Cooke & Bieler LP Boosts Stock Position in Markel Group Inc. (NYSE:MKL)

Cooke & Bieler LP boosted its stake in shares of Markel Group Inc. (NYSE:MKL - Free Report) by 14.9% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 61,750 shares of the insurance provider's stock after acquiring an additional 7,988 shares during the period. Cooke & Bieler LP owned 0.47% of Markel Group worth $87,679,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in MKL. Ritter Daniher Financial Advisory LLC DE increased its stake in shares of Markel Group by 150.0% in the 3rd quarter. Ritter Daniher Financial Advisory LLC DE now owns 20 shares of the insurance provider's stock valued at $29,000 after purchasing an additional 12 shares during the last quarter. Blue Trust Inc. increased its stake in shares of Markel Group by 133.3% in the 4th quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 21 shares of the insurance provider's stock valued at $31,000 after purchasing an additional 12 shares during the last quarter. Point72 Asset Management L.P. bought a new position in shares of Markel Group in the 2nd quarter valued at $39,000. Achmea Investment Management B.V. bought a new position in shares of Markel Group in the 1st quarter valued at $41,000. Finally, RVW Wealth LLC bought a new position in shares of Markel Group in the 3rd quarter valued at $47,000. Institutional investors own 77.12% of the company's stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities analysts have recently issued reports on MKL shares. Royal Bank of Canada reiterated a "sector perform" rating and issued a $1,475.00 price target on shares of Markel Group in a research note on Friday, February 2nd. Jefferies Financial Group lowered Markel Group from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating and reduced their price objective for the stock from $1,680.00 to $1,500.00 in a research report on Monday, February 5th. Finally, Janney Montgomery Scott restated a "neutral" rating and set a $1,600.00 price objective on shares of Markel Group in a research report on Friday, March 15th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and five have issued a hold rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $1,450.00.

Markel Group Price Performance

MKL stock traded up $20.56 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $1,456.69. 42,653 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 37,571. The stock has a market capitalization of $19.00 billion, a PE ratio of 9.91 and a beta of 0.70. Markel Group Inc. has a 52 week low of $1,272.43 and a 52 week high of $1,560.00. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.26, a current ratio of 0.62 and a quick ratio of 0.62. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $1,483.41 and a 200 day moving average price of $1,444.66.

Markel Group (NYSE:MKL - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, January 31st. The insurance provider reported $56.48 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $23.58 by $32.90. The firm had revenue of $3.71 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.75 billion. Markel Group had a return on equity of 11.22% and a net margin of 12.63%. As a group, analysts expect that Markel Group Inc. will post 80.08 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, Director A. Lynne Puckett bought 72 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on Friday, February 2nd. The shares were purchased at an average cost of $1,409.28 per share, with a total value of $101,468.16. Following the acquisition, the director now owns 960 shares of the company's stock, valued at $1,352,908.80. The purchase was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. In related news, CEO Thomas Sinnickson Gayner bought 100 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on Friday, February 2nd. The shares were purchased at an average cost of $1,414.74 per share, with a total value of $141,474.00. Following the acquisition, the chief executive officer now owns 45,039 shares of the company's stock, valued at $63,718,474.86. The purchase was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, Director A. Lynne Puckett acquired 72 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 2nd. The stock was acquired at an average cost of $1,409.28 per share, for a total transaction of $101,468.16. Following the completion of the purchase, the director now directly owns 960 shares in the company, valued at $1,352,908.80. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. Company insiders own 1.71% 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.