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Upturn AI SWOT - About
UVV 
Universal Corporation (UVV)
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Upturn Advisory Summary
06/10/2025: UVV (1-star) has a low Upturn Star Rating. Not recommended to BUY.
Upturn Star Rating
Not Recommended Performance
These Stocks/ETFs, based on Upturn Advisory, consistently fall short of market performance, signaling caution before investing.
Number of Analysts
0 Analysts rated it
These Stocks/ETFs, based on Upturn Advisory, consistently fall short of market performance, signaling caution before investing.
Year Target Price $59
Year Target Price $59
| 0 | Strong Buy |
| 0 | Buy |
| 0 | Hold |
| 0 | Under performing |
| 0 | Sell |
Analysis of Past Performance
Type Stock | Historic Profit 4.47% | Avg. Invested days 36 | Today’s Advisory Consider higher Upturn Star rating |
Upturn Star Rating | Upturn Advisory Performance  3.0 | Stock Returns Performance  1.0 |
| Profits based on simulation | Last Close 06/10/2025 |
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 |
Analyst Ratings
Rating - | Target Price 59 | Buy - | Strong Buy - |
Buy - | Strong Buy - | ||
Hold - | Sell - | Strong Sell - | |
Strong Sell - |
Upturn AI SWOT
Universal Corporation
Company Overview
History and Background
Universal Corporation, founded in 1918, is the world's largest leaf tobacco merchant and processor. It has grown through acquisitions and diversification into other agricultural sectors.
Core Business Areas
- Leaf Tobacco: Procurement, processing, packing, storing, and financing of leaf tobacco. They act as an intermediary between tobacco growers and manufacturers.
- Ingredients: Processing and supply of value-added ingredients such as fruit and vegetable concentrates and extracts, serving the food and beverage industries.
Leadership and Structure
The company is led by a board of directors and executive management team. The organizational structure is divided by business segment and function.
Top Products and Market Share
Key Offerings
- Leaf Tobacco: Universal's primary product is processed leaf tobacco, sold to cigarette and smokeless tobacco manufacturers. Market share data fluctuates, but they are the largest processor globally. Competitors include Pyxus International and Alliance One International.
- Plant-Based Ingredients: Universal supplies ingredients to food and beverage companies, including vegetable and fruit concentrates. No specific market share, as this is a more fragmented sector. Competitors are varied and depend on the specific ingredient.
Market Dynamics
Industry Overview
The tobacco industry faces declining cigarette consumption in developed markets but growth in emerging markets. The ingredients sector is driven by consumer demand for healthier and natural products.
Positioning
Universal is the leading leaf tobacco merchant, benefiting from scale and long-standing relationships with growers and manufacturers. In the ingredients sector, they are a growing player. Key competitive advantages are their supply chain expertise and global presence.
Total Addressable Market (TAM)
The global tobacco market is estimated to be in the hundreds of billions of USD annually. The plant-based ingredients market is also large and growing. Universal is well-positioned within the tobacco market but has room for growth within the ingredient space.
Upturn SWOT Analysis
Strengths
- Global supply chain network
- Long-standing relationships with growers and manufacturers
- Scale and market leadership in leaf tobacco
- Diversification into the ingredients sector
- Expertise in processing and logistics
Weaknesses
- Dependence on the tobacco industry
- Exposure to regulatory risks
- Fluctuations in agricultural commodity prices
- Potential impact of declining cigarette consumption
- Capital Intensive Operation
Opportunities
- Expanding the ingredients business
- Entering new geographic markets
- Developing new tobacco products
- Acquiring smaller competitors
- Capitalizing on the growing demand for natural ingredients
Threats
- Declining cigarette consumption in developed markets
- Increasing regulation of the tobacco industry
- Competition from other leaf tobacco merchants
- Changes in consumer preferences
- Geopolitical risks in tobacco-growing regions
Competitors and Market Share
Key Competitors
- Pyxus International (PYX)
- Alliance One International (AOI)
- Sensient Technologies Corporation (SXT)
Competitive Landscape
Universal Corporation is the largest player in leaf tobacco. Diversification into ingredients presents growth opportunities, but requires different capabilities.
Major Acquisitions
Silva International
- Year: 2019
- Acquisition Price (USD millions): 170
- Strategic Rationale: Expanded their presence in the plant-based ingredients sector.
Growth Trajectory and Initiatives
Historical Growth: Growth has been driven by acquisitions and expansion of the ingredients business.
Future Projections: Analysts project modest revenue growth. Growth in the ingredients segment is seen as key to future growth.
Recent Initiatives: Focus on expanding the ingredients business through acquisitions and organic growth.
Summary
Universal Corporation is a major player in the leaf tobacco industry with strengths in its global supply chain and long-standing relationships. Diversification into ingredients provides growth opportunities. Declining cigarette consumption and regulatory risks are ongoing threats. Overall, Universal Corporation is financially sound, but needs to effectively manage risks.
Peer Comparison
Sources and Disclaimers
Data Sources:
- Company SEC Filings (10-K, 10-Q)
- Company Investor Relations
- Market Research Reports
- Analyst Estimates
Disclaimers:
The information provided is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. 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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