StockNews.com Downgrades Markel Group (NYSE:MKL) to Hold

StockNews.com lowered shares of Markel Group (NYSE:MKL) from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report report published on Friday morning.

Other research analysts have also issued reports about the company. TD Cowen lowered Markel Group from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating and reduced their price target for the stock from $1,986.00 to $1,836.00 in a research report on Monday, December 2nd. 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. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and six have issued a hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Markel Group presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $1,685.17.

Markel Group Price Performance

Shares of MKL stock opened at $1,869.04 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $24.04 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.39 and a beta of 0.78. 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 has a twelve month low of $1,417.65 and a twelve month high of $2,063.68. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $1,780.38 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $1,662.06.

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 the consensus estimate 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, analysts predict that Markel Group will post 97.92 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Activity at Markel Group

In other Markel Group news, CEO Thomas Sinnickson Gayner bought 100 shares of Markel Group stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 7th. The shares were bought at an average cost of $2,008.01 per share, with a total value 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 represents a 0.20 % increase in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. 1.71% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Trading of Markel Group

Several large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in MKL. Brooklyn Investment Group purchased a new stake in Markel Group during the 3rd quarter valued at about $31,000. Toth Financial Advisory Corp grew its stake in Markel Group by 1,000.0% during the 3rd quarter. Toth Financial Advisory Corp now owns 22 shares of the insurance provider’s stock valued at $35,000 after purchasing an additional 20 shares during the last quarter. Larson Financial Group LLC purchased a new stake in Markel Group during the 3rd quarter valued at about $36,000. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. purchased a new stake in Markel Group during the 4th quarter valued at about $36,000. Finally, FPC Investment Advisory Inc. purchased a new stake in Markel Group during the 4th quarter valued at about $37,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 77.12% of the company’s stock.

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.