Markel Group (NYSE:MKL) Raised to “Buy” at StockNews.com

Markel Group (NYSE:MKL) was upgraded by StockNews.com from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report issued to clients and investors on Monday.

Other research analysts also recently issued reports about the stock. Citigroup lifted 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 note on Tuesday, July 23rd. TD Cowen began coverage on shares of Markel Group in a research report on Tuesday, July 9th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $1,986.00 target price on the stock. Jefferies Financial Group upped their price target on shares of Markel Group from $1,590.00 to $1,600.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 9th. Finally, 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. One investment 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’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $1,651.83.

Markel Group Stock Up 0.6 %

MKL opened at $1,560.17 on Monday. The business’s fifty day simple moving average is $1,566.69 and its 200 day simple moving average is $1,570.78. Markel Group has a 52 week low of $1,317.00 and a 52 week high of $1,670.24. The company has a quick ratio of 0.60, a current ratio of 0.60 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.26. The stock has a market cap of $20.06 billion, a PE ratio of 7.20 and a beta of 0.73.

Markel Group (NYSE:MKL) last announced its quarterly earnings data 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%. As a group, research analysts expect that Markel Group will post 91.55 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Markel Group

Several institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. boosted its holdings in shares of Markel Group by 6.0% during the second 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 during the period. Solitude Financial Services purchased a new stake in Markel Group in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $1,182,000. Sei Investments Co. grew its position in shares of Markel Group by 41.7% in the 1st quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 4,308 shares of the insurance provider’s stock worth $6,554,000 after buying an additional 1,268 shares during the last quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD increased its stake in shares of Markel Group by 4.5% during the first quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 8,336 shares of the insurance provider’s stock valued at $12,684,000 after buying an additional 359 shares during the period. Finally, Concurrent Investment Advisors LLC raised its holdings in shares of Markel Group by 89.8% during the first quarter. Concurrent Investment Advisors LLC now owns 835 shares of the insurance provider’s stock valued at $1,270,000 after acquiring an additional 395 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 77.12% of the company’s stock.

About Markel Group

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.