Daiwa Securities Group Inc. Grows Stock Position in Universal Co. (NYSE:UVV)

Daiwa Securities Group Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Universal Co. (NYSE:UVV) by 9.2% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 8,543 shares of the company’s stock after purchasing an additional 722 shares during the quarter. Daiwa Securities Group Inc.’s holdings in Universal were worth $454,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the company. GAMMA Investing LLC increased its stake in shares of Universal by 82.6% during the third quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 672 shares of the company’s stock worth $36,000 after buying an additional 304 shares during the period. AlphaMark Advisors LLC raised its holdings in shares of Universal by 41.7% in the 2nd quarter. AlphaMark Advisors LLC now owns 850 shares of the company’s stock valued at $41,000 after purchasing an additional 250 shares in the last quarter. nVerses Capital LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Universal during the 2nd quarter worth $43,000. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board acquired a new position in shares of Universal during the second quarter worth $48,000. Finally, Blue Trust Inc. increased its holdings in Universal by 145.2% in the second quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 1,030 shares of the company’s stock valued at $53,000 after buying an additional 610 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 81.00% of the company’s stock.

Universal Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:UVV opened at $57.12 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.43, a current ratio of 2.60 and a quick ratio of 0.96. Universal Co. has a 12 month low of $45.19 and a 12 month high of $67.80. The firm has a market capitalization of $1.41 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.75 and a beta of 0.77. The company’s fifty day moving average price is $52.66 and its 200 day moving average price is $51.19.

Universal Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, February 3rd. Investors of record on Monday, January 13th will be given a $0.81 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Monday, January 13th. This represents a $3.24 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 5.67%. Universal’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 66.67%.

Universal announced that its Board of Directors has authorized a share buyback plan on Thursday, November 7th that permits the company to repurchase $100.00 million in shares. This repurchase authorization permits the company to buy up to 7.8% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase plans are usually an indication that the company’s management believes its shares are undervalued.

About Universal

Universal Corporation processes and supplies leaf tobacco and plant-based ingredients worldwide. The company operates through two segments, Tobacco Operations; and Ingredients Operations. It is involved in the procuring, financing, processing, packing, storing, and shipping leaf tobacco for sale to manufacturers of consumer tobacco products.