Universal Competitors

Universal (NYSE:UVV) and Helen of Troy (NASDAQ:HELE) are both consumer staples companies, but which is the better stock? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their earnings, institutional ownership, profitability, analyst recommendations, risk, valuation and dividends.

Insider and Institutional Ownership

82.5% of Universal shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 98.1% of Helen of Troy shares are owned by institutional investors. 2.3% of Universal shares are owned by company insiders. Comparatively, 0.9% of Helen of Troy shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, endowments and large money managers believe a company is poised for long-term growth.

Volatility and Risk

Universal has a beta of 0.69, indicating that its stock price is 31% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Helen of Troy has a beta of 0.92, indicating that its stock price is 8% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Profitability

This table compares Universal and Helen of Troy's net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Earnings and Valuation

This table compares Universal and Helen of Troy's gross revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

Helen of Troy has lower revenue, but higher earnings than Universal.

Analyst Ratings

This is a summary of current recommendations for Universal and Helen of Troy, as reported by MarketBeat.com.

Helen of Troy has a consensus target price of $230.75, indicating a potential upside of 5.26%. Given Helen of Troy's higher possible upside, analysts clearly believe Helen of Troy is more favorable than Universal.

Summary

Helen of Troy beats Universal on 9 of the 12 factors compared between the two stocks.

Flowers Foods (NYSE:FLO) and Universal (NYSE:UVV) are both consumer staples companies, but which is the superior stock? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their risk, valuation, analyst recommendations, earnings, profitability, institutional ownership and dividends.

Insider & Institutional Ownership

64.5% of Flowers Foods shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 82.5% of Universal shares are held by institutional investors. 8.2% of Flowers Foods shares are held by insiders. Comparatively, 2.3% of Universal shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, hedge funds and large money managers believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.

Risk & Volatility

Flowers Foods has a beta of 0.34, suggesting that its share price is 66% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Universal has a beta of 0.69, suggesting that its share price is 31% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Profitability

This table compares Flowers Foods and Universal's net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Earnings and Valuation

This table compares Flowers Foods and Universal's gross revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

Flowers Foods has higher revenue and earnings than Universal.

Analyst Recommendations

This is a summary of recent ratings and price targets for Flowers Foods and Universal, as provided by MarketBeat.

Flowers Foods presently has a consensus price target of $24.00, indicating a potential upside of 1.27%. Given Flowers Foods' higher possible upside, equities research analysts clearly believe Flowers Foods is more favorable than Universal.

Dividends

Flowers Foods pays an annual dividend of $0.80 per share and has a dividend yield of 3.4%. Universal pays an annual dividend of $3.08 per share and has a dividend yield of 5.3%. Flowers Foods pays out 83.3% of its earnings in the form of a dividend, suggesting it may not have sufficient earnings to cover its dividend payment in the future. Flowers Foods has raised its dividend for 7 consecutive years and Universal has raised its dividend for 3 consecutive years.

Summary

Flowers Foods beats Universal on 9 of the 14 factors compared between the two stocks.

Nomad Foods (NYSE:NOMD) and Universal (NYSE:UVV) are both consumer staples companies, but which is the superior stock? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their risk, valuation, analyst recommendations, earnings, profitability, institutional ownership and dividends.

Earnings & Valuation

This table compares Nomad Foods and Universal's revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

Nomad Foods has higher revenue and earnings than Universal.

Analyst Recommendations

This is a summary of recent ratings and price targets for Nomad Foods and Universal, as provided by MarketBeat.

Nomad Foods presently has a consensus price target of $28.80, indicating a potential upside of 0.17%. Given Nomad Foods' higher possible upside, equities research analysts clearly believe Nomad Foods is more favorable than Universal.

Volatility and Risk

Nomad Foods has a beta of 0.71, suggesting that its stock price is 29% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Universal has a beta of 0.69, suggesting that its stock price is 31% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Insider and Institutional Ownership

67.8% of Nomad Foods shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 82.5% of Universal shares are held by institutional investors. 2.3% of Universal shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, endowments and hedge funds believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.

Profitability

This table compares Nomad Foods and Universal's net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Summary

Nomad Foods beats Universal on 9 of the 12 factors compared between the two stocks.

Universal (NYSE:UVV) and Lancaster Colony (NASDAQ:LANC) are both consumer staples companies, but which is the superior stock? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their dividends, analyst recommendations, profitability, earnings, risk, institutional ownership and valuation.

Earnings & Valuation

This table compares Universal and Lancaster Colony's revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

Lancaster Colony has lower revenue, but higher earnings than Universal.

Analyst Ratings

This is a summary of recent ratings and recommmendations for Universal and Lancaster Colony, as provided by MarketBeat.

Volatility & Risk

Universal has a beta of 0.69, indicating that its stock price is 31% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Lancaster Colony has a beta of 0.25, indicating that its stock price is 75% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Insider & Institutional Ownership

82.5% of Universal shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 54.6% of Lancaster Colony shares are owned by institutional investors. 2.3% of Universal shares are owned by company insiders. Comparatively, 31.7% of Lancaster Colony shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, endowments and hedge funds believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.

Dividends

Universal pays an annual dividend of $3.08 per share and has a dividend yield of 5.3%. Lancaster Colony pays an annual dividend of $3.00 per share and has a dividend yield of 1.7%. Lancaster Colony pays out 60.9% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Universal has increased its dividend for 3 consecutive years and Lancaster Colony has increased its dividend for 26 consecutive years.

Profitability

This table compares Universal and Lancaster Colony's net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Summary

Lancaster Colony beats Universal on 9 of the 14 factors compared between the two stocks.

Universal (NYSE:UVV) and Leslie's (NASDAQ:LESL) are both consumer staples companies, but which is the superior stock? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their dividends, analyst recommendations, profitability, earnings, risk, institutional ownership and valuation.

Valuation & Earnings

This table compares Universal and Leslie's' revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

Leslie's has lower revenue, but higher earnings than Universal.

Analyst Ratings

This is a summary of recent ratings and recommmendations for Universal and Leslie's, as provided by MarketBeat.

Leslie's has a consensus price target of $26.5455, indicating a potential upside of 1.78%. Given Leslie's' higher possible upside, analysts clearly believe Leslie's is more favorable than Universal.

Insider & Institutional Ownership

82.5% of Universal shares are held by institutional investors. 2.3% of Universal shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, large money managers and endowments believe a company is poised for long-term growth.

Profitability

This table compares Universal and Leslie's' net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Summary

Universal beats Leslie's on 6 of the 11 factors compared between the two stocks.

Universal (NYSE:UVV) and National Beverage (NASDAQ:FIZZ) are both consumer staples companies, but which is the superior stock? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their dividends, analyst recommendations, profitability, earnings, risk, institutional ownership and valuation.

Valuation & Earnings

This table compares Universal and National Beverage's revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

National Beverage has lower revenue, but higher earnings than Universal.

Analyst Ratings

This is a summary of recent ratings and recommmendations for Universal and National Beverage, as provided by MarketBeat.

National Beverage has a consensus price target of $35.8333, indicating a potential downside of 28.60%. Given National Beverage's higher possible upside, analysts clearly believe National Beverage is more favorable than Universal.

Risk & Volatility

Universal has a beta of 0.69, suggesting that its share price is 31% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, National Beverage has a beta of 1.39, suggesting that its share price is 39% more volatile than the S&P 500.

Insider & Institutional Ownership

82.5% of Universal shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 32.7% of National Beverage shares are held by institutional investors. 2.3% of Universal shares are held by insiders. Comparatively, 75.2% of National Beverage shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, large money managers and endowments believe a company is poised for long-term growth.

Profitability

This table compares Universal and National Beverage's net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Summary

National Beverage beats Universal on 8 of the 11 factors compared between the two stocks.