StockNews.com Upgrades Markel Group (NYSE:MKL) to Buy

Markel Group (NYSE:MKL) was upgraded by analysts at StockNews.com from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note issued to investors on Thursday.

Several other research analysts have also recently issued reports on the company. Jefferies Financial Group lifted their target price on Markel Group from $1,590.00 to $1,600.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 9th. Royal Bank of Canada cut their price objective on shares of Markel Group from $1,700.00 to $1,675.00 and set a “sector perform” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, November 1st. Finally, TD Cowen downgraded shares of Markel Group from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating and lowered their target price for the company from $1,986.00 to $1,836.00 in a report on Monday, December 2nd. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have issued a hold rating and one has issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $1,685.17.

Markel Group Stock Performance

MKL opened at $2,027.51 on Thursday. Markel Group has a 1-year low of $1,405.11 and a 1-year high of $2,063.68. 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 company’s fifty day moving average price is $1,761.26 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $1,648.97. The company has a current ratio of 0.60, a quick ratio of 0.60 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.26.

Markel Group (NYSE:MKL) last posted 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%. On average, analysts expect that Markel Group will post 86.92 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Transactions at Markel Group

In other news, CEO Thomas Sinnickson Gayner acquired 100 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 7th. The shares were acquired 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 approximately $98,282,049.45. This trade represents a 0.20 % increase in their ownership of the stock. The purchase was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Company insiders own 1.71% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Trading of Markel Group

Several hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in MKL. Cetera Investment Advisers raised its stake in Markel Group by 16.0% in the 2nd quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 1,453 shares of the insurance provider’s stock valued at $2,289,000 after acquiring an additional 200 shares during the period. Cubist Systematic Strategies LLC purchased a new position in shares of Markel Group in the second quarter worth about $65,000. Atomi Financial Group Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Markel Group in the third quarter valued at approximately $428,000. CWM LLC lifted its stake in shares of Markel Group by 16.3% during the 3rd quarter. CWM LLC now owns 250 shares of the insurance provider’s stock valued at $392,000 after buying an additional 35 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Marcum Wealth LLC boosted its holdings in Markel Group by 7.3% in the 3rd quarter. Marcum Wealth LLC now owns 177 shares of the insurance provider’s stock worth $278,000 after buying an additional 12 shares during the period. 77.12% of the stock is currently owned by 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.