Buttonwood Financial Advisors Inc. Boosts Stock Holdings in Markel Group Inc. (NYSE:MKL)

Buttonwood Financial Advisors Inc. lifted its position in Markel Group Inc. (NYSE:MKL - Free Report) by 235.4% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 1,992 shares of the insurance provider's stock after acquiring an additional 1,398 shares during the quarter. Markel Group accounts for approximately 1.5% of Buttonwood Financial Advisors Inc.'s holdings, making the stock its 17th largest position. Buttonwood Financial Advisors Inc.'s holdings in Markel Group were worth $2,829,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Asset Dedication LLC raised its stake in Markel Group by 72.7% during the 2nd quarter. Asset Dedication LLC now owns 19 shares of the insurance provider's stock valued at $26,000 after acquiring an additional 8 shares in the last quarter. Ritter Daniher Financial Advisory LLC DE raised its stake in Markel Group by 150.0% during the 3rd quarter. Ritter Daniher Financial Advisory LLC DE now owns 20 shares of the insurance provider's stock valued at $29,000 after acquiring an additional 12 shares in the last quarter. Blue Trust Inc. raised its stake in Markel Group by 133.3% during the 4th quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 21 shares of the insurance provider's stock valued at $31,000 after acquiring an additional 12 shares in the last quarter. Point72 Asset Management L.P. bought a new stake in Markel Group during the 2nd quarter valued at $39,000. Finally, Achmea Investment Management B.V. bought a new stake in Markel Group during the 1st quarter valued at $41,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 77.12% of the company's stock.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Markel Group news, Director A. Lynne Puckett purchased 72 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 2nd. The shares were acquired at an average price of $1,409.28 per share, for a total transaction of $101,468.16. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director now owns 960 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $1,352,908.80. The acquisition was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. In other Markel Group news, CEO Thomas Sinnickson Gayner purchased 100 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 2nd. The shares were acquired at an average price of $1,414.74 per share, for a total transaction of $141,474.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the chief executive officer now owns 45,039 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $63,718,474.86. The acquisition was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, Director A. Lynne Puckett purchased 72 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 2nd. The shares were acquired at an average price of $1,409.28 per share, for a total transaction of $101,468.16. Following the acquisition, the director now directly owns 960 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $1,352,908.80. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. Insiders own 1.75% of the company's stock.

Markel Group Price Performance

Shares of NYSE MKL traded down $5.87 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $1,521.48. The company had a trading volume of 39,571 shares, compared to its average volume of 41,208. The company has a current ratio of 0.62, a quick ratio of 0.62 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.26. The stock has a market cap of $19.95 billion, a PE ratio of 10.35 and a beta of 0.70. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $1,477.32 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $1,448.47. Markel Group Inc. has a 1-year low of $1,242.01 and a 1-year high of $1,560.00.

Markel Group (NYSE:MKL - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, January 31st. The insurance provider reported $56.48 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $23.58 by $32.90. The business had revenue of $3.71 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $3.75 billion. Markel Group had a return on equity of 11.22% and a net margin of 12.63%. On average, equities analysts anticipate that Markel Group Inc. will post 82.15 earnings per share for the current year.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research firms have recently commented on MKL. Janney Montgomery Scott reissued a "neutral" rating and issued a $1,600.00 price objective on shares of Markel Group in a research note on Friday, March 15th. Jefferies Financial Group downgraded Markel Group from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating and dropped their price objective for the stock from $1,680.00 to $1,500.00 in a research note on Monday, February 5th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada reissued a "sector perform" rating and issued a $1,475.00 price objective on shares of Markel Group in a research note on Friday, February 2nd. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and five have assigned a hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Markel Group presently has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $1,450.00.

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.