Franklin Resources Inc. Has $9.03 Million Stake in Markel Group Inc. (NYSE:MKL)

Franklin Resources Inc. lowered its stake in shares of Markel Group Inc. (NYSE:MKL) by 6.1% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 5,232 shares of the insurance provider’s stock after selling 339 shares during the period. Franklin Resources Inc.’s holdings in Markel Group were worth $9,032,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the company. Quarry LP lifted its position in shares of Markel Group by 3,000.0% in the 3rd quarter. Quarry LP now owns 31 shares of the insurance provider’s stock worth $49,000 after acquiring an additional 30 shares during the period. Stifel Financial Corp lifted its position in Markel Group by 0.8% in the third quarter. Stifel Financial Corp now owns 4,567 shares of the insurance provider’s stock worth $7,164,000 after purchasing an additional 38 shares during the period. Kovitz Investment Group Partners LLC acquired a new stake in Markel Group during the third quarter worth $278,000. EP Wealth Advisors LLC increased its holdings in Markel Group by 12.3% in the 3rd quarter. EP Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 173 shares of the insurance provider’s stock valued at $271,000 after buying an additional 19 shares during the period. Finally, National Bank of Canada FI raised its stake in shares of Markel Group by 9.5% in the 3rd quarter. National Bank of Canada FI now owns 2,429 shares of the insurance provider’s stock valued at $3,810,000 after buying an additional 211 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 77.12% of the company’s stock.

Insider Activity

In related news, CEO Thomas Sinnickson Gayner acquired 100 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 7th. The stock was purchased at an average price of $2,008.01 per share, for a total transaction of $200,801.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly 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 position. The acquisition was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, Director Steven A. Markel sold 1,146 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, February 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $1,858.49, for a total value of $2,129,829.54. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 63,722 shares in the company, valued at $118,426,699.78. The trade was a 1.77 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last ninety days, insiders sold 2,034 shares of company stock worth $3,778,952. 1.71% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Markel Group Price Performance

NYSE:MKL opened at $1,671.77 on Wednesday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.60, a current ratio of 0.60 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.26. The firm has a market cap of $21.35 billion, a PE ratio of 8.40 and a beta of 0.70. Markel Group Inc. has a 12 month low of $1,417.65 and a 12 month high of $2,063.68. The company’s 50-day moving average price is $1,860.13 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $1,740.86.

Markel Group (NYSE:MKL) last released its quarterly 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 return on equity of 7.55% and a net margin of 16.34%. On average, equities analysts anticipate that Markel Group Inc. will post 96.25 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

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

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.