UVV vs. BTI

Last updated Jun 3, 2026

UVV (Universal Corporation) and BTI (British American Tobacco p.l.c.) are both stocks. Both operate in the Tobacco industry within the Consumer Defensive sector. Over the past 10 years, UVV returned 5.39%/yr vs 6.75%/yr for BTI. At a 0.25 correlation, their price movements are largely independent.

Performance

UVV vs. BTI - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Universal Corporation (UVV) and British American Tobacco p.l.c. (BTI). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, UVV achieves a 6.32% return, which is significantly lower than BTI's 8.33% return. Over the past 10 years, UVV has underperformed BTI with an annualized return of 5.39%, while BTI has yielded a comparatively higher 6.75% annualized return.

UVV

• 1D: 0.46%
• 1M: 0.24%
• YTD: 6.32%
• 6M: 5.82%
• 1Y: -11.53%
• 3Y*: 7.22%
• 5Y*: 4.86%
• 10Y*: 5.39%

BTI

• 1D: -0.89%
• 1M: 2.98%
• YTD: 8.33%
• 6M: 7.29%
• 1Y: 41.12%
• 3Y*: 33.38%
• 5Y*: 17.85%
• 10Y*: 6.75%

*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

UVV vs. BTI - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017
UVV Universal Corporation	6.32%	2.27%	-13.39%	35.79%	1.82%	19.59%	-8.96%	11.08%	7.79%	-14.79%
BTI British American Tobacco p.l.c.	8.33%	65.81%	35.44%	-19.97%	14.91%	7.95%	-4.73%	42.97%	-49.35%	24.40%

Correlation

The correlation between UVV and BTI is 0.33, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.33
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period	0.40
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.43
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.38
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jan 6, 1988	0.25

The correlation between UVV and BTI shifts across timeframes, from 0.25 (all time) to 0.43 (5 years), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.

Fundamentals

EPS UVV : $1.73 BTI : $4.93
PE Ratio UVV : 31.45 BTI : 12.27
PS Ratio UVV : 0.46 BTI : 2.58
Total Revenue (TTM) UVV : $2.21B BTI : $51.48B
Gross Profit (TTM) UVV : $412.39M BTI : $42.82B
EBITDA (TTM) UVV : $212.91M BTI : $20.34B

Return for Risk

UVV vs. BTI — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.

UVV

UVV Risk / Return Rank: 20
UVV Sharpe Ratio Rank: 19
UVV Sortino Ratio Rank: 19
UVV Omega Ratio Rank: 18
UVV Calmar Ratio Rank: 20
UVV Martin Ratio Rank: 25

BTI

BTI Risk / Return Rank: 82
BTI Sharpe Ratio Rank: 85
BTI Sortino Ratio Rank: 82
BTI Omega Ratio Rank: 79
BTI Calmar Ratio Rank: 82
BTI Martin Ratio Rank: 81

The rank (0–100) shows how this investment's returns compare to the risk taken. Higher = better. Based on the past 12 months of data, combining Sharpe, Sortino, and other metrics used by quantitative funds and institutional investors.

UVV vs. BTI - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Universal Corporation (UVV) and British American Tobacco p.l.c. (BTI). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.

	UVV	BTI	Difference
Sharpe ratio Return per unit of total volatility	-0.48	1.83	-2.31
Sortino ratio Return per unit of downside risk	-0.48	2.52	-3.00
Omega ratio Gain probability vs. loss probability	0.93	1.30	-0.37
Calmar ratio Return relative to maximum drawdown	-0.57	3.03	-3.60
Martin ratio Return relative to average drawdown	-0.81	7.16	-7.97
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

UVV vs. BTI - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current UVV Sharpe Ratio is -0.48, which is lower than the BTI Sharpe Ratio of 1.83. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of UVV and BTI, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

Sharpe Ratios by Period

	UVV	BTI	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	-0.48	1.83	-2.31
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.20	0.85	-0.65
Sharpe Ratio (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.19	0.28	-0.09
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	0.28	0.58	-0.30

Drawdowns

UVV vs. BTI - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum UVV drawdown since its inception was -69.75%, which is greater than BTI's maximum drawdown of -64.11%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for UVV and BTI.

Drawdown Indicators

	UVV	BTI	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-69.75%	-64.11%	-5.64%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-16.79%	-13.75%	-3.04%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-29.70%	-13.75%	-15.95%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-29.70%	-29.94%	+0.24%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-45.68%	-56.00%	+10.32%
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-11.65%	-9.36%	-2.29%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-18.60%	-12.94%	-5.66%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	14.40%	5.83%	+8.57%

Volatility

UVV vs. BTI - Volatility Comparison

Universal Corporation (UVV) and British American Tobacco p.l.c. (BTI) have volatilities of 9.50% and 9.38%, respectively, indicating that both stocks experience similar levels of price fluctuations. This suggests that the risk associated with both stocks, as measured by volatility, is nearly the same. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	UVV	BTI	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	9.50%	9.38%	+0.12%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	18.15%	17.97%	+0.18%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	24.09%	22.59%	+1.50%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	24.54%	21.07%	+3.47%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	28.92%	24.18%	+4.74%

Dividends

UVV vs. BTI - Dividend Comparison

UVV's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 6.03%, more than BTI's 5.10% yield.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
BTI British American Tobacco p.l.c.	5.10%	5.29%	8.18%	9.72%	7.23%	7.98%	7.22%	6.35%	8.53%	4.27%	3.85%	4.11%
UVV Universal Corporation	6.03%	6.18%	5.87%	4.72%	5.95%	5.64%	6.30%	5.29%	4.80%	4.11%	3.33%	3.71%

Financials

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both UVV and BTI in my portfolio?

UVV and BTI have a correlation of 0.33, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which is riskier, UVV or BTI?

UVV has higher volatility (9.50%) compared to BTI (9.38%). In terms of maximum drawdown, UVV dropped -69.75% vs BTI's -64.11%.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

BTI currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.83 vs -0.48), meaning it's delivered slightly more return per unit of risk over the trailing 12 months. However, this ranking shifts over time - use the Risk/Return Score above for a more comprehensive view that combines Sharpe, Sortino, and other measures used by quantitative funds.