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

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

A number of other research analysts have also weighed in on MKL. TD Cowen lowered Markel Group from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating and cut their price objective for the company from $1,986.00 to $1,836.00 in a research report on Monday, December 2nd. 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 note on Friday, February 7th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and six have assigned a hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $1,685.17.

Markel Group Trading Down 1.5 %

Shares of NYSE:MKL opened at $1,869.04 on Friday. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $1,780.38 and a 200 day moving average of $1,662.06. The company has a market cap of $24.04 billion, a PE 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 12-month low of $1,417.65 and a 12-month high of $2,063.68.

Markel Group (NYSE:MKL) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 5th. The insurance provider reported $20.51 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $20.66 by ($0.15). Markel Group had a net margin of 16.34% and a return on equity of 7.55%. As a group, equities research analysts expect that Markel Group will post 97.92 EPS for the current year.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, CEO Thomas Sinnickson Gayner purchased 100 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 7th. The shares were purchased at an average cost of $2,008.01 per share, for a total transaction of $200,801.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, 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 position. The purchase was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. 1.71% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Markel Group

A number of hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in MKL. CWM LLC grew its stake in Markel Group by 16.3% in the third quarter. CWM LLC now owns 250 shares of the insurance provider’s stock worth $392,000 after purchasing an additional 35 shares in the last quarter. Creative Planning lifted its holdings in shares of Markel Group by 10.9% in the 3rd quarter. Creative Planning now owns 5,584 shares of the insurance provider’s stock worth $8,759,000 after buying an additional 549 shares during the period. Hengehold Capital Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Markel Group in the 3rd quarter worth $229,000. Bleakley Financial Group LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Markel Group by 22.2% in the 3rd quarter. Bleakley Financial Group LLC now owns 231 shares of the insurance provider’s stock worth $362,000 after buying an additional 42 shares during the period. Finally, Blue Trust Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Markel Group by 78.9% in the 3rd quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 195 shares of the insurance provider’s stock worth $307,000 after buying an additional 86 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.