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Markel Corporation (MKL)
NYSE:MKL

Markel (MKL) AI Stock Analysis

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MKL

Markel

(NYSE:MKL)

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Outperform 82 (OpenAI - 4o)
Rating:82Outperform
Price Target:
$2,370.00
▲(11.12% Upside)
Markel's strong financial performance, positive technical indicators, and favorable earnings call sentiment contribute to a robust overall stock score. The company's strategic initiatives and improvements in the insurance segment are significant strengths. However, challenges in revenue growth and industrial segment performance slightly temper the outlook.
Positive Factors
Strong Cash Flow Generation
Markel's robust cash flow generation supports liquidity and capital return initiatives, such as share repurchases, enhancing shareholder value.
Improvement in Insurance Segment
Improved combined ratio indicates enhanced underwriting efficiency and profitability in the insurance segment, a core business area for Markel.
Strategic Initiatives
Strategic restructuring and leadership changes are driving positive impacts, enhancing operational efficiency and long-term competitive positioning.
Negative Factors
Decline in Revenue Growth
Negative revenue growth indicates potential challenges in market expansion and sales performance, affecting long-term growth prospects.
Pressure on Industrial Segment
Declining performance in the industrial segment due to softening demand and cost pressures could impact overall profitability and diversification.
Higher Expense Ratio in Insurance
Increased expense ratio due to personnel and professional fees may pressure margins, necessitating cost control measures to maintain profitability.

Markel (MKL) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

Markel Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionMarkel Corporation, a diverse financial holding company, markets and underwrites specialty insurance products in the United States, Bermuda, the United Kingdom, rest of Europe, Canada, the Asia Pacific, and the Middle East. Its Insurance segment 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. This segment also offers credit and surety products, and collateral protection insurance products. The company's Reinsurance segment offers transaction, healthcare, and environmental impairment liability; and specialty treaty reinsurance products comprising structured and whole turnover credit, political risk, mortgage and contract, and commercial surety reinsurance programs. Its Markel Ventures segment provides equipment used in baking systems and food processing; portable dredges; over-the-road car haulers and transportation equipment; and laminated oak and composite wood flooring, tube and tank trailers, as well as ornamental plants and residential homes, handbags, and architectural products. This segment also provides consulting, and other types of services to businesses and consumers, including distribution of exterior building products, crane rental, fire protection, and life safety services, management and technology consulting, and retail intelligence services. The company's Other segment provides healthcare, leasing and investment services, as well as operates as an insurance and investment fund manager offering a range of investment products, including insurance-linked securities, catastrophe bonds, insurance swaps, and weather derivatives; and program services. it also manages funds with third parties. Markel Corporation was founded in 1930 and is based in Glen Allen, Virginia.
How the Company Makes MoneyMarkel generates revenue primarily through its insurance operations, which include underwriting premiums collected from policyholders in various sectors, such as liability, workers' compensation, and property insurance. The company also earns investment income by managing a diversified portfolio of investments, including fixed-income securities, equities, and alternative investments, using the funds accumulated from insurance premiums before claims are paid out. Key revenue streams include underwriting profit, which arises when premiums exceed claims and expenses, and investment income, which is derived from the returns on its invested assets. Additionally, Markel has established significant partnerships with various brokers and agents, enhancing its distribution capabilities and market reach, further contributing to its earnings potential.

Markel Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Oct 29, 2025
(Q3-2025)
|
% Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:Feb 04, 2026
Earnings Call Sentiment Positive
The earnings call reflects a positive overall sentiment with significant revenue growth, improvements in the insurance segment, and successful strategic initiatives. However, challenges remain in the industrial segment and managing the expense ratio.
Q3-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Strong Revenue Growth and Adjusted Operating Income
Consolidated revenues were up 7% for the quarter and 4% year-to-date, with all reportable segments showing year-over-year growth. Adjusted operating income increased by 24% to $621 million compared to the same period last year.
Improvement in Insurance Segment
The insurance segment showed a combined ratio of 93% for the quarter, an improvement from 97% in the previous year, driven by lower catastrophe activity and improved core insurance performance.
Successful Strategic Initiatives
Decisive actions such as exiting underperforming businesses, leadership changes, and organizational restructuring have begun to positively impact the company, evidenced by the improved performance in the insurance segment.
International and Personal Lines Growth
The International division reported a combined ratio of 84% year-to-date, with strong growth in personal lines, general liability, and international lines contributing to a 11% increase in gross written premiums.
Significant Cash Flow Generation
Operating cash flows for the first 9 months were $2.1 billion, supporting share repurchases and liquidity buildup.
Investment Performance
Equity investments yielded 8.4%, and the fixed income book yield was 3.5% with a reinvestment yield of 4.2%.
Negative Updates
Pressure on Industrial Segment
The Industrial segment's adjusted operating income was down 9% year-over-year due to softening demand in the auto industry and higher raw material and labor costs.
Higher Expense Ratio in Insurance
The expense ratio for Markel Insurance was slightly higher than a year ago, driven by elevated personnel costs and increased third-party professional fees and severance costs.
Adverse Development in Reinsurance Casualty Lines
Favorable loss development was partially offset by adverse development in reinsurance casualty lines and discontinued risk-managed professional liability lines.
Company Guidance
During the Markel Group Third Quarter 2025 Conference Call, significant guidance was provided regarding the company's performance metrics and strategic initiatives. The company reported a consolidated revenue increase of 7% for the quarter and 4% year-to-date, with all segments showing year-over-year growth. A key focus was the improvement in the insurance segment, achieving a 93% combined ratio compared to 97% in the previous period, driven by strategic exits from underperforming lines and leadership changes. The company emphasized its commitment to capital efficiency, highlighted by nearly $13 billion in cumulative operating income over the past five years, and shareholder value, returning approximately $1.9 billion of capital via share repurchases since 2020. The investment portfolio yielded 8.4% on equity investments and 3.5% on fixed income. The company also introduced a revised financial disclosure format to enhance transparency, now reporting results in four segments: insurance, industrial, financial, and consumer and other.

Markel Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Markel demonstrates a strong financial position with efficient cost management and solid cash flow generation. However, the decline in revenue growth and profitability margins in the TTM period suggests potential challenges in maintaining growth momentum. The company's low leverage and strong equity returns provide a stable foundation, but attention to revenue and profit growth is necessary to sustain long-term performance.
Income Statement
Markel's income statement shows a mixed performance. The company has a strong gross profit margin of 57.94% for TTM, indicating efficient cost management. However, the net profit margin has decreased to 15.45% from 16.53% in the previous year, reflecting reduced profitability. Revenue growth has been negative at -0.69% TTM, a significant drop from the previous year's growth, which could be a concern. EBIT and EBITDA margins have also decreased, indicating pressure on operating efficiency.
Balance Sheet
The balance sheet reflects a solid financial position with a low debt-to-equity ratio of 0.24 TTM, indicating prudent leverage management. The return on equity is strong at 14.53%, although slightly lower than the previous year, showing effective use of equity to generate profits. The equity ratio remains stable, suggesting a balanced capital structure.
Cash Flow
Markel's cash flow statement indicates a healthy cash flow position. The free cash flow growth rate is robust at 15.97% TTM, showing strong cash generation capabilities. The free cash flow to net income ratio is high at 91.60%, indicating efficient conversion of profits into cash. However, the operating cash flow to net income ratio is not available, which limits a full assessment of cash flow efficiency.
BreakdownTTMDec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income Statement
Total Revenue16.15B16.75B15.71B11.81B12.92B9.64B
Gross Profit8.48B9.27B8.08B3.41B5.89B3.38B
EBITDA3.12B4.18B3.16B353.94M3.65B1.49B
Net Income2.08B2.75B2.00B-216.28M2.42B816.03M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets67.39B61.90B55.05B49.79B48.48B41.71B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments10.85B10.56B20.69B18.66B18.37B17.06B
Total Debt4.28B4.33B3.78B4.10B4.36B3.48B
Total Liabilities48.80B44.43B39.52B36.05B33.28B28.65B
Stockholders Equity18.04B16.92B14.98B13.15B14.72B12.80B
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow2.38B2.34B2.53B2.45B2.13B1.64B
Operating Cash Flow2.59B2.59B2.79B2.71B2.27B1.74B
Investing Cash Flow-1.15B-2.40B-2.70B-1.67B-2.94B-511.75M
Financing Cash Flow-1.46B-297.88M-999.72M-595.31M369.77M434.56M

Markel Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Positive
Last Price2132.83
Price Trends
50DMA
2078.83
Positive
100DMA
2005.07
Positive
200DMA
1957.11
Positive
Market Momentum
MACD
19.68
Positive
RSI
55.29
Neutral
STOCH
41.31
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For MKL, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 2132.83 is below the 20-day moving average (MA) of 2155.81, above the 50-day MA of 2078.83, and above the 200-day MA of 1957.11, indicating a neutral trend. The MACD of 19.68 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 55.29 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 41.31 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for MKL.

Markel Risk Analysis

Markel disclosed 26 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Markel reported the most risks in the "Finance & Corporate" category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 0 New Risks

Markel Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (68)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
82
Outperform
$27.08B13.4411.86%-6.96%-26.28%
79
Outperform
$12.72B12.669.03%8.03%5.41%-23.52%
76
Outperform
$25.77B12.1314.53%2.10%-0.63%-30.68%
76
Outperform
$21.80B15.178.15%0.23%6.06%-8.53%
73
Outperform
$26.69B14.3820.92%1.88%11.08%22.01%
68
Neutral
$18.00B11.429.92%3.81%9.73%1.22%
67
Neutral
$11.26B13.8816.91%6.71%-10.75%
* Financial Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
MKL
Markel
2,147.15
477.18
28.57%
AFG
American Financial Group
135.04
8.97
7.12%
CINF
Cincinnati Financial
165.19
32.33
24.34%
CNA
CNA Financial
47.01
3.88
9.01%
L
Loews
105.49
23.63
28.87%
WRB
W. R. Berkley Corporation
70.24
14.43
25.86%

Markel Corporate Events

Business Operations and StrategyFinancial Disclosures
Markel Reports Q3 Revenue Growth Amid Income Decline
Neutral
Oct 29, 2025

In the third quarter of 2025, Markel Group Inc. reported a 7% increase in operating revenues and a 26% decrease in operating income, impacted by market movements in its equity portfolio. Adjusted operating income rose by 24%, highlighting improvements in underwriting profitability and net investment income. The company’s insurance segment saw an 11% increase in underwriting gross premium volume, and the combined ratio improved to 93%. The company also made significant changes to its financial reporting, including re-segmentation of businesses and expanded financial metrics, reflecting a strategic focus on transparency and operational efficiency.

The most recent analyst rating on (MKL) stock is a Buy with a $2108.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Markel stock, see the MKL Stock Forecast page.

Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.Date of analysis: Nov 18, 2025