Key Highlights

  • ACCO Brands shares rose 22.48% on October 30, 2026.
  • The company raised its 2026 outlook on Tariff refunds and the Trust acquisition.
  • Tariff refunds added $15.1 million to third-quarter operating income.
  • The Trust deal lifts technology peripherals toward $500 million of annual sales.

ACCO Brands (NYSE:ACCO) was one of Friday's biggest gainers, rising 22.48% after the office products and technology accessories company raised its 2026 outlook alongside third-quarter results. The report, released on Thursday, October 29, pointed to two sources of support for the rest of the year: refunds of previously paid tariffs and the addition of Trust, the technology peripherals Business ACCO recently acquired.

Earnings Up, Sales Flat

Third-quarter net sales were $380.3 million, slightly below the $383.7 million a year earlier. Diluted Earnings per share were $0.12, up from $0.04, and adjusted Diluted Earnings per Share were $0.28, up from $0.21. Net tariff refunds added $15.1 million to operating income, equal to about $0.11 per share and a 400 basis point lift to adjusted operating margin. ACCO treats tariff costs and refunds as part of underlying operations, so it does not strip them from non-GAAP figures.

Raised Outlook and the Trust Deal

For 2026 ACCO now expects reported sales growth of 4.0% to 6.0%, including one quarter of Trust, adjusted earnings of $0.98 to $1.02 per share including $0.12 from the tariff refund, free Cash Flow of about $100 million and year-end Leverage of about 3.5 times. The Trust Acquisition closed on October 1 and brings technology peripherals toward $500 million of pro forma annual sales, though no purchase price was disclosed. Chief executive Tom Tedford called peripherals the strongest Long-term Growth opportunity. ACCO's brands include Five Star, Swingline and PowerA.

A Contrast With the Market

The S&P 500 fell 140.32 points, or 1.8%, to 7,580.07 and the Nasdaq Composite dropped 747.73 points, or 2.9%, to 25,437.00, as Intel (NASDAQ:INTC)'s weak outlook triggered a chip rout and Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN)'s results revived worries about AI spending.

One-Off Benefits Versus Durable Growth

Tariff refunds are a one-off benefit and sales were roughly flat, so investors will want to see whether Trust integrates smoothly, whether office and school Demand stabilizes and whether leverage can fall from about 3.5 times. Federal Reserve officials said rates may need to go higher, and futures priced a strong chance of a December hike, while US midterm elections on November 3 add another source of uncertainty.