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CNA vs. MKL: CNA Financial vs. Markel Stock Comparison

How do CNA Financial (CNA) 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

CNA Financial (CNA) 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.

Company profile comparison for CNA Financial (CNA) and Markel (MKL)
Profile ItemCNAMKL
NameCNA Financial Corporation Common StockMarkel Group Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorFinancialsFinancials
GICS Industry GroupInsuranceInsurance
GICS IndustryInsuranceInsurance
GICS Sub-IndustryProperty & Casualty InsuranceProperty & Casualty Insurance
Market Capitalization12.81 billion USD23.71 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateFebruary 21, 1973December 12, 1986
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

CNA
MKL
GSPC
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CNA Financial (CNA) vs. Markel (MKL), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

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Trailing total returns for CNA Financial (CNA) and Markel (MKL). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for CNA Financial (CNA) and Markel (MKL). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for CNA Financial (CNA) and Markel (MKL)
MetricCNAMKL
Total Return (1Y)13.42%-4.35%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)15.22%13.21%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)9.00%8.36%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

CNA
MKL
GSPC
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CNA Financial (CNA) vs. Markel (MKL), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

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Distribution of monthly total returns for CNA Financial (CNA) and Markel (MKL). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for CNA Financial (CNA) and Markel (MKL)
MetricCNAMKL
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)20.85%18.61%
Beta (5Y)0.220.57
Max Drawdown (5Y)-25.67%-28.87%
Avg. Volume (3M)454.06K66.79K

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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CNA and MKL are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for CNA Financial (CNA) and Markel (MKL)
MetricCNAMKL
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.44-0.46
Sortino Ratio (1Y)0.62-0.60

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both CNA Financial (CNA) at 9.56% 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.

CNA

Insurance industry group

9.56%

Max
41.68%
Q3
22.04%
Median
14.81%
CNA
9.56%
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%
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CNA Financial (CNA) vs. Markel (MKL): A comparison of their ROE against the Insurance industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both CNA Financial (CNA) at 6.80% 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.

CNA

Insurance industry group

6.80%

Max
29.92%
Q3
17.03%
Median
10.97%
CNA
6.80%
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%
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CNA Financial (CNA) vs. Markel (MKL): A comparison of their net margin against the Insurance industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Neither side reports a meaningful operating margin: for CNA Financial (CNA) 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

Profitability metrics for CNA Financial (CNA) and Markel (MKL)
MetricCNAMKL
ROE (TTM)9.56%9.75%
ROA (TTM)1.29%2.21%
Net Margin (TTM)6.80%11.13%
Operating Margin (TTM)----
Gross Margin (TTM)----

Growth

Revenue Growth

CNA Financial (CNA) at 5.10% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while Markel (MKL) at -2.49% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.

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CNA Financial (CNA) vs. Markel (MKL): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

CNA Financial (CNA) at 33.24% is around its peer norm for EPS growth, while Markel (MKL) at -15.10% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker earnings momentum.

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CNA Financial (CNA) vs. Markel (MKL): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for CNA Financial (CNA) and Markel (MKL)
MetricCNAMKL
Revenue Growth (YoY)5.10%-2.49%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)7.36%11.40%
EPS Growth (YoY)33.24%-15.10%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)12.66%--

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

current ratio doesn’t apply on either side: CNA Financial (CNA) 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: CNA Financial (CNA) 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

Financial strength metrics for CNA Financial (CNA) and Markel (MKL)
MetricCNAMKL
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 CNA Financial (CNA) reports a yield of 3.95%, ranking against industry peers normally.

CNA

Insurance industry group

3.95%

Max
5.12%
CNA
3.95%
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%
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CNA Financial (CNA) vs. Markel (MKL): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Insurance industry group benchmark.

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 CNA Financial (CNA) reports a payout of 50.26%, ranking against industry peers normally.

CNA

Insurance industry group

50.26%

Max
76.67%
CNA
50.26%
Q3
35.18%
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%
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CNA Financial (CNA) vs. Markel (MKL): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Insurance industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for CNA Financial (CNA) and Markel (MKL)
MetricCNAMKL
Dividend Yield (TTM)3.95%0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)50.26%0.00%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both CNA Financial (CNA) at 12.52 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.

CNA

Insurance industry group

12.52

Max
28.37
Q3
18.75
CNA
12.52
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
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CNA Financial (CNA) vs. Markel (MKL): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Insurance industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

CNA Financial (CNA) at 0.84 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while Markel (MKL) at 1.47 prices around its industry’s middle — CNA costs less per dollar of sales, though read it alongside growth and margins.

CNA

Insurance industry group

0.84

Max
4.03
Q3
2.25
Median
1.23
Q1
0.85
CNA
0.84
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
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CNA Financial (CNA) vs. Markel (MKL): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Insurance industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

On P/B ratio, both CNA Financial (CNA) at 1.25 and Markel (MKL) at 1.28 are valued close to their industries’ norm against book — neither stands out from peers.

CNA

Insurance industry group

1.25

Max
5.07
Q3
2.79
Median
1.76
CNA
1.25
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
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CNA Financial (CNA) vs. Markel (MKL): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Insurance industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for CNA Financial (CNA) and Markel (MKL)
MetricCNAMKL
P/E Ratio (TTM)12.5213.80
P/S Ratio (TTM)0.841.47
P/B Ratio (MRQ)1.251.28
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)----