AFG vs. MKL: American Financial vs. Markel Stock Comparison
How do American Financial (AFG) and Markel (MKL) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.
Company Profile
American Financial (AFG) and Markel (MKL) are both classified in the Property & Casualty Insurance sub-industry within the broader Insurance industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.
| Profile Item | AFG | MKL |
|---|---|---|
| Name | American Financial Group Inc | Markel Group Inc. |
| Country/Region | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Financials | Financials |
| GICS Industry Group | Insurance | Insurance |
| GICS Industry | Insurance | Insurance |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Property & Casualty Insurance | Property & Casualty Insurance |
| Market Capitalization | 12.79 billion USD | 23.71 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | March 17, 1980 | December 12, 1986 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | AFG | MKL |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 15.92% | -4.35% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 20.24% | 13.21% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 9.64% | 8.36% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | AFG | MKL |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 17.44% | 18.61% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.55 | 0.57 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -23.85% | -28.87% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 386.95K | 66.79K |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | AFG | MKL |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.67 | -0.46 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 1.02 | -0.60 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both American Financial (AFG) at 21.57% and Markel (MKL) at 9.75% land near their industries’ usual ROE ranges, so capital efficiency looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
AFG
Insurance industry group
21.57%
- Max
- 41.68%
- Q3
- 22.04%
- AFG
- 21.57%
- Median
- 14.81%
- Q1
- 8.79%
- Min
- -10.66%
MKL
Insurance industry group
9.75%
- Max
- 41.68%
- Q3
- 22.04%
- Median
- 14.81%
- MKL
- 9.75%
- Q1
- 8.79%
- Min
- -10.66%
Net Margin (TTM)
Both American Financial (AFG) at 12.28% and Markel (MKL) at 11.13% keep about the typical share of revenue as profit for their industries — neither bottom line stands out from peers.
AFG
Insurance industry group
12.28%
- Max
- 29.92%
- Q3
- 17.03%
- AFG
- 12.28%
- Median
- 10.97%
- Q1
- 6.21%
- Min
- -4.68%
MKL
Insurance industry group
11.13%
- Max
- 29.92%
- Q3
- 17.03%
- MKL
- 11.13%
- Median
- 10.97%
- Q1
- 6.21%
- Min
- -4.68%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Neither side reports a meaningful operating margin: for American Financial (AFG) in Insurance and Markel (MKL) in Insurance, funding costs are part of the core business, so net margin and ROE are the cleaner profitability reads.
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | AFG | MKL |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 21.57% | 9.75% |
| ROA (TTM) | 2.55% | 2.21% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 12.28% | 11.13% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Both American Financial (AFG) at -1.93% and Markel (MKL) at -2.49% post bottom-quartile revenue growth versus peers, pointing to weaker demand or pricing momentum than typical rivals.
EPS Growth
American Financial (AFG) at -4.57% is around its peer norm for EPS growth, while Markel (MKL) at -15.10% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker earnings momentum.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | AFG | MKL |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | -1.93% | -2.49% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 6.22% | 11.40% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | -4.57% | -15.10% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | -1.45% | -- |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
current ratio doesn’t apply on either side: American Financial (AFG) in Insurance and Markel (MKL) in Insurance both report balance sheets without a current/non-current split, so their short-term liquidity is better judged through regulatory and funding measures.
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
debt-to-equity ratio is set aside for both: American Financial (AFG) in Insurance and Markel (MKL) in Insurance run businesses where balance-sheet leverage is part of the model, so capital-adequacy and funding measures are the better gauges of balance-sheet risk.
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | AFG | MKL |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | -- | -- |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Markel (MKL) pays no dividend (yield 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile American Financial (AFG) reports a yield of 2.31%, ranking against industry peers normally.
AFG
Insurance industry group
2.31%
- Max
- 5.12%
- AFG
- 2.31%
- Q3
- 2.15%
- Median
- 0.98%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
MKL
Insurance industry group
0.00%
- Max
- 5.12%
- Q3
- 2.15%
- Median
- 0.98%
- MKL
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Markel (MKL) pays no dividend (payout 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile American Financial (AFG) reports a payout of 28.71%, ranking against industry peers normally.
AFG
Insurance industry group
28.71%
- Max
- 76.67%
- Q3
- 35.18%
- AFG
- 28.71%
- Median
- 14.74%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
MKL
Insurance industry group
0.00%
- Max
- 76.67%
- Q3
- 35.18%
- Median
- 14.74%
- MKL
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | AFG | MKL |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 2.31% | 0.00% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 28.71% | 0.00% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Both American Financial (AFG) at 12.61 and Markel (MKL) at 13.80 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.
AFG
Insurance industry group
12.61
- Max
- 28.37
- Q3
- 18.75
- AFG
- 12.61
- Median
- 12.23
- Q1
- 9.08
- Min
- 2.32
MKL
Insurance industry group
13.80
- Max
- 28.37
- Q3
- 18.75
- MKL
- 13.80
- Median
- 12.23
- Q1
- 9.08
- Min
- 2.32
P/S Ratio (TTM)
On P/S ratio, both American Financial (AFG) at 1.54 and Markel (MKL) at 1.47 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.
AFG
Insurance industry group
1.54
- Max
- 4.03
- Q3
- 2.25
- AFG
- 1.54
- Median
- 1.23
- Q1
- 0.85
- Min
- 0.07
MKL
Insurance industry group
1.47
- Max
- 4.03
- Q3
- 2.25
- MKL
- 1.47
- Median
- 1.23
- Q1
- 0.85
- Min
- 0.07
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
On P/B ratio, both American Financial (AFG) at 2.71 and Markel (MKL) at 1.28 are valued close to their industries’ norm against book — neither stands out from peers.
AFG
Insurance industry group
2.71
- Max
- 5.07
- Q3
- 2.79
- AFG
- 2.71
- Median
- 1.76
- Q1
- 1.23
- Min
- 0.30
MKL
Insurance industry group
1.28
- Max
- 5.07
- Q3
- 2.79
- Median
- 1.76
- MKL
- 1.28
- Q1
- 1.23
- Min
- 0.30
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | AFG | MKL |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 12.61 | 13.80 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 1.54 | 1.47 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 2.71 | 1.28 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -- | -- |