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The week's question
In December 2024, in the thread "Re: BRK: Why Not XOM?", BreckHutHigh asked the members: "What about the long road trips with kids?" This week it is put to everyone again. The button below opens the small thread re-asking it - read what others have said so far, then give your own answer as an ordinary reply.
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Stocks A to Z / Stocks M / Markel (MKL)
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Author: mdtls   😊 😞
Number: of 80 
Subject: Re: MKL q1
Date: 04/29/26 1:13 PM
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No. of Recommendations: 4
With respect, the earnings call sounded like more CYA. Q1 was a mega clunker.

I wish these guys could string together more than 2-3 quarters without crapping the bed. I'm nauseous from the relentless ups and downs.

Tom Gaynor needs to put down the MKL 'spirit king' megaphone and focus. The rah, rah, rah schtick was cute at first, now it is annoying. Reminds me of Ballmer at Microsoft working himself into a sweat rallying the troops while his leadership results conjured one of the longest periods of dead money in history.

Managing a portfolio of 128 positions? Really...? 128?! His biggest position (idea) is BRK at 12'ish% of the portfolio. His next (idea) is GOOG at 6'ish%. The remaining 126 are noisy teeny tiny ideas. Just buy the index Tom, and focus your time on insurance risk. Our results will improve.

They wont give hard numbers on "Ventures", buybacks are meh, and no divvy.

Apologies but these results really got me up on the wrong side of bed...

I've had a rather outsized position with MKL since 2012, patiently waiting.
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This community has written 80 posts about Markel. The article-length ones it recommended most:
Relative valuations vs observable performance · 22 recs · 2024
Reunion Notes · 17 recs · 2026
3-5 year appreciation potential · 9 recs · 2024
MKL Omaha Brunch notes · 9 recs · 2024
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