Markel Group Inc. (NYSE:MKL) Shares Sold by DF Dent & Co. Inc.

DF Dent & Co. Inc. reduced its holdings in Markel Group Inc. (NYSE:MKL - Free Report) by 15.5% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 82,906 shares of the insurance provider's stock after selling 15,172 shares during the period. Markel Group comprises 1.8% of DF Dent & Co. Inc.'s holdings, making the stock its 23rd biggest position. DF Dent & Co. Inc. owned about 0.64% of Markel Group worth $143,114,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. purchased a new stake in shares of Markel Group in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $36,000. FPC Investment Advisory Inc. purchased a new position in Markel Group in the 4th quarter worth approximately $37,000. Global Trust Asset Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Markel Group during the 4th quarter worth approximately $41,000. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB purchased a new stake in shares of Markel Group in the third quarter valued at approximately $42,000. Finally, Quarry LP increased its holdings in shares of Markel Group by 3,000.0% in the third quarter. Quarry LP now owns 31 shares of the insurance provider's stock valued at $49,000 after purchasing an additional 30 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 77.12% of the company's stock.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, CEO Thomas Sinnickson Gayner acquired 100 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 7th. The shares were purchased 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 directly owns 48,945 shares in the company, valued at approximately $98,282,049.45. This represents a 0.20 % increase in their position. The acquisition was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, Director Steven A. Markel sold 88 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $1,860.03, for a total transaction of $163,682.64. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 63,436 shares in the company, valued at $117,992,863.08. This represents a 0.14 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 2,034 shares of company stock worth $3,778,952 in the last 90 days. Corporate insiders own 1.71% of the company's stock.

Markel Group Stock Up 3.2 %

Shares of MKL stock traded up $53.61 during trading on Tuesday, reaching $1,732.11. The company's stock had a trading volume of 16,826 shares, compared to its average volume of 47,699. The company has a market capitalization of $22.12 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.71 and a beta of 0.70. Markel Group Inc. has a 1-year low of $1,417.65 and a 1-year high of $2,063.68. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.26, a current ratio of 0.60 and a quick ratio of 0.60. The stock's 50-day moving average price is $1,865.93 and its 200 day moving average price is $1,740.63.

Markel Group (NYSE:MKL - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, February 5th. The insurance provider reported $20.51 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $20.66 by ($0.15). Markel Group had a net margin of 16.34% and a return on equity of 7.55%. On average, research analysts anticipate that Markel Group Inc. will post 96.25 EPS for the current year.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

MKL has been the topic of a number of analyst reports. Royal Bank of Canada lifted their target price on shares of Markel Group from $1,750.00 to $2,025.00 and gave the stock a "sector perform" rating in a research note on Friday, February 7th. StockNews.com downgraded Markel Group from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Friday, February 14th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and five have given a hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Markel Group presently has an average rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $1,702.20.

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.