KBC Group NV Raises Stock Position in Markel Group Inc. (NYSE:MKL)

KBC Group NV boosted its position in Markel Group Inc. (NYSE:MKL) by 47.3% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 1,966 shares of the insurance provider’s stock after purchasing an additional 631 shares during the quarter. KBC Group NV’s holdings in Markel Group were worth $3,084,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Several other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of MKL. Boston Partners raised its position in shares of Markel Group by 36.7% in the first quarter. Boston Partners now owns 214,400 shares of the insurance provider’s stock worth $326,124,000 after buying an additional 57,528 shares in the last quarter. Van Lanschot Kempen Investment Management N.V. raised its holdings in shares of Markel Group by 15.4% in the 2nd quarter. Van Lanschot Kempen Investment Management N.V. now owns 85,247 shares of the insurance provider’s stock valued at $134,320,000 after acquiring an additional 11,357 shares in the last quarter. International Assets Investment Management LLC boosted its position in shares of Markel Group by 156,757.1% during the 3rd quarter. International Assets Investment Management LLC now owns 10,980 shares of the insurance provider’s stock valued at $17,223,000 after acquiring an additional 10,973 shares during the last quarter. Marshall Wace LLP purchased a new position in shares of Markel Group during the second quarter worth about $15,596,000. Finally, D. E. Shaw & Co. Inc. increased its position in shares of Markel Group by 52.2% in the second quarter. D. E. Shaw & Co. Inc. now owns 22,341 shares of the insurance provider’s stock worth $35,202,000 after purchasing an additional 7,659 shares during the last quarter. 77.12% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Markel Group Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:MKL opened at $1,707.64 on Monday. 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 $21.96 billion, a PE ratio of 7.88 and a beta of 0.73. The company’s fifty day moving average is $1,581.08 and its 200 day moving average is $1,581.49. Markel Group Inc. has a 52 week low of $1,342.66 and a 52 week high of $1,733.58.

Markel Group (NYSE:MKL) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, October 30th. The insurance provider reported $17.34 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $21.97 by ($4.63). The company had revenue of $3.69 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $3.74 billion. Markel Group had a return on equity of 10.86% and a net margin of 17.03%. Research analysts anticipate that Markel Group Inc. will post 89.27 earnings per share for the current year.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities research analysts have issued reports on MKL shares. Citigroup lifted their target price on shares of Markel Group from $1,435.00 to $1,450.00 and gave the company a “sell” rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 23rd. Jefferies Financial Group upped their target price on shares of Markel Group from $1,590.00 to $1,600.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 9th. StockNews.com cut Markel Group from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Friday. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada dropped their price target on Markel Group from $1,700.00 to $1,675.00 and set a “sector perform” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, November 1st. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have given a hold rating and one has assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $1,651.83.

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.