ACCO

We rate ACCO BRANDS Corp (ACCO) as a Hold with a composite score of 55.0/100 at a current price of $4.09. The stock presents a mixed quantitative picture — neither compelling enough to warrant new accumulation nor weak enough to justify selling for existing holders. Our factors are split, and the overall profile suggests patience is warranted.

The rating is primarily driven by strength in value (76th percentile) and stability (71th percentile), which together account for the majority of the composite score. All factors score above the 40th percentile, indicating no material weakness in the quantitative profile. We assign a No Moat rating (27/100), High uncertainty, and Poor capital allocation.

Key items to watch: balance sheet deleveraging progress. Any material change in these dynamics could warrant a reassessment of our rating. The moat trend is stable, which suggests the competitive landscape is stable for now.

ACCO BRANDS Corp holds a top-quartile position (#0 of 50) within the Manufacturing sector, based on our composite quantitative scoring across quality, value, momentum, and stability factors. The composite score of 55.0/100 places it at rank #1270 in our full 7,333-stock universe. At $360M in market capitalization, ACCO BRANDS Corp is a small-cap player in the Manufacturing space, which limits certain scale advantages but may allow for more agile strategic execution.

Revenue contraction of -12% combined with momentum at the 41th percentile paints a cautious picture of the near-term business outlook. The market appears to be pricing in continued challenges, and a catalyst for reversal is not clearly visible from current data.

The margin cascade tells an important story: gross margins of 32% (-10.1pp vs sector) narrow to operating margins of 5% (+3.5pp vs sector) and net margins of 1.6%, yielding a gross-to-net conversion rate of 5%. The significant margin erosion from gross to net suggests elevated operating expenses, high interest costs, or other structural drags that warrant monitoring.

At a current price of $4.09, ACCO BRANDS Corp appears undervalued relative to its fundamentals. Our value factor score of 76/100 reflects a composite assessment across multiple valuation metrics including price-to-earnings, price-to-book, EV/EBITDA, and price-to-sales ratios relative to both sector peers and the broader market. The stock screens as attractively priced on a majority of these measures, suggesting the market may be underappreciating the underlying fundamentals.

The stock currently trades at a P/E of 13.0x (a 42% discount to the sector median of 22.3x), EV/EBITDA of 4.8x (discounted to peers), P/B of 0.6x, P/S of 0.3x. The below-sector P/E suggests possible undervaluation or the market pricing in near-term headwinds.

We assign a High uncertainty rating to ACCO BRANDS Corp. Key risk factors include significant leverage (251% debt-to-equity), the combination of leverage (251% D/E) and thin margins (1.6% net) amplifies downside risk. The wide range of potential outcomes widens our fair value estimate and increases the possibility of permanent capital impairment. Investors considering this name should size positions accordingly and demand a meaningful margin of safety before initiating.

Specific risk factors that inform our assessment include: significant leverage (251% debt-to-equity); the combination of leverage (251% D/E) and thin margins (1.6% net) amplifies downside risk. Each of these factors independently widens the distribution of potential outcomes, and in combination they create a risk profile that demands careful position sizing. The stability factor at the 71th percentile and quality factor at the 54th percentile provide a quantitative summary of the overall risk landscape.

Key risk mitigants include: above-average stability (71th percentile) suggests predictable business dynamics; a 7.52% dividend yield anchors total return. These factors partially offset the identified risks and provide downside protection in adverse scenarios. On balance, the risk-reward profile warrants caution and disciplined position management.

We rate ACCO BRANDS Corp's capital allocation as Poor. Key concerns include low returns on equity (4.5%), elevated leverage (251% D/E), weak asset returns (ROA 1.3%). Exemplary capital allocators generate ROE above 20% and maintain conservative leverage — ACCO BRANDS Corp significantly underperforms these benchmarks, raising questions about management's ability to create shareholder value.

Investors should scrutinize management's reinvestment decisions and balance sheet trajectory before committing capital. Poor capital allocation often compounds over time: overlevered balance sheets limit strategic flexibility, while low returns on capital destroy shareholder value. We would need to see sustained improvement in profitability metrics and balance sheet discipline before considering an upgrade.

In summary, ACCO BRANDS Corp receives a Hold rating with a composite score of 55.0/100 (rank #1270 of 7,333). Our quantitative framework assigns a No Moat (27/100, trend: stable), High uncertainty, and Poor capital allocation. The average factor score across quality, value, momentum, stability, and investment is 58/100.

Our analysis supports a neutral stance on ACCO BRANDS Corp. While the quantitative profile is not weak enough to warrant selling, it lacks the multi-factor strength required for a buy recommendation. Existing holders should maintain positions and monitor for catalysts — either fundamental improvement or valuation compression — that would shift the risk-reward balance.