. Highlighting is a mechanical comparison, not a recommendation.
Key differences
- Helen of Troy is about 2.6 times larger than Acme United by market value ($621.90M vs $236.59M).
- ACU has outperformed HELE by 63.3 percentage points over the past year.
- Acme United offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (1.04% vs 0.00%).
About Acme United
ACU stock →Acme United Corporation supplies cutting, measuring, first aid, and sharpening products to the school, home, office, hardware, sporting goods, and industrial markets in the United States, Canada, Europe, and internationally. The company offers scissors, shears, knives, rulers, pencil sharpeners, paper trimmers, safety cutters, lettering products, glue guns, and other craft products under the Westcott brand name; and cutting tools under the Clauss brand.
Consumer Discretionary · Industrial Machinery/Components · 649 employees
About Helen of Troy
HELE stock →Helen of Troy Limited operates as a consumer products company in the United States, Canada, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Asia Pacific, and Latin America. The Home & Outdoor segment offers food storage containers, kitchen utensils for cooking and preparing salads, fruits, vegetables and meats, graters, slicers and choppers, baking essentials, kitchen organization, bath, cleaning, infant and toddler products, and coffee preparation tools and electronics.
Consumer Discretionary · Home Furnishings · 1,854 employees
ACU vs HELE FAQ
Which is bigger, Acme United or Helen of Troy?
Helen of Troy (HELE) is larger, with a market capitalization of $621.90M compared with $236.59M for Acme United (ACU).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, ACU or HELE?
ACU returned +57.91% over the past 12 months, compared with -5.41% for HELE (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which pays a higher dividend, Acme United or Helen of Troy?
Acme United pays a dividend yielding 1.04%, while Helen of Troy does not currently pay a regular dividend.
Are Acme United and Helen of Troy in the same industry?
Both are in the Consumer Discretionary sector, but in different industries: Industrial Machinery/Components for Acme United and Home Furnishings for Helen of Troy.