Scientech Research LLC Invests $473,000 in Markel Group Inc. (NYSE:MKL)

Scientech Research LLC acquired a new stake in Markel Group Inc. (NYSE:MKL) during the second quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor acquired 300 shares of the insurance provider’s stock, valued at approximately $473,000.

Several other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in MKL. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. increased its stake in shares of Markel Group by 6.0% during the 2nd quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. now owns 9,884 shares of the insurance provider’s stock worth $15,574,000 after purchasing an additional 558 shares in the last quarter. Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Holdings Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Markel Group by 2.9% in the first quarter. Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Holdings Inc. now owns 31,819 shares of the insurance provider’s stock worth $48,412,000 after acquiring an additional 888 shares during the last quarter. Solitude Financial Services purchased a new stake in shares of Markel Group in the second quarter valued at $1,182,000. Sei Investments Co. boosted its stake in shares of Markel Group by 41.7% during the first quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 4,308 shares of the insurance provider’s stock valued at $6,554,000 after acquiring an additional 1,268 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD increased its position in Markel Group by 4.5% during the 1st quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 8,336 shares of the insurance provider’s stock worth $12,684,000 after purchasing an additional 359 shares in the last quarter. 77.12% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research analysts have issued reports on MKL shares. Citigroup upped their target price on shares of Markel Group from $1,435.00 to $1,450.00 and gave the company a “sell” rating in a report on Tuesday, July 23rd. TD Cowen assumed coverage on Markel Group in a research note on Tuesday, July 9th. They set a “buy” rating and a $1,986.00 price target on the stock. Finally, StockNews.com upgraded Markel Group from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, September 25th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have given a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $1,626.83.

Insider Activity at Markel Group

In related news, Director Lawrence A. Cunningham bought 20 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, August 5th. The stock was bought at an average price of $1,512.50 per share, with a total value of $30,250.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 743 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,123,787.50. The acquisition was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. 1.71% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Markel Group Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:MKL opened at $1,569.08 on Monday. The business has a 50-day moving average of $1,562.35 and a two-hundred day moving average of $1,555.68. The firm has a market capitalization of $20.40 billion, a PE ratio of 8.48 and a beta of 0.73. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.29, a current ratio of 0.60 and a quick ratio of 0.60. Markel Group Inc. has a 12 month low of $1,295.65 and a 12 month high of $1,670.24.

Markel Group (NYSE:MKL) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, July 31st. The insurance provider reported $25.95 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $20.76 by $5.19. Markel Group had a net margin of 13.00% and a return on equity of 11.12%. The firm had revenue of $3.83 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $3.86 billion. As a group, research analysts forecast that Markel Group Inc. will post 89.1 earnings per share for the current year.

Markel Group 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.