Synovus Financial Corp Buys 500 Shares of Markel Group Inc. (NYSE:MKL)

Synovus Financial Corp raised its stake in shares of Markel Group Inc. (NYSE:MKL - Free Report) by 115.7% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 932 shares of the insurance provider's stock after purchasing an additional 500 shares during the quarter. Synovus Financial Corp's holdings in Markel Group were worth $1,609,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Several other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the company. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. bought a new position in shares of Markel Group in the fourth quarter worth approximately $36,000. FPC Investment Advisory Inc. purchased a new stake in Markel Group during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $37,000. Global Trust Asset Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Markel Group in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $41,000. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB purchased a new position in shares of Markel Group in the third quarter worth about $42,000. Finally, Private Trust Co. NA raised its stake in shares of Markel Group by 23.1% during 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 last quarter. 77.12% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities analysts have recently weighed in on MKL shares. StockNews.com downgraded Markel Group from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Friday, February 14th. Royal Bank of Canada lifted their price target on Markel Group from $1,750.00 to $2,025.00 and gave the stock a "sector perform" rating in a report on Friday, February 7th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and five have issued a hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $1,702.20.

Markel Group Stock Down 1.7 %

Shares of NYSE MKL traded down $29.69 during mid-day trading on Monday, reaching $1,738.85. The company had a trading volume of 5,807 shares, compared to its average volume of 65,377. The company has a market capitalization of $22.10 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.74 and a beta of 0.70. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.26, a quick ratio of 0.60 and a current ratio of 0.60. Markel Group Inc. has a 12-month low of $1,433.06 and a 12-month high of $2,063.68. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $1,835.67 and a two-hundred day moving average of $1,753.94.

Markel Group (NYSE:MKL - Get Free Report) last posted 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, equities research analysts expect that Markel Group Inc. will post 96.25 EPS for the current year.

Insider Transactions at Markel Group

In other news, Director Steven A. Markel sold 1,146 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $1,858.49, for a total value of $2,129,829.54. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 63,722 shares of the company's stock, valued at $118,426,699.78. The trade was a 1.77 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, CEO Thomas Sinnickson Gayner purchased 100 shares of Markel Group stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 7th. The stock was acquired at an average cost of $2,008.01 per share, with a total value of $200,801.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 48,945 shares in the company, valued at $98,282,049.45. This trade represents a 0.20 % increase in their position. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. In the last ninety days, insiders sold 2,034 shares of company stock worth $3,778,952. 1.66% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

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.