Universal Past Earnings Performance
Past criteria checks 1/6
Universal has been growing earnings at an average annual rate of 0.1%, while the Tobacco industry saw earnings growing at 2.4% annually. Revenues have been growing at an average rate of 8.7% per year. Universal's return on equity is 3.8%, and it has net margins of 1.1%.
Key information
0.11%
Earnings growth rate
-0.13%
EPS growth rate
| Tobacco Industry Growth | 18.08% |
| Revenue growth rate | 8.72% |
| Return on equity | 3.83% |
| Net Margin | 1.12% |
| Last Earnings Update | 31 Mar 2026 |
Recent past performance updates
Recent updates
Seeking Alpha • Jun 03
Universal Corp: The Three Reasons Why I Am Downgrading To Hold
Summary Universal Corp (UVV) faces ongoing top- and bottom-line pressure due to persistent tobacco oversupply and margin compression. I shift from a buy to a hold rating, awaiting evidence of top-line growth and improved profitability before turning bullish again. UVV's 6.13% dividend yield remains attractive, but dividend safety is in question as free cash flow barely covers payouts. Valuation appears fair with limited near-term upside; dividend growth significantly above 1% is unlikely given market headwinds. Read the full article on Seeking Alpha
Narrative Update • May 24
UVV: Steady Fair Value And Dividend Commitment Will Support Higher Future Multiple
Analysts have kept their fair value estimate for Universal steady at $78.0, with only slight tweaks to assumptions such as the discount rate and future P/E. This suggests their overall view on the stock's long term potential is broadly unchanged.Narrative Update • May 10
UVV: Lower Discount Rate And Steady Margins Will Support Higher Future Earnings Multiple
Analysts have modestly adjusted their price target for Universal to $78, reflecting updated assumptions around the discount rate, revenue growth, profit margin, and future P/E. Their overall valuation view remains broadly unchanged.Narrative Update • Apr 24
UVV: Stable Long Term Assumptions Will Support Higher Future Earnings Multiple
Analysts have maintained their $78.00 price target for Universal, keeping it broadly in line with prior views and citing only minimal adjustments to long-term inputs such as discount rate, revenue growth, profit margin, and future P/E assumptions. What's in the News Universal reported that from October 1, 2025 to December 31, 2025, it repurchased 0 shares for $0 million under its buyback program.Narrative Update • Apr 09
UVV: Incoming CFO And Stable Assumptions Will Support Higher Earnings Multiple
Analysts have made a small trim to Universal's target valuation, with the updated fair value now set at $78.00. This reflects modest tweaks to the discount rate and long term assumptions for revenue growth, profit margins, and future P/E.Narrative Update • Mar 26
UVV: Incoming CFO And Stable Model Assumptions Will Support Higher Multiple
Analysts have maintained their $78 price target for Universal, noting only very minor adjustments to the discount rate, revenue growth, profit margin, and future P/E assumptions, which they say do not materially change their assessment of the stock’s valuation. What's in the News Universal provided an update on its share repurchase program for the period from October 1, 2025 to December 31, 2025, reporting that it repurchased 0 shares for $0 million in that timeframe, and has completed the buyback of 0 shares for $0 million under the program announced on November 7, 2024 (Key Developments).Narrative Update • Mar 12
UVV: New Finance Leadership Will Support Higher Future Earnings Multiple
Analysts have maintained their $78 price target for Universal, reflecting only minor changes to assumptions, such as a slightly higher discount rate and a small adjustment to the future P/E multiple. What's in the News Universal reported that from October 1, 2025 to December 31, 2025 it repurchased 0 shares for $0 million, completing the buyback program announced on November 7, 2024 with total repurchases of 0 shares for $0 million (Key Developments).Narrative Update • Feb 25
UVV: New Finance Leadership Will Support Higher Future Earnings Multiple
Analysts have maintained their $78 price target for Universal, citing a mix of lower revenue growth and profit margin assumptions, along with a higher future P/E multiple in their updated models. What's in the News The Board of Directors elected Steven S.Narrative Update • Feb 11
UVV: New Finance Leadership Will Support Stronger Margins And Future Upside
Analysts have raised their price target on Universal to $78.00. According to their updated models, this change reflects revised assumptions for revenue growth, profit margins, and a lower forward P/E multiple.Analysis Article • Feb 09
Universal (NYSE:UVV) Has Affirmed Its Dividend Of $0.82
The board of Universal Corporation ( NYSE:UVV ) has announced that it will pay a dividend on the 4th of May, with...Narrative Update • Jan 27
UVV: Stable Margins And New CFO Hire Will Support Future Upside
Analysts have nudged their price target for Universal slightly higher to $78.00, citing small adjustments to the discount rate, revenue growth, profit margin, and future P/E assumptions that fine-tune, rather than overhaul, their existing view. What's in the News Universal appointed Anubhav Mittal as Chief Financial Officer, effective February 17, 2026.Narrative Update • Jan 12
UVV: Stable Margins And Risk Profile Will Support Future Share Upside
Analysts maintained their fair value estimate for Universal at $78.00. They made minor adjustments to the discount rate, revenue growth, profit margin and future P/E assumptions that underpin the refreshed price target view.Narrative Update • Dec 24
UVV Stable Risk Profile And Margins Should Support Future Share Upside
Analysts have nudged their price target for Universal slightly higher to approximately $78.00, reflecting modestly lower perceived risk and a marginally stronger long term earnings outlook, despite only incremental tweaks to core valuation assumptions. What's in the News Updated buyback disclosure confirms that from July 1, 2025 to September 30, 2025, Universal repurchased 0 shares for $0 million, leaving the November 7, 2024 authorization effectively unused to date (company filing).Narrative Update • Dec 10
UVV: Stable Margins And Buyback Capacity Should Support Future Upside Potential
Analysts have modestly adjusted their price target on Universal, nudging it to 78.00 dollars. Slightly lower discount rate assumptions and a marginally reduced future P/E multiple offset otherwise steady growth and margin expectations.Narrative Update • Nov 26
UVV: Stable Fair Value And Lower Margins Should Support Long-Term Upside
Analysts have slightly raised their price target for Universal to $78.00, citing improved revenue growth expectations. This comes despite a modest decrease in profit margin projections and a nearly unchanged discount rate.Analysis Article • Nov 09
Universal (NYSE:UVV) Is Paying Out A Dividend Of $0.82
The board of Universal Corporation ( NYSE:UVV ) has announced that it will pay a dividend on the 2nd of February, with...Narrative Update • Nov 07
UVV: Improved Margins Will Drive Future Upside Amid Sustainable Demand
Analysts have raised their price target for Universal from $72 to $78. They cite improved profit margins and a modest uptick in projected revenue growth as key drivers of the revision.New Narrative • Aug 24
Population Growth And Sustainable Supply Chains Will Support Future Demand
Key Takeaways Rising demand in developing regions and ESG-aligned supply chains support Universal's long-term revenue growth and positioning with global manufacturers. Investments in value-added products, automation, and supply chain efficiency enhance revenue diversification, margin expansion, and profitability.Analysis Article • Jul 13
Universal's (NYSE:UVV) Upcoming Dividend Will Be Larger Than Last Year's
Universal Corporation ( NYSE:UVV ) will increase its dividend from last year's comparable payment on the 4th of August...Analysis Article • May 25
Universal (NYSE:UVV) Is Increasing Its Dividend To $0.82
Universal Corporation ( NYSE:UVV ) will increase its dividend on the 4th of August to $0.82, which is 1.2% higher than...Seeking Alpha • Mar 05
Universal Corporation: Tobacco Price Tailwinds To Subside
Summary Universal Corporation's recent financial performance has been strong as tobacco crops in Africa have been good, and the company has gained from increased prices. Over the longer term, Universal's earnings have headwinds. Leaf tobacco prices should start to moderate, and global tobacco demand is continuing to trend downwards. An ongoing embezzlement investigation is delaying UVV's audited financial reporting. As I don't expect Universal Corporation's earnings to sustain, I don't believe the valuation to be attractive. I estimate 6% downside to a fair value of $50.8. Read the full article on Seeking AlphaSeeking Alpha • Dec 02
Avoid Universal Corp. Stock: Looking Beyond The Recent NYSE Non-Compliance Notice
Summary Tobacco-focused agribusiness company Universal Corporation recently received a Non-Compliance Notice from the NYSE for failing to file its Q2 fiscal 2025 10-Q filing with the SEC on time. I explain why UVV hasn't yet filed its 10-Q2 report and why it is currently conducting an internal investigation that could even lead to a restatement of its financial statements. While I, personally, don't see the news as a reason to sell UVV stock, I still don't think it's a good investment, as explained in this article. Additionally, I point out a metric that Universal's management apparently no longer discloses, which could point to an ongoing decline in investor confidence. Read the full article on Seeking AlphaAnalysis Article • Sep 09
Universal Corporation's (NYSE:UVV) Low P/E No Reason For Excitement
Universal Corporation's ( NYSE:UVV ) price-to-earnings (or "P/E") ratio of 10.6x might make it look like a buy right...Seeking Alpha • Aug 07
Universal Corporation: Still Not Convinced Despite Good 2024 Results
Summary Universal Corporation to release Q1 2025 earnings results on August 7 after market close. Short-term debt increased in FY 2024 to secure tobacco due to recent global shortage, raising interest expenses and liabilities. Tobacco operations revenue up, but the Ingredients segment faced headwinds with lower revenue and operating income. The significant SG&A increase is attributed to bonuses, VAT settlement, and currency fluctuations. Skepticism over management's rationale. The lack of insider buying activity following an increase in bonuses, along with headwinds in the tobacco segment due to the global shortage, drive my Hold rating. Read the full article on Seeking AlphaAnalysis Article • Jul 31
Increases to CEO Compensation Might Be Put On Hold For Now at Universal Corporation (NYSE:UVV)
Key Insights Universal's Annual General Meeting to take place on 6th of August Salary of US$1.07m is part of CEO George...Analysis Article • Jun 19
Universal (NYSE:UVV) Is Increasing Its Dividend To $0.81
The board of Universal Corporation ( NYSE:UVV ) has announced that it will be paying its dividend of $0.81 on the 5th...Seeking Alpha • May 23
Universal Corporation: Tactical, Liquid Diversifier For The Equity Bucket
Summary Universal Corporation is a mature tobacco company that generates consistent cash flows and offers a high-quality investment option. UVV has deep customer networks with major tobacco companies and has a history of rotating inventory into cash quickly. The company has a steady dividend yield of 6% and is currently priced at my estimate of fair value. Read the full article on Seeking AlphaAnalysis Article • May 05
Universal Corporation's (NYSE:UVV) Shares Not Telling The Full Story
When close to half the companies in the United States have price-to-earnings ratios (or "P/E's") above 18x, you may...Analysis Article • Mar 09
Do Universal's (NYSE:UVV) Earnings Warrant Your Attention?
Investors are often guided by the idea of discovering 'the next big thing', even if that means buying 'story stocks...Seeking Alpha • Feb 21
Universal Corporation: Tobacco Leader Offers Compelling 6.4% Dividend Yield
Summary Universal Corporation reported fiscal Q3 earnings highlighted by steady growth and profitability amid a strong tobacco pricing environment. Despite declining cigarette sales globally as an industry theme, the company is well positioned to benefit from a boom in next-generation smokeless products. We are bullish on Universal Corporation stock, which offers an attractive 6.4% dividend yield. Read the full article on Seeking AlphaAnalysis Article • Dec 18
Investors Aren't Entirely Convinced By Universal Corporation's (NYSE:UVV) Earnings
With a price-to-earnings (or "P/E") ratio of 12.8x Universal Corporation ( NYSE:UVV ) may be sending bullish signals at...Seeking Alpha • Nov 28
Universal Corporation: Stable Business But Growth Is Stagnating
Summary Universal Corporation is a seasoned player in the tobacco industry with a strong position in the global market. The company has diversified its operations to include the Ingredients segment, aiming to create additional revenue streams. Universal Corporation has demonstrated strong financial performance, with a focus on shareholder returns through dividends and share price gains. Read the full article on Seeking AlphaRevenue & Expenses Breakdown
Revenue & Expenses Breakdown
How Universal makes and spends money. Based on latest reported earnings, on an LTM basis.
Earnings and Revenue History
| Date | Revenue | Earnings | G+A Expenses | R&D Expenses |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31 Mar 26 | 2,924 | 33 | 317 | 0 |
| 31 Dec 25 | 2,912 | 85 | 317 | 0 |
| 30 Sep 25 | 2,987 | 112 | 329 | 0 |
| 30 Jun 25 | 2,944 | 103 | 321 | 0 |
| 31 Mar 25 | 2,947 | 95 | 320 | 0 |
| 31 Dec 24 | 3,016 | 126 | 327 | 0 |
| 30 Sep 24 | 2,900 | 120 | 316 | 0 |
| 30 Jun 24 | 2,828 | 122 | 326 | 0 |
| 31 Mar 24 | 2,749 | 120 | 322 | 0 |
| 31 Dec 23 | 2,672 | 133 | 309 | 0 |
| 30 Sep 23 | 2,645 | 121 | 299 | 0 |
| 30 Jun 23 | 2,658 | 115 | 297 | 0 |
| 31 Mar 23 | 2,570 | 124 | 288 | 0 |
| 31 Dec 22 | 2,523 | 96 | 275 | 0 |
| 30 Sep 22 | 2,380 | 89 | 269 | 0 |
| 30 Jun 22 | 2,183 | 87 | 263 | 0 |
| 31 Mar 22 | 2,104 | 87 | 249 | 0 |
| 31 Dec 21 | 2,074 | 100 | 243 | 0 |
| 30 Sep 21 | 2,095 | 99 | 241 | 0 |
| 30 Jun 21 | 2,018 | 86 | 229 | 0 |
| 31 Mar 21 | 1,983 | 87 | 216 | 0 |
| 31 Dec 20 | 1,998 | 64 | 237 | 0 |
| 30 Sep 20 | 1,830 | 56 | 227 | 0 |
| 30 Jun 20 | 1,929 | 77 | 228 | 0 |
| 31 Mar 20 | 1,910 | 72 | 223 | 0 |
| 31 Dec 19 | 1,950 | 87 | 216 | 0 |
| 30 Sep 19 | 2,081 | 90 | 224 | 0 |
| 30 Jun 19 | 2,144 | 93 | 214 | 0 |
| 31 Mar 19 | 2,227 | 104 | 225 | 0 |
| 31 Dec 18 | 2,163 | 103 | 223 | 0 |
| 30 Sep 18 | 2,180 | 121 | 214 | 0 |
| 30 Jun 18 | 2,129 | 115 | 217 | 0 |
| 31 Mar 18 | 2,034 | 106 | 200 | 0 |
| 31 Dec 17 | 2,076 | 34 | 203 | 0 |
| 30 Sep 17 | 2,092 | 38 | 206 | 0 |
| 30 Jun 17 | 2,060 | 34 | 199 | 0 |
| 31 Mar 17 | 2,071 | 21 | 213 | 0 |
| 31 Dec 16 | 2,225 | 107 | 214 | 0 |
| 30 Sep 16 | 2,141 | 98 | 216 | 0 |
| 30 Jun 16 | 2,140 | 95 | 236 | 0 |
| 31 Mar 16 | 2,120 | 94 | 227 | 0 |
| 31 Dec 15 | 2,095 | 92 | 239 | 0 |
| 30 Sep 15 | 2,268 | 101 | 239 | 0 |
| 30 Jun 15 | 2,276 | 93 | 238 | 0 |
Quality Earnings: UVV has a large one-off loss of $42.9M impacting its last 12 months of financial results to 31st March, 2026.
Growing Profit Margin: UVV's current net profit margins (1.1%) are lower than last year (3.2%).
Free Cash Flow vs Earnings Analysis
Past Earnings Growth Analysis
Earnings Trend: UVV's earnings have grown by 0.1% per year over the past 5 years.
Accelerating Growth: UVV's has had negative earnings growth over the past year, so it can't be compared to its 5-year average.
Earnings vs Industry: UVV had negative earnings growth (-65.7%) over the past year, making it difficult to compare to the Tobacco industry average (6.8%).
Return on Equity
High ROE: UVV's Return on Equity (3.8%) is considered low.
Return on Assets
Return on Capital Employed
Discover strong past performing companies
Company Analysis and Financial Data Status
| Data | Last Updated (UTC time) |
|---|---|
| Company Analysis | 2026/06/12 21:34 |
| End of Day Share Price | 2026/06/12 00:00 |
| Earnings | 2026/03/31 |
| Annual Earnings | 2026/03/31 |
Data Sources
The data used in our company analysis is from S&P Global Market Intelligence LLC. The following data is used in our analysis model to generate this report. Data is normalised which can introduce a delay from the source being available.
| Package | Data | Timeframe | Example US Source * |
|---|---|---|---|
| Company Financials | 10 years |
| |
| Analyst Consensus Estimates | +3 years |
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| Market Prices | 30 years |
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| Ownership | 10 years |
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| Management | 10 years |
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| Key Developments | 10 years |
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* Example for US securities, for non-US equivalent regulatory forms and sources are used.
Unless specified all financial data is based on a yearly period but updated quarterly. This is known as Trailing Twelve Month (TTM) or Last Twelve Month (LTM) Data. Learn more.
Analysis Model and Snowflake
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Industry and Sector Metrics
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Analyst Sources
Universal Corporation is covered by 0 analysts. 1 of those analysts submitted the estimates of revenue or earnings used as inputs to our report. Analysts submissions are updated throughout the day.