Dividend Kings List: Top 15

2. Universal Corporation (NYSE:UVV)

Dividend Yield as of December 3: 5.67%

Universal Corporation (NYSE:UVV) is a Virginia-based global leaf tobacco supplier that operates in various segments of the tobacco industry, including procuring, processing, packaging, storing, and shipping leaf tobacco. The company reported strong earnings in its fiscal Q2 2025, with revenue amounting to $711 million.

Universal Corporation (NYSE:UVV)’s strong customer demand in the Tobacco Operations segment, coupled with larger, higher-quality, and better-yielding crops in Africa, has been a key driver of performance. The Tobacco Operations segment is expected to maintain its strong performance in the second half of the fiscal year. The company also continued to expand Universal Ingredients’ market presence during the quarter, seeing increased interest from both new and existing customers, despite pricing pressures from higher food costs. The newly expanded ingredients facility is expected to support production increases and make a significant contribution to fiscal year 2026 results. Moving forward, the focus will be on maximizing the tobacco business, expanding the ingredients business, and exploring ways for the two segments to collaborate.

Universal Corporation (NYSE:UVV) reported approximately $80 million in cash balance at the end of the quarter. The company’s quarterly dividend comes in at $0.81 per share for a dividend yield of 5.67%, as of December 3. It is one of the best dividend kings on our list as the company has been growing its payouts for 54 consecutive years.

According to Insider Monkey’s database of Q3 2024, 14 hedge funds owned stakes in Universal Corporation (NYSE:UVV), up from 12 a quarter earlier. The consolidated value of these stakes is nearly $72 million. Among these hedge funds, Pzena Investment Management was the company’s leading stakeholder in Q3.