AlphaQuest LLC Cuts Holdings in Markel Group Inc. (NYSE:MKL)

AlphaQuest LLC lessened its stake in Markel Group Inc. (NYSE:MKL) by 91.3% in the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 206 shares of the insurance provider’s stock after selling 2,167 shares during the quarter. AlphaQuest LLC’s holdings in Markel Group were worth $356,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in MKL. Private Trust Co. NA boosted its stake in shares of Markel Group by 23.1% during the fourth quarter. Private Trust Co. NA now owns 32 shares of the insurance provider’s stock worth $55,000 after buying an additional 6 shares during the period. Gilbert & Cook Inc. raised its stake in Markel Group by 1.7% during the 4th quarter. Gilbert & Cook Inc. now owns 428 shares of the insurance provider’s stock valued at $739,000 after acquiring an additional 7 shares during the last quarter. Greenleaf Trust lifted its position in Markel Group by 3.4% during the 4th quarter. Greenleaf Trust now owns 213 shares of the insurance provider’s stock worth $368,000 after acquiring an additional 7 shares during the period. Concurrent Investment Advisors LLC grew its stake in shares of Markel Group by 1.5% in the 4th quarter. Concurrent Investment Advisors LLC now owns 469 shares of the insurance provider’s stock valued at $810,000 after purchasing an additional 7 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Atlanta Consulting Group Advisors LLC increased its holdings in shares of Markel Group by 1.8% in the third quarter. Atlanta Consulting Group Advisors LLC now owns 568 shares of the insurance provider’s stock valued at $891,000 after purchasing an additional 10 shares during the period. 77.12% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Markel Group Price Performance

Shares of NYSE MKL opened at $1,850.33 on Friday. 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 one year low of $1,417.65 and a one year high of $2,063.68. The firm has a market capitalization of $23.63 billion, a P/E ratio of 9.30 and a beta of 0.81. The company’s fifty day moving average is $1,837.87 and its two-hundred day moving average is $1,708.04.

Markel Group (NYSE:MKL) last released its quarterly earnings data 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 return on equity of 7.55% and a net margin of 16.34%. Analysts forecast that Markel Group Inc. will post 96.25 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several brokerages recently weighed in on MKL. Royal Bank of Canada increased 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. StockNews.com cut shares of Markel Group from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Friday, February 14th. Finally, TD Cowen lowered shares of Markel Group from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating and dropped their price target for the stock from $1,986.00 to $1,836.00 in a research note on Monday, December 2nd. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and six have assigned a hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $1,685.17.

Insider Transactions at Markel Group

In related news, Director Steven A. Markel sold 800 shares of Markel Group stock in a transaction on Friday, February 21st. The stock was 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 directly owns 64,868 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $120,446,902.40. The trade was a 1.22 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, CEO Thomas Sinnickson Gayner bought 100 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, February 7th. The stock was purchased at an average cost of $2,008.01 per share, for a total transaction of $200,801.00. Following the acquisition, the chief executive officer now directly owns 48,945 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $98,282,049.45. The trade was a 0.20 % increase in their position. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. Insiders have sold 2,034 shares of company stock valued at $3,778,952 in the last quarter. 1.71% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Markel Group 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.