Benjamin Edwards Inc. Has $1.50 Million Stake in Markel Group Inc. (NYSE:MKL)

Benjamin Edwards Inc. grew its holdings in Markel Group Inc. (NYSE:MKL - Free Report) by 78.6% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 868 shares of the insurance provider's stock after purchasing an additional 382 shares during the quarter. Benjamin Edwards Inc.'s holdings in Markel Group were worth $1,498,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other large investors also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Davis Selected Advisers lifted its position in Markel Group by 27.9% during the 4th quarter. Davis Selected Advisers now owns 370,522 shares of the insurance provider's stock worth $639,606,000 after buying an additional 80,922 shares in the last quarter. Boston Partners raised its stake in shares of Markel Group by 17.6% in the fourth quarter. Boston Partners now owns 281,820 shares of the insurance provider's stock worth $486,580,000 after acquiring an additional 42,178 shares during the last quarter. Norges Bank acquired a new position in shares of Markel Group during the fourth quarter worth approximately $254,795,000. Van Lanschot Kempen Investment Management N.V. grew its stake in shares of Markel Group by 19.3% during the fourth quarter. Van Lanschot Kempen Investment Management N.V. now owns 121,589 shares of the insurance provider's stock valued at $209,891,000 after purchasing an additional 19,657 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Dimensional Fund Advisors LP increased its holdings in shares of Markel Group by 1.7% in the fourth quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 116,664 shares of the insurance provider's stock valued at $201,393,000 after purchasing an additional 1,975 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 77.12% of the company's stock.

Markel Group Stock Performance

Shares of Markel Group stock opened at $1,879.30 on Thursday. Markel Group Inc. has a 52 week low of $1,491.03 and a 52 week 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 $23.84 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.44 and a beta of 0.84. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $1,821.36 and a two-hundred day moving average of $1,774.06.

Markel Group (NYSE:MKL - Get Free Report) last released 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 16.34% and a return on equity of 7.55%. As a group, equities research analysts predict that Markel Group Inc. will post 96.25 EPS for the current year.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Markel Group news, CEO Thomas Sinnickson Gayner acquired 100 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 7th. The shares were acquired at an average price of $2,008.01 per share, for a total transaction of $200,801.00. Following the acquisition, the chief executive officer now directly owns 48,945 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $98,282,049.45. This trade represents a 0.20 % increase in their position. The acquisition was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, Director Steven A. Markel sold 800 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $1,856.80, for a total value of $1,485,440.00. Following the sale, the director now directly 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 ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 2,034 shares of company stock valued at $3,778,952 in the last 90 days. 1.66% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

MKL has been the topic of a number of recent research reports. Royal Bank of Canada increased their price objective on Markel Group from $1,750.00 to $2,025.00 and gave the company a "sector perform" rating in a research report on Friday, February 7th. StockNews.com cut Markel Group from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Friday, February 14th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and four have issued a hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $1,727.75.

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.

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