UVV vs. MSA
UVV (Universal Corporation) and MSA (MSA Safety Incorporated) are both stocks. UVV operates in Tobacco (Consumer Defensive), while MSA operates in Security & Protection Services (Industrials). Over the past 10 years, UVV returned 5.09%/yr vs 13.54%/yr for MSA. At a 0.27 correlation, their price movements are largely independent.
Performance
UVV vs. MSA - Performance Comparison
Loading charts...
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, UVV achieves a 3.14% return, which is significantly higher than MSA's -0.18% return. Over the past 10 years, UVV has underperformed MSA with an annualized return of 5.09%, while MSA has yielded a comparatively higher 13.54% annualized return.
UVV
- 1D
- -1.88%
- 1M
- -1.77%
- YTD
- 3.14%
- 6M
- 4.14%
- 1Y
- -7.53%
- 3Y*
- 7.54%
- 5Y*
- 4.61%
- 10Y*
- 5.09%
MSA
- 1D
- -1.46%
- 1M
- -6.18%
- YTD
- -0.18%
- 6M
- -0.35%
- 1Y
- -2.56%
- 3Y*
- 2.22%
- 5Y*
- 0.24%
- 10Y*
- 13.54%
UVV vs. MSA - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
UVV Universal Corporation | 3.14% | 2.27% | -13.39% | 35.79% | 1.82% | 19.59% | -8.96% | 11.08% | 7.79% | -14.79% |
MSA MSA Safety Incorporated | -0.18% | -2.14% | -0.71% | 18.52% | -3.15% | 2.14% | 19.79% | 36.10% | 23.61% | 13.97% |
Correlation
The correlation between UVV and MSA is 0.18, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.18 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.22 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.30 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.34 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Mar 27, 1990 | 0.27 |
The correlation between UVV and MSA shifts across timeframes, from 0.18 (1 year) to 0.34 (10 years), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
Fundamentals
UVV:
$1.73
MSA:
$9.85
UVV:
30.51
MSA:
16.13
UVV:
0.45
MSA:
2.45
UVV:
$2.21B
MSA:
$1.92B
UVV:
$412.39M
MSA:
$897.30M
UVV:
$212.91M
MSA:
$465.55M
Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs
Search for stocks, ETFs, and funds for a quick comparison or use the comparison tool for more options.
Return for Risk
UVV vs. MSA — Risk / Return Rank
UVV
MSA
UVV vs. MSA - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Universal Corporation (UVV) and MSA Safety Incorporated (MSA). 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 | MSA | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.21 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -0.28 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 0.96 | 1.00 | -0.04 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | -0.50 | -0.12 | -0.38 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | -0.83 | -0.26 | -0.57 |
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month. | |||
Loading charts...
Sharpe Ratios by Period
| UVV | MSA | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | -0.32 | -0.11 | -0.21 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.19 | 0.01 | +0.18 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.18 | 0.47 | -0.30 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.28 | 0.34 | -0.06 |
Drawdowns
UVV vs. MSA - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum UVV drawdown since its inception was -69.75%, roughly equal to the maximum MSA drawdown of -70.32%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for UVV and MSA.
Loading charts...
Drawdown Indicators
| UVV | MSA | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -69.75% | -70.32% | +0.57% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -15.23% | -21.29% | +6.06% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -29.70% | -34.28% | +4.58% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -29.70% | -34.28% | +4.58% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -45.68% | -38.39% | -7.29% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -14.30% | -21.29% | +6.99% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -18.59% | -17.44% | -1.15% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 9.04% | 9.79% | -0.75% |
Volatility
UVV vs. MSA - Volatility Comparison
Universal Corporation (UVV) has a higher volatility of 10.11% compared to MSA Safety Incorporated (MSA) at 6.61%. This indicates that UVV's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than MSA based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
Loading charts...
Volatility by Period
| UVV | MSA | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 10.11% | 6.61% | +3.50% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 18.46% | 17.65% | +0.81% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 23.77% | 23.93% | -0.16% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 24.57% | 24.71% | -0.14% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 28.94% | 28.78% | +0.16% |
Dividends
UVV vs. MSA - Dividend Comparison
UVV's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 6.22%, more than MSA's 1.34% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
MSA MSA Safety Incorporated | 1.34% | 1.31% | 1.21% | 1.11% | 1.26% | 1.16% | 1.14% | 1.30% | 1.58% | 1.78% | 1.89% | 2.92% |
UVV Universal Corporation | 6.22% | 6.18% | 5.87% | 4.72% | 5.95% | 5.64% | 6.30% | 5.29% | 4.80% | 4.11% | 3.33% | 3.71% |
Financials
UVV vs. MSA - Financials Comparison
This section allows you to compare key financial metrics between Universal Corporation and MSA Safety Incorporated. You can select fields from income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow statements to easily visualize and compare the financial health of both companies.
Total Revenue: Total amount of money received from sales and other business activities
Frequently Asked Questions
UVV and MSA have a correlation of 0.18, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
UVV has higher volatility (10.11%) compared to MSA (6.61%). In terms of maximum drawdown, UVV dropped -69.75% vs MSA's -70.32%.
MSA currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (-0.11 vs -0.32), 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.
Find the right allocation for UVV and MSA
Add both to a portfolio and optimize allocations for your target — whether that's maximizing returns, minimizing drawdowns, or balancing risk across holdings.
Open Portfolio Optimizer