Sunbelt Securities Inc. Has $201,000 Holdings in Universal Co. (NYSE:UVV)

Sunbelt Securities Inc. increased its stake in shares of Universal Co. (NYSE:UVV) by 39.9% during the 3rd quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The firm owned 3,783 shares of the company’s stock after acquiring an additional 1,078 shares during the quarter. Sunbelt Securities Inc.’s holdings in Universal were worth $201,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other large investors have also bought and sold shares of UVV. GAMMA Investing LLC increased its stake in shares of Universal by 82.6% during the 3rd quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 672 shares of the company’s stock worth $36,000 after purchasing an additional 304 shares during the last quarter. nVerses Capital LLC bought a new position in Universal in the 2nd quarter valued at about $43,000. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board bought a new stake in Universal during the second quarter worth $48,000. Blue Trust Inc. lifted its position in shares of Universal by 145.2% during the 2nd quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 1,030 shares of the company’s stock worth $53,000 after buying an additional 610 shares during the last quarter. Finally, KBC Group NV boosted its stake in shares of Universal by 57.8% in the 3rd quarter. KBC Group NV now owns 1,141 shares of the company’s stock valued at $61,000 after purchasing an additional 418 shares in the last quarter. 81.00% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Universal Stock Performance

NYSE UVV opened at $56.48 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $1.39 billion, a PE ratio of 11.62 and a beta of 0.81. Universal Co. has a fifty-two week low of $45.19 and a fifty-two week high of $67.80. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.43, a quick ratio of 0.96 and a current ratio of 2.60. The firm’s fifty day moving average price is $53.45 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $51.56.

Universal Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, February 3rd. Stockholders of record on Monday, January 13th will be issued a dividend of $0.81 per share. This represents a $3.24 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 5.74%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, January 13th. Universal’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 66.67%.

Universal declared that its Board of Directors has initiated a stock buyback program on Thursday, November 7th that authorizes the company to buyback $100.00 million in shares. This buyback authorization authorizes the company to repurchase up to 7.8% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares buyback programs are often an indication that the company’s leadership 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.