Markel Group Inc. (NYSE:MKL) Stake Lowered by Sepio Capital LP

Sepio Capital LP cut its stake in Markel Group Inc. (NYSE:MKL) by 0.7% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 1,129 shares of the insurance provider’s stock after selling 8 shares during the quarter. Sepio Capital LP’s holdings in Markel Group were worth $1,949,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Russell Investments Group Ltd. increased its position in Markel Group by 48.8% in the 4th quarter. Russell Investments Group Ltd. now owns 22,878 shares of the insurance provider’s stock worth $39,493,000 after purchasing an additional 7,507 shares during the last quarter. Annandale Capital LLC raised its position in Markel Group by 0.6% during the fourth quarter. Annandale Capital LLC now owns 3,137 shares of the insurance provider’s stock valued at $5,415,000 after acquiring an additional 19 shares in the last quarter. Aviva PLC lifted its stake in Markel Group by 1,501.8% in the fourth quarter. Aviva PLC now owns 7,801 shares of the insurance provider’s stock valued at $13,466,000 after acquiring an additional 7,314 shares during the last quarter. Pilgrim Partners Asia Pte Ltd bought a new stake in Markel Group in the fourth quarter worth approximately $1,899,000. Finally, Resona Asset Management Co. Ltd. acquired a new position in shares of Markel Group during the 4th quarter worth $8,009,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 77.12% of the company’s stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research firms recently issued reports on MKL. StockNews.com lowered shares of Markel Group from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Friday, February 14th. Royal Bank of Canada boosted their price target on Markel Group from $1,750.00 to $2,025.00 and gave the stock a “sector perform” rating in a research report on Friday, February 7th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and five have issued a hold rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Markel Group presently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $1,702.20.

Markel Group Stock Performance

Shares of MKL opened at $1,721.17 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $21.98 billion, a PE ratio of 8.65 and a beta of 0.82. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.26, a current ratio of 0.60 and a quick ratio of 0.60. Markel Group Inc. has a one year low of $1,417.65 and a one year high of $2,063.68. The company’s fifty day moving average price is $1,868.94 and its 200 day moving average price is $1,738.75.

Markel Group (NYSE:MKL) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 5th. The insurance provider reported $20.51 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $20.66 by ($0.15). Markel Group had a return on equity of 7.55% and a net margin of 16.34%. As a group, analysts expect that Markel Group Inc. will post 96.25 earnings per share for the current year.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, Director Steven A. Markel sold 800 shares of Markel Group stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $1,856.80, for a total transaction of $1,485,440.00. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 64,868 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $120,446,902.40. This trade represents a 1.22 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, CEO Thomas Sinnickson Gayner purchased 100 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Friday, February 7th. The stock was purchased at an average cost of $2,008.01 per share, with a total value of $200,801.00. Following the acquisition, the chief executive officer now owns 48,945 shares in the company, valued at approximately $98,282,049.45. This represents a 0.20 % increase in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 2,034 shares of company stock valued at $3,778,952 in the last three months. Company insiders own 1.71% of the company’s stock.

Markel Group Profile

Markel Group Inc, a diverse holding company, engages in marketing and underwriting specialty insurance products in the United States, Bermuda, the United Kingdom, and Germany. The company offers general and professional liability, personal lines, marine and energy, specialty programs, and workers' compensation insurance products; and property coverages that include fire, allied lines, and other specialized property coverages, including catastrophe-exposed property risks, such as earthquake and wind.