Canada Pension Plan Investment Board Raises Stock Holdings in Markel Group Inc. (NYSE:MKL)

Canada Pension Plan Investment Board raised its stake in shares of Markel Group Inc. (NYSE:MKL - Free Report) by 26.4% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 11,110 shares of the insurance provider's stock after purchasing an additional 2,321 shares during the period. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board owned 0.09% of Markel Group worth $19,178,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. FPC Investment Advisory Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Markel Group in the fourth quarter worth approximately $37,000. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. bought a new position in Markel Group during the 4th quarter worth approximately $36,000. Global Trust Asset Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Markel Group in the 4th quarter worth approximately $41,000. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB bought a new stake in shares of Markel Group in the 3rd quarter valued at $42,000. Finally, Private Trust Co. NA increased its position in shares of Markel Group by 23.1% during the fourth quarter. Private Trust Co. NA now owns 32 shares of the insurance provider's stock worth $55,000 after buying an additional 6 shares during the period. 77.12% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, CEO Thomas Sinnickson Gayner acquired 100 shares of the company's stock in a transaction on Friday, February 7th. The shares were acquired at an average cost of $2,008.01 per share, for a total transaction of $200,801.00. Following the purchase, the chief executive officer now owns 48,945 shares in the company, valued at approximately $98,282,049.45. The trade was a 0.20 % increase in their ownership of the stock. The acquisition was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, Director Steven A. Markel sold 800 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $1,856.80, for a total transaction of $1,485,440.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 64,868 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $120,446,902.40. This represents a 1.22 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last 90 days, insiders have sold 2,034 shares of company stock worth $3,778,952. Insiders own 1.66% of the company's stock.

Markel Group Stock Down 0.2 %

Shares of NYSE MKL traded down $3.91 during trading on Friday, hitting $1,804.50. 73,541 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 49,226. The firm has a market capitalization of $22.94 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.07 and a beta of 0.70. The business's fifty day moving average is $1,827.36 and its 200 day moving average is $1,757.08. 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 Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $1,433.06 and a fifty-two week high of $2,063.68.

Markel Group (NYSE:MKL - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results 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%. Equities research analysts predict that Markel Group Inc. will post 96.25 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research firms recently issued reports on MKL. StockNews.com lowered shares of Markel Group from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Friday, February 14th. Royal Bank of Canada upped their target price on 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 analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and five have issued a hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $1,702.20.

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.