Universal Corporation Reports Fiscal Year and Fourth Quarter 2026 Results

RICHMOND, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Universal Corporation (NYSE:UVV) (“Universal” or the “Company”), a global business-to-business agriproducts company, today announced financial results for the fiscal year and fourth quarter ended March 31, 2026.

“Our fiscal year 2026 performance reflected solid execution across much of our business amid a markedly different operating environment than the prior year,” said Preston D. Wigner, Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Universal. “Coming off exceptionally strong performance for our Tobacco Operations segment in fiscal year 2025, our disciplined marketplace management helped mitigate the impact of oversupply for certain tobacco styles, resulting in only slightly lower segment revenues and sales volumes. Our Ingredients Operations segment delivered growth in revenues and sales volumes despite persistent market headwinds. Fourth quarter and fiscal year 2026 results were ultimately impacted by a non-cash, goodwill impairment charge related to our Universal Ingredients-Shank’s operation, as well as increased tobacco inventory write-downs, primarily for non-wrapper, dark air-cured tobacco.”

Mr. Wigner continued, “As we enter fiscal year 2027, we are confident in the strength and resilience of our tobacco business across market cycles and the foundational progress we are making to support the growth of our ingredients business. We remain committed to our strategy of maximizing and optimizing our tobacco business and growing our ingredients business, while continuing our track record of returning capital to our shareholders. We expect market activity to support the return of our uncommitted tobacco inventories to our targeted range, and we have initiated enhancements at our Shank’s operation to drive efficiency and financial performance. We are moving forward focused on execution, consistent progress, and sustainable value creation for our shareholders.”

Fiscal Year 2026 Highlights

Consolidated Results

• Revenues generally in line with an exceptional fiscal year 2025.
• Continued solid performance across much of our tobacco and ingredients businesses offset by:
  • A $41.1 million non-cash, goodwill impairment charge related to our Universal Ingredients-Shank’s (“Shank’s”) operation.
  • Inventory write-downs of $52.0 million, primarily of non-wrapper, dark air-cured tobacco, an increase of $32.2 million from the prior fiscal year.
• Operating income down 28% to $168.5 million and adjusted operating income down 13% to $211.3 million, due to these impacts.

Tobacco Operations Segment

• Revenue down $32.3 million, or 1%, on a 2% decline in tobacco sales volumes and prices, partially offset by higher third-party processing volumes and product mix.
• Segment operating income down $28.6 million, primarily on a combination of reduced sales volumes and inventory write-downs of non-wrapper, dark air-cured tobacco.
• Tobacco Operations segment results reflected:
  • Firm demand for most tobacco styles;
  • Solid results from flue-cured and burley tobaccos;
  • Tobacco inventory write-downs of $43.4 million, up $24.7 million;
  • Lower sales of dark air-cured tobacco driven by softer than anticipated demand coupled with longer sales and inventory cycles;
  • Increased third-party tobacco processing revenue; and
  • Larger crops, particularly in Brazil and Africa origins.
• Uncommitted tobacco inventory levels at 27% at March 31, 2026, were outside our target range due to delayed customer purchase commitments, but are expected to be within our target range during fiscal year 2027.
• Flue-cured, burley, and some dark air-cured tobacco are in oversupply positions, and oriental tobacco is moving into a balanced position.

Ingredients Operations Segment

• Revenue up 3% on increased sales volumes, reflecting our ongoing focus on building scale through our pipeline of solution-based products.
• Steady performance across much of our ingredients business offset by slower than anticipated sales growth, high fixed costs related to our expansion investments, and inventory write-downs, at our Shank’s operation.
• Persistent customer market headwinds, including tariff impacts and broader softness in the consumer-packaged-goods sector, impacting demand at Shank’s for both traditional core products and new offerings.
• Lower operating income reflected product mix, high fixed costs, including additional depreciation, from our expanded Shank’s production facility, as well as inventory write-downs of $8.6 million.

Select Balance Sheet Items, Liquidity, and Debt

• Increased working capital usage on larger tobacco crops and timing of tobacco crop purchases.
• Total debt down $168.7 million at March 31, 2026, compared to March 31, 2025.
• Net debt (non-GAAP) up $28.9 million at March 31, 2026, compared to March 31, 2025.
• Interest expense down $5.6 million in fiscal year 2026, compared to fiscal year 2025.
• Approximately $1.3 billion of available liquidity, consisting of cash and committed and uncommitted credit lines, as of March 31, 2026.

Additional Items

• Non-cash, goodwill impairment charge of $41.1 million in fiscal year 2026.
• Restructuring and impairment costs of $1.8 million in fiscal year 2026, compared to $10.6 million in fiscal year 2025.
• Pension settlement charge of $14.1 million in fiscal year 2025.
• Higher consolidated effective tax rate for fiscal year 2026 due to various factors, including the mix and timing of domestic and foreign earnings, discrete items, and the tax deductibility of certain items.

Fourth Quarter 2026 Highlights

Consolidated Results

• Revenue up 2% on higher tobacco sales volumes, partially offset by lower tobacco sales prices.
• Operating income down $57.7 million on the non-cash, goodwill impairment charge as well as inventory write-downs.
• Adjusted operating income down $16.7 million.

Tobacco Operations Segment

• Revenue up $19.7 million on higher tobacco sales volumes and timing of tobacco shipments, partially offset by lower tobacco sales prices.
• Segment operating income down by $19.2 million primarily due to non-wrapper, dark air-cured tobacco inventory write-downs and lower sales of dark air-cured tobacco.

Ingredients Operations Segment

• Revenue and operating income down $6.7 million and $2.6 million, respectively, largely on lower results from our Shank's business.
• Due to customer market headwinds, including broader softness in the consumer-packaged-goods sector, our Shank’s business faced demand challenges for both traditional core products and new offerings.
• Lower operating income also reflected Shank’s product mix, depreciation and other high fixed costs from our expanded production facility, as well as inventory write-downs.

Sustainability Update

Mr. Wigner stated, “We concluded fiscal year 2026 by further embedding sustainability across our value chain, building on the progress achieved throughout the year to support our emissions reduction targets and long-term value creation across Universal’s global operations. This progress was reflected in our most recent Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) results, highlighting the success of our engagement with our suppliers. We advanced to an “A” rating in Supplier Engagement, were recognized as a CDP Supplier Engagement Leader, and were named to CDP’s Supplier Engagement A List. These achievements underscore the strength of our governance, emissions management, and the value we bring to our suppliers and customers across our global value chain.”

Other Items

Reconciliation of Certain non-GAAP Financial Measures

References to adjusted operating income (loss), adjusted net income (loss) attributable to Universal Corporation, adjusted diluted earnings (loss) per share, and the total for segment operating income (loss) are references to non-GAAP financial measures. These measures are not financial measures calculated in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") and should not be considered as substitutes for operating income (loss), net income (loss) attributable to Universal Corporation, diluted earnings (loss) per share, cash from operating activities or any other operating or financial performance measure calculated in accordance with GAAP, and may not be comparable to similarly-titled measures reported by other companies. Reconciliations of adjusted operating income (loss) to consolidated operating income (loss), adjusted net income (loss) attributable to Universal Corporation to consolidated net income (loss) attributable to Universal Corporation and adjusted diluted earnings (loss) per share to diluted earnings (loss) per share are provided below. In addition, a reconciliation of the total for segment operating income (loss) to consolidated operating income (loss) is provided in Note 3. "Segment Information" to the consolidated financial statements. Management evaluates the consolidated Company and segment performance excluding certain significant charges or credits. Management believes these non-GAAP financial measures, which exclude items that it believes are not indicative of its core operating results, can provide investors with important information that is useful in understanding its business results and trends.

References to net debt, net capitalization, and net debt to net capitalization ratio are also references to non-GAAP financial measures. These measures are not financial measures calculated in accordance with GAAP and should not be considered substitutes for total debt, total capitalization, total debt to total capitalization ratio, or any other operating or financial performance measures calculated in accordance with GAAP, and may not be comparable to similarly-titled measures reported by other companies. Reconciliations of net debt to total debt and net capitalization to total capitalization are provided below to the extent these non-GAAP financial measures are referenced. Management believes these non-GAAP measures are meaningful indicators of liquidity and financial position.

The following tables set forth certain non-recurring items included in reported results to reconcile adjusted operating income to consolidated operating income and adjusted net income to net income attributable to Universal Corporation and adjusted diluted earnings per share to diluted earnings per share:

Investor Conference Call

At 10:00 a.m. (Eastern Time) on May 29, 2026, the Company will host a conference call to discuss these results. Those wishing to listen to the call may do so by visiting www.universalcorp.com at that time. A replay of the webcast will be available at that site through August 29, 2026. A taped replay of the call will also be available through June 12, 2026, by dialing (800) 770-2030 (Playback ID: 5786366#).

About Universal Corporation

Universal Corporation (NYSE: UVV) is a global agricultural company with over 100 years of experience supplying products and innovative solutions to meet our customers’ evolving needs and precise specifications. Through our diverse network of farmers and partners across more than 30 countries on five continents, we are a trusted provider of high-quality, traceable products. We leverage our extensive supply chain expertise, global reach, integrated processing capabilities, and commitment to sustainability to provide a range of products and services designed to drive efficiency and deliver value to our customers. For more information, visit www.universalcorp.com.

CAUTIONARY STATEMENTS REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

This release includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Among other things, these statements include statements made in Mr. Wigner’s quotations, statements regarding expectations with respect to our fiscal year 2027 performance, our strategic plans, ingredients business, tobacco business, including expectations with respect to size, shipments and sales and purchases of tobacco crops. These forward-looking statements are generally identified by the use of words such as we “expect,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “could,” “should,” “may,” “plan,” “will,” “predict,” “estimate,” and similar expressions or words of similar import. These forward-looking statements are based upon management’s current knowledge and assumptions about future events and involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from any anticipated results, prospects, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: product purchased not meeting quality and quantity requirements; reliance on a few large customers; anticipated levels of demand for and supply of our products and services; tobacco growing conditions and customer requirements; major shifts in customer requirements for leaf tobacco; higher inflation rates, tariffs and other pressures on costs; weather and other conditions; exposure to certain legal, regulatory and financial risks related to climate change; industry-specific risks related to our plant-based ingredients businesses; disruption of our supply chain for our plant-based ingredients; success in pursuing strategic investments or acquisitions and integration of new businesses and the impact of these new businesses on future results; our ability to maintain effective information technology systems and safeguard confidential information; our inability to attract, develop, retain, motivate, and maintain good relationships with our workforce; our dependence on a seasonal workforce; epidemics, pandemics or similar widespread public health concerns; government efforts to regulate the production and consumption of tobacco products; government actions on the sourcing of leaf tobacco; economic and political conditions in the countries in which we and our customers operate, including the ongoing impacts from international conflicts; sustainability considerations from governments and other stakeholders; changes in tax laws in the countries where we do business; material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting; failure of our customers or suppliers to repay extensions of credit; changes in exchange rates; changes in interest rates; and low investment performance by our defined benefit pension plan assets and changes in pension plan valuation assumptions. Please also refer to the risks and uncertainties as discussed in Part I, Item 1A. “Risk Factors” of Universal’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2025, and related disclosures in other filings that Universal files with the SEC and are available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. All risk factors and uncertainties described herein and therein should be considered in evaluating forward-looking statements, and all of the forward-looking statements are expressly qualified by the cautionary statements contained or referred to herein and therein. Universal cautions investors not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements as these statements speak only as of the date when made, and it undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements made, except as required by law.

Universal Corporation Investor Relations
Phone: (804) 359-9311
Fax: (804) 254-3584
Email: investor@universalleaf.com