Markel Group (NYSE:MKL) Stock, Quote.Headers.trade-ideas

Markel Group

Markel's primary business is property and casualty insurance, and the company focuses primarily on specialty lines, ranging from areas such as executive liability to commercial equine insurance. The acquisition of Alterra in 2013 added substantial reinsurance operations, which now account for a little less than 15% of premiums. The company uses capital generated by its insurance operations to buy noninsurance operations in diverse areas, such as bakery equipment manufacturing and residential homebuilding.

Earnings

Earnings Beats

News

Markets

Analyst Ratings

Trading Ideas

Markel Group Inc. (NYSE: MKL) has been gaining momentum on the back of new business volume, strong retention levels, an improving rate environment, higher interest income on cash equivalents, strategic buyouts and favorable growth estimates.

Should You Retain Markel Group Stock in Your Portfolio?

Markel Group Inc. (NYSE: MKL) has been in investors&#39; good books on the back of new business volume, strong retention levels, an improving rate environment, higher interest income on cash equivalents, strategic buyouts and favorable growth estimates.

Here&#39;s Why Hold Strategy is Apt for Markel Group Stock

3M (NYSE: MMM) came out with quarterly earnings of $2.39 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.08 per share. This compares to earnings of $1.97 per share a year ago. These figures are adjusted for non-recurring items.

3M Beats Q1 Earnings and Revenue Estimates

Markel Group Inc

M1 Kliniken AG

Markel Group's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MKL#NYSE">MKL</a>) short percent of float has fallen 17.53% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 101 thousand shares sold short, which is 0.8% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 2.39 days to cover their short positions on average.
<h3>Why Short Interest Matters</h3>
Short interest is the number of shares that have been sold short but have not yet been covered or closed out. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-short-a-stock/">Short selling</a> is when a trader sells shares of a company they do not own, with the hope that the price will fall. Traders make money from short selling if the price of the stock falls and they lose if it rises.
Short interest is important to track because it can act as an indicator of market sentiment towards a particular stock. An increase in short interest can signal that investors have become more bearish, while a decrease in short interest can signal they have become more bullish.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/short-interest">List of the most shorted stocks</a>
<h3>Markel Group Short Interest Graph (3 Months)</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1725390011_0.png" alt="short_fig" />
As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for Markel Group has declined since its last report. This does not mean that the stock is going to rise in the near-term but traders should be aware that less shares are being shorted.
<h3>Comparing Markel Group's Short Interest Against Its Peers</h3>
Peer comparison is a popular technique amongst analysts and investors for gauging how well a company is performing. A company's peer is another company that has similar characteristics to it, such as industry, size, age, and financial structure. You can find a company's peer group by reading its 10-K, proxy filing, or by doing your own similarity analysis.
According to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/">Benzinga Pro</a>, Markel Group's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 2.08%, which means the company has less short interest than most of its peers.
Did you know that increasing short interest can actually be bullish for a stock? <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-make-money-on-a-short-squeeze/">This post by Benzinga Money explains how you can profit from it.</a>
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and was reviewed by an editor.

Short Sellers

Short Ideas

(MKL) - Analyzing Markel Group's Short Interest

Markel Group's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MKL#NYSE">MKL</a>) short percent of float has fallen 4.9% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 124 thousand shares sold short, which is 0.97% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 3.18 days to cover their short positions on average.
<h3>Why Short Interest Matters</h3>
Short interest is the number of shares that have been sold short but have not yet been covered or closed out. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-short-a-stock/">Short selling</a> is when a trader sells shares of a company they do not own, with the hope that the price will fall. Traders make money from short selling if the price of the stock falls and they lose if it rises.
Short interest is important to track because it can act as an indicator of market sentiment towards a particular stock. An increase in short interest can signal that investors have become more bearish, while a decrease in short interest can signal they have become more bullish.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/short-interest">List of the most shorted stocks</a>
<h3>Markel Group Short Interest Graph (3 Months)</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1722890716_0.png" alt="short_fig" />
As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for Markel Group has declined since its last report. This does not mean that the stock is going to rise in the near-term but traders should be aware that less shares are being shorted.
<h3>Comparing Markel Group's Short Interest Against Its Peers</h3>
Peer comparison is a popular technique amongst analysts and investors for gauging how well a company is performing. A company's peer is another company that has similar characteristics to it, such as industry, size, age, and financial structure. You can find a company's peer group by reading its 10-K, proxy filing, or by doing your own similarity analysis.
According to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/">Benzinga Pro</a>, Markel Group's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 2.19%, which means the company has less short interest than most of its peers.
Did you know that increasing short interest can actually be bullish for a stock? <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-make-money-on-a-short-squeeze/">This post by Benzinga Money explains how you can profit from it.</a>
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and was reviewed by an editor.

WIIM

ACGL

Brighthouse Financial, Inc. - Common Stock

CINF

GOCO

OSCR

PLMR

RELI

SLQT

Shares of insurance companies are trading lower amid overall weakness following concerns for recently issued US economic data.

Reported Sunday, Markel Strengthens Asia Pacific Operations With Strategic Hires In Singapore And Hong Kong

Markel Group (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MKL#NYSE">MKL</a>) reported quarterly earnings of $18.66 per share which missed the analyst consensus estimate of $21.30 by 12.39 percent. The company reported quarterly sales of $3.70 billion which missed the analyst consensus estimate of $3.92 billion by 5.66 percent. This is a 10.67 percent decrease over sales of $4.14 billion the same period last year.

Earnings Misses

Markel Group Q2 2024 Adj EPS $18.66 Misses $21.30 Estimate, Sales $3.70B Miss $3.92B Estimate

Markel Group (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MKL#NYSE">MKL</a>) underwent analysis by 4 analysts in the last quarter, revealing a spectrum of viewpoints from bullish to bearish.
The following table encapsulates their recent ratings, offering a glimpse into the evolving sentiments over the past 30 days and comparing them to the preceding months.
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th></th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Bullish</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Somewhat Bullish</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Indifferent</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Somewhat Bearish</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Bearish</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Total Ratings</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">1</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">2</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Last 30D</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1M Ago</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">1</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2M Ago</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3M Ago</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">2</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
Providing deeper insights, analysts have established 12-month price targets, indicating an average target of $1665.25, along with a high estimate of $1986.00 and a low estimate of $1450.00. Witnessing a positive shift, the current average has risen by 15.91% from the previous average price target of $1436.67.
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1721746875_0.png" alt="price target chart" />
<h2>Diving into Analyst Ratings: An In-Depth Exploration</h2>
The analysis of recent analyst actions sheds light on the perception of Markel Group by financial experts. The following summary presents key analysts, their recent evaluations, and adjustments to ratings and price targets.
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Analyst</th>
<th>Analyst Firm</th>
<th>Action Taken</th>
<th>Rating</th>
<th>Current Price Target</th>
<th>Prior Price Target</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Charlie Lederer</td>
<td>Citigroup</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Sell</td>
<td>$1450.00</td>
<td>$1435.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Andrew Kligerman</td>
<td>TD Cowen</td>
<td>Announces</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$1986.00</td>
<td>-</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Scott Heleniak</td>
<td>RBC Capital</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Sector Perform</td>
<td>$1625.00</td>
<td>$1475.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Mark Hughes</td>
<td>Truist Securities</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Hold</td>
<td>$1600.00</td>
<td>$1400.00</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h3>Key Insights:</h3>
<ul>
<li>Action Taken: Responding to changing market dynamics and company performance, analysts update their recommendations. Whether they 'Maintain', 'Raise', or 'Lower' their stance, it signifies their response to recent developments related to Markel Group. This offers insight into analysts' perspectives on the current state of the company.</li>
<li>Rating: Delving into assessments, analysts assign qualitative values, from 'Outperform' to 'Underperform'. These ratings communicate expectations for the relative performance of Markel Group compared to the broader market.</li>
<li>Price Targets: Analysts set price targets as an estimate of a stock's future value. Comparing the current and prior price targets provides insight into how analysts' expectations have changed over time. This information can be valuable for investors seeking to understand consensus views on the stock's potential future performance.</li>
</ul>
Understanding these analyst evaluations alongside key financial indicators can offer valuable insights into Markel Group's market standing. Stay informed and make well-considered decisions with our Ratings Table.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/MKL/analyst-ratings?utm_source=Benzinga Insights">Stay up to date on Markel Group analyst ratings.</a>
<h2>All You Need to Know About Markel Group</h2>
Markel's primary business is property and casualty insurance, and the company focuses primarily on specialty lines, ranging from areas such as executive liability to commercial equine insurance. The acquisition of Alterra in 2013 added substantial reinsurance operations, which now account for a little less than 15% of premiums. The company uses capital generated by its insurance operations to buy noninsurance operations in diverse areas, such as bakery equipment manufacturing and residential homebuilding.
<h3>Breaking Down Markel Group's Financial Performance</h3>
Market Capitalization Analysis: With a profound presence, the company's market capitalization is above industry averages. This reflects substantial size and strong market recognition.
Revenue Growth: Over the 3 months period, Markel Group showcased positive performance, achieving a revenue growth rate of 25.14% as of 31 March, 2024. This reflects a substantial increase in the company's top-line earnings. In comparison to its industry peers, the company stands out with a growth rate higher than the average among peers in the Financials sector.
Net Margin: Markel Group's net margin surpasses industry standards, highlighting the company's exceptional financial performance. With an impressive 21.97% net margin, the company effectively manages costs and achieves strong profitability.
Return on Equity (ROE): Markel Group's ROE surpasses industry standards, highlighting the company's exceptional financial performance. With an impressive 6.72% ROE, the company effectively utilizes shareholder equity capital.
Return on Assets (ROA): Markel Group's financial strength is reflected in its exceptional ROA, which exceeds industry averages. With a remarkable ROA of 1.77%, the company showcases efficient use of assets and strong financial health.
Debt Management: With a below-average debt-to-equity ratio of 0.25, Markel Group adopts a prudent financial strategy, indicating a balanced approach to debt management.
<h2>What Are Analyst Ratings?</h2>
Analyst ratings serve as essential indicators of stock performance, provided by experts in banking and financial systems. These specialists diligently analyze company financial statements, participate in conference calls, and engage with insiders to generate quarterly ratings for individual stocks.
Beyond their standard evaluations, some analysts contribute predictions for metrics like growth estimates, earnings, and revenue, furnishing investors with additional guidance. Users of analyst ratings should be mindful that this specialized advice is shaped by human perspectives and may be subject to variability.
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

Analyst Expectations For Markel Group's Future

Citigroup analyst Charlie Lederer maintains Markel Group (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MKL#NYSE">MKL</a>) with a Sell and raises the price target from $1435 to $1450.

Price Target

Citigroup Maintains Sell on Markel Group, Raises Price Target to $1450

TD Cowen analyst Andrew Kligerman initiates coverage on Markel Group (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MKL#NYSE">MKL</a>) with a Buy rating and announces Price Target of $1986.

Initiation

TD Cowen Initiates Coverage On Markel Group with Buy Rating, Announces Price Target of $1986

Markel Group Inc. (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/mkl#NYSE">MKL</a>) has been gaining momentum on the back of new business volume, strong retention levels, an improving rate environment, higher interest income on cash equivalents, strategic buyouts and favorable growth estimates.
<h3>Growth Projections</h3>
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Markel Group&#39;s 2024 revenues is pegged at $14.95 billion, implying a year-over-year improvement of 4.6%.
The consensus estimate for 2025 earnings per share and revenues indicates an increase of 21% and 5.6%, respectively, from the corresponding 2024 estimates.
Earnings have grown 46.2% in the past five years, better than the industry average of 14.4%.
<h3>Earnings Surprise History</h3>
Markel Group has a decent earnings surprise history. It beat estimates in two of the last four quarters and missed twice, the average being 33.41%.
<h3>Northbound Estimate Revision</h3>
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2024 and 2025 has moved 2% and 1.9% north, respectively, in the past 60 days, reflecting analyst optimism.
<h3>Zacks Rank &amp; Price Performance</h3>
MKL currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). The stock has gained 11.2% against the industry&#39;s decline of 5.6% year to date.
<img alt="Zacks Investment Research" src="https://staticx-tuner.zacks.com/images/articles/charts/c6/70151.jpg?v=2105147789" />
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
<h3>Return on Equity (ROE)</h3>
Markel Group&#39;s trailing 12-month ROE was 11.2%, up 310 basis points year over year. ROE reflects its efficiency in using its shareholders&#39; funds.
<h3>Business Tailwinds</h3>
MKL has been generating improved premiums. An improvement in new business volume, strong retention levels, continued increases in rates and expanded product offerings should help the insurer retain the momentum.
Investment income should continue to benefit from an improving rate environment, higher interest income on cash equivalents, fixed maturity securities and short-term investments due to higher yields.
Markel Group considers strategic buyouts a prudent approach to ramp up its growth profile. Acquisitions have helped the company enhance its surety capabilities, ramp up Markel Ventures&#39; revenues and expand its reinsurance product offerings. The insurer has been pursuing acquisitions to achieve profitable growth in insurance operations and create additional value on a diversified basis in Markel Ventures&#39; operations.
Higher revenues at construction services and transportation-related businesses due to a combination of increased demand, higher prices and growth, as well as a rise in production at one of the equipment manufacturing businesses are expected to boost operating revenues. The increase also reflected a full-year contribution from Metromont.
Banking on a strong capital position, the insurer has engaged in share buybacks. In the first quarter of 2024, MKL doubled its share buyback to $161 million, as its shares traded at a discount. The company has a share repurchase program authorized by the board to buy back up to $750 million of shares. As of Mar 31, 2024, $553.5 million remained available for repurchases under the program. In 2023, the company repurchased shares for $445 million.
However, Markel Group is exposed to catastrophe loss, inducing volatility in underwriting results. Exposure to cat loss always remains a concern, given its unprecedented nature. Also, the company has been experiencing an increase in operating expenses due to higher losses and loss adjustment expenses, underwriting, acquisition and insurance expenses. MKL should strive to ensure that growth in total revenues outpaces the rise in expenses. Otherwise, the operating margin is likely to suffer.
<h3>Stocks to Consider</h3>
Some better-ranked stocks from the Diversified Operations industry are Griffon Corporation (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/gff#NYSE">GFF</a>), Carlisle Companies Incorporated (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/csl#NYSE">CSL</a>) and ITT Inc. (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/itt#NYSE">ITT</a>). While Griffon sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), Carlisle and ITT carry a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) each at present.
Griffon delivered a four-quarter average earnings surprise of 33.45%. Year to date, GFF has rallied 6.2%.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for GFF&#39;s 2024 and 2025 earnings implies year-over-year growth of 10.1% and 20.6%, respectively.
Carlisle delivered a four-quarter average earnings surprise of 16.97%. Year to date, CSL has gained 29.8%.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for CSL&#39;s 2024 and 2025 earnings implies year-over-year growth of 28.4% and 8.9%, respectively.
ITT beat earnings estimates in three of the last four quarters and matched in the one, the average being 6.49%. Shares of ITT have risen 6.3% year to date.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for ITT&#39;s 2024 and 2025 earnings implies year-over-year growth of 12.2% and 13.7%, respectively.
<a href="https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2296572/should-you-retain-markel-group-mkl-stock-in-your-portfolio?cid=CS-BENZ-FT-analyst_blog|rank_focused-2296572">To read this article on Zacks.com click here.</a>

Markel Group's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MKL#NYSE">MKL</a>) short percent of float has fallen 8.26% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 141 thousand shares sold short, which is 1.11% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 4.7 days to cover their short positions on average.
<h3>Why Short Interest Matters</h3>
Short interest is the number of shares that have been sold short but have not yet been covered or closed out. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-short-a-stock/">Short selling</a> is when a trader sells shares of a company they do not own, with the hope that the price will fall. Traders make money from short selling if the price of the stock falls and they lose if it rises.
Short interest is important to track because it can act as an indicator of market sentiment towards a particular stock. An increase in short interest can signal that investors have become more bearish, while a decrease in short interest can signal they have become more bullish.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/short-interest">List of the most shorted stocks</a>
<h3>Markel Group Short Interest Graph (3 Months)</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1719936018_0.png" alt="short_fig" />
As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for Markel Group has declined since its last report. This does not mean that the stock is going to rise in the near-term but traders should be aware that less shares are being shorted.
<h3>Comparing Markel Group's Short Interest Against Its Peers</h3>
Peer comparison is a popular technique amongst analysts and investors for gauging how well a company is performing. A company's peer is another company that has similar characteristics to it, such as industry, size, age, and financial structure. You can find a company's peer group by reading its 10-K, proxy filing, or by doing your own similarity analysis.
According to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/">Benzinga Pro</a>, Markel Group's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 2.25%, which means the company has less short interest than most of its peers.
Did you know that increasing short interest can actually be bullish for a stock? <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-make-money-on-a-short-squeeze/">This post by Benzinga Money explains how you can profit from it.</a>
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and was reviewed by an editor.

Peering Into Markel Group's Recent Short Interest

Markel Group Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MKL#NYSE">MKL</a>) and Valor Environmental announced today that they have entered into a definitive agreement for Markel Group to acquire a majority interest in Valor and its related operating companies. The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and is expected to close in the second quarter of 2024. Additional terms were not disclosed.

Markel Group And Valor Environmental Have Entered Into A Definitive Agreement To Acquire A Majority Interest In Valor And Its Related Operating Companies, Expected To Close In The Q2 Of 2024. Additional Terms Were Not Disclosed.

Markel Group Inc. (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/mkl#NYSE">MKL</a>) has been in investors&#39; good books on the back of new business volume, strong retention levels, an improving rate environment, higher interest income on cash equivalents, strategic buyouts and favorable growth estimates.
<h3>Growth Projections</h3>
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Markel Group&#39;s 2024 revenues is pegged at $14.95 billion, implying a year-over-year improvement of 4.6%. 
The consensus estimate for 2025 earnings per share and revenues indicates an increase of 21% and 5.6%, respectively, from the corresponding 2024 estimates. 
Earnings have grown 46.2% in the past five years, better than the industry average of 14.3%.
<h3>Earnings Surprise History</h3>
Markel Group has a decent earnings surprise history. It beat estimates in two of the last four quarters and missed twice, the average being 33.41%.
<h3>Zacks Rank &amp; Price Performance</h3>
MKL currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). The stock has gained 21.6% against the industry&#39;s decline of 0.7% in the past year.
<img alt="Zacks Investment Research" src="https://staticx-tuner.zacks.com/images/articles/charts/c6/68086.jpg?v=1510333340" /> 
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
<h3>Return on Equity (ROE)</h3>
Markel Group&#39;s trailing 12-month ROE was 11.2%, up 310 basis points year over year. ROE reflects its efficiency in using its shareholders&#39; funds.
<h3>Business Tailwinds</h3>
MKL has been generating improved premiums. An improvement in new business volume, strong retention levels, continued increases in rates and expanded product offerings should help the insurer retain the momentum. 
Investment income should continue to benefit from an improving rate environment, higher interest income on cash equivalents, fixed maturity securities and short-term investments due to higher yields. 
Markel Group considers strategic buyouts a prudent approach to ramp up its growth profile. Acquisitions have helped the company enhance its surety capabilities, ramp up Markel Ventures&#39; revenues and expand its reinsurance product offerings. The insurer has been pursuing acquisitions to achieve profitable growth in insurance operations and create additional value on a diversified basis in Markel Ventures&#39; operations. 
Higher revenues at construction services and transportation-related businesses due to a combination of increased demand, higher prices and growth, as well as a rise in production at one of the equipment manufacturing businesses are expected to boost operating revenues. The increase also reflected a full-year contribution from Metromont. 
Banking on a strong capital position, the insurer has engaged in share buybacks. In the first quarter of 2024, MKL doubled its share buyback to $161 million, as its shares traded at a discount. The company has a share repurchase program authorized by the board to buy back up to $750 million of shares. As of Mar 31, 2024, $553.5 million remained available for repurchases under the program. In 2023, the company repurchased shares for $445 million.
<h3>Stocks to Consider</h3>
Some better-ranked stocks from the Diversified Operations industry are Carlisle Companies Incorporated (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/csl#NYSE">CSL</a>), ITT Inc. (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/itt#NYSE">ITT</a>) and Griffon Corporation (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/gff#NYSE">GFF</a>). While Carlisle sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), ITT and Griffon carry a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) each at present. 
Carlisle delivered a four-quarter average earnings surprise of 16.97%. In the past year, CSL has surged 80.5%. 
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for CSL&#39;s 2024 and 2025 earnings implies year-over-year growth of 28.3% and 8.6%, respectively. 
ITT delivered a four-quarter average earnings surprise of 6.49%. Shares of ITT have jumped 57.9% in the past year. 
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for ITT&#39;s 2024 and 2025 earnings implies year-over-year growth of 12.2% and 13.7%, respectively. 
Griffon delivered a four-quarter average earnings surprise of 33.45%. In the past year, GFF has surged 99.7%. 
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for GFF&#39;s 2024 and 2025 earnings implies year-over-year growth of 5.7% and 20.7%, respectively.
<a href="https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2283419/here-s-why-hold-strategy-is-apt-for-markel-group-mkl-stock?cid=CS-BENZ-FT-analyst_blog|rank_focused-2283419">To read this article on Zacks.com click here.</a>

Here's Why Hold Strategy is Apt for Markel Group Stock

RBC Capital analyst Scott Heleniak maintains Markel Group (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MKL#NYSE">MKL</a>) with a Sector Perform and raises the price target from $1475 to $1625.

RBC Capital Maintains Sector Perform on Markel Group, Raises Price Target to $1625

Truist Securities analyst Mark Hughes maintains Markel Group (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MKL#NYSE">MKL</a>) with a Hold and raises the price target from $1400 to $1600.

Truist Securities Maintains Hold on Markel Group, Raises Price Target to $1600

Markel Group shares are trading higher after the company reported better-than-expected Q1 financial results.

Markel (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MKL#NYSE">MKL</a>) reported quarterly earnings of $75.43 per share which beat the analyst consensus estimate of $24.86 by 203.42 percent. The company reported quarterly sales of $4.467 billion which beat the analyst consensus estimate of $3.566 billion by 25.25 percent. This is a 22.61 percent increase over sales of $3.643 billion the same period last year.

Markel Q1 2024 GAAP EPS $75.43 vs $24.86 Estimate, Sales $4.467B Beat $3.566B Estimate

3M (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/mmm#NYSE">MMM</a>) came out with quarterly earnings of $2.39 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.08 per share. This compares to earnings of $1.97 per share a year ago. These figures are adjusted for non-recurring items.
This quarterly report represents an earnings surprise of 14.90%. A quarter ago, it was expected that this maker of Post-it notes, industrial coatings and ceramics would post earnings of $2.31 per share when it actually produced earnings of $2.42, delivering a surprise of 4.76%.
Over the last four quarters, the company has surpassed consensus EPS estimates four times.
3M, which belongs to the Zacks Diversified Operations industry, posted revenues of $8 billion for the quarter ended March 2024, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 4.71%. This compares to year-ago revenues of $8.03 billion. The company has topped consensus revenue estimates four times over the last four quarters.
The sustainability of the stock&#39;s immediate price movement based on the recently-released numbers and future earnings expectations will mostly depend on management&#39;s commentary on the earnings call.
3M shares have lost about 15.7% since the beginning of the year versus the S&amp;P 500&#39;s gain of 7.3%.
What&#39;s Next for 3M?
While 3M has underperformed the market so far this year, the question that comes to investors&#39; minds is: what&#39;s next for the stock?
There are no easy answers to this key question, but one reliable measure that can help investors address this is the company&#39;s earnings outlook. Not only does this include current consensus earnings expectations for the coming quarter(s), but also how these expectations have changed lately.
Empirical research shows a strong correlation between near-term stock movements and trends in earnings estimate revisions. Investors can track such revisions by themselves or rely on a tried-and-tested rating tool like the Zacks Rank, which has an impressive track record of harnessing the power of earnings estimate revisions.
Ahead of this earnings release, the estimate revisions trend for 3M: mixed. While the magnitude and direction of estimate revisions could change following the company&#39;s just-released earnings report, the current status translates into a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) for the stock. So, the shares are expected to perform in line with the market in the near future.
It will be interesting to see how estimates for the coming quarters and current fiscal year change in the days ahead. The current consensus EPS estimate is $2.31 on $7.83 billion in revenues for the coming quarter and $8.19 on $32.21 billion in revenues for the current fiscal year.
Investors should be mindful of the fact that the outlook for the industry can have a material impact on the performance of the stock as well. In terms of the Zacks Industry Rank, Diversified Operations is currently in the bottom 39% of the 250 plus Zacks industries. Our research shows that the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries outperform the bottom 50% by a factor of more than 2 to 1.
Another stock from the same industry, Markel Group (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/mkl#NYSE">MKL</a>), has yet to report results for the quarter ended March 2024. The results are expected to be released on May 1.
This insurer is expected to post quarterly earnings of $18.50 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +6.6%. The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 1.9% lower over the last 30 days to the current level.
Markel Group&#39;s revenues are expected to be $3.62 billion, up 10.7% from the year-ago quarter.
<a href="https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2264679/3m-mmm-beats-q1-earnings-and-revenue-estimates?cid=CS-BENZ-FT-tale_of_the_tape|yseop_template_4-2264679">To read this article on Zacks.com click here.</a>

Markel Group's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MKL#NYSE">MKL</a>) short percent of float has risen 4.1% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 163 thousand shares sold short, which is 1.27% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 3.78 days to cover their short positions on average.
<h3>Why Short Interest Matters</h3>
Short interest is the number of shares that have been sold short but have not yet been covered or closed out. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-short-a-stock/">Short selling</a> is when a trader sells shares of a company they do not own, with the hope that the price will fall. Traders make money from short selling if the price of the stock falls and they lose if it rises.
Short interest is important to track because it can act as an indicator of market sentiment towards a particular stock. An increase in short interest can signal that investors have become more bearish, while a decrease in short interest can signal they have become more bullish.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/short-interest">List of the most shorted stocks</a>
<h3>Markel Group Short Interest Graph (3 Months)</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1712779222_0.png" alt="short_fig" />
As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for Markel Group has grown since its last report. This does not mean that the stock is going to fall in the near-term but traders should be aware that more shares are being shorted.
<h3>Comparing Markel Group's Short Interest Against Its Peers</h3>
Peer comparison is a popular technique amongst analysts and investors for gauging how well a company is performing. A company's peer is another company that has similar characteristics to it, such as industry, size, age, and financial structure. You can find a company's peer group by reading its 10-K, proxy filing, or by doing your own similarity analysis.
According to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/">Benzinga Pro</a>, Markel Group's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 1.80%, which means the company has less short interest than most of its peers.
Did you know that increasing short interest can actually be bullish for a stock? <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-make-money-on-a-short-squeeze/">This post by Benzinga Money explains how you can profit from it.</a>
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and was reviewed by an editor.

How Is The Market Feeling About Markel Group?

Markel Group's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MKL#NYSE">MKL</a>) short percent of float has risen 15.09% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 156 thousand shares sold short, which is 1.22% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 1.73 days to cover their short positions on average.
<h3>Why Short Interest Matters</h3>
Short interest is the number of shares that have been sold short but have not yet been covered or closed out. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-short-a-stock/">Short selling</a> is when a trader sells shares of a company they do not own, with the hope that the price will fall. Traders make money from short selling if the price of the stock falls and they lose if it rises.
Short interest is important to track because it can act as an indicator of market sentiment towards a particular stock. An increase in short interest can signal that investors have become more bearish, while a decrease in short interest can signal they have become more bullish.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/short-interest">List of the most shorted stocks</a>
<h3>Markel Group Short Interest Graph (3 Months)</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1710954910_0.png" alt="short_fig" />
As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for Markel Group has grown since its last report. This does not mean that the stock is going to fall in the near-term but traders should be aware that more shares are being shorted.
<h3>Comparing Markel Group's Short Interest Against Its Peers</h3>
Peer comparison is a popular technique amongst analysts and investors for gauging how well a company is performing. A company's peer is another company that has similar characteristics to it, such as industry, size, age, and financial structure. You can find a company's peer group by reading its 10-K, proxy filing, or by doing your own similarity analysis.
According to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/">Benzinga Pro</a>, Markel Group's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 1.90%, which means the company has less short interest than most of its peers.
Did you know that increasing short interest can actually be bullish for a stock? <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-make-money-on-a-short-squeeze/">This post by Benzinga Money explains how you can profit from it.</a>
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and was reviewed by an editor.

It's been a terrible year so far for Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) investors, with the company's share price down about 7% year to date, compared to the roughly 9% gain the SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) has experienced during the same period.
Commonly cited reasons for the disappointing start to the year have been fears of lower demand in China, potentially falling behind in the artificial intelligence (AI) race, regulatory pressures and low growth.
Jordan Klein, an analyst at Mizuho, sees another major risk on the horizon, warning that things could get worse for Apple.
Don't Miss:
<ul>
<li>US military-backed AI robotics company announces new equity raise for regular investors,<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/avawatz"> here&#8217;s how to buy shares and potentially own a stake</a>.</li>
<li>Fortnite&#8217;s creator company<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/epic-games"> greenlights partial ownership for up to 100 accredited investors</a> in the upcoming series.</li>
</ul>
Klein said he "would not be surprised if [Buffett] is selling right now" and that Buffett "knows when that 13F comes out showing he started to sell, that [Apple] shares will get killed as retail investors rush for the exit."
Berkshire Hathaway Inc.'s (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BRK#NYSE">BRK</a>) most recent 13F disclosed that Buffett sold some of his Apple stock, albeit a marginal 1% of his massive position.
News of Berkshire Hathaway selling more shares could put pressure on the stock given that the company owns 5.9% of all outstanding Apple shares, representing 42.8% of its entire stock portfolio.&nbsp;
While Buffett has said that his "favorite holding period is forever," Berkshire's portfolio has experienced turnover lately.
Trending: This startup coined &#8220;eBay for gamers&#8221; with a breathtaking track record has opened up<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/gameflip-2"> a window to invest in its future growth</a>.
In addition to trimming its Apple stock, Berkshire exited its positions in StoneCo Ltd. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/STNE#NASDAQ">STNE</a>), Markel Group Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MKL#NYSE">MKL</a>), Globe Life Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GL#NYSE">GL</a>), and D.R. Horton Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DHI#NYSE">DHI</a>) as well as significantly trimming its stakes in HP Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HPQ#NYSE">HPQ</a>) and Paramount Global (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PARA#NASDAQ">PARA</a>).
The D.R Horton stake in particular was built up as recently as the second quarter of last year.
Klein sees the stock as likely to lag the market until the company shares more about its AI plans, which he speculates might come as soon as June at the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) developer event.&nbsp;
Dan Ives, a senior equity research analyst at Wedbush Securities, deems the situation a strong buying opportunity, giving Apple's stock a price target of $250 per share. He cites massive pent-up demand in the iPhone upgrade cycle and high expectations of "AI finally coming to Cupertino (in California)."
For <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/best-long-term-investments">long-term investors</a> in Apple, it's paid to ignore short-term worries and stay the course. In the past five years, the stock has seen a more than 267% gain. Meanwhile, investors fortunate enough to have bought and held since its 1984 initial public offering (IPO) would be sitting on an over 142,000% gain.
The 13Fs are due within 45 days of a quarter ending, so investors waiting for the next updates on Berkshire&#8217;s portfolio will likely need to wait until mid-May.
Read More on <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/alternative-investments/startups">Startup Investing</a>:
<ul>
<li>WealthTech startup unlocks a $33 trillion home equity market and<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/nada-vc"> you can own a stake in it with just $250.</a></li>
<li>New homebuilding startup could be in the right place at the right time to shock real estate market &#8211; and<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/nilebuilt"> it sells for $5 per share</a>.</li>
</ul>

General

AAPL

PARA

STNE

Wall Street Analyst Warns Apple Stock Could Get 'Killed' And 'Would Not Be Surprised If Buffett Is Selling Right Now'

Markel Group Inc. (MKL) Q2 2024 Earnings Call Transcript

Tracking Christopher Davis' Davis Selected Advisers 13F Portfolio - Q2 2024 Update

Markel Group's Q2: Nearly A Century Of Growth Facing Modern Headwinds

Markel: Operational Excellence Is Still Not Visible In Share Price

Markel Group: Under The Radar, Some Potential Upside Exists

Greenhaven Road Capital Main Fund Q2 2024 Investor Letter

Berkshire Hathaway: There May Be Something Big Going On Behind Buffett's Selling

Wells Fargo's 'Value Equity List' – Stocks with potential that trade at a discount

White Mountain - Under The Radar Value Builder

White Mountains: Under-The-Radar Value Builder

ALTG

AMAT

AMZN

CHKP

CLBT

CLBTW

COST

FRFHF

GILD

GOOG

GOOGL

HGTY

INTC

IWGFF

MCHP

MDLZ

MSFT

NVDA

PCAR

SOLV

TCKRF

TECK

ULTA

VTRS

WFCNP

Insurance

Press Releases

Markel Group reports 2024 second quarter and six-months results

Markel enhances Singapore and Hong Kong presence with strategic hires

Markel appoints Grant Smith to lead its Marine & Energy Liability team in International Specialty

SageSure Collaborates with Markel to Introduce New Capacity to Expanded Markets Program

Markel appoints Rhys O'Neill as Senior Underwriter, Marine & Energy Liability in International Specialty

Jamie Mullarkey named Markel's Global Executive Underwriting Officer for Property and First Party Lines

Fintech

Markel launches FintechRisk+ to offer enhanced cyber coverage and support services for fintechs

Markel appoints April Tam as Senior Underwriter, PFR & Cyber and Head of Financial Institutions, Asia

Get Our Top Trade Ideas Delivered Daily - 65% Off Now

Get Our Top Trade Ideas Delivered Daily - 65% Off Now

Comments

Markel Group

Markel Group (MKL) Forecast

Markel Group (NYSE:MKL) Stock, Quote.Headers.trade-ideas