Motley Fool Asset Management LLC Trims Holdings in Markel Group Inc. (NYSE:MKL)

Motley Fool Asset Management LLC cut its holdings in Markel Group Inc. (NYSE:MKL) by 2.5% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 5,937 shares of the insurance provider’s stock after selling 150 shares during the quarter. Motley Fool Asset Management LLC’s holdings in Markel Group were worth $8,430,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the business. International Assets Investment Management LLC purchased a new stake in Markel Group during the 4th quarter valued at about $18,145,000. Pinnacle Associates Ltd. grew its position in Markel Group by 7.1% during the 4th quarter. Pinnacle Associates Ltd. now owns 17,656 shares of the insurance provider’s stock valued at $25,070,000 after purchasing an additional 1,167 shares during the last quarter. Chicago Capital LLC purchased a new stake in Markel Group during the 4th quarter valued at about $3,313,000. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC grew its position in Markel Group by 616.3% during the 4th quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 4,219 shares of the insurance provider’s stock valued at $5,991,000 after purchasing an additional 3,630 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Carmel Capital Partners LLC grew its position in Markel Group by 11.9% during the 4th quarter. Carmel Capital Partners LLC now owns 582 shares of the insurance provider’s stock valued at $826,000 after purchasing an additional 62 shares during the last quarter. 77.12% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Insider Transactions at Markel Group

In other Markel Group news, CEO Thomas Sinnickson Gayner acquired 100 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 2nd. The shares were purchased at an average price of $1,414.74 per share, for a total transaction of $141,474.00. Following the purchase, the chief executive officer now directly owns 45,039 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $63,718,474.86. The acquisition was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. In other news, Director A. Lynne Puckett bought 72 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Friday, February 2nd. The shares were bought at an average price of $1,409.28 per share, for a total transaction of $101,468.16. Following the purchase, the director now owns 960 shares in the company, valued at $1,352,908.80. The purchase was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, CEO Thomas Sinnickson Gayner bought 100 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Friday, February 2nd. The shares were purchased at an average price of $1,414.74 per share, for a total transaction of $141,474.00. Following the purchase, the chief executive officer now owns 45,039 shares in the company, valued at approximately $63,718,474.86. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. Company insiders own 1.71% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several brokerages recently commented on MKL. Janney Montgomery Scott reissued a “neutral” rating and set a $1,600.00 price objective on shares of Markel Group in a research report on Friday, March 15th. Royal Bank of Canada restated a “sector perform” rating and set a $1,475.00 target price on shares of Markel Group in a research note on Friday, February 2nd. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group cut shares of Markel Group from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating and lowered their target price for the company from $1,680.00 to $1,500.00 in a research note on Monday, February 5th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and five have issued a hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $1,450.00.

Markel Group Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:MKL traded down $13.95 during trading on Thursday, hitting $1,448.41. The company’s stock had a trading volume of 29,811 shares, compared to its average volume of 48,465. The company has a 50-day moving average of $1,484.20 and a 200-day moving average of $1,444.99. Markel Group Inc. has a 12 month low of $1,272.43 and a 12 month high of $1,560.00. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.26, a current ratio of 0.62 and a quick ratio of 0.62. The firm has a market cap of $18.89 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.86 and a beta of 0.70.

Markel Group (NYSE:MKL) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, January 31st. The insurance provider reported $56.48 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $23.58 by $32.90. Markel Group had a net margin of 12.63% and a return on equity of 11.22%. The firm had revenue of $3.71 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $3.75 billion. On average, sell-side analysts expect that Markel Group Inc. will post 80.08 earnings per share for the current year.

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.