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UVV 
Universal Corporation (UVV)
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Upturn Advisory Summary
12/05/2025: UVV (1-star) is currently NOT-A-BUY. Pass it for now.
Upturn Star Rating
Not Recommended Performance
These Stocks/ETFs, based on Upturn Advisory, consistently fall short of market performance, signaling caution before investing.
Analysis of Past Performance
Type Stock | Historic Profit 0.97% | Avg. Invested days 37 | Today’s Advisory PASS |
Upturn Star Rating | Upturn Advisory Performance  3.0 | Stock Returns Performance  1.0 |
| Profits based on simulation | Last Close 12/05/2025 |
Key Highlights
Company Size Small-Cap Stock | Market Capitalization 1.45B USD | Price to earnings Ratio 15.51 | 1Y Target Price 59 |
Price to earnings Ratio 15.51 | 1Y Target Price 59 | ||
Volume (30-day avg) - | Beta 0.78 | 52 Weeks Range 44.11 - 67.33 | Updated Date 06/29/2025 |
52 Weeks Range 44.11 - 67.33 | Updated Date 06/29/2025 | ||
Dividends yield (FY) 5.59% | Basic EPS (TTM) 3.78 |
Earnings Date
Report Date - | When - | Estimate - | Actual - |
Profitability
Profit Margin 3.23% | Operating Margin (TTM) 6.09% |
Management Effectiveness
Return on Assets (TTM) 5.13% | Return on Equity (TTM) 7.6% |
Valuation
Trailing PE 15.51 | Forward PE - | Enterprise Value 2293516250 | Price to Sales(TTM) 0.49 |
Enterprise Value 2293516250 | Price to Sales(TTM) 0.49 | ||
Enterprise Value to Revenue 0.78 | Enterprise Value to EBITDA 7.81 | Shares Outstanding 24715600 | Shares Floating 24142223 |
Shares Outstanding 24715600 | Shares Floating 24142223 | ||
Percent Insiders 3.35 | Percent Institutions 85.69 |
Upturn AI SWOT
Universal Corporation
Company Overview
History and Background
Universal Corporation, founded in 1918, is the world's leading leaf tobacco merchant and value-added agricultural processor. It has evolved from a domestic tobacco dealer to a global enterprise with operations in numerous countries.
Core Business Areas
- Leaf Tobacco: Procurement, processing, storage, and supply of leaf tobacco to manufacturers of consumer tobacco products worldwide.
- Ingredients: Processing and supply of value-added ingredients and flavorings for the food and beverage industries.
Leadership and Structure
The leadership team consists of the CEO, CFO, and various regional and functional heads. The organizational structure is hierarchical, with global operations managed through regional subsidiaries.
Top Products and Market Share
Key Offerings
- Description of Product 1, include any market share data or number of users or revenue from this product. Who are the competitors for this product:
- Flue-Cured Tobacco: The primary tobacco type handled by Universal, used in cigarettes. Market share is difficult to pinpoint exactly but Universal is estimated to handle around 20-25% of global leaf tobacco sales. Competitors: Alliance One International, Pyxus International.
- Burley Tobacco: Another key tobacco type, known for its air-curing. See Flue-Cured Tobacco for details on market position and competitors
- Description of Product 2, include any market share data or number of users or revenue from this product. Who are the competitors for this product:
- Description of Product 2, include any market share data or number of users or revenue from this product. Who are the competitors for this product:
- Ingredients and Flavors: A growing segment supplying extracts, purees, and flavorings. Market share is smaller and highly competitive with numerous players of all sizes.
Market Dynamics
Industry Overview
The tobacco industry faces declining cigarette consumption in developed markets but growth in developing regions. The ingredients segment is expanding, driven by consumer demand for natural and sustainable products.
Positioning
Universal Corporation is the largest leaf tobacco merchant globally, with a strong reputation for quality and reliability. Its competitive advantage lies in its global network and expertise in tobacco processing and procurement.
Total Addressable Market (TAM)
The global tobacco market is estimated to be in the hundreds of billions of dollars. The ingredients market is smaller but growing faster. Universal is strongly positioned within the tobacco portion of the TAM, and expanding into the ingredients TAM.
Upturn SWOT Analysis
Strengths
- Global network
- Established relationships with tobacco farmers and manufacturers
- Expertise in leaf tobacco processing
- Strong supply chain
- Diversification into ingredients business
Weaknesses
- Dependence on the tobacco industry
- Exposure to regulatory risks
- Fluctuations in tobacco prices
- Sensitivity to currency exchange rates
Opportunities
- Expansion into new geographic markets
- Growth in the ingredients business
- Development of new tobacco products
- Acquisition of smaller competitors
Threats
- Declining cigarette consumption
- Increased regulation of the tobacco industry
- Competition from other leaf tobacco merchants
- Changes in consumer preferences
Competitors and Market Share
Key Competitors
- AOI
- PYX
Competitive Landscape
Universal benefits from its global scale and relationships but faces pressure from other merchants and regulatory headwinds.
Major Acquisitions
Silva International
- Year: 2019
- Acquisition Price (USD millions): 170
- Strategic Rationale: Expanded capabilities in natural food ingredients, particularly dehydrated vegetables, fruits, and herbs.
Growth Trajectory and Initiatives
Historical Growth: Growth has been modest in recent years, driven by the ingredients business and expansion into new markets.
Future Projections: Analyst estimates vary, but generally project modest growth in revenue and earnings.
Recent Initiatives: Recent initiatives include acquisitions in the ingredients space and efforts to improve efficiency in tobacco processing.
Summary
Universal Corporation is the world's leading leaf tobacco merchant with a growing presence in ingredients. It leverages a global network and expertise in agricultural processing. Declining cigarette consumption and regulatory pressures present challenges, but the ingredients segment offers growth potential. Strong cash flow enables dividend payments and strategic acquisitions.
Similar Stocks
Sources and Disclaimers
Data Sources:
- Company Filings
- Analyst Reports
- Industry Publications
Disclaimers:
This analysis is for informational purposes only and should not be considered investment advice.
AI Summarization is directionally correct and might not be accurate.
Summarized information shown could be a few years old and not current.
Fundamental Rating based on AI could be based on old data.
AI-generated summaries may have inaccuracies (hallucinations). Please verify the information before taking action.
About Universal Corporation
Exchange NYSE | Headquaters Richmond, VA, United States | ||
IPO Launch date 1988-01-05 | President, CEO & Chairman Mr. Preston Douglas Wigner | ||
Sector Consumer Defensive | Industry Tobacco | Full time employees 11400 | Website https://www.universalcorp.com |
Full time employees 11400 | Website https://www.universalcorp.com | ||
Universal Corporation, a business-to-business agriproducts company, provides leaf tobacco and plant-based ingredients to food and beverage end markets worldwide. The company operates in two segments, Tobacco Operations and Ingredients Operations. The Tobacco Operations segment is involved in procuring, processing, packing, storing, and shipping of flue-cured, burley, dark air-cured, and oriental leaf tobacco for consumer product manufacturers, as well as provision of related services. This segment also offers specialty services, such as custom blending, chemical and physical testing of tobacco, service cutting, reconstituted leaf tobacco manufacturing, and just-in-time product delivery services; and liquid nicotine for tobacco products manufacturers, as well as recycled waste materials from tobacco production. The Ingredients Operations segment engages in the production of specialty plant-based ingredients, including fruits, vegetables, herbs, fruit and vegetable juices, concentrates, pomaces, ciders, purees, nutraceuticals, fruit fibers, seeds, seed powders, dehydrated products, botanical extracts, distillates, natural flavors, colors, and other value-added products for consumer-packaged goods manufacturers and retailers, as well as food, beverage, and flavor companies. The company was founded in 1886 and is headquartered in Richmond, Virginia.
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