Markel Group (NYSE:MKL) Upgraded at StockNews.com

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

Other analysts have also issued research reports about the company. TD Cowen lowered Markel Group from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating and lowered their price target for the company from $1,986.00 to $1,836.00 in a report on Monday, December 2nd. Jefferies Financial Group upped their target price on Markel Group from $1,590.00 to $1,600.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a report on Wednesday, October 9th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada cut their price target on Markel Group from $1,700.00 to $1,675.00 and set a “sector perform” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, November 1st. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have given a hold rating and one has assigned a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $1,626.83.

Markel Group Stock Performance

NYSE:MKL opened at $1,726.23 on Monday. The firm has a market capitalization of $22.20 billion, a PE ratio of 7.96 and a beta of 0.77. The stock’s fifty day moving average is $1,694.88 and its 200 day moving average is $1,611.92. Markel Group has a fifty-two week low of $1,342.66 and a fifty-two week high of $1,809.11. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.26, a quick ratio of 0.60 and a current ratio of 0.60.

Markel Group (NYSE:MKL) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, October 30th. The insurance provider reported $17.34 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $21.97 by ($4.63). The firm had revenue of $3.69 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.74 billion. Markel Group had a net margin of 17.03% and a return on equity of 10.86%. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that Markel Group will post 86.73 earnings per share for the current year.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Markel Group

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased its holdings in Markel Group by 29.0% in the 3rd quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 24,906 shares of the insurance provider’s stock worth $39,067,000 after buying an additional 5,595 shares during the period. Oddo BHF Asset Management Sas acquired a new stake in shares of Markel Group in the third quarter worth $3,125,000. Franklin Resources Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Markel Group by 10.4% during the third quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 5,571 shares of the insurance provider’s stock worth $8,736,000 after purchasing an additional 527 shares during the last quarter. Synovus Financial Corp lifted its holdings in Markel Group by 20.7% in the third quarter. Synovus Financial Corp now owns 432 shares of the insurance provider’s stock valued at $678,000 after acquiring an additional 74 shares during the period. Finally, Blankinship & Foster LLC purchased a new stake in Markel Group during the third quarter worth $643,000. Hedge funds and other 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.