Rathbones Group PLC Increases Stock Position in Markel Group Inc. (NYSE:MKL)

Key Points

• Rathbones Group PLC increased its stake in Markel Group Inc. by 27.4% during the 1st quarter, acquiring an additional 380 shares, bringing its total holdings to 1,769 shares valued at approximately $3.3 million.
• Markel Group reported earnings per share of $25.46 for the latest quarter, exceeding analysts' estimate of $24.74, with revenue of $4.82 billion, significantly higher than the consensus estimate of $3.96 billion.
• Institutional investors own 77.12% of Markel Group's stock, highlighting a significant level of interest from hedge funds and financial institutions in the company.

Rathbones Group PLC increased its holdings in Markel Group Inc. (NYSE:MKL - Free Report) by 27.4% in the first quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 1,769 shares of the insurance provider's stock after acquiring an additional 380 shares during the quarter. Rathbones Group PLC's holdings in Markel Group were worth $3,307,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in MKL. Sierra Ocean LLC bought a new position in Markel Group in the 1st quarter worth $28,000. Cary Street Partners Investment Advisory LLC raised its holdings in Markel Group by 183.3% in the 1st quarter. Cary Street Partners Investment Advisory LLC now owns 17 shares of the insurance provider's stock worth $32,000 after purchasing an additional 11 shares in the last quarter. Atlas Capital Advisors Inc. bought a new position in Markel Group in the 1st quarter worth $32,000. ST Germain D J Co. Inc. raised its holdings in Markel Group by 300.0% in the 1st quarter. ST Germain D J Co. Inc. now owns 20 shares of the insurance provider's stock worth $37,000 after purchasing an additional 15 shares in the last quarter. Finally, McIlrath & Eck LLC raised its holdings in Markel Group by 866.7% in the 4th quarter. McIlrath & Eck LLC now owns 29 shares of the insurance provider's stock worth $50,000 after purchasing an additional 26 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 77.12% of the company's stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Separately, Argus upgraded shares of Markel Group from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, May 30th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and one has assigned a buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $1,820.33.

Markel Group Stock Down 1.3%

NYSE MKL traded down $25.69 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $1,928.46. 35,694 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 45,523. Markel Group Inc. has a 52-week low of $1,494.00 and a 52-week high of $2,075.92. The firm has a market cap of $24.40 billion, a PE ratio of 11.57 and a beta of 0.82. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $1,973.32 and a 200 day simple moving average of $1,898.10. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.25, a current ratio of 0.59 and a quick ratio of 0.59.

Markel Group (NYSE:MKL - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, July 30th. The insurance provider reported $25.46 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $24.74 by $0.72. Markel Group had a net margin of 13.39% and a return on equity of 7.18%. The company had revenue of $4.82 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $3.96 billion. During the same period last year, the company posted $18.62 EPS. Markel Group's revenue was up 24.3% on a year-over-year basis. Sell-side analysts anticipate that Markel Group Inc. will post 96.25 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Markel Group news, Director Greta J. Harris sold 90 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Friday, May 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $1,861.44, for a total transaction of $167,529.60. Following the completion of the sale, the director directly owned 632 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,176,430.08. This trade represents a 12.47% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Corporate insiders own 1.66% 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.