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Markel Corporation(MKL)

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EXPLORE ADVISORIES AND THEIR HISTORY
QUALITY SIGNAL
1-STAR RATING
PASS
LAST CLOSE
$1760.74
10/09/2026
(24-hour delay)

Advisory History & Simulated Performance *

*as per simulation (see disclosures)
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Upturn Stock price based on last close iconStock price based on last close
Simulated performance—not actual client returns. Results depend on calculation assumptions and do not guarantee future outcomes. See Disclosures for methodology, assumptions, and limitations.

Advisory Performance History (Simulated)Advisory Performance History info

Simulated performance—not actual client returns. Results depend on calculation assumptions and do not guarantee future outcomes. See Disclosures for methodology, assumptions, and limitations.

Upturn Advisory & Investor View for MKL

10/09/2026: MKL (1-star) is currently NOT-A-BUY. Pass it for now.

Markel Corporation is a diversified financial holding company that combines a robust specialty insurance and reinsurance business with a portfolio of non-insurance operating companies. The company is known for its long-term, disciplined capital allocation strategy and decentralized management model, which has historically supported steady growth. While the business benefits from diversified income streams and underwriting expertise, it faces risks from catastrophe losses and the inherent volatility of its investment portfolio. The stock is best suited for long-term value investors seeking compounding growth, though the absence of dividends may not appeal to income-focused investors. Key developments to monitor include underwriting performance trends and the ongoing growth of the Markel Ventures segment.

How to Read the Upturn Advisory

The Upturn Star Rating and the current BUY, SELL, or PASS advisory are generated by Upturn’s AI advisory engine based on proprietary signal analysis, price behavior, advisory history, and historical signal performance.

Company fundamentals, valuation, risks, and news provide supporting context about the business.

Investor Fit

Investor styleFitWhy
Growth investorMixed fitGrowth is steady and compounding but lacks the explosive potential of tech-focused sectors.
Momentum investorWeak fitThe stock often follows a steady, long-term value path rather than short-term trend-based momentum.
Value investorStrong fitMarkel is highly regarded for its focus on intrinsic value creation and long-term capital allocation.
Dividend investorWeak fitMarkel does not pay a cash dividend, which disqualifies it for income-focused portfolios.
Low-risk investorMixed fitWhile the business is high quality, insurance operations inherently carry catastrophe risk and stock volatility.

Risk Profile

Risk factorLevelWhy it matters
Price volatilityMedium / highThe stock price is subject to market sentiment regarding underwriting results and investment portfolio valuation.
Valuation riskMediumAs a complex holding company, determining its 'correct' valuation can be challenging for investors.
Competition risk (specialty insurance)Medium / highIncreasing capacity from larger global insurers can pressure specialty insurance pricing and margins.
Business qualityStrongMarkel has a long-standing reputation for strong management and disciplined, long-term capital management.
Dividend incomeLow / noneThe lack of a dividend means investors rely entirely on capital gains.
Execution riskMediumSuccess depends on the effective management of both insurance risk and diverse non-insurance operating companies.

Price Behavior

Downtrend
PRICE PATH

Downtrend

The stock has experienced a sustained decline in price over recent periods.

Smooth
PRICE STABILITY

Smooth

The stock has moved along a generally orderly path with only modest fluctuations.

Analysis of Past Performance

Type Stock
Historic Profit -10.74%
Avg. Invested days 38
Today’s Advisory PASS
Upturn Advisory Rating upturn star rating icon
Upturn Advisory Performance Upturn Advisory Performance icon 2.0
Stock Returns Performance Upturn Returns Performance icon 1.0
Upturn Profits based on simulation icon Profits based on simulation
Upturn last close icon Last Close 10/09/2026

Upturn Scorecard

Upturn Star Rating

★★★★★
MKL receives a 4-star rating, supported by solid unit economics, solid company fundamentals, and solid quantitative characteristics. The rating is constrained by weak price momentum, and limited analyst upside.

Company Fundamentals

★★★★★
MKL has solid overall fundamentals (4 stars), with solid financial health, moderate growth momentum, and solid ownership. In FY2025 versus FY2024, strong cash generation (FCF margin 15.4%) and solid profitability (net margin 12.7%) are partially offset by negative earnings growth (-23.3%), slightly negative revenue growth (-1.0%), modest insider ownership of 1.45%.

Financial Health Rating

★★★★★
MKL's financial health is supported by strong cash strength, including free-cash-flow generation of $2.6B (15.4% of revenue). Liquidity is moderate (3 stars), which helps explain the 4-star overall score.

Growth Momentum Score

★★★★★
Free-cash-flow growth is MKL's strongest growth driver at +9.2% FY2025 versus FY2024 (moderate, 3 stars). By comparison, while revenue growth (-1.0%, slightly negative) and earnings growth (-23.3%, negative) hold the profile back, so recent growth is not broad-based across the business.

Ownership

★★★★★
Institutional ownership is 80.4% and approximately 97.3% of outstanding shares are publicly tradable, supporting liquidity and institutional participation. Insider ownership of 1.45% provides only moderate management-shareholder alignment.

Top 5 Institutional Investors

BlackRock Inc 5.63%
Vanguard Capital Management, LLC 4.40%
Vanguard Portfolio Management, LLC 4.21%
Davis Selected Advisers 3.28%
Morgan Stanley - Brokerage Accounts 2.88%

Unit Economics (Per $1K Revenue)

★★★★★
MKL generates approximately $694 of gross profit, $165 of operating income, and $154 of free cash flow for every $1,000 of revenue. Based on FY2025 results. Solid margins and strong cash conversion support the rating, although capital efficiency remains moderate.

Economic Dimensions

★★★★★
Effective Tax Rate: 21.24%

Quantitative Style Profile

★★★★★
MKL has a high-quality, large-cap, liquid, relatively low-volatility profile. Weak momentum is the primary drawback.

Style Classification

Quality Focused

Value-OrientedQuality TiltLow VolatilityLarge / Mega Cap StabilityHighly Liquid / Institution-Friendly

Key Highlights

Company Size Large-Cap Stock
Market Capitalization 21.90B USD
Price to earnings Ratio 9.74
1Y Target Price 1933.17
Price to earnings Ratio 9.74
1Y Target Price 1933.17
Volume (30-day avg) 74.3K shares
Beta 0.64
52 Weeks Range 1704.17 - 2207.59
Updated Date 10/09/2026
52 Weeks Range 1704.17 - 2207.59
Updated Date 10/09/2026
Dividends yield (FY) -
Basic EPS (TTM) 181.44

How Company Makes Money

Business areaWhat it includesRetail investor read
Insurance UnderwritingPremiums collected from specialty, property, and casualty insurance policies.This is the core business; profitability depends on keeping insurance claims lower than premiums collected.
Investment PortfolioIncome from investments of insurance float in equities and fixed income.Markel acts like an investment manager; strong investment returns significantly boost company earnings.
Markel VenturesOperating profits from various manufacturing, services, and technology subsidiaries.This provides non-insurance income, reducing dependence on the insurance cycle.

Analyzing Revenue: Products, Geography and Growth

Revenue by Products

Product revenue - Year on Year

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Valuation

Trailing PE 9.74
Forward PE 15.22
Enterprise Value 22.53B
Price to Sales(TTM) 1.32
Enterprise Value 22.53B
Price to Sales(TTM) 1.32
Enterprise Value to Revenue 1.35
Enterprise Value to EBITDA -
Shares Outstanding 12.39M
Shares Floating 12.06M
Shares Outstanding 12.39M
Shares Floating 12.06M
Percent Insiders 1.45
Percent Institutions 80.36

Financial Metrics

🧭 Investment Snapshot

Total Revenue (Scale)

Information icon Total money earned from selling products or services before any costs. It is needed to understand the scale of the business and its ability to generate income.

Net Income (Profit)

Information icon Final profit after all expenses, interest, and taxes are deducted. It is needed to determine the overall profitability available to shareholders.

Free Cash Flow (Cash Strength)

Information icon Cash remaining after operating activities and capital expenditures, showing cash available for growth. It is needed to evaluate the company’s ability to invest, pay dividends, or reduce debt.

📈 Growth & Strength

Operating Income (Core Profit)

Information icon Profit from core operations after deducting all operating expenses. It is needed to measure how efficiently the company runs its primary business activities.

EBITDA (Cash Earnings)

Information icon Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization, indicating operating cash potential. It is needed to compare operating performance across companies without accounting or financing differences.

Gross Profit (Unit Profitability)

Information icon Revenue minus cost of revenue, showing profit after direct production costs. It is needed to evaluate core business profitability before overhead expenses.

🛡️ Financial Safety

Cash (Liquidity Buffer)

Information icon Total cash and cash equivalents on hand. It is needed to evaluate immediate liquidity and financial flexibility.

Total Debt (Leverage Risk)

Information icon Total debt including both short-term and long-term components. It is needed to assess the company’s leverage and financial risk.

Net Working Capital (Short-Term Health)

Information icon Current assets minus current liabilities, indicating short-term liquidity strength. It is needed to assess whether the company can meet its short-term obligations.

🧱 Balance Sheet Strength

Stockholder Equity (Net Worth)

Information icon Total equity value held by shareholders. It is needed to understand the net worth of the company from the owners’ perspective.

Total Assets (Asset Base)

Information icon The full value of everything the company owns, including cash, inventory, equipment, and investments. It is needed to understand the resource base used to generate revenue.

Income Before Tax (Pre-Tax Earnings)

Information icon Income before provision for income taxes. It is needed to analyze profitability independent of tax structures.

⚙️ Cost & Drag Factors

Cost of Revenue (Production Cost)

Information icon Direct costs required to produce and deliver the products or services sold. It is needed to assess efficiency in production and service delivery.

Total Operating Expenses (Operating Cost)

Information icon Indirect costs of running the business such as salaries, marketing, and administration. It is needed to understand how much it costs to sustain ongoing business operations.

Income Tax Expense (Tax Drag)

Information icon Amount of taxes paid or payable to the government. It is needed to evaluate the impact of taxation on overall profitability.

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