New York State Common Retirement Fund Raises Stake in Markel Group Inc. (NYSE:MKL)

New York State Common Retirement Fund grew its stake in shares of Markel Group Inc. (NYSE:MKL) by 4.1% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 10,041 shares of the insurance provider’s stock after purchasing an additional 400 shares during the quarter. New York State Common Retirement Fund owned approximately 0.08% of Markel Group worth $17,333,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Brooklyn Investment Group purchased a new stake in shares of Markel Group during the third quarter valued at approximately $31,000. Larson Financial Group LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Markel Group during the third quarter valued at approximately $36,000. Global Trust Asset Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Markel Group during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $41,000. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB purchased a new stake in shares of Markel Group during the third quarter valued at approximately $42,000. Finally, Quarry LP boosted its stake in shares of Markel Group by 3,000.0% during the third quarter. Quarry LP now owns 31 shares of the insurance provider’s stock valued at $49,000 after purchasing an additional 30 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 77.12% of the company’s stock.

Markel Group Price Performance

MKL opened at $1,837.64 on Friday. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $1,793.51 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $1,674.40. The company has a current ratio of 0.60, a quick ratio of 0.60 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.26. The company has a market cap of $23.64 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.23 and a beta of 0.78. 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 posted 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%. Research analysts predict that Markel Group Inc. will post 96.25 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insider Activity

In related news, CEO Thomas Sinnickson Gayner purchased 100 shares of Markel Group stock in a transaction dated 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 completion of 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 ownership of the stock. The acquisition was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Corporate insiders own 1.71% of the company’s stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

MKL has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. Royal Bank of Canada raised their price target 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. TD Cowen lowered 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. Finally, StockNews.com lowered Markel Group from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Friday, February 14th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and six have assigned a hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Markel Group presently has an average 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.