Markel Group Inc. (NYSE:MKL) Given Average Recommendation of “Reduce” by Brokerages

Markel Group Inc. (NYSE:MKL) has earned an average rating of “Reduce” from the six brokerages that are covering the stock, Marketbeat.com reports. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and five have issued a hold rating on the company. The average twelve-month price objective among brokerages that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $1,685.17.

A number of brokerages have recently weighed in on MKL. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Markel Group from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday. Royal Bank of Canada raised their price target on Markel Group from $1,750.00 to $2,025.00 and gave the company a “sector perform” rating in a research note on Friday. Finally, TD Cowen downgraded Markel Group from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating and decreased their price target for the stock from $1,986.00 to $1,836.00 in a report on Monday, December 2nd.

Markel Group Price Performance

Shares of NYSE MKL opened at $2,027.51 on Monday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.26, a current ratio of 0.60 and a quick ratio of 0.60. The company has a market cap of $26.07 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.35 and a beta of 0.78. The stock’s 50-day moving average is $1,761.26 and its two-hundred day moving average is $1,648.97. Markel Group has a 1-year low of $1,405.11 and a 1-year high of $2,063.68.

Markel Group (NYSE:MKL) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, February 5th. The insurance provider reported $20.51 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $20.66 by ($0.15). Markel Group had a return on equity of 10.86% and a net margin of 17.03%. Analysts forecast that Markel Group will post 86.92 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Activity at Markel Group

In other news, CEO Thomas Sinnickson Gayner acquired 100 shares of Markel Group stock in a transaction on Friday, February 7th. The stock was bought at an average price of $2,008.01 per share, for a total transaction of $200,801.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the chief executive officer now owns 48,945 shares in the company, valued at $98,282,049.45. This represents a 0.20 % increase in their ownership of the stock. The acquisition was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. 1.71% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Markel Group

A number of hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the business. Private Trust Co. NA boosted its stake in Markel Group by 23.1% during the 4th quarter. Private Trust Co. NA now owns 32 shares of the insurance provider’s stock worth $55,000 after purchasing an additional 6 shares during the period. Gold Investment Management Ltd. increased its stake in Markel Group by 0.6% in the third quarter. Gold Investment Management Ltd. now owns 1,219 shares of the insurance provider’s stock valued at $1,912,000 after purchasing an additional 7 shares during the period. Gilbert & Cook Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Markel Group by 1.7% in the fourth quarter. Gilbert & Cook Inc. now owns 428 shares of the insurance provider’s stock valued at $739,000 after buying an additional 7 shares during the last quarter. Greenleaf Trust boosted its stake in shares of Markel Group by 3.4% during the fourth quarter. Greenleaf Trust now owns 213 shares of the insurance provider’s stock worth $368,000 after buying an additional 7 shares during the period. Finally, Concurrent Investment Advisors LLC grew its holdings in shares of Markel Group by 1.5% during the fourth quarter. Concurrent Investment Advisors LLC now owns 469 shares of the insurance provider’s stock worth $810,000 after buying an additional 7 shares during the last quarter. 77.12% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Markel Group Company 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.