Does UNIVERSAL CORPORATION have an economic moat?

Based on its FY2026 SEC filings, the Moat Index scores UNIVERSAL CORPORATION (UVV) 18.4 out of 100 — below the Shallow-moat bar, so no moat. The four filters behind that score (each 0–100): pricing power 33, returns on capital 11, balance-sheet safety 4, capital discipline 23.

Is UVV stock trading below its intrinsic value?

Against a deliberately conservative owner-earnings model (9% discount rate, 0% assumed growth, capped at 4%), estimated intrinsic value is $42.37 per share versus a recent price of $53.14 — 25% above value. This is an educational estimate computed from primary SEC filings, not investment advice.

How has UVV's Moat Score changed over time?

The record logs 3 readings since Jul 17, 2026; the latest reads 18.4 out of 100 (no moat). No tier changes on record yet. The history is append-only — readings are only ever added, never rewritten.

The Moat Index

UNIVERSAL CORPORATION

UVV · Industrials · $1.3B mkt cap · FY2026 filings · No moat ·

Doesn't clear the bar

No moat

The four filters

Pricing power33

Median gross margin 17.9% over 10y, very stable.

Returns on capital11

Median ROIC 7.5%, above the 9% hurdle in 0% of years.

Balance-sheet safety4

Net debt/EBITDA 3.8x, interest coverage 2x.

Capital discipline23

Owner earnings -11.0%/yr, share count shrinking (buybacks).

Margin of safety

Above valueOn sale

25% above value

Owner earnings (normalized): $95.0M
Est. intrinsic value / share: $42.37
Recent price: $53.14
Discount to value: 25% above value

Conservative model: 9% discount rate, 0% assumed growth (capped at 4%), maintenance capex ≈ min(capex, D&A).

19 years of fundamentals

The business, in plain English

UNIVERSAL CORPORATION booked $2.9B of revenue in FY2026 in the Industrials sector and kept 16.4% of it as gross profit — a thin-margin business by that measure. After every other cost, 1.1% of each revenue dollar reached the bottom line.

Across the filed record, revenue grew from $2.6B (FY2009) to $2.9B (FY2026) — about 0.7% a year compounded over 17 years.

It earned 4.9% on invested capital in FY2026, with a median of 8.0% across 18 filed years. The Returns on Capital filter above scores it 11/100.

The balance sheet carried $904.3M of total debt in FY2026 against $37.2M of owner earnings — roughly 24.3 years of owner earnings to retire it all. Balance-Sheet Safety scores it 4/100.

The share count rose 6.8% between FY2013 and FY2026 — existing owners have been diluted over the record. Capital Discipline scores it 23/100.

Put together: Pricing Power is the strongest of the four filters (33/100) and Balance-Sheet Safety the weakest (4/100), which is how UVV lands at 18/100 — a None moat.

This breakdown is generated from the filed numbers and sub-scores above — no outside narrative, no estimates. Where a filing doesn’t disclose an input, the sentence that would need it is omitted instead of guessed.

RevenueSales, as filed$2.9B FY2026

Gross marginRevenue kept after cost of goods16.4% FY2026

Return on invested capitalOperating profit on the capital employed4.9% FY2026

Owner earningsCash an owner could take out$37.2M FY2026

Gaps in a line mean that item isn’t in UVV’s filings for that year — the series is never interpolated or estimated. The Table view lists every filed value, including operating and net margins, total debt, and share count.

Moat Score history

Moat Score over timeLast scored reading of each day, on the 0–100 scale18.4 / 100

Score history begins Jul 17, 2026 — the record builds from here and can’t be backfilled.

Tier changesSame-methodology crossings of the Wide / Narrow / Shallow bars

None yet — UVV has read No moat for every logged capture since Jul 17, 2026.

Scores are logged append-only and never overwritten — this record can’t be backfilled, which is exactly why it’s worth keeping.

Industrials context

#269 of 309 scored Industrials companies, ranked by Moat Score.

Nearest peers by Moat Score

#267OESX Orion Energy Systems, Inc.18.8 out of 100, No moatNo moat
#268TDW TIDEWATER INC18.6 out of 100, No moatNo moat
#270RHNO RHINO BITCOIN INC.18.4 out of 100, No moatNo moat
#271WOR WORTHINGTON ENTERPRISES, INC18.0 out of 100, No moatNo moat

Compare UVV with its nearest peers →All Industrials companies on the Index →

Common questions about UVV

Does UNIVERSAL CORPORATION have an economic moat?: Based on its FY2026 SEC filings, the Moat Index scores UNIVERSAL CORPORATION (UVV) 18.4 out of 100 — below the Shallow-moat bar, so no moat. The four filters behind that score (each 0–100): pricing power 33, returns on capital 11, balance-sheet safety 4, capital discipline 23.
Is UVV stock trading below its intrinsic value?: Against a deliberately conservative owner-earnings model (9% discount rate, 0% assumed growth, capped at 4%), estimated intrinsic value is $42.37 per share versus a recent price of $53.14 — 25% above value. This is an educational estimate computed from primary SEC filings, not investment advice.
How has UVV's Moat Score changed over time?: The record logs 3 readings since Jul 17, 2026; the latest reads 18.4 out of 100 (no moat). No tier changes on record yet. The history is append-only — readings are only ever added, never rewritten.

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Scored from primary SEC filings via the public methodology. Educational only — not a recommendation to buy or sell UVV. See the disclaimer.