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Upturn AI SWOT - About
UVV 
Universal Corporation (UVV)
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Upturn Advisory Summary
10/15/2025: 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 10/15/2025 |
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 was founded in 1918 as Universal Leaf Tobacco Company. It is a global leader in sourcing, processing, and supplying leaf tobacco to manufacturers of consumer tobacco products. Over the years, it has expanded its operations and diversified into related agricultural products and ingredients.
Core Business Areas
- Leaf Tobacco: The core business segment involves sourcing, processing, and supplying leaf tobacco to cigarette manufacturers worldwide. This includes buying tobacco from growers, grading, sorting, and redrying it before selling to customers.
- Ingredients: Universal Corporation has diversified into plant-based ingredients. They provide a variety of products, including extracts, flavors and other specialty products used in the food, beverage, and nutraceutical industries.
Leadership and Structure
The leadership team consists of the CEO, CFO, and other executive officers. The organizational structure is typically hierarchical, with regional and functional divisions reporting to the corporate headquarters.
Top Products and Market Share
Key Offerings
- Flue-Cured Tobacco: Flue-cured tobacco is a key offering. Universal is a major supplier to global cigarette manufacturers, particularly in the USA and Brazil. Competitors include Alliance One International and Pyxus International. Market share for flue-cured tobacco fluctuates, but Universal is a leading player.
- Burley Tobacco: Burley tobacco is another significant product. Similar to flue-cured, Universal sources, processes and supplies this tobacco. Competitors include Alliance One International and Pyxus International. Market share fluctuates with harvest yields and demand.
- Plant-Based Ingredients: Universal Ingredients provides various specialty ingredients. Competitors in this segment are numerous and include large food ingredient companies and smaller specialized firms. The market is fragmented with Universal looking to grow their market share.
Market Dynamics
Industry Overview
The tobacco industry is facing declining cigarette consumption in many developed markets due to health concerns and regulations. However, demand remains significant in developing countries. The ingredients market is experiencing strong growth driven by consumer demand for natural and plant based products.
Positioning
Universal Corporation is positioned as a leading global supplier of leaf tobacco. Its competitive advantages include its extensive global network, established relationships with growers, and expertise in processing tobacco. Its ingredient division aims to become a major player in plant-based solutions.
Total Addressable Market (TAM)
The global tobacco market is estimated to be worth hundreds of billions of dollars annually. The plant-based ingredients market is also large and growing rapidly. Universal is positioned to capture a share of both markets through its core tobacco business and its expanding ingredients segment.
Upturn SWOT Analysis
Strengths
- Global supply chain network
- Long-standing relationships with tobacco growers
- Expertise in leaf tobacco processing
- Diversification into plant-based ingredients
Weaknesses
- Dependence on the tobacco industry
- Exposure to regulatory risks
- Potential for declining cigarette consumption
- Ingredient Business requires further diversification and investment
Opportunities
- Expansion into new geographic markets
- Growth in the plant-based ingredients market
- Development of new tobacco products
- Acquisition of smaller competitors in related fields
Threats
- Increasing tobacco regulations and taxes
- Declining cigarette consumption in developed markets
- Competition from other tobacco suppliers
- Fluctuations in agricultural commodity prices
Competitors and Market Share
Key Competitors
- Alliance One International (AOI)
- Pyxus International (PYX)
Competitive Landscape
Universal's advantage lies in its global scale and long-standing relationships. Its ingredient sector is in a fast growing market which is a differentiating factor. Competitors are more focused on tobacco.
Major Acquisitions
Silva International
- Year: 2019
- Acquisition Price (USD millions): 170
- Strategic Rationale: Expanded Universal's presence in the natural ingredients market.
Growth Trajectory and Initiatives
Historical Growth: Universal's historical growth has been moderate, driven by its core tobacco business. The ingredients segment offers potential for faster growth.
Future Projections: Future projections are reliant on strategic growth in the ingredients segment and stable tobacco operations. Analyst estimates will vary.
Recent Initiatives: Recent initiatives include acquisitions in the ingredients space, expansion of plant-based ingredient offerings, and cost optimization efforts.
Summary
Universal Corporation maintains a strong position in the tobacco industry and is strategically diversifying into plant-based ingredients. Its global network and established relationships are key strengths, while declining cigarette consumption presents a challenge. The ingredients segment offers opportunities for future growth, contingent on execution and market dynamics. Overall, Universal is a well-established company with a clear strategy for navigating a changing market landscape.
Peer Comparison
Sources and Disclaimers
Data Sources:
- Company Filings (10-K, 10-Q)
- Analyst Reports
- Industry Publications
Disclaimers:
The information provided is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Investment decisions should be made based on individual risk tolerance and financial circumstances. Market conditions are subject to change.
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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