Markel Group (NYSE:MKL) Reaches New 52-Week High - Here's Why

Shares of Markel Group Inc. (NYSE:MKL - Get Free Report) hit a new 52-week high on Thursday . The stock traded as high as $1,698.50 and last traded at $1,698.50, with a volume of 3111 shares. The stock had previously closed at $1,655.36.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

MKL has been the topic of a number of recent research reports. Citigroup increased their target price on 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. StockNews.com raised Markel Group from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research note on Monday, November 4th. Jefferies Financial Group raised their price target on Markel Group from $1,590.00 to $1,600.00 and gave the company a "hold" rating in a report on Wednesday, October 9th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada dropped 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 report on Friday, November 1st. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have assigned a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $1,651.83.

Markel Group Stock Performance

The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $1,574.49 and a 200 day moving average price of $1,577.92. The firm has a market capitalization of $22.04 billion, a PE ratio of 7.86 and a beta of 0.73. The company has a quick ratio of 0.60, a current ratio of 0.60 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.26.

Markel Group (NYSE:MKL - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, October 30th. The insurance provider reported $17.34 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $21.97 by ($4.63). The firm had revenue of $3.69 billion during 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%. Research analysts expect that Markel Group Inc. will post 89.27 earnings per share for the current year.

Institutional Trading of Markel Group

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Boston Partners lifted its holdings in shares of Markel Group by 36.7% during the 1st quarter. Boston Partners now owns 214,400 shares of the insurance provider's stock worth $326,124,000 after acquiring an additional 57,528 shares during the period. Caisse DE Depot ET Placement DU Quebec lifted its stake in Markel Group by 3,729.3% during the third quarter. Caisse DE Depot ET Placement DU Quebec now owns 14,896 shares of the insurance provider's stock worth $23,366,000 after purchasing an additional 14,507 shares during the last quarter. Van Lanschot Kempen Investment Management N.V. lifted its stake in Markel Group by 15.4% during the second quarter. Van Lanschot Kempen Investment Management N.V. now owns 85,247 shares of the insurance provider's stock worth $134,320,000 after purchasing an additional 11,357 shares during the last quarter. International Assets Investment Management LLC lifted its stake in Markel Group by 156,757.1% in the third quarter. International Assets Investment Management LLC now owns 10,980 shares of the insurance provider's stock valued at $17,223,000 after buying an additional 10,973 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Marshall Wace LLP acquired a new position in shares of Markel Group during the second quarter valued at $15,596,000. 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.