From tobacco to fat profits: this company has been raising its dividend for 50 years

This time, we focused on a company that has maintained a stable and growing dividend policy for more than 50 years, making it one of the so-called "Dividend Kings". The company has regularly increased its dividend, which rose to $0.80 (per quarter) per share in 2024 and increased to $0.81 in 2025. This dividend growth is noteworthy, especially given some of the cash flow metrics that indicate challenges in the business. Although the company is facing some difficulties, its long history of dividend increases and commitment to paying regular income to its shareholders remain key factors that make it attractive.

For a company that is strongly rooted in the tobacco industry, today it is not just about what it does, but how it does it. Since its inception, Universal Corporation has become a reliable partner between growers and tobacco manufacturers, which has allowed it to maintain stability even in turbulent times. But what makes the company even more interesting is not only its ability to…