Universal

Universal Corporation raised its quarterly dividend to $0.83, marking a 56th consecutive annual increase and a roughly 7.3% yield. The company's plant-based ingredients unit is expanding capacity but faces margin pressure from weak consumer demand and higher fixed costs, while tobacco volumes provide little growth. Investors are being paid a high yield while management's ingredients strategy aims to deliver results over the coming years. » More on finance.yahoo.com

Universal reported Q1 FY27 adjusted EPS of -$0.20 versus a $0.25 consensus and revenue of $523.78 million versus $587 million expected, driving the stock below its 52-week low. Tobacco Operations revenue fell 13% year-over-year and operating income plunged 90% to $3.47 million as volumes declined 9% and prices fell 6% amid oversupply; the Ingredients segment also posted weak results and a segment operating loss. Gross margin compressed 330 basis points and overall operating income declined 93%, marking the fourth consecutive quarterly miss. Management highlighted slower purchasing and expects tobacco shipments to shift toward the second half of FY27, while the company maintains a $0.83 quarterly dividend (56-year streak) and a yield around 6.43%. » More on finance.yahoo.com

Universal Corp’s stock fell to $48.98, marking a new 52-week low. In Q1 of fiscal 2027 the company reported a loss of $0.20 per share, missing analysts’ expectations of $0.34 in earnings; revenue declined 12% to $523.8 million. Operating income in the tobacco segment plunged to $3.5 million, which the company attributed to delayed customer purchases in an oversupplied market. Despite the weakness, management stresses that customer demand for the year is in line with the sales plan and expects tobacco margins to normalize; the dividend yield is 6.53% after 35 consecutive increases. » More on de.investing.com

Universal reported fiscal 2026 weakness despite 2% Q4 revenue growth to $715 million as operating income swung to a $15 million quarterly loss and net loss widened to $43 million. Full-year operating income fell to $169 million from $233 million, driven by a $41 million non-cash goodwill impairment at Shank’s and higher inventory write-downs—notably $43 million in non-wrapper dark air-cured tobacco. Management said it expects uncommitted inventory to return toward its 10–20% target in fiscal 2027, highlighted over $1.2 billion in liquidity and reiterated a focus on dividends, capital allocation and improving commercial execution at Shank’s and across ingredients. The company anticipates continued tobacco oversupply in fiscal 2027 but sees opportunities from geographic diversification and third-party processing demand. » More on finance.yahoo.com

Universal reported Q3 of fiscal 2026 EPS of $1.35 (forecast $1.94) and revenue of $861.3 million (forecast $927.2 million), both well below expectations. Operating income and net profit fell year over year; the stock dropped 10.72% in premarket trading and approached its 52-week low. The company is expanding its Ingredients business, refinanced a $250 million credit facility and aims for net‑zero by 2050, but faces risks from market changes in the tobacco and consumer goods sectors. » More on de.investing.com