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

Markel Group (NYSE:MKLGet Free Report) was downgraded by StockNews.com from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a note issued to investors on Friday.

Several other analysts also recently issued reports on MKL. TD Cowen downgraded Markel Group from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating and reduced their price target for the company from $1,986.00 to $1,836.00 in a research note on Monday, December 2nd. Royal Bank of Canada boosted their target price on shares of Markel Group from $1,750.00 to $2,025.00 and gave the company a “sector perform” rating in a research report on Friday, February 7th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and six have given a hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $1,685.17.

Read Our Latest Stock Report on MKL

Markel Group Stock Performance

Shares of MKL stock opened at $1,896.18 on Friday. Markel Group has a 52 week low of $1,417.65 and a 52 week high of $2,063.68. The company has a market capitalization of $24.38 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.53 and a beta of 0.78. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $1,777.65 and a 200 day simple moving average of $1,660.43. 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:MKLGet Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 5th. The insurance provider reported $20.51 earnings per share (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, sell-side analysts predict that Markel Group will post 97.92 earnings per share for the current year.

Insider Transactions at Markel Group

In other news, CEO Thomas Sinnickson Gayner bought 100 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 7th. The stock was bought at an average cost of $2,008.01 per share, for a total transaction of $200,801.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 48,945 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $98,282,049.45. This represents a 0.20 % increase in their ownership of the stock. The purchase was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. 1.71% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Brooklyn Investment Group acquired a new stake in shares of Markel Group in the 3rd quarter valued at $31,000. Toth Financial Advisory Corp boosted its stake 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 valued at $35,000 after buying an additional 20 shares in the last quarter. Larson Financial Group LLC bought a new position in Markel Group in the third quarter valued at about $36,000. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. acquired a new position in Markel Group during the fourth quarter worth about $36,000. Finally, FPC Investment Advisory Inc. bought a new position in shares of Markel Group in the fourth quarter worth about $37,000. 77.12% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Markel Group Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

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.

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Analyst Recommendations for Markel Group (NYSE:MKL)

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