First Manhattan CO. LLC. Lowers Stock Position in Markel Group Inc. (NYSE:MKL)

First Manhattan CO. LLC. decreased its holdings in Markel Group Inc. (NYSE:MKL - Free Report) by 46.5% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 49,041 shares of the insurance provider's stock after selling 42,566 shares during the quarter. First Manhattan CO. LLC. owned 0.38% of Markel Group worth $84,656,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. bought a new position in Markel Group in the 4th quarter valued at about $36,000. FPC Investment Advisory Inc. bought a new position in Markel Group in the 4th quarter valued at about $37,000. Global Trust Asset Management LLC bought a new position in Markel Group in the 4th quarter valued at about $41,000. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB bought a new position in Markel Group in the 3rd quarter valued at about $42,000. Finally, Private Trust Co. NA increased its holdings in Markel Group by 23.1% in the 4th quarter. Private Trust Co. NA now owns 32 shares of the insurance provider's stock valued at $55,000 after buying an additional 6 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 77.12% of the company's stock.

Markel Group Stock Up 1.2%

Shares of Markel Group stock traded up $22.79 during trading on Friday, reaching $1,903.48. 51,436 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 49,307. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.26, a current ratio of 0.60 and a quick ratio of 0.60. Markel Group Inc. has a 1-year low of $1,491.03 and a 1-year high of $2,063.68. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $1,821.38 and a 200-day moving average price of $1,781.10. The firm has a market capitalization of $24.15 billion, a PE ratio of 9.56 and a beta of 0.84.

Markel Group (NYSE:MKL - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 5th. The insurance provider reported $20.51 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates 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 expect that Markel Group Inc. will post 96.25 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities analysts have commented on the stock. StockNews.com lowered shares of Markel Group from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Friday, February 14th. Royal Bank of Canada lifted their price target on shares of Markel Group from $1,750.00 to $2,025.00 and gave the company a "sector perform" rating in a report on Friday, February 7th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and four have given a hold rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $1,727.75.

Insider Activity

In related news, Director Steven A. Markel sold 800 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $1,856.80, for a total transaction of $1,485,440.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 64,868 shares in the company, valued at approximately $120,446,902.40. This represents a 1.22% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Insiders sold a total of 2,034 shares of company stock worth $3,778,952 over the last quarter. Insiders own 1.66% 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.