Markel Group (NYSE:MKL) Trading 5.9% Higher - What's Next?

Markel Group Inc. (NYSE:MKL - Get Free Report) was up 5.9% during trading on Thursday . The stock traded as high as $1,983.81 and last traded at $1,969.41. Approximately 5,487 shares changed hands during trading, a decline of 92% from the average daily volume of 64,810 shares. The stock had previously closed at $1,860.14.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities research analysts recently issued reports on the stock. Royal Bank of Canada lifted their price target on shares of Markel Group from $1,750.00 to $2,025.00 and gave the company a "sector perform" rating in a report on Friday. TD Cowen downgraded shares of Markel Group from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating and lowered their price target for the stock from $1,986.00 to $1,836.00 in a report on Monday, December 2nd. Finally, StockNews.com raised Markel Group from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Thursday. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have given a hold rating and one has issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $1,685.17.

Markel Group Price Performance

The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $1,766.15 and a 200 day simple moving average of $1,653.46. The stock has a market capitalization of $25.59 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.00 and a beta of 0.78. 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 (NYSE:MKL - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, February 5th. The insurance provider reported $20.51 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $20.66 by ($0.15). Markel Group had a net margin of 16.34% and a return on equity of 7.55%. Equities research analysts forecast that Markel Group Inc. will post 97.92 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, CEO Thomas Sinnickson Gayner purchased 100 shares of Markel Group stock in a transaction on Friday, February 7th. The stock was acquired at an average cost of $2,008.01 per share, for a total transaction of $200,801.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the chief executive officer now owns 48,945 shares of the company's stock, valued at $98,282,049.45. This trade represents a 0.20 % increase in their position. The purchase was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Company insiders own 1.71% of the company's stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Gold Investment Management Ltd. lifted its holdings in shares of Markel Group by 1.8% in the 4th quarter. Gold Investment Management Ltd. now owns 1,241 shares of the insurance provider's stock worth $2,142,000 after purchasing an additional 22 shares in the last quarter. Corient Private Wealth LLC grew its holdings in shares of Markel Group by 1.8% during the fourth quarter. Corient Private Wealth LLC now owns 3,023 shares of the insurance provider's stock valued at $5,218,000 after buying an additional 52 shares during the last quarter. Natixis Advisors LLC increased its position in shares of Markel Group by 3.4% during the fourth quarter. Natixis Advisors LLC now owns 13,050 shares of the insurance provider's stock worth $22,527,000 after acquiring an additional 427 shares in the last quarter. Wellington Shields & Co. LLC lifted its position in Markel Group by 4.3% in the 4th quarter. Wellington Shields & Co. LLC now owns 145 shares of the insurance provider's stock valued at $250,000 after acquiring an additional 6 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Madison Investment Advisors LLC bought a new position in Markel Group in the 4th quarter valued at about $493,000. 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.