Markel Group Inc. (NYSE:MKL) Stock Holdings Lifted by Xponance Inc.

Xponance Inc. raised its position in Markel Group Inc. (NYSE:MKL) by 9.9% during the fourth quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The firm owned 1,592 shares of the insurance provider’s stock after buying an additional 143 shares during the quarter. Xponance Inc.’s holdings in Markel Group were worth $2,748,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of MKL. Proficio Capital Partners LLC purchased a new position in Markel Group in the fourth quarter valued at about $169,852,000. Davis Selected Advisers grew its stake in Markel Group by 27.9% in the fourth quarter. Davis Selected Advisers now owns 370,522 shares of the insurance provider’s stock valued at $639,606,000 after purchasing an additional 80,922 shares in the last quarter. Raymond James Financial Inc. purchased a new position in Markel Group in the fourth quarter valued at about $98,743,000. Boston Partners grew its stake in Markel Group by 17.6% in the fourth quarter. Boston Partners now owns 281,820 shares of the insurance provider’s stock valued at $486,580,000 after purchasing an additional 42,178 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Empirical Asset Management LLC purchased a new position in Markel Group in the fourth quarter valued at about $54,173,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 77.12% of the company’s stock.

Markel Group Price Performance

NYSE MKL opened at $1,833.40 on Friday. Markel Group Inc. has a twelve month low of $1,417.65 and a twelve month high of $2,063.68. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.26, a quick ratio of 0.60 and a current ratio of 0.60. The stock has a market capitalization of $23.41 billion, a PE ratio of 9.21 and a beta of 0.82. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $1,852.81 and a 200 day simple moving average of $1,717.05.

Markel Group (NYSE:MKL) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 5th. The insurance provider reported $20.51 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $20.66 by ($0.15). Markel Group had a return on equity of 7.55% and a net margin of 16.34%. Research analysts anticipate that Markel Group Inc. will post 96.25 EPS for the current year.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of analysts have weighed in on MKL shares. TD Cowen cut Markel Group from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating and reduced their price target for the stock from $1,986.00 to $1,836.00 in a research report on Monday, December 2nd. StockNews.com cut Markel Group from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Friday, February 14th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada boosted their price target on Markel Group from $1,750.00 to $2,025.00 and gave the stock a “sector perform” rating in a research report on Friday, February 7th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and five have assigned a hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $1,702.20.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, Director Steven A. Markel sold 800 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $1,856.80, for a total transaction of $1,485,440.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 64,868 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $120,446,902.40. The trade was a 1.22 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, CEO Thomas Sinnickson Gayner acquired 100 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 7th. The shares were acquired at an average cost of $2,008.01 per share, with a total value of $200,801.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 48,945 shares in the company, valued at $98,282,049.45. The trade was a 0.20 % increase in their position. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. In the last 90 days, insiders sold 2,034 shares of company stock valued at $3,778,952. Insiders own 1.71% 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.