StockNews.com Upgrades Markel Group (NYSE:MKL) to Buy

Markel Group (NYSE:MKL - Get Free Report) was upgraded by analysts at StockNews.com from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research report issued to clients and investors on Monday.

Other equities research analysts also recently issued research reports about the stock. TD Cowen assumed coverage on shares of Markel Group in a research report on Tuesday, July 9th. They set a "buy" rating and a $1,986.00 price objective for the company. Citigroup increased their price objective on shares of Markel Group from $1,435.00 to $1,450.00 and gave the stock a "sell" rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 23rd. Royal Bank of Canada lowered their price objective on shares of 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. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group increased their price objective on shares of 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. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have issued a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $1,651.83.

Markel Group Trading Up 0.4 %

MKL traded up $5.53 during mid-day trading on Monday, hitting $1,550.53. The stock had a trading volume of 50,866 shares, compared to its average volume of 42,698. The stock's fifty day simple moving average is $1,566.95 and its 200-day simple moving average is $1,570.04. 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 firm has a market capitalization of $19.94 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 7.15 and a beta of 0.73. Markel Group has a 1-year low of $1,317.00 and a 1-year high of $1,670.24.

Markel Group (NYSE:MKL - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, October 30th. The insurance provider reported $17.34 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $21.97 by ($4.63). Markel Group had a return on equity of 10.86% and a net margin of 17.03%. The firm had revenue of $3.69 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.74 billion. As a group, research analysts forecast that Markel Group will post 91.55 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Markel Group

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Toth Financial Advisory Corp increased its stake in Markel Group by 1,000.0% in the 3rd quarter. Toth Financial Advisory Corp now owns 22 shares of the insurance provider's stock valued at $35,000 after buying an additional 20 shares during the last quarter. UMB Bank n.a. increased its stake in Markel Group by 833.3% in the 3rd quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 28 shares of the insurance provider's stock valued at $44,000 after buying an additional 25 shares during the last quarter. Point72 Asia Singapore Pte. Ltd. acquired a new position in shares of Markel Group during the 2nd quarter worth about $45,000. Thurston Springer Miller Herd & Titak Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Markel Group during the 2nd quarter worth about $55,000. Finally, Cubist Systematic Strategies LLC acquired a new position in shares of Markel Group during the 2nd quarter worth about $65,000. 77.12% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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.

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