Markel Group (NYSE:MKL) Trading Up 5.9% – Should You Buy?

Markel Group Inc. (NYSE:MKL)’s share price shot up 5.9% during trading on Thursday . The company traded as high as $1,983.81 and last traded at $1,969.41. 5,487 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 92% from the average session volume of 64,810 shares. The stock had previously closed at $1,860.14.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of analysts have weighed in on MKL shares. StockNews.com cut shares of Markel Group from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Monday, January 27th. TD Cowen cut Markel Group from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating and dropped their price target for the stock from $1,986.00 to $1,836.00 in a research report on Monday, December 2nd. Royal Bank of Canada reduced their price objective on 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, November 1st. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group increased their target price on 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 investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and six have given a hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Markel Group currently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $1,626.83.

Markel Group Stock Up 8.4 %

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 company has a market capitalization of $25.94 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.31 and a beta of 0.78. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $1,754.31 and a 200-day moving average price of $1,644.61.

Markel Group (NYSE:MKL) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 5th. The insurance provider reported $20.51 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $20.66 by ($0.15). Markel Group had a net margin of 17.03% and a return on equity of 10.86%. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Markel Group Inc. will post 86.92 earnings per share 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 stock. Brooklyn Investment Group purchased a new stake in shares of Markel Group during the third quarter worth $31,000. FPC Investment Advisory Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Markel Group during the 4th quarter valued at about $37,000. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. bought a new stake in shares of Markel Group in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $36,000. Toth Financial Advisory Corp increased its holdings in Markel Group by 1,000.0% in the third quarter. Toth Financial Advisory Corp now owns 22 shares of the insurance provider’s stock worth $35,000 after buying an additional 20 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Larson Financial Group LLC bought a new position in Markel Group during the third quarter valued at approximately $36,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 77.12% 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.