Blueshift Asset Management LLC Makes New $475,000 Investment in Markel Group Inc. (NYSE:MKL)

Blueshift Asset Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Markel Group Inc. (NYSE:MKL - Free Report) during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund bought 303 shares of the insurance provider's stock, valued at approximately $475,000.

Several other large investors have also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Townsquare Capital LLC raised its position in shares of Markel Group by 3.4% in the 3rd quarter. Townsquare Capital LLC now owns 3,071 shares of the insurance provider's stock worth $4,816,000 after purchasing an additional 101 shares during the last quarter. Brooklyn Investment Group purchased a new position in shares of Markel Group in the 3rd quarter worth about $31,000. Bank of Montreal Can raised its position in shares of Markel Group by 1.8% in the 3rd quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 3,697 shares of the insurance provider's stock worth $5,801,000 after purchasing an additional 66 shares during the last quarter. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. raised its position in shares of Markel Group by 82.6% in the 3rd quarter. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. now owns 126 shares of the insurance provider's stock worth $198,000 after purchasing an additional 57 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Daiwa Securities Group Inc. raised its position in shares of Markel Group by 12.5% in the 3rd quarter. Daiwa Securities Group Inc. now owns 990 shares of the insurance provider's stock worth $1,553,000 after purchasing an additional 110 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 77.12% of the company's stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities analysts have weighed in on MKL shares. Jefferies Financial Group boosted their target price on Markel Group from $1,590.00 to $1,600.00 and gave the stock a "hold" rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 9th. StockNews.com lowered Markel Group from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Wednesday. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada decreased their target price on Markel Group from $1,700.00 to $1,675.00 and set a "sector perform" rating for the company in a research report on Friday, November 1st. One equities research 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. Based on data from MarketBeat, Markel Group currently has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $1,651.83.

Markel Group Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE MKL traded up $9.38 during midday trading on Thursday, hitting $1,785.11. 49,753 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 43,348. Markel Group Inc. has a 1 year low of $1,342.66 and a 1 year high of $1,809.11. The stock has a market capitalization of $22.96 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.23 and a beta of 0.73. 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 moving average of $1,609.69 and a 200 day moving average of $1,589.29.

Markel Group (NYSE:MKL - Get Free Report) last released 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 business had revenue of $3.69 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $3.74 billion. Markel Group had a net margin of 17.03% and a return on equity of 10.86%. On average, analysts forecast that Markel Group Inc. will post 88.52 earnings per share for the current year.

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.