Markel Group (NYSE:MKL) Sets New 12-Month High – Still a Buy?

Shares of Markel Group Inc. (NYSE:MKL) reached a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Friday . The company traded as high as $1,675.51 and last traded at $1,668.45, with a volume of 6242 shares. The stock had previously closed at $1,636.14.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research firms have weighed in on MKL. Citigroup upped their price target on shares of Markel Group from $1,435.00 to $1,450.00 and gave the stock a “sell” rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 23rd. Jefferies Financial Group raised their price target on Markel Group from $1,590.00 to $1,600.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a report on Wednesday, October 9th. Royal Bank of Canada decreased their price objective on 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, StockNews.com upgraded shares of Markel Group from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Monday. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have given a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Markel Group currently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $1,651.83.

Markel Group Price Performance

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.26, a quick ratio of 0.60 and a current ratio of 0.60. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $1,569.03 and a 200 day simple moving average of $1,571.76. The company has a market capitalization of $21.23 billion, a PE ratio of 7.66 and a beta of 0.73.

Markel Group (NYSE:MKL) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, October 30th. The insurance provider reported $17.34 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $21.97 by ($4.63). Markel Group had a return on equity of 10.86% and a net margin of 17.03%. The business had revenue of $3.69 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.74 billion. Equities analysts anticipate that Markel Group Inc. will post 89.27 EPS for the current year.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several large investors have recently modified their holdings of MKL. Toth Financial Advisory Corp boosted its holdings in Markel Group by 1,000.0% in the third quarter. Toth Financial Advisory Corp now owns 22 shares of the insurance provider’s stock worth $35,000 after acquiring an additional 20 shares in the last quarter. UMB Bank n.a. increased its holdings in shares of Markel Group by 833.3% in the third quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 28 shares of the insurance provider’s stock valued at $44,000 after purchasing an additional 25 shares during the period. Point72 Asia Singapore Pte. Ltd. purchased a new position in shares of Markel Group in the second quarter worth about $45,000. Thurston Springer Miller Herd & Titak Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Markel Group during the second quarter worth about $55,000. Finally, Cubist Systematic Strategies LLC purchased a new position in Markel Group during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $65,000. 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.