L.K. Benson & Company P.C. Makes New $252,000 Investment in Markel Group Inc. (NYSE:MKL)

L.K. Benson & Company P.C. purchased a new stake in Markel Group Inc. (NYSE:MKL) in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund purchased 146 shares of the insurance provider’s stock, valued at approximately $252,000.

Several other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of MKL. Brooklyn Investment Group purchased a new stake in shares of Markel Group during the third quarter valued at about $31,000. Larson Financial Group LLC bought a new position in shares of Markel Group during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $36,000. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. purchased a new stake in Markel Group during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $36,000. FPC Investment Advisory Inc. acquired a new stake in Markel Group in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $37,000. Finally, Global Trust Asset Management LLC purchased a new position in Markel Group in the fourth quarter worth $41,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 77.12% of the company’s stock.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, Director Steven A. Markel sold 800 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Friday, February 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $1,856.80, for a total value of $1,485,440.00. Following the sale, the director now owns 64,868 shares in the company, valued at approximately $120,446,902.40. The trade was a 1.22 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, CEO Thomas Sinnickson Gayner bought 100 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 7th. The shares were purchased at an average price of $2,008.01 per share, with a total value of $200,801.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the chief executive officer now directly owns 48,945 shares in the company, valued at $98,282,049.45. This trade represents a 0.20 % increase in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. In the last quarter, insiders sold 2,034 shares of company stock valued at $3,778,952. Company insiders own 1.71% of the company’s stock.

Markel Group Price Performance

NYSE:MKL opened at $1,844.02 on Wednesday. Markel Group Inc. has a one year low of $1,417.65 and a one year high of $2,063.68. The stock has a market cap of $23.55 billion, a PE ratio of 9.26 and a beta of 0.82. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.26, a quick ratio of 0.60 and a current ratio of 0.60. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $1,843.78 and a 200 day moving average price of $1,713.55.

Markel Group (NYSE:MKL) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 5th. The insurance provider reported $20.51 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $20.66 by ($0.15). Markel Group had a net margin of 16.34% and a return on equity of 7.55%. Equities research analysts expect that Markel Group Inc. will post 96.25 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research analysts have issued reports 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 upped their target price on Markel Group from $1,750.00 to $2,025.00 and gave the company a “sector perform” rating in a research report on Friday, February 7th. Finally, TD Cowen cut Markel Group from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating and lowered their price target for the stock from $1,986.00 to $1,836.00 in a research report on Monday, December 2nd. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and five have given a hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $1,702.20.

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.