Home 
Today's Top Picks 
Top Performers 
Watchlist 
My Robo Portfolios 
ETF Zone 
Help & Tutorial - Chart
- Upturn Summary
- Highlights
- Valuation
- About
UVV 
Universal Corporation (UVV)
- BUY Advisory
- SELL Advisory (Profit)
- SELL Advisory (Loss)
- Profit
- Loss
- Pass (Skip investing)
Stock price based on last close (see disclosures)
- ALL
- 1Y
- 1M
- 1W
Upturn Advisory Summary
01/09/2026: 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.
Analysis of Past Performance
Type Stock | Historic Profit 0.97% | Avg. Invested days 35 | Today’s Advisory WEAK BUY |
Upturn Star Rating | Upturn Advisory Performance  3.0 | Stock Returns Performance  1.0 |
| Profits based on simulation | Last Close 01/09/2026 |
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 (NYSE: UVV) was founded in 1918 as Universal Leaf Tobacco Company. For over a century, it has been a leading global leaf tobacco supplier. The company has evolved to include other ingredients and services for consumer products, diversifying its revenue streams beyond its traditional tobacco leaf business. Significant milestones include its name change to Universal Corporation in 2017, reflecting its broader portfolio.
Core Business Areas
- Leaf Operations: Supplies a wide variety of leaf tobacco to cigarette and cigar manufacturers worldwide. This segment involves sourcing, processing, packing, and shipping tobacco, adhering to quality and regulatory standards.
- Ingredients Operations: This segment focuses on supplying value-added ingredients and services to manufacturers in the flavor, fragrance, and food and beverage industries. This includes botanical extracts and other specialized ingredients.
Leadership and Structure
Universal Corporation is led by a Board of Directors and an executive management team. The CEO is currently George C. Freeman III. The company operates through its two primary segments: Leaf Operations and Ingredients Operations, with distinct management structures for each.
Top Products and Market Share
Key Offerings
- Tobacco Leaf Supply: Universal Corporation is one of the world's largest independent leaf tobacco suppliers. Specific market share data for individual tobacco types is not publicly disclosed, but the company holds a significant position in the global market. Competitors include other large leaf tobacco suppliers and direct sourcing by major tobacco manufacturers.
- Botanical Extracts and Ingredients: This segment supplies a range of natural ingredients for the food, beverage, flavor, and fragrance industries. Market share is fragmented and dependent on specific ingredient types. Competitors include specialized ingredient suppliers and larger chemical companies.
Market Dynamics
Industry Overview
The tobacco leaf industry is mature and subject to declining smoking rates in developed countries, offset by growth in emerging markets. Regulatory pressures and health concerns continue to shape the industry. The ingredients sector for food, beverage, flavor, and fragrance is growing, driven by consumer demand for natural and healthy products.
Positioning
Universal Corporation is a dominant player in the global leaf tobacco supply chain, leveraging long-standing relationships with growers and manufacturers. Its diversification into the ingredients sector aims to mitigate risks associated with the declining tobacco market and tap into higher growth segments.
Total Addressable Market (TAM)
The TAM for leaf tobacco is substantial but facing secular decline in key markets. The TAM for natural ingredients in food, beverage, flavor, and fragrance is large and growing. Universal Corporation is a significant player in the tobacco leaf TAM and is actively growing its presence in the ingredients TAM.
Upturn SWOT Analysis
Strengths
- Long-standing global supply chain and relationships with growers and customers.
- Diversified revenue streams through ingredients segment.
- Strong track record of dividend payments and shareholder returns.
- Extensive experience in regulatory compliance and quality control.
Weaknesses
- Dependence on the declining global tobacco market.
- Potential for commodity price volatility in tobacco and ingredients.
- Long lead times and complex logistics in supply chain.
Opportunities
- Growth in the plant-based and natural ingredients market.
- Expansion of the ingredients segment through acquisitions and organic growth.
- Leveraging existing infrastructure for new product development.
- Potential for innovation in sustainable sourcing and processing.
Threats
- Increasingly stringent regulations on tobacco products.
- Shifting consumer preferences away from tobacco.
- Geopolitical instability and supply chain disruptions.
- Intense competition in the ingredients market.
Competitors and Market Share
Key Competitors
- Alliance One International (AOI)
- Pyxus International (PYX)
Competitive Landscape
Universal Corporation benefits from its scale, diversified customer base, and long-term relationships. Its diversification into ingredients provides a competitive advantage against pure-play tobacco leaf suppliers. However, it faces intense competition in both segments, particularly from specialized ingredient providers in the newer business area.
Major Acquisitions
FruitSmart
- Year: 2021
- Acquisition Price (USD millions): 107
- Strategic Rationale: Acquisition of FruitSmart, a leading supplier of fruit and vegetable-based ingredients, expanded Universal's presence in the value-added ingredients market, complementing its existing offerings and providing access to new customers and applications in the food and beverage industry.
Shank's Extracts
- Year: 2022
- Acquisition Price (USD millions): 44.5
- Strategic Rationale: Acquisition of Shank's Extracts, a producer of high-quality flavors and extracts, further strengthened Universal's Ingredients Operations by expanding its product portfolio in the flavor and fragrance segments and enhancing its capabilities in flavor creation and production.
Growth Trajectory and Initiatives
Historical Growth: The company has experienced steady, albeit not rapid, growth historically, largely driven by its leaf operations. The strategic shift to expand the ingredients segment represents a conscious effort to accelerate growth beyond traditional tobacco.
Future Projections: Analysts project modest revenue growth for Universal Corporation, with the ingredients segment expected to be the primary growth driver. Profitability is expected to remain stable, with potential upside from successful integration of new ingredients offerings and market expansion.
Recent Initiatives: Key initiatives include strategic acquisitions within the ingredients sector to broaden its product portfolio and geographic reach, and investments in technology and operational efficiency across both segments.
Summary
Universal Corporation is a stable, dividend-paying company with a strong legacy in leaf tobacco, now strategically diversifying into the growing ingredients sector. Its strengths lie in its established global supply chain and long-term customer relationships. The company needs to vigilantly manage the decline in tobacco markets while aggressively pursuing growth opportunities in its ingredients business, navigating competitive pressures and regulatory changes.
Similar Stocks
Sources and Disclaimers
Data Sources:
- Universal Corporation Investor Relations
- SEC Filings (10-K, 10-Q)
- Industry Analyst Reports
- Financial News Outlets
Disclaimers:
This information is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Stock market investments are subject to risk. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions.
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.
Note: This website is maintained by Upturn Corporation, which is an investment adviser registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Such registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training. Investing in securities has risks. Past performance is no guarantee of future returns. No assurance is provided as to any particular investment return, and you may lose money using our services. You are strongly advised to consult appropriate counsel before making any investments in companies you learn about through our services. You should obtain appropriate legal, tax, investment, accounting, and other advice that takes into account your investment portfolio and overall financial situation. You are solely responsible for conducting due diligence on a potential investment. We do not affect trades for you. You will select your own broker through which to transact. Investments are not FDIC insured, they are not guaranteed, and they may lose value. Please see the Privacy Policy, Terms of Use, and Disclosure for more information.