Based on the aggregated intelligence of 180,000-plus investors participating in Motley Fool CAPS, the Fool's free investing community, specialty insurer Markel (MKL -0.78%) has earned a coveted five-star ranking.
With that in mind, let's take a closer look at Markel and see what CAPS investors are saying about the stock right now.
Markel facts
|
Headquarters (founded) |
Glen Allen, Va. (1930) |
|
Market Cap |
$4.2 billion |
|
Industry |
Property and casualty insurance |
|
Trailing-12-Month Revenue |
$2.9 billion |
|
Management |
Chairman/CEO Alan Kirshner |
|
Return on Equity (average, past 3 years) |
7.4% |
|
Cash / Debt |
$1.6 billion / $1.5 billion |
|
Competitors |
CNA Financial (CNA -1.29%)Meadowbrook Insurance Group (NYSE: MIG) |
Sources: S&P Capital IQ and Motley Fool CAPS.
On CAPS, 98% of the 2,817 members who have rated Markel believe the stock will outperform the S&P 500 going forward.
Just last week, one of those Fools, All-Star TMFDeej, tapped the stock as a particularly timely bargain opportunity:
I am taking advantage of the recent sell off in Markel that came as a result of its planned acquisition of Alterra. Whether this drop was caused by disapproval of the deal or by [merger arbitrage] players hedging their positions by shorting [Markel] is difficult to say, but I personally like the deal and the company so I'm adding it here.
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