News

For the quarter ended March 2024, Markel Group (MKL) reported revenue of $3.56 billion, up 9% over the same period last year. EPS came in at $18.17, compared to $17.35 in the year-ago quarter.

The reported revenue represents a surprise of -1.51% over the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3.62 billion. With the consensus EPS estimate being $18.50, the EPS surprise was -1.78%.

While investors scrutinize revenue and earnings changes year-over-year and how they compare with Wall Street expectations to determine their next move, some key metrics always offer a more accurate picture of a company's financial health.

Since these metrics play a crucial role in driving the top- and bottom-line numbers, comparing them with the year-ago numbers and what analysts estimated about them helps investors better project a stock's price performance.

Here is how Markel Group performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts:

• Underwriting Expenses Ratio: 34.7% versus 34.1% estimated by four analysts on average.
• Combined Ratio: 95.2% versus 98.1% estimated by four analysts on average.
• Loss Ratio - Total: 60.5% versus 64.4% estimated by three analysts on average.
• Operating revenues- Net investment income: $218.27 million versus $226.35 million estimated by five analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a +37% change.
• Operating revenues- Earned premiums: $2.13 billion versus $2.13 billion estimated by five analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a +8.1% change.
• Net Earned Premiums- Reinsurance: $253.34 million versus the two-analyst average estimate of $239.42 million. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of -1.5%.
• Net Earned Premiums- Insurance: $1.87 billion versus the two-analyst average estimate of $1.81 billion. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of +9.6%.

View all Key Company Metrics for Markel Group here>>>

Shares of Markel Group have returned -2.9% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's -4.1% change. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), indicating that it could perform in line with the broader market in the near term.

5 Stocks Set to Double

Each was handpicked by a Zacks expert as the #1 favorite stock to gain +100% or more in 2024. While not all picks can be winners, previous recommendations have soared +143.0%, +175.9%, +498.3% and +673.0%.

Most of the stocks in this report are flying under Wall Street radar, which provides a great opportunity to get in on the ground floor.

Today, See These 5 Potential Home Runs >>

Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report

To read this article on Zacks.com click here.

The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.