UVV
Consumer DefensiveUniversal Corporation · Tobacco · $1B
What is Universal Corporation?
Universal Corporation is a global leaf tobacco processor and supplier, also expanding into plant-based food ingredients. Headquartered in Richmond, Virginia, it serves tobacco manufacturers and food producers worldwide.
Universal earns revenue by procuring, processing, and shipping leaf tobacco to cigarette and cigar manufacturers. A growing Ingredients Operations segment produces specialty vegetable, fruit, and botanical extracts for human and pet food markets. The company also offers blending, testing, and inventory management services that add value beyond basic leaf supply.
Universal Corporation was incorporated in 1988 and is based in Richmond, Virginia.
- Flue-cured, burley, and oriental tobacco processing
- Dark air-cured tobacco for cigars and smokeless products
- Specialty fruit, vegetable, and botanical ingredients
- Tobacco testing and analytical services
Is UVV a Good Stock to Buy?
UQS Score rates UVV as Below Average overall.
The most constructive element in UVV's profile is its Valuation pillar, rated Attractive, suggesting the market may already be pricing in the company's structural challenges. Risk is rated Neutral, meaning near-term financial stability is not a primary concern.
Quality, Moat, and Growth are all rated Weak, pointing to limited competitive differentiation and a difficult long-term growth trajectory in a declining core market.
See the full pillar breakdown and underlying financial metrics by signing up for a Pro account at uqs-score.com. Sign up free →
Past performance does not guarantee future results. UQS Score is based on fundamental data and is not a buy/sell recommendation.
Does UVV pay dividends?
Yes — Universal Corporation pays a dividend.
Universal Corporation pays a regular dividend, which has historically been a key reason income-oriented investors hold UVV. Given the mature, cash-generative nature of tobacco processing, the company prioritizes returning capital to shareholders rather than aggressive reinvestment.
When does UVV report earnings?
Universal Corporation reports earnings on a quarterly cadence, consistent with US-listed equities.
Revenue trends reflect ongoing pressure in global tobacco volumes, partially offset by growth in the Ingredients segment. Profitability has remained relatively stable, though structural headwinds in the core tobacco business continue to weigh on the overall growth profile.
For the most recent quarter's results and guidance, visit Universal Corporation's investor relations page directly.
UVV Price History
+25.4% over 5Y
Monthly close, adjusted for stock splits and dividend reinvestment.
What if I invested in Universal Corporation?
Based on Universal Corporation's historical closing prices, adjusted for stock splits and dividend reinvestment. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is for informational purposes only and is not financial advice.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Universal Corporation do?
Universal Corporation processes and supplies leaf tobacco to manufacturers of cigarettes, cigars, and smokeless products worldwide. It also produces plant-based specialty ingredients — including fruit, vegetable, and botanical extracts — for human and pet food markets through its Ingredients Operations segment.
Does UVV pay dividends?
Yes, Universal Corporation pays a regular dividend. The company's mature, cash-generating tobacco processing business has supported consistent dividend payments, making UVV a historically income-oriented holding. Check Universal's investor relations page for the current dividend schedule.
When does UVV report earnings?
Universal Corporation follows a standard quarterly earnings cadence for US-listed companies. For exact reporting dates and recent results, refer to the investor relations section of Universal Corporation's official website.
Is UVV a good stock to buy?
UQS Score rates UVV as Below Average, reflecting Weak scores across Quality, Moat, and Growth pillars. The Valuation pillar is Attractive, which may interest value-oriented investors, but the weak growth and moat profile warrants careful consideration. View the full breakdown on uqs-score.com.
Is UVV overvalued?
Based on the UQS Valuation pillar, UVV is rated Attractive, suggesting it does not appear overvalued relative to its fundamentals. However, an attractive price alone does not offset the Weak ratings in Quality, Moat, and Growth. Pro members can access the detailed valuation metrics.
What is UVV's market cap bracket?
Universal Corporation is classified as a small-cap company. This places it in a segment of the market that can carry higher liquidity risk and less analyst coverage than large- or mega-cap peers, though it may also attract value-focused investors.
Is UVV a long-term quality investment?
As a long-term quality indicator, UVV's Below Average UQS Score — driven by Weak Quality, Moat, and Growth pillars — suggests limited structural advantages for compounding over time. The Attractive Valuation and dividend history may appeal to income investors, but long-term quality signals are muted.
What sector does UVV belong to?
Universal Corporation operates in the Consumer Defensive sector. This sector typically includes companies with stable demand regardless of economic cycles, which partially explains UVV's Neutral Risk rating despite challenges in its core tobacco market.
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Pro Analysis
UVV — Score History
| Date | UQS | Quality | Moat | Growth | Risk | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 9, 2026 | 40.2 | 30.1 | 32.0 | 24.8 | 42.3 | 89.3 | +0.1 |
| May 8, 2026 | 40.1 | 30.1 | 32.0 | 24.8 | 42.3 | 88.6 | +0.3 |
| May 7, 2026 | 39.8 | 30.3 | 32.0 | 24.8 | 42.3 | 86.0 | 0.0 |
| May 3, 2026 | 39.8 | 30.3 | 32.0 | 24.8 | 42.3 | 85.8 | 0.0 |
| Apr 26, 2026 | 39.8 | 30.3 | 32.0 | 24.8 | 42.3 | 86.1 | -0.1 |
| Apr 18, 2026 | 39.9 | 30.3 | 32.0 | 24.8 | 42.3 | 86.5 | -0.6 |
| Apr 14, 2026 | 40.5 | 30.3 | 32.0 | 24.8 | 42.3 | 90.7 | +0.1 |
| Apr 12, 2026 | 40.4 | 30.3 | 32.0 | 24.8 | 42.3 | 90.4 | -0.1 |
| Apr 6, 2026 | 40.5 | 30.3 | 32.0 | 24.8 | 42.3 | 91.0 | +2.8 |
| Apr 5, 2026 | 37.7 | 30.3 | 32.0 | 18.2 | 42.3 | 80.9 | -2.9 |
UVV — Pillar Breakdown
Quality
— 30.0/100 (25%)Universal Corporation currently shows below-average quality metrics, suggesting challenges with profitability.
How effectively capital is deployed to generate returns.
Profitability relative to shareholders' equity.
Ability to convert revenue into operating profit.
Bottom-line profit as a share of revenue.
Asset productivity — how much gross profit each dollar of assets generates.
Free cash flow relative to market value.
Growth
— 24.8/100 (20%)Universal Corporation faces growth headwinds with declining or stagnant revenue trends.
Revenue trajectory over the last twelve months.
Compound annual revenue growth rate over 3 years.
Year-over-year earnings per share growth.
Analyst consensus for future revenue growth.
Analyst consensus for future earnings growth.
Risk
— 42.3/100 (15%)Universal Corporation has some risk factors including moderate leverage or solvency concerns.
Debt levels relative to earnings capacity.
Total debt relative to shareholder equity.
Short-term liquidity — ability to pay near-term obligations.
Earnings capacity relative to interest payments.
Valuation
— 88.3/100 (15%)Universal Corporation appears attractively valued relative to its earnings, cash flows, and sector peers.
Inverse of forward P/E — higher yield means cheaper stock.
How many years of FCF the market cap represents.
P/E relative to earnings growth — lower is more attractive.
Enterprise value multiple relative to sector median.
Moat
— 32/100 (25%)Universal Corporation operates in a highly competitive environment with limited sustainable advantages. The Moat pillar evaluates competitive advantages across five dimensions: Switching Costs, Network Effects, Cost Advantage, Intangible Assets, and Scale & Ecosystem. Sign in to customize moat ratings for UVV.
Score Composition
Financial Data
More Stock Analysis
How is the UVV UQS Score Calculated?
The UQS (Unified Quality Score) for Universal Corporation is calculated using a proprietary 6-pillar framework with 29 financial metrics. Each pillar evaluates a different dimension on a 0–100 scale, then combines into a single weighted score. Scoring thresholds are calibrated per sector. Momentum is an optional Pro toggle — without it, you get the 5-pillar / 25-metric core shown below.
Quality (25%) measures profitability and capital efficiency — ROIC, ROE, margins, GP/Assets, and FCF Yield.
Moat (25%) assesses Universal Corporation's competitive advantages across switching costs, network effects, cost advantages, intangible assets, and ecosystem scale.
Growth (20%) tracks revenue trajectory and earnings momentum, combining historical results with analyst forward estimates.
Risk (15%) is inversely scored — lower leverage and strong balance sheet health result in higher scores.
Valuation (15%) measures whether Universal Corporation is fairly priced using earnings yield, price-to-FCF, PEG ratio, and EV/EBITDA relative to sector peers.
Six investor-inspired presets are available, each with different pillar weights: Balanced, Buffett, Munger, Lynch, Cathie Wood, and Graham. The public score shown here uses the Balanced preset. Learn more in our FAQ.