Universal (UVV) Stock Price, News & Analysis

Company Overview

Universal Corporation (NYSE: UVV) is a leading global leaf tobacco merchant focused on the sourcing, processing and sale of flue-cured, burley and oriental tobacco. The company purchases tobacco from independent growers, applies proprietary classification and enhancement processes, and sells bulk leaf to major tobacco product manufacturers around the world. Universal’s services also include agronomic support and quality assurances at origin, helping to improve crop yields and consistency for its customers.

With a network of buying and processing operations spanning North and South America, Europe, Asia and Africa, Universal Corporation maintains relationships with tobacco growers in more than 20 countries. Its regional offices and processing facilities are strategically located in key leaf-producing areas, allowing the company to manage logistics, implement standardized handling practices and meet global demand efficiently. This worldwide footprint enables Universal to adapt to varying crop conditions and regulatory environments.

Founded in 1918 and headquartered in Richmond, Virginia, Universal has evolved from a domestic tobacco merchant into a diversified international enterprise. Over its more than a century of operations, the company has invested in technology and supply-chain innovations to enhance leaf classification, moisture management and traceability. These capabilities help tobacco manufacturers achieve consistent blends and comply with evolving industry standards.

Leadership at Universal Corporation includes Curt Casale, who serves as President and Chief Executive Officer. Under Casale’s direction, the company has pursued strategic investments in processing infrastructure and digital tools to support grower partnerships and customer requirements, reinforcing its position as a trusted partner in the global leaf tobacco supply chain.

Key Stats

• Today's Range: $54.27 to $55.43
• 50-Day Range: $54.45 to $65.34
• 52-Week Range: $49.05 to $67.33
• Volume: 197,294 shs
• Average Volume: 174,493 shs
• Market Capitalization: $1.35 billion
• P/E Ratio: 14.40
• Dividend Yield: 6.02%
• Price Target: N/A
• Consensus Rating: N/A

Universal Stock Analysis - MarketRank™

Universal scored higher than 61% of companies evaluated by MarketBeat, and ranked 88th out of 152 stocks in the consumer staples sector. Scores are calculated by averaging available category scores, with extra weight given to analysis and valuation.

Analyst's Opinion

• Score: N/A
• Analyst Rating: N/A

Consensus Rating

There is not enough analysis data for Universal.

Earnings and Valuation

• Score: 1.9 / 5
• Proj. Earnings Growth: N/A

Price to Earnings Ratio vs. the Market

The P/E ratio of Universal is 14.40, which means that it is trading at a less expensive P/E ratio than the market average P/E ratio of about 25.98.

Price to Earnings Ratio vs. Sector

The P/E ratio of Universal is 14.40, which means that it is trading at a less expensive P/E ratio than the Consumer Staples sector average P/E ratio of about 16.68.

Price to Book Value per Share Ratio

Universal has a P/B Ratio of 0.90. P/B Ratios below 1 indicate that a company could be undervalued with respect to its assets and liabilities.

Short Interest

• Score: 5.0 / 5
• Short Interest Level: Healthy

Percentage of Shares Shorted

1.39% of the float of Universal has been sold short.

Short Interest Ratio / Days to Cover

Universal has a short interest ratio ("days to cover") of 2.8, which is generally considered an acceptable ratio of short interest to trading volume.

Change versus previous month

Short interest in Universal has recently decreased by 48.50%, indicating that investor sentiment is improving significantly.

Dividend

• Score: 3.3 / 5
• Dividend Strength: Strong

Dividend Leadership

Universal is a leading dividend payer. It pays a dividend yield of 5.91%, putting its dividend yield in the top 25% of dividend-paying stocks.

Dividend Growth

Universal has been increasing its dividend for 56 years.

Dividend Coverage

The dividend payout ratio of Universal is 86.77%. Payout ratios above 75% are not desirable because they may not be sustainable.

Sustainability and ESG

• Score: 0.0 / 5
• Environmental Score: -1.60

Percentage of Shares Shorted

1.39% of the float of Universal has been sold short.

Short Interest Ratio / Days to Cover

Universal has a short interest ratio ("days to cover") of 2.8, which is generally considered an acceptable ratio of short interest to trading volume.

Change versus previous month

Short interest in Universal has recently decreased by 48.50%, indicating that investor sentiment is improving significantly.

News and Social Media

• Score: 2.2 / 5
• News Sentiment: -0.02

News Sentiment

Universal has a news sentiment score of -0.02. This score is calculated as an average of sentiment of articles about the company over the last seven days and ranges from 2 (good news) to -2 (bad news). This is a lower news sentiment than the 0.81 average news sentiment score of Consumer Staples companies.

News Coverage This Week

MarketBeat has tracked 10 news articles for Universal this week, compared to 10 articles on an average week.

Search Interest

11 people have searched for UVV on MarketBeat in the last 30 days. This is an increase of 83% compared to the previous 30 days.

MarketBeat Follows

2 people have added Universal to their MarketBeat watchlist in the last 30 days. This is an increase of 100% compared to the previous 30 days.

Company Ownership

• Score: 1.7 / 5
• Insider Trading: N/A

Insider Buying vs. Insider Selling

In the past three months, Universal insiders have not sold or bought any company stock.

Percentage Held by Insiders

Only 1.90% of the stock of Universal is held by insiders.

Percentage Held by Institutions

81.00% of the stock of Universal is held by institutions. High institutional ownership can be a signal of strong market trust in this company.

UVV Stock Analysis - Frequently Asked Questions

How have UVV shares performed this year?

Universal's stock was trading at $54.84 at the start of the year. Since then, UVV shares have decreased by 0.7% and is now trading at $54.45.

How were Universal's earnings last quarter?

Universal Corporation (NYSE:UVV) posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, May, 29th. The company reported $0.80 earnings per share for the quarter. The business earned $702.28 million during the quarter. Universal had a net margin of 3.22% and a trailing twelve-month return on equity of 7.89%.
Read the conference call transcript.

Is Universal buying back stock?

Universal's board approved a stock repurchase plan on Thursday, November 7th 2024, which allows the company to repurchase $100,000,000 in shares, according to EventVestor. This means that the company could buy up to 7.8% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback plans are typically a sign that the company's leadership believes its stock is undervalued.

Who are Universal's major shareholders?

Top institutional shareholders of Universal include Adams Asset Advisors LLC (0.60%), SummerHaven Investment Management LLC (0.07%), Exchange Traded Concepts LLC (0.06%) and State of Alaska Department of Revenue (0.06%). Insiders that own company stock include Preston Douglas Wigner, Theodore G Broome, Candace C Formacek, Thomas H Johnson, Robert C Sledd and Lennart R Freeman.
View institutional ownership trends.

How do I buy shares of Universal?

Shares of UVV stock can be purchased through any online brokerage account. Popular online brokerages with access to the U.S. stock market include Charles Schwab, E*TRADE, Fidelity, and Vanguard Brokerage Services.

What other stocks do shareholders of Universal own?

Based on aggregate information from My MarketBeat watchlists, some other companies that Universal investors own include American Water Works (AWK), Waste Connections (WCN), The RMR Group (RMR), iShares Micro-Cap ETF (IWC), DiamondRock Hospitality (DRH), AU Optronics (AUOTY) and Voyager Therapeutics (VYGR).

Company Calendar

• Record date for 5/5 Dividend: 4/14/2025
• Ex-Dividend for 5/5 Dividend: 4/14/2025
• Dividend Payable: 5/05/2025
• Last Earnings: 5/29/2025
• Record date for 8/4 Dividend: 7/14/2025
• Ex-Dividend for 8/4 Dividend: 7/14/2025
• Today: 7/18/2025
• Dividend Payable: 8/04/2025
• Next Earnings (Estimated): 8/06/2025
• Fiscal Year End: 3/31/2026

Industry, Sector and Symbol

• Stock Exchange: NYSE
• Sector: Consumer Staples
• Industry: TOBACCO
• Sub-Industry: Tobacco
• Current Symbol: NYSE:UVV
• CIK: 102037
• Web: www.universalcorp.com
• Phone: (804) 359-9311
• Fax: 804-254-3594
• Employees: 28,500
• Year Founded: N/A

Profitability

• EPS (Trailing Twelve Months): $3.78
• Trailing P/E Ratio: 14.40
• Forward P/E Ratio: N/A
• P/E Growth: N/A
• Net Income: $95.05 million
• Net Margins: 3.22%
• Pretax Margin: 5.23%
• Return on Equity: 7.89%
• Return on Assets: 3.84%

Debt

• Debt-to-Equity Ratio: 0.41
• Current Ratio: 2.87
• Quick Ratio: 1.55

Sales & Book Value

• Annual Sales: $2.95 billion
• Price / Sales: 0.46
• Cash Flow: $6.99 per share
• Price / Cash Flow: 7.79
• Book Value: $60.71 per share
• Price / Book: 0.90

Miscellaneous

• Outstanding Shares: 24,800,000
• Free Float: 24,327,000
• Market Cap: $1.35 billion
• Optionable: Optionable
• Beta: 0.73