Markel Group Inc. (NYSE:MKL) Shares Sold by National Pension Service

National Pension Service lessened its position in shares of Markel Group Inc. (NYSE:MKL) by 2.8% in the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The institutional investor owned 19,432 shares of the insurance provider’s stock after selling 565 shares during the period. National Pension Service’s holdings in Markel Group were worth $33,544,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Brooklyn Investment Group acquired a new position in shares of Markel Group during the 3rd quarter worth $31,000. FPC Investment Advisory Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Markel Group during the 4th quarter worth $37,000. Larson Financial Group LLC acquired a new position in shares of Markel Group during the 3rd quarter worth $36,000. Global Trust Asset Management LLC purchased a new stake in Markel Group during the 4th quarter worth about $41,000. Finally, Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB purchased a new stake in Markel Group during the 3rd quarter worth about $42,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 77.12% of the company’s stock.

Markel Group Stock Up 1.9 %

MKL opened at $1,934.54 on Friday. 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 stock has a market capitalization of $24.88 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.72 and a beta of 0.78. The business has a 50-day moving average of $1,811.85 and a two-hundred day moving average of $1,686.50. Markel Group Inc. has a 12 month low of $1,417.65 and a 12 month high of $2,063.68.

Markel Group (NYSE:MKL) last posted 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%. On average, research analysts expect that Markel Group Inc. will post 96.25 earnings per share for the current year.

Insider Buying and Selling at Markel Group

In other news, CEO Thomas Sinnickson Gayner bought 100 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 7th. The stock was acquired at an average price of $2,008.01 per share, for a total transaction of $200,801.00. Following the acquisition, the chief executive officer now owns 48,945 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $98,282,049.45. This trade represents a 0.20 % increase in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, Director Steven A. Markel sold 800 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $1,856.80, for a total value of $1,485,440.00. Following the sale, the director now owns 64,868 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $120,446,902.40. The trade was a 1.22 % 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 in the last 90 days. 1.71% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

MKL has been the subject of a number of recent research reports. Royal Bank of Canada lifted their price objective 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. StockNews.com cut Markel Group from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Friday, February 14th. Finally, TD Cowen cut Markel Group from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating and dropped their price objective for the stock from $1,986.00 to $1,836.00 in a research report on Monday, December 2nd. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and six have given a hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Markel Group currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $1,685.17.

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.