We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies, revised Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.
You are being directed to ZacksTrade, a division of LBMZ Securities and licensed broker-dealer. ZacksTrade and Zacks.com are separate companies. The web link between the two companies is not a solicitation or offer to invest in a particular security or type of security. ZacksTrade does not endorse or adopt any particular investment strategy, any analyst opinion/rating/report or any approach to evaluating individual securities.
If you wish to go to ZacksTrade, click OK. If you do not, click Cancel.
Markel (MKL) Earnings and Revenues Miss Estimates in Q1
Read MoreHide Full Article
Markel Corporation (MKL - Free Report) reported first-quarter 2019 earnings of $9.24 per share, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 1.8%. The bottom line declined 18.9% year over year.
The quarter witnessed solid performance in its investment portfolio, largely driven by favorable movements in the equity markets. Both underwriting and Markel Ventures operations delivered organic growth. The results included contributions from acquisitions of Brahmin, within the company’s Markel Ventures operations, and Nephila, within insurance-linked securities operations.
Operational Update
Total operating revenues of $1.7 billion missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 0.4%. The top line however rose 9.5% year over year on higher premiums, investment income, product and services plus other revenues.
Total operating expenses of Markel increased 14.1% year over year to $1.7 billion.
Markel’s combined ratio deteriorated 500 basis points (bps) year over year to 95% in the reported quarter.
Markel Corporation Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Among other players from the insurance industry that have reported first-quarter results so far, earnings of RLI Corp. (RLI - Free Report) , The Progressive Corporation (PGR - Free Report) and The Travelers Companies, Inc. (TRV - Free Report) topped the respective Zacks Consensus Estimate.
Today's Best Stocks from Zacks
Would you like to see the updated picks from our best market-beating strategies? From 2017 through 2018, while the S&P 500 gained +15.8%, five of our screens returned +38.0%, +61.3%, +61.6%, +68.1%, and +98.3%.
This outperformance has not just been a recent phenomenon. From 2000 – 2018, while the S&P averaged +4.8% per year, our top strategies averaged up to +56.2% per year.
Image: Bigstock
Markel (MKL) Earnings and Revenues Miss Estimates in Q1
Markel Corporation (MKL - Free Report) reported first-quarter 2019 earnings of $9.24 per share, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 1.8%. The bottom line declined 18.9% year over year.
The quarter witnessed solid performance in its investment portfolio, largely driven by favorable movements in the equity markets. Both underwriting and Markel Ventures operations delivered organic growth. The results included contributions from acquisitions of Brahmin, within the company’s Markel Ventures operations, and Nephila, within insurance-linked securities operations.
Operational Update
Total operating revenues of $1.7 billion missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 0.4%. The top line however rose 9.5% year over year on higher premiums, investment income, product and services plus other revenues.
Total operating expenses of Markel increased 14.1% year over year to $1.7 billion.
Markel’s combined ratio deteriorated 500 basis points (bps) year over year to 95% in the reported quarter.
Markel Corporation Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Markel Corporation Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise | Markel Corporation Quote
Segment Update
Insurance: Net written premiums were up 9.3% year over year to $998.4 million in the quarter under review.
Underwriting profit came in at $50.1 million that dropped 49% from the year-ago quarter.
Combined ratio deteriorated 600 bps year over year to 95% in the quarter under discussion.
Reinsurance: Net written premiums rose 13.8% year over year to $497 million.
Underwriting profit dropped 53% year over year to $3.4 million.
Combined ratio deteriorated 200 bps year over year to 99% in the first quarter.
Financial Update
Markel exited the first quarter with investments, cash and cash equivalents of $2.4 billion, up 19.9% from the level at year-end 2018.
Debt balance increased 1.6% to $3.1 billion as of Mar 31, 2019 from 2018 end.
Book value per share increased 8% from year-end 2018 to $706.98 as of Mar 31, 2019.
Net cash from operating activities was $18.7 million, down 67.5% year over year.
Zacks Rank
Markel currently carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell).
You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Performance of Other Insurers
Among other players from the insurance industry that have reported first-quarter results so far, earnings of RLI Corp. (RLI - Free Report) , The Progressive Corporation (PGR - Free Report) and The Travelers Companies, Inc. (TRV - Free Report) topped the respective Zacks Consensus Estimate.
Today's Best Stocks from Zacks
Would you like to see the updated picks from our best market-beating strategies? From 2017 through 2018, while the S&P 500 gained +15.8%, five of our screens returned +38.0%, +61.3%, +61.6%, +68.1%, and +98.3%.
This outperformance has not just been a recent phenomenon. From 2000 – 2018, while the S&P averaged +4.8% per year, our top strategies averaged up to +56.2% per year.
See their latest picks free >>