Universal Beteiligungs und Servicegesellschaft mbH Invests $702,000 in Universal Corporation (NYSE:UVV)

Key Points

• Universal Beteiligungs und Servicegesellschaft mbH acquired 12,530 shares of Universal Corporation, worth approximately $702,000, representing around 0.05% of the company according to its recent SEC filing.
• The company declared a quarterly dividend of $0.82 per share, which is an increase from the previous dividend of $0.81, resulting in an annualized yield of 6.1%.
• Universal's stock experienced a decrease of 0.9% recently, with a current trading price of $53.98 and a market capitalization of $1.34 billion.

Universal Beteiligungs und Servicegesellschaft mbH purchased a new stake in Universal Corporation (NYSE:UVV - Free Report) during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm purchased 12,530 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $702,000. Universal Beteiligungs und Servicegesellschaft mbH owned 0.05% of Universal at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the company. Sterling Capital Management LLC grew its position in Universal by 828.9% in the fourth quarter. Sterling Capital Management LLC now owns 771 shares of the company's stock worth $42,000 after buying an additional 688 shares during the last quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC grew its position in Universal by 38.6% in the first quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 1,149 shares of the company's stock worth $64,000 after buying an additional 320 shares during the last quarter. Teacher Retirement System of Texas acquired a new position in Universal in the first quarter worth approximately $202,000. Russell Investments Group Ltd. grew its position in Universal by 19.0% in the fourth quarter. Russell Investments Group Ltd. now owns 4,445 shares of the company's stock worth $244,000 after buying an additional 711 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Private Advisor Group LLC acquired a new position in Universal in the first quarter worth approximately $281,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 81.00% of the company's stock.

Universal Trading Down 1.2%

NYSE UVV traded down $0.64 on Monday, hitting $53.35. 201,280 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 215,094. Universal Corporation has a 52-week low of $49.05 and a 52-week high of $67.33. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.41, a current ratio of 2.87 and a quick ratio of 1.55. The company has a market capitalization of $1.32 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.11 and a beta of 0.74. The company's 50-day moving average price is $58.23 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $55.78.

Universal (NYSE:UVV - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, May 29th. The company reported $0.80 earnings per share for the quarter. Universal had a net margin of 3.22% and a return on equity of 7.89%. The firm had revenue of $702.28 million for the quarter.

Universal Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, August 4th. Investors of record on Monday, July 14th will be issued a dividend of $0.82 per share. This is a positive change from Universal's previous quarterly dividend of $0.81. This represents a $3.28 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 6.1%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, July 14th. Universal's dividend payout ratio is 86.77%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Separately, Wall Street Zen cut shares of Universal from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Saturday, May 31st.

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.