Two Sigma Advisers LP Reduces Stock Position in Universal Co. (NYSE:UVV)

Two Sigma Advisers LP decreased its holdings in Universal Co. (NYSE:UVV - Free Report) by 19.9% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 41,000 shares of the company's stock after selling 10,200 shares during the quarter. Two Sigma Advisers LP owned 0.17% of Universal worth $2,248,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of UVV. Barclays PLC raised its holdings in Universal by 341.2% in the 3rd quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 40,565 shares of the company's stock worth $2,155,000 after purchasing an additional 31,370 shares during the period. SG Americas Securities LLC increased its stake in Universal by 6.5% during the 4th quarter. SG Americas Securities LLC now owns 9,166 shares of the company's stock worth $503,000 after buying an additional 556 shares in the last quarter. Exchange Traded Concepts LLC increased its stake in Universal by 2.6% during the 4th quarter. Exchange Traded Concepts LLC now owns 14,322 shares of the company's stock worth $785,000 after buying an additional 360 shares in the last quarter. Blue Trust Inc. increased its stake in Universal by 30.4% during the 4th quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 3,303 shares of the company's stock worth $175,000 after buying an additional 770 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Rhumbline Advisers increased its stake in Universal by 1.8% during the 4th quarter. Rhumbline Advisers now owns 64,229 shares of the company's stock worth $3,522,000 after buying an additional 1,113 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 81.00% of the company's stock.

Universal Price Performance

NYSE:UVV traded down $0.05 during trading hours on Monday, hitting $65.34. 375,062 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 160,587. Universal Co. has a 52-week low of $45.19 and a 52-week high of $67.33. The firm's fifty day moving average price is $56.35 and its 200 day moving average price is $54.87. The company has a current ratio of 2.60, a quick ratio of 0.96 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.43. The company has a market cap of $1.61 billion, a P/E ratio of 13.44 and a beta of 0.71.

Universal (NYSE:UVV - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, May 29th. The company reported $0.80 EPS for the quarter. Universal had a return on equity of 8.92% and a net margin of 4.31%. The company had revenue of $702.28 million during the quarter.

Universal Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, August 4th. Stockholders of record on Monday, July 14th will be given a $0.82 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Monday, July 14th. This is a positive change from Universal's previous quarterly dividend of $0.81. This represents a $3.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 5.02%. Universal's dividend payout ratio is 86.77%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Separately, Wall Street Zen lowered Universal from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Saturday.

Universal Company Profile

Universal Corporation processes and supplies leaf tobacco and plant-based ingredients worldwide. The company operates through two segments, Tobacco Operations; and Ingredients Operations. It is involved in the procuring, financing, processing, packing, storing, and shipping leaf tobacco for sale to manufacturers of consumer tobacco products.