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Markel's Premium Growth Encourages, Rising Costs a Drag
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Markel Corporation (MKL - Free Report) is expected to deliver premium growth in the upcoming quarters, driven by a superior performance by its Insurance and Reinsurance segments. Moreover, a strong performance at general liability and personal lines has been contributing to this property and casualty (P&C) insurer’s improving U.S. operations and we expect the momentum to continue in the near future.
In fact, commitment toward improvement of underwriting performance, a niche focus and innovation along with maintenance of pricing guidelines on existing products will help the company to deliver an overall favorable performance in the future.
Notably, the company delivered a positive earnings surprise in two of the last four quarters with an average beat of 34.72%.
Benefiting from rising interest rates, the company has been experiencing better investment results over the past few years and the same is likely to improve, courtesy of a better interest rate environment as well as dividend hikes from its high-quality equity securities.
Riding on the strength of a steady premium increase and improved investment results, the company has been exhibiting top-line growth over a considerable period of time and we expect this upside to further accelerate the company’s overall progress.
Markel has been ramping up its growth through strategic acquisitions, which not only have helped boosting the P&C insurer’s surety capacities but also expanding its reinsurance product offerings. Besides adding capabilities to the company’s portfolio, prudent buyouts will enhance its insurance operations, paving the way for long-term development.
Notably, Markel has a favorable Growth Score of B. The Growth Score analyzes the growth prospects of a company and also evaluates its corporate financial statements. Therefore, P&C insurer’s Growth Score raises optimism among investors.
A robust capital position aids the company to return value to its shareholders via share buybacks, thus raising optimism among investors. Shareholder-friendly moves like this makes the stock an attractive pick for yield-seeking investors.
Shares of this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) P&C insurer have rallied 15.4% in a year’s time, outperforming the industry's increase of 15.2%. We expect the aforementioned strengths to drive the stock higher in the near term.
However, the company has been witnessing rising expenses, mainly due to higher losses and loss adjustment expenses, underwriting, acquisition and insurance expenses. This in turn, will limit the operating margin expansion.
Nonetheless, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2018 and 2019 earnings has been revised about 1.9% and 0.1% upward, respectively, over the past 60 days.
The consensus mark for current-year earnings per share is pegged at $39.02, representing a staggering year-over-year surge of nearly 977.9%.
Alleghany provides property and casualty reinsurance and insurance products in the United States and internationally. The company delivered positive surprises in three of the trailing four quarters with an average beat of 17.61%.
RenaissanceRe Holdings provides reinsurance and insurance coverages in the United States and globally. The company pulled off positive surprises in three of the previous four quarters with an average positive surprise of 31.16%.
Navigators Group underwrites marine, property and casualty plus professional liability insurance products and services in the United States as well as internationally. The company came up with positive surprises in three of the preceding four quarters with an average earnings surprise of 19.54%.
5 Companies Verge on Apple-Like Run
Did you miss Apple's 9X stock explosion after they launched their iPhone in 2007? Now 2018 looks to be a pivotal year to get in on another emerging technology expected to rock the market. Demand could soar from almost nothing to $42 billion by 2025. Reports suggest it could save 10 million lives per decade which could in turn save $200 billion in U.S. healthcare costs. A bonus Zacks Special Report names this breakthrough and the 5 best stocks to exploit it. Like Apple in 2007, these companies are already strong and coiling for potential mega-gains.
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Markel's Premium Growth Encourages, Rising Costs a Drag
Markel Corporation (MKL - Free Report) is expected to deliver premium growth in the upcoming quarters, driven by a superior performance by its Insurance and Reinsurance segments. Moreover, a strong performance at general liability and personal lines has been contributing to this property and casualty (P&C) insurer’s improving U.S. operations and we expect the momentum to continue in the near future.
In fact, commitment toward improvement of underwriting performance, a niche focus and innovation along with maintenance of pricing guidelines on existing products will help the company to deliver an overall favorable performance in the future.
Notably, the company delivered a positive earnings surprise in two of the last four quarters with an average beat of 34.72%.
Benefiting from rising interest rates, the company has been experiencing better investment results over the past few years and the same is likely to improve, courtesy of a better interest rate environment as well as dividend hikes from its high-quality equity securities.
Riding on the strength of a steady premium increase and improved investment results, the company has been exhibiting top-line growth over a considerable period of time and we expect this upside to further accelerate the company’s overall progress.
Markel has been ramping up its growth through strategic acquisitions, which not only have helped boosting the P&C insurer’s surety capacities but also expanding its reinsurance product offerings. Besides adding capabilities to the company’s portfolio, prudent buyouts will enhance its insurance operations, paving the way for long-term development.
Notably, Markel has a favorable Growth Score of B. The Growth Score analyzes the growth prospects of a company and also evaluates its corporate financial statements. Therefore, P&C insurer’s Growth Score raises optimism among investors.
A robust capital position aids the company to return value to its shareholders via share buybacks, thus raising optimism among investors. Shareholder-friendly moves like this makes the stock an attractive pick for yield-seeking investors.
Shares of this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) P&C insurer have rallied 15.4% in a year’s time, outperforming the industry's increase of 15.2%. We expect the aforementioned strengths to drive the stock higher in the near term.
However, the company has been witnessing rising expenses, mainly due to higher losses and loss adjustment expenses, underwriting, acquisition and insurance expenses. This in turn, will limit the operating margin expansion.
Nonetheless, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2018 and 2019 earnings has been revised about 1.9% and 0.1% upward, respectively, over the past 60 days.
The consensus mark for current-year earnings per share is pegged at $39.02, representing a staggering year-over-year surge of nearly 977.9%.
Stocks to Consider
Some better-ranked stocks from the same space are Alleghany Corporation , RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd. (RNR - Free Report) and The Navigators Group, Inc. , each sporting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Alleghany provides property and casualty reinsurance and insurance products in the United States and internationally. The company delivered positive surprises in three of the trailing four quarters with an average beat of 17.61%.
RenaissanceRe Holdings provides reinsurance and insurance coverages in the United States and globally. The company pulled off positive surprises in three of the previous four quarters with an average positive surprise of 31.16%.
Navigators Group underwrites marine, property and casualty plus professional liability insurance products and services in the United States as well as internationally. The company came up with positive surprises in three of the preceding four quarters with an average earnings surprise of 19.54%.
5 Companies Verge on Apple-Like Run
Did you miss Apple's 9X stock explosion after they launched their iPhone in 2007? Now 2018 looks to be a pivotal year to get in on another emerging technology expected to rock the market. Demand could soar from almost nothing to $42 billion by 2025. Reports suggest it could save 10 million lives per decade which could in turn save $200 billion in U.S. healthcare costs. A bonus Zacks Special Report names this breakthrough and the 5 best stocks to exploit it. Like Apple in 2007, these companies are already strong and coiling for potential mega-gains.
Click to see them right now >>