Universal Corp shares fell 6.08% to $47.75, breaking below their 52-week low, after the leaf-tobacco merchant reported a sharp first-quarter fiscal 2027 earnings miss. Adjusted EPS came in at negative $0.20, missing the $0.25 consensus, while revenue of $523.78 million fell short of the $587 million estimate and declined 11.79% year over year. The core Tobacco Operations segment saw revenue drop 13% to $437.13 million and operating income collapse 90% to $3.47 million, driven by a 9% volume decline and 6% price decline amid oversupply in flue-cured and burley markets. The Ingredients segment also posted an operating loss on weak CPG demand and elevated fixed costs. In contrast, Altria and Philip Morris traded only modestly lower after recent strong earnings, while Turning Point Brands surged 16% on the week after Modern Oral pouch revenue jumped 149%. Universal's 56-year dividend streak, yielding 6.43%, anchors the bull case as management expects tobacco shipments to rebound in the second half of fiscal 2027.
Universal CorporationQ1 earnings miss and 90% collapse in tobacco operating income.
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Philip Morris International Inc
Turning Point Brands Inc
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