Markel Group (NYSE:MKL) Upgraded by StockNews.com to “Buy” Rating

StockNews.com upgraded shares of Markel Group (NYSE:MKL) from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report published on Thursday morning.

Several other brokerages have also recently weighed in on MKL. TD Cowen cut Markel Group from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating and decreased their target price for the company from $1,986.00 to $1,836.00 in a research note on Monday, December 2nd. Royal Bank of Canada decreased 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 research note on Friday, November 1st. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group raised their target price on Markel Group from $1,590.00 to $1,600.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 9th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have issued a hold rating and one has issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $1,626.83.

Markel Group Price Performance

Shares of MKL opened at $2,059.04 on Thursday. The firm has a market capitalization of $26.48 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.50 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 has a one year low of $1,405.11 and a one year high of $2,063.68. The stock’s fifty day moving average is $1,755.78 and its 200-day moving average is $1,646.10.

Markel Group (NYSE:MKL) last announced its earnings results 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 net margin of 17.03% and a return on equity of 10.86%. Equities analysts anticipate that Markel Group will post 86.92 EPS for the current year.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Markel Group

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Brooklyn Investment Group acquired a new position in shares of Markel Group in the 3rd quarter valued at $31,000. FPC Investment Advisory Inc. acquired a new stake in Markel Group during the 4th quarter worth about $37,000. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. acquired a new stake in Markel Group during the 4th quarter worth about $36,000. Toth Financial Advisory Corp boosted its position in Markel Group by 1,000.0% during the 3rd quarter. Toth Financial Advisory Corp now owns 22 shares of the insurance provider’s stock worth $35,000 after acquiring an additional 20 shares during the period. Finally, Larson Financial Group LLC acquired a new stake in Markel Group during the 3rd quarter worth about $36,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 77.12% of the company’s stock.

Markel Group Company Profile

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.