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

AlphaQuest LLC lessened its position in Markel Group Inc. (NYSE:MKL) by 91.3% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). 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.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Entropy Technologies LP lifted its holdings in Markel Group by 114.9% in the 3rd quarter. Entropy Technologies LP now owns 374 shares of the insurance provider’s stock valued at $587,000 after purchasing an additional 200 shares in the last quarter. Prime Capital Investment Advisors LLC lifted its stake in shares of Markel Group by 6.0% in the third quarter. Prime Capital Investment Advisors LLC now owns 372 shares of the insurance provider’s stock worth $584,000 after buying an additional 21 shares in the last quarter. Aptus Capital Advisors LLC boosted its position in Markel Group by 8.0% during the third quarter. Aptus Capital Advisors LLC now owns 216 shares of the insurance provider’s stock worth $339,000 after acquiring an additional 16 shares during the last quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. boosted its position in Markel Group by 5.4% during the third quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. now owns 5,845 shares of the insurance provider’s stock worth $9,168,000 after acquiring an additional 300 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Haverford Trust Co grew its stake in Markel Group by 86.3% during the 3rd quarter. Haverford Trust Co now owns 434 shares of the insurance provider’s stock valued at $681,000 after acquiring an additional 201 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 77.12% of the company’s stock.

Markel Group Price Performance

MKL stock opened at $1,850.33 on Friday. Markel Group Inc. has a 52-week low of $1,417.65 and a 52-week high of $2,063.68. The company has a quick ratio of 0.60, a current ratio of 0.60 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.26. The stock has a market cap of $23.63 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.30 and a beta of 0.81. The business has a fifty day moving average of $1,837.87 and a two-hundred day moving average of $1,708.04.

Markel Group (NYSE:MKL) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 5th. The insurance provider reported $20.51 earnings per share (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%. As a group, research analysts anticipate that Markel Group Inc. will post 96.25 earnings per share for the current year.

Insider Activity

In other news, Director Steven A. Markel sold 1,146 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $1,858.49, for a total transaction of $2,129,829.54. Following the sale, the director now owns 63,722 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $118,426,699.78. This represents a 1.77 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, CEO Thomas Sinnickson Gayner acquired 100 shares of the stock in a transaction dated 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 purchase, the chief executive officer now owns 48,945 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $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 three months, insiders have sold 2,034 shares of company stock valued at $3,778,952. Company insiders own 1.71% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research analysts have weighed in on the stock. StockNews.com lowered shares of Markel Group from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Friday, February 14th. Royal Bank of Canada boosted their price objective on Markel Group from $1,750.00 to $2,025.00 and gave the stock a “sector perform” rating in a research note on Friday, February 7th. Finally, TD Cowen downgraded Markel Group from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating and cut their target price 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 company. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $1,685.17.

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.