WCM Investment Management LLC Takes Position in Markel Group Inc. (NYSE:MKL)

WCM Investment Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Markel Group Inc. (NYSE:MKL) during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm purchased 146 shares of the insurance provider’s stock, valued at approximately $252,000.

A number of other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of MKL. State Street Corp lifted its holdings in Markel Group by 4.2% during the 3rd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 329,209 shares of the insurance provider’s stock worth $516,391,000 after buying an additional 13,372 shares during the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC raised its position in shares of Markel Group by 5.2% during the 3rd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 209,054 shares of the insurance provider’s stock valued at $327,131,000 after acquiring an additional 10,254 shares in the last quarter. Jennison Associates LLC lifted its stake in Markel Group by 9.9% during the fourth quarter. Jennison Associates LLC now owns 78,735 shares of the insurance provider’s stock worth $135,915,000 after purchasing an additional 7,102 shares during the last quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. boosted its holdings in Markel Group by 1.4% in the third quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 55,718 shares of the insurance provider’s stock worth $87,398,000 after purchasing an additional 766 shares during the period. Finally, Thompson Siegel & Walmsley LLC increased its stake in Markel Group by 0.3% during the third quarter. Thompson Siegel & Walmsley LLC now owns 46,214 shares of the insurance provider’s stock valued at $72,490,000 after purchasing an additional 133 shares during the last quarter. 77.12% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. Royal Bank of Canada raised their price target on shares of Markel Group from $1,750.00 to $2,025.00 and gave the stock a “sector perform” rating in a research report on Friday. TD Cowen cut shares of Markel Group from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating and cut their target price 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, February 6th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have given a hold rating and one has assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $1,685.17.

Insider Activity at Markel Group

In related news, CEO Thomas Sinnickson Gayner bought 100 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 7th. The stock was purchased at an average price of $2,008.01 per share, for a total transaction of $200,801.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 48,945 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $98,282,049.45. This represents a 0.20 % increase in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. 1.71% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Markel Group Stock Down 1.8 %

MKL stock opened at $1,989.69 on Tuesday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.60, a current ratio of 0.60 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.26. The firm’s 50-day simple moving average is $1,766.15 and its 200 day simple moving average is $1,653.46. The stock has a market cap of $25.59 billion, a PE ratio of 10.00 and a beta of 0.78. Markel Group Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $1,417.65 and a fifty-two week high of $2,063.68.

Markel Group (NYSE:MKL) last announced its quarterly 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%. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that Markel Group Inc. will post 97.92 EPS for the current year.

Markel Group 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.