Stock fact sheet · data as of
Universal Corporation (UVV): fair value, margin of safety and Wheel Score
Consumer Defensive · Tobacco · United States · High Yield Income
Is UVV undervalued?
Universal Corporation (UVV) closed at 40.68 on 16 Oct 2026. The GLS average fair value - the simple average of the 9 valuation models that produced a positive number - is 54.96, so the price sits 26% below it. 6 of the 9 models value the shares above the current price. A margin of safety between 10% and 30% is where most of the Sunday Scan candidates come from.
There is a wide gap between EPV (8.47) and 10 Cap (160.55). When the models are this far apart the "fair value" is really a range, and the margin of safety above should be read with that range in mind.
The nightly engine files UVV under High Yield Income: a dividend yield above 4%.
Nine valuation models for UVV
Each model turns the latest filed numbers into a value per share; the GLS fair value is the simple average of the ones that produce a positive number. The last two rows are shown for reference and never enter the average. The Quote page lets you switch any model off and add your own margin of safety.
| Model | Value | vs price | What it measures |
|---|---|---|---|
| DCF | 63.34 | +56% | Present value of the projected free cash flows, discounted at the cost of capital |
| Graham Number | 30.82 | -24% | The most a defensive investor pays for the earnings and book value per share |
| Graham Growth | 42.36 | +4% | Graham's growth formula: EPS × (8.5 + 2 × growth), adjusted for bond yields |
| Lynch | 18.42 | -55% | EPS × the earnings growth rate (PEG of 1), growth capped at 25% |
| GLS Growth | 46.68 | +15% | EPS compounded ten years at the blended growth rate, discounted back at 15% a year |
| 10 Cap | 160.55 | +295% | Owner's earnings (operating cash flow less maintenance capex) capitalised at 10% |
| Payback Time | 75.48 | +86% | Eight years of compounded free cash flow: the price at which the business pays for itself |
| DDM | 48.56 | +19% | Dividend discount model: next year's dividend ÷ (10% − 3% growth); needs a dividend |
| EPV | 8.47 | -79% | Earnings power value: current EPS capitalised at 9% with no growth |
| Zombie (liquidation) | 26.75 | -34% | Current assets less all liabilities, per share: the balance-sheet floor. Not in the average |
| Wall St target | 0.0000 | -100% | Analysts' average 12-month price target. Not in the average |
Quality and financial health
Universal Corporation scores 6 of 9 on the Piotroski F-score: a middling result that passes the Sunday Scan's "6 or more" rule. Some of the nine tests on profitability, leverage and efficiency are failed, so the accounts are worth a look before selling a put on the name. A GLS Moat score of 3.1/10 is a weak reading: the ten-year history the score grades (revenue, EPS, book value, margins, cash flow, share count, ROIC) has not been steady, so the Moat part of the Wheel Score contributes little.
Returns on capital are thin or negative - ROIC 1.4%, ROE 2.3%, ROA 1.2% - with debt at 0.66 times equity and a free-cash-flow yield of 16.2%.
The dividend yield is high at 8.11% (payout ratio 352%) - a payout above 100% of earnings, which is not covered by profits. A yield this size is often the market's way of pricing a risk to the payout, so the health score and cash flow matter more than usual. Revenue comes mainly from Tobacco Sales 76%, Food Ingredient Sales 16%, Service, Other 6% (quarter Q1 FY2027).
Institutional ownership scores 10/10, insider activity 1/10 and Congressional trading 5/10 on the GLS smart-money scales.
| Piotroski F-score | 6 / 9 | ROIC | 1.4% |
|---|---|---|---|
| GLS Moat | 3.1 / 10 | ROE | 2.3% |
| Debt / equity | 0.66 | ROA | 1.2% |
| Free-cash-flow yield | 16.2% | Payout ratio | 352% |
| Institutions | 10 / 10 | Insiders · Congress | 1 · 5 / 10 |
Wheel Score 69: Good
With a Wheel Score of 69 - the Good band - Universal Corporation falls just short of the Sunday Scan's "70 or higher" rule. The parts: Value 23/25, Health 13/20, Moat 5/15, Premium 16/20, Stability 11/20; Moat (5/15) scores lowest.
Implied volatility is 31% on the near-the-money contracts 20-60 days out: some premium, but under the 35-60% range the Wheel Score pays full marks for (16 of 20 points). Chain open interest is 6,933 contracts across all expiries - enough for the wheel at normal size.
Volume runs at 357k shares a day on a market cap of $1.0B, with a beta of 0.57 - a low beta, so day-to-day moves are smaller than the market's; the Stability part of the Wheel Score gives that 11 of 20.
| Part | Points | From | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Value | 23 / 25 | 26% margin of safety | |
| Health | 13 / 20 | Piotroski 6/9 | |
| Moat | 5 / 15 | moat 3.1/10 | |
| Premium | 16 / 20 | implied volatility 31% | |
| Stability | 11 / 20 | 357k shares/day, $1.0B cap, beta 0.57 |
The Wheel Score ranks ~7,400 US stocks for selling cash-secured puts and covered calls; it is updated nightly and is not a recommendation. The walkthrough lesson shows how the score fits into a trade, start to finish.
Upcoming events
The next earnings report is due on 4 Nov 2026 (after the close), 19 days away; a 30-45-day put sold today would expire after it, which is worth weighing against the premium.
Earnings, dividend, IPO, split and economic calendars for the whole market, filterable to your watchlists.
Similar stocks in Tobacco
The 12 companies below are the closest to Universal Corporation by market cap within the Tobacco industry, each with its own fact sheet; the Compare page puts up to eight of them side by side.
| Stock | Close | Fair value | MoS | Wheel | Mkt cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TPB Turning Point Brands, Inc. | 57.70 | 55.27 | -4% | 61Fair | $1.2B |
| AIIR Air Global PLC Ordinary Shares | 7.50 | 42.51 | +82% | 39No options | $1.2B |
| RLX RLX Technology Inc. | 1.71 | 6.12 | +72% | 75Good | $2.1B |
| ISPR Ispire Technology Inc. | 1.44 | 379.00 | +100% | 44Weak | $83M |
| PYYX Pyxus International, Inc. | 2.74 | 28.57 | +90% | 39No options | $67M |
| RYM RYTHM, Inc. | 18.18 | - | - | 25No options | $39M |
| CHUC Charlie's Holdings, Inc. | 0.1000 | - | - | 30No options | $28M |
| MO Altria Group, Inc. | 73.84 | 71.02 | -4% | 72Good | $123.3B |
| BTI British American Tobacco p.l.c. | 58.00 | 65.28 | +11% | 67Good | $124.7B |
| PM Philip Morris International Inc. | 205.58 | 125.11 | -64% | 66Good | $320.4B |
| GNLN Greenlane Holdings, Inc. | 2.24 | 501.97 | +100% | 37No options | $2M |
| LIFD LFTD Partners Inc. | 0.1000 | 1.11 | +91% | 39No options | $1M |
⚖ Compare UVV with 7 of them All Consumer Defensive stocks →
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Start free See the Sunday ScanQuestions about UVV
Is UVV undervalued right now?
By the GLS models, moderately: at 40.68 the stock trades 26% below the average fair value of 54.96 (data as of 16 Oct 2026).
What is the Wheel Score of UVV and what does it mean?
UVV scores 69 out of 100 (Good). The Wheel Score blends the margin of safety (25 points), Piotroski health (20), the GLS moat (15), the option premium on offer (20) and trading stability (20) into one number that ranks stocks for the wheel strategy - selling cash-secured puts, then covered calls if assigned. 80 and above is Prime, 65-79 Good, 50-64 Fair, under 50 Weak.
What is the GLS fair value for UVV?
54.96 per share as of 16 Oct 2026 - the simple average of the 9 valuation models (out of nine: DCF, Graham Number, Graham Growth, Lynch, GLS Growth, 10 Cap, Payback Time, DDM and EPV) that produced a positive value. The models run every night on the latest filings; the Quote page lets you switch any of them off and add a margin of safety of your own.
When does Universal Corporation report earnings next?
The next earnings report is due on 4 Nov 2026 (after the close), 19 days from the data date of 16 Oct 2026. The Calendars page lists every upcoming report with its time of day.
Does UVV have listed options, and how liquid are they?
Yes. The nightly snapshot found 118 listed contracts with 6,933 open interest across all expiries and implied volatility of 31% on the near-the-money contracts. The Options scanner lists the cash-secured put and covered call set-ups with premium and annualised yield worked out.