Ashton Thomas Securities LLC Increases Stock Position in Markel Group Inc. (NYSE:MKL)

Ashton Thomas Securities LLC boosted its holdings in Markel Group Inc. (NYSE:MKL) by 2.4% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 2,056 shares of the insurance provider’s stock after buying an additional 48 shares during the period. Markel Group makes up 1.0% of Ashton Thomas Securities LLC’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 23rd biggest holding. Ashton Thomas Securities LLC’s holdings in Markel Group were worth $3,549,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of MKL. Brooklyn Investment Group purchased a new position in shares of Markel Group in the third quarter valued at $31,000. Larson Financial Group LLC purchased a new position in Markel Group during the 3rd quarter valued at about $36,000. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. bought a new stake in shares of Markel Group during the fourth quarter valued at about $36,000. FPC Investment Advisory Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Markel Group in the fourth quarter worth about $37,000. Finally, Global Trust Asset Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Markel Group in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $41,000. Institutional investors own 77.12% of the company’s stock.

Insider Activity

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

Markel Group Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:MKL opened at $1,870.21 on Tuesday. The company’s fifty day moving average price is $1,856.87 and its 200-day moving average price is $1,721.35. 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 firm has a market capitalization of $23.88 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.40 and a beta of 0.82. Markel Group Inc. has a one year low of $1,417.65 and a one 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 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $20.66 by ($0.15). Markel Group had a net margin of 16.34% and a return on equity of 7.55%. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that Markel Group Inc. will post 96.25 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several analysts have issued reports on MKL shares. StockNews.com cut shares of Markel Group from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Friday, February 14th. TD Cowen downgraded Markel Group from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating and lowered their price objective for the stock from $1,986.00 to $1,836.00 in a research report on Monday, December 2nd. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada boosted their target price 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 investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and five have given a hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Markel Group has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $1,702.20.

About Markel Group

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.