Brandywine Global Investment Management LLC Lowers Stock Position in Markel Group Inc. (NYSE:MKL)

Brandywine Global Investment Management LLC cut its holdings in shares of Markel Group Inc. (NYSE:MKL) by 5.6% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 6,070 shares of the insurance provider’s stock after selling 360 shares during the period. Brandywine Global Investment Management LLC’s holdings in Markel Group were worth $10,478,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the stock. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. acquired a new stake in Markel Group during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $36,000. FPC Investment Advisory Inc. purchased a new stake in Markel Group in the fourth quarter valued at $37,000. Global Trust Asset Management LLC acquired a new stake in Markel Group during the 4th quarter worth about $41,000. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB acquired a new position in shares of Markel Group in the 3rd quarter valued at about $42,000. Finally, Quarry LP boosted its stake in shares of Markel Group by 3,000.0% in the third quarter. Quarry LP now owns 31 shares of the insurance provider’s stock worth $49,000 after buying an additional 30 shares during the last quarter. 77.12% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research analysts have issued reports on MKL shares. Royal Bank of Canada boosted their price target on Markel Group from $1,750.00 to $2,025.00 and gave the company a “sector perform” rating in a report on Friday, February 7th. StockNews.com lowered 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 decreased 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 five have given a hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $1,702.20.

Insider Transactions at Markel Group

In other news, Director Steven A. Markel sold 800 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated 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 completion of the sale, 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 position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, CEO Thomas Sinnickson Gayner purchased 100 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 7th. The shares were acquired at an average price 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 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 three months, insiders have sold 2,034 shares of company stock worth $3,778,952. 1.71% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Markel Group Price Performance

Shares of MKL stock opened at $1,867.00 on Tuesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.26, a current ratio of 0.60 and a quick ratio of 0.60. The company has a market capitalization of $23.84 billion, a PE ratio of 9.38 and a beta of 0.82. The firm’s 50-day moving average is $1,867.54 and its two-hundred day moving average is $1,732.85. Markel Group Inc. has a 12 month low of $1,417.65 and a 12 month high of $2,063.68.

Markel Group (NYSE:MKL) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 5th. The insurance provider reported $20.51 EPS 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%. Analysts predict that Markel Group Inc. will post 96.25 earnings per share for the current year.

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.