Contrasting Carlisle Companies (NYSE:CSL) & Markel Group (NYSE:MKL)

Carlisle Companies (NYSE:CSL) and Markel Group (NYSE:MKL) are both large-cap multi-sector conglomerates companies, but which is the superior stock? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their dividends, profitability, valuation, institutional ownership, risk, earnings and analyst recommendations.

Insider and Institutional Ownership

89.5% of Carlisle Companies shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 77.1% of Markel Group shares are owned by institutional investors. 1.3% of Carlisle Companies shares are owned by company insiders. Comparatively, 1.1% of Markel Group shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, large money managers and endowments believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term.

Analyst Recommendations

This is a breakdown of current recommendations for Carlisle Companies and Markel Group, as reported by MarketBeat.com.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
Carlisle Companies	0	6	5	0	2.45
Markel Group	0	5	1	0	2.17

Carlisle Companies currently has a consensus target price of $405.00, suggesting a potential upside of 8.12%. Markel Group has a consensus target price of $2,025.00, suggesting a potential upside of 13.29%. Given Markel Group’s higher probable upside, analysts clearly believe Markel Group is more favorable than Carlisle Companies.

Profitability

This table compares Carlisle Companies and Markel Group’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
Carlisle Companies	14.57%	43.78%	13.66%
Markel Group	10.85%	7.90%	2.10%

Valuation & Earnings

This table compares Carlisle Companies and Markel Group”s revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
Carlisle Companies	$5.02 billion	3.02	$740.70 million	$17.01	22.02
Markel Group	$15.88 billion	1.41	$2.11 billion	$138.77	12.88

Markel Group has higher revenue and earnings than Carlisle Companies. Markel Group is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Carlisle Companies, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Volatility and Risk

Carlisle Companies has a beta of 0.88, indicating that its stock price is 12% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Markel Group has a beta of 0.67, indicating that its stock price is 33% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Summary

Carlisle Companies beats Markel Group on 10 of the 14 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Carlisle Companies

Carlisle Companies Incorporated operates as a manufacturer and supplier of building envelope products and solutions in the United States, Europe, North America, Asia and the Middle East, Africa, and internationally. It operates through two segments: Carlisle Construction Materials and Carlisle Weatherproofing Technologies. The company produces single-ply roofing products, and warranted roof systems and accessories, including ethylene propylene diene monomer, thermoplastic polyolefin and polyvinyl chloride membrane, polyiso insulation, and engineered metal roofing and wall panel systems for commercial and residential buildings. It also offers building envelope solutions, including high-performance waterproofing and moisture protection products, protective roofing underlayments, fully integrated liquid and sheet applied air/vapor barriers, sealants/primers and flashing systems, roof coatings and mastics, spray polyurethane foam and coating systems, block-molded expanded polystyrene insulation, and engineered products for HVAC applications. It sells its products under the Carlisle SynTec, Versico, WeatherBond, Hunter Panels, Resitrix, and Hertalan brands. Carlisle Companies Incorporated was founded in 1917 and is headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona.

About Markel Group

Markel Group Inc., a diverse holding company, engages in marketing and underwriting specialty insurance products in the United States, Bermuda, the United Kingdom, and Germany. The company offers general and professional liability, personal lines, marine and energy, specialty programs, and workers' compensation insurance products; and property coverages that include fire, allied lines, and other specialized property coverages, including catastrophe-exposed property risks, such as earthquake and wind. It also offers credit and surety products, and collateral protection insurance products. In addition, the company offers transaction, directors and officers, and healthcare liability reinsurance; and specialty treaty reinsurance products comprising credit and surety, workers' compensation, marine and energy, public entity, mortgage default, aviation and space, agriculture, and discrete political violence and national terror pools. Further, it provides construction services, consumer and building products, transportation-related products, consulting services, and equipment manufacturing products, as well as healthcare, leasing, and investment services. Additionally, the company operates as an insurance and investment fund manager offering a range of investment products, including insurance-linked securities, catastrophe bonds, insurance swaps, traditional reinsurance contracts, industry loss warranties and other financial instruments; and program services. It also manages funds with third parties. The company was formerly known as Markel Corporation and changed its name to Markel Group Inc. in May 2023. Markel Group Inc. was founded in 1930 and is based in Glen Allen, Virginia.