Universal (NYSE:UVV) Shares Gap Down – Time to Sell?

Universal Co. (NYSE:UVV)’s share price gapped down prior to trading on Tuesday . The stock had previously closed at $53.56, but opened at $50.37. Universal shares last traded at $52.31, with a volume of 43,658 shares traded.

Universal Stock Up 1.4 %

The firm has a market cap of $1.32 billion, a PE ratio of 11.03 and a beta of 0.77. 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 business has a fifty day moving average price of $51.71 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $50.93.

Universal Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, February 3rd. Stockholders of record on Monday, January 13th will be issued a $0.81 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, January 13th. This represents a $3.24 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 6.04%. Universal’s dividend payout ratio is 66.67%.

Universal announced that its board has approved a stock repurchase 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 stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback programs are usually an indication that the company’s board believes its stock is undervalued.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in UVV. GAMMA Investing LLC increased its position in Universal by 82.6% in 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. AlphaMark Advisors LLC increased its holdings in Universal by 41.7% in the second quarter. AlphaMark Advisors LLC now owns 850 shares of the company’s stock worth $41,000 after buying an additional 250 shares during the last quarter. nVerses Capital LLC acquired a new position in Universal in the second quarter worth approximately $43,000. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board bought a new position in Universal during the second quarter valued at approximately $48,000. Finally, Blue Trust Inc. grew its position in Universal by 145.2% in the second quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 1,030 shares of the company’s stock worth $53,000 after acquiring an additional 610 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 81.00% of the company’s stock.

Universal Company 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.