Seaboard (SEB) vs Universal (UVV)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.
Summary
Seaboard (SEB) has outperformed Universal (UVV) over the past year, gaining 14.3% versus a loss of 21.5%. Over five years, SEB leads with a -2.1% price change compared with -13.0% for UVV. Seaboard is the larger company by market cap ($3.87 billion vs $1.07 billion), about 3.6 times the size.
On valuation, Seaboard trades at a lower trailing P/E (6.2x vs 56.4x for Universal). Universal offers the higher dividend yield (7.68% vs 0.22%).
Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology
Relative performance
Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.
Head-to-head
| Metric | SEB | UVV |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $4,042.00 | $42.83 |
| Market cap | $3.87B | $1.07B |
| 1-day change | -1.72% | +0.30% |
| YTD return | -9.06% | -18.81% |
| 1-year return | +14.29% | -21.46% |
| 5-year return | -2.13% | -12.98% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 6.15 | 56.36 |
| Forward P/E | — | 10.84 |
| EPS (TTM) | $656.78 | $0.76 |
| Dividend yield | 0.22% | 7.68% |
| Annual dividend | $9.00 | $3.29 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $9.75B | — |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +7.10% | — |
| Net income (latest FY) | $501.00M | — |
| Gross margin | 7.11% | — |
| Operating margin | 2.45% | — |
| Net margin | 5.14% | — |
| 52-week high | $5,989.37 | $59.38 |
| 52-week low | $3,140.01 | $41.10 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -32.51% | -27.87% |
| Analyst consensus | — | strong_buy |
| Avg. price target upside | — | +56.43% |
| Average volume | 12.52K | 315.59K |
| Shares outstanding | 957.79K | 24.90M |
| Employees | 14,000 | 11,250 |
| Sector | Industrials | Consumer Defensive |
| Industry | Farming/Seeds/Milling | Tobacco |
Highlighted cells mark the higher value for growth, returns, margins and yield, and the lower value for P/E ratios. Highlighting is a mechanical comparison, not a recommendation.
Key differences
- Seaboard is about 3.6 times larger than Universal by market value ($3.87B vs $1.07B).
- SEB has outperformed UVV by 35.7 percentage points over the past year.
- Universal trades at a higher earnings multiple (56.4x vs 6.2x trailing P/E).
- Universal offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (7.68% vs 0.22%).
- The two companies sit in different sectors: Seaboard in Industrials and Universal in Consumer Defensive.
About Seaboard
SEB stock →Seaboard Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates in agricultural, energy, and ocean transportation business worldwide. It operates through Pork, Commodity Trading and Milling (CT&M), Marine, Liquid Fuels, Power, and Turkey segments.
Industrials · Farming/Seeds/Milling · 14,000 employees
About Universal
UVV stock →Universal Corporation, a business-to-business agriproducts company, provides leaf tobacco and plant-based ingredients to food and beverage end markets worldwide. The company operates in two segments, Tobacco Operations and Ingredients Operations.
Consumer Defensive · Tobacco · 11,250 employees
SEB vs UVV FAQ
Which is bigger, Seaboard or Universal?
Seaboard (SEB) is larger, with a market capitalization of $3.87B compared with $1.07B for Universal (UVV).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, SEB or UVV?
SEB returned +14.29% over the past 12 months, compared with -21.46% for UVV (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, SEB or UVV?
SEB has the lower trailing P/E at 6.2, versus 56.4 for UVV. A lower P/E is not by itself a sign of a better investment; it can reflect slower expected growth or higher risk.
Which pays a higher dividend, Seaboard or Universal?
Universal has the higher yield at 7.68%, compared with 0.22% for Seaboard.
Are Seaboard and Universal in the same industry?
No. Seaboard is in the Industrials sector, while Universal is in Consumer Defensive.