IFM Investors Pty Ltd Makes New $3.58 Million Investment in Markel Group Inc. (NYSE:MKL)

IFM Investors Pty Ltd purchased a new stake in shares of Markel Group Inc. (NYSE:MKL) during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund purchased 2,351 shares of the insurance provider’s stock, valued at approximately $3,577,000.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the stock. Ritter Daniher Financial Advisory LLC DE grew its stake in Markel Group by 150.0% in the third 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 in the last quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC bought a new stake in Markel Group in the fourth quarter worth approximately $30,000. Blue Trust Inc. boosted its holdings in Markel Group by 133.3% in the fourth quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 21 shares of the insurance provider’s stock worth $31,000 after purchasing an additional 12 shares in the last quarter. Ables Iannone Moore & Associates Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Markel Group during the 4th quarter worth about $57,000. Finally, Headlands Technologies LLC boosted its position in Markel Group by 3,200.0% during the third quarter. Headlands Technologies LLC now owns 66 shares of the insurance provider’s stock worth $97,000 after purchasing an additional 64 shares during the period. 77.12% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research analysts have weighed in on the stock. Janney Montgomery Scott reissued a “neutral” rating and set a $1,600.00 target price on shares of Markel Group in a research report on Friday, March 15th. Jefferies Financial Group downgraded Markel Group from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating and decreased their target price for the company from $1,680.00 to $1,500.00 in a research note on Monday, February 5th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada reaffirmed a “sector perform” rating and issued a $1,475.00 target price on shares of Markel Group in a report on Friday, February 2nd. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and five have given a hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $1,450.00.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Markel Group news, Director A. Lynne Puckett purchased 72 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, February 2nd. The shares were purchased at an average price of $1,409.28 per share, with a total value 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 transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this link. In related news, CEO Thomas Sinnickson Gayner acquired 100 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 2nd. The shares were bought at an average cost of $1,414.74 per share, for a total transaction of $141,474.00. Following the purchase, the chief executive officer now owns 45,039 shares in the company, valued at approximately $63,718,474.86. The acquisition was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, Director A. Lynne Puckett bought 72 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 2nd. The shares were bought at an average price of $1,409.28 per share, with a total value of $101,468.16. Following the transaction, 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. 1.71% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Markel Group Stock Performance

Shares of MKL traded down $14.43 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $1,436.52. 33,777 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 37,614. Markel Group Inc. has a 1-year low of $1,272.43 and a 1-year high of $1,560.00. The stock has a market cap of $18.73 billion, a P/E ratio of 9.77 and a beta of 0.70. The stock’s fifty day moving average is $1,483.67 and its 200 day moving average is $1,444.82. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.26, a quick ratio of 0.62 and a current ratio of 0.62.

Markel Group (NYSE:MKL) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, January 31st. The insurance provider reported $56.48 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $23.58 by $32.90. Markel Group had a return on equity of 11.22% and a net margin of 12.63%. The firm had revenue of $3.71 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $3.75 billion. Equities research analysts anticipate that Markel Group Inc. will post 80.08 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

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.