Markel Group Inc. (NYSE:MKL) Receives Average Recommendation of “Reduce” from Analysts

Markel Group Inc. (NYSE:MKL) has been given an average rating of “Reduce” by the five research firms that are presently covering the company, MarketBeat reports. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and four have assigned a hold rating to the company. The average 1 year target price among brokerages that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $1,702.20.

A number of research analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. StockNews.com downgraded shares of Markel Group from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report 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. Finally, TD Cowen lowered Markel Group from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating and lowered their price objective for the company from $1,986.00 to $1,836.00 in a report on Monday, December 2nd.

Markel Group Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE MKL opened at $1,853.88 on Tuesday. 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 has a one year low of $1,417.65 and a one year high of $2,063.68. The business’s 50-day moving average price is $1,865.72 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $1,729.19. The company has a market capitalization of $23.67 billion, a P/E ratio of 9.31 and a beta of 0.82.

Markel Group (NYSE:MKL) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 5th. The insurance provider reported $20.51 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $20.66 by ($0.15). Markel Group had a net margin of 16.34% and a return on equity of 7.55%. Analysts anticipate that Markel Group will post 96.25 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insider Buying and Selling at Markel Group

In other Markel Group news, CEO Thomas Sinnickson Gayner acquired 100 shares of Markel Group stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 7th. The stock was bought at an average cost of $2,008.01 per share, with a total value of $200,801.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 48,945 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $98,282,049.45. The trade was a 0.20 % increase in their ownership of the stock. The acquisition was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, Director Steven A. Markel sold 88 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $1,860.03, for a total transaction of $163,682.64. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 63,436 shares in the company, valued at $117,992,863.08. This trade represents a 0.14 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 2,034 shares of company stock worth $3,778,952 over the last ninety days. Company insiders own 1.71% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Markel Group

Several hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Brooklyn Investment Group bought a new stake in shares of Markel Group in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $31,000. Larson Financial Group LLC acquired a new stake in Markel Group during the third quarter worth $36,000. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. bought a new stake in Markel Group in the 4th quarter valued at $36,000. FPC Investment Advisory Inc. bought a new stake in Markel Group in the 4th quarter valued at $37,000. Finally, Global Trust Asset Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Markel Group in the 4th quarter valued at $41,000. Institutional investors own 77.12% of the company’s stock.

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.