Anchor Capital Advisors LLC Has $69.11 Million Stock Position in Markel Group Inc. (NYSE:MKL)

Anchor Capital Advisors LLC cut its stake in shares of Markel Group Inc. (NYSE:MKL) by 4.5% during the fourth quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The firm owned 40,035 shares of the insurance provider’s stock after selling 1,875 shares during the quarter. Markel Group makes up approximately 2.0% of Anchor Capital Advisors LLC’s portfolio, making the stock its 6th largest holding. Anchor Capital Advisors LLC’s holdings in Markel Group were worth $69,109,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of MKL. Brooklyn Investment Group acquired a new stake in Markel Group during the 3rd quarter worth about $31,000. Larson Financial Group LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Markel Group in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $36,000. FPC Investment Advisory Inc. acquired a new position in Markel Group in the 4th quarter worth approximately $37,000. Global Trust Asset Management LLC purchased a new position in Markel Group during the 4th quarter worth approximately $41,000. Finally, Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB acquired a new stake in Markel Group during the 3rd quarter valued at $42,000. 77.12% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Markel Group Trading Up 0.7 %

NYSE:MKL opened at $1,900.29 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $24.44 billion, a P/E ratio of 9.55 and a beta of 0.78. The stock’s 50 day moving average price is $1,807.70 and its 200 day moving average price is $1,683.54. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.26, a quick ratio of 0.60 and a current ratio of 0.60. Markel Group Inc. has a 52 week low of $1,417.65 and a 52 week 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 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $20.66 by ($0.15). Markel Group had a net margin of 16.34% and a return on equity of 7.55%. On average, research analysts forecast that Markel Group Inc. will post 96.25 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, CEO Thomas Sinnickson Gayner acquired 100 shares of Markel Group stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 7th. The stock was acquired at an average cost of $2,008.01 per share, for a total transaction of $200,801.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the chief executive officer now owns 48,945 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $98,282,049.45. This represents a 0.20 % increase in their ownership of the stock. The acquisition was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, Director Steven A. Markel sold 800 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Friday, February 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $1,856.80, for a total transaction of $1,485,440.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 64,868 shares in the company, valued at $120,446,902.40. The trade was a 1.22 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 2,034 shares of company stock valued at $3,778,952 over the last quarter. Insiders own 1.71% of the company’s stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

MKL has been the topic of a number of research analyst reports. StockNews.com downgraded Markel Group from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report 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 report on Friday, February 7th. Finally, TD Cowen cut shares of Markel Group from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating and decreased their price target for the stock from $1,986.00 to $1,836.00 in a report on Monday, December 2nd. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and six have issued a hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average 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.