Ritholtz Wealth Management Sells 2,562 Shares of Universal Co. (NYSE:UVV)

Ritholtz Wealth Management decreased its holdings in shares of Universal Co. (NYSE:UVV) by 17.6% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 12,006 shares of the company’s stock after selling 2,562 shares during the period. Ritholtz Wealth Management’s holdings in Universal were worth $658,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the business. Tidal Investments LLC raised its position in Universal by 30.7% during the 3rd quarter. Tidal Investments LLC now owns 8,351 shares of the company’s stock valued at $444,000 after purchasing an additional 1,960 shares during the last quarter. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB bought a new position in Universal during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $48,000. Fulcrum Equity Management raised its position in Universal by 4.5% during the 3rd quarter. Fulcrum Equity Management now owns 8,723 shares of the company’s stock valued at $463,000 after purchasing an additional 375 shares during the last quarter. Sunbelt Securities Inc. raised its position in Universal by 39.9% during the 3rd quarter. Sunbelt Securities Inc. now owns 3,783 shares of the company’s stock valued at $201,000 after purchasing an additional 1,078 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Geode Capital Management LLC raised its position in Universal by 0.6% during the 3rd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 566,356 shares of the company’s stock valued at $30,085,000 after purchasing an additional 3,578 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 81.00% of the company’s stock.

Universal Trading Up 0.7 %

UVV opened at $50.95 on Tuesday. Universal Co. has a one year low of $45.19 and a one year high of $60.10. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $54.59 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $52.73. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.43, a current ratio of 2.60 and a quick ratio of 0.96. The firm has a market capitalization of $1.26 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.48 and a beta of 0.80.

Universal declared that its board has authorized a share repurchase program on Thursday, November 7th that permits the company to buyback $100.00 million in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization permits the company to buy up to 7.8% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback programs are often a sign that the company’s board believes its shares are undervalued.

Universal Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, February 3rd. Shareholders of record on Monday, January 13th will be issued a dividend of $0.81 per share. The ex-dividend date is Monday, January 13th. This represents a $3.24 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 6.36%. Universal’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 66.67%.

Universal Profile

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.