Analysts were expecting Markel Corp. (MKL) [Chart - News - Analysis] to report earnings of $4.50 for last quarter, but MKL beat expectations with actual earnings of $6.02---$1.52 above the consensus estimate.

If you compare last quarter's earnings to the $-14.46 the company made per share during the same quarter a year ago, you can see that MKL’s earnings are up this year.

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Also, if you compare MKL's 11.00% projected earnings-per-share (EPS) growth rate for the next five years with the projected EPS growth rate of 7.65% for the Property & Casualty Insurance industry as a whole during that same time frame, you can see that analysts expect MKL to outperform the industry in the future---which is a good sign for the stock.

Drilling down a little deeper into the Property & Casualty Insurance industry, you can see how analysts believe MKL will stack up against some of the other stocks in the industry, like The Travelers Companies, Inc. (TRV) [Chart - News - Analysis] and ALLIANZ SE (AZ) [Chart - News - Analysis], in the future. Analysts believe TRV's earnings are going to grow at a rate of 7.30% while AZ's earnings are going to grow at a rate of 7.43%.

Earnings season can be a volatile time in the stock market. Check out these videos and articles to be better prepared to take advantage of the large price moves that tend to accompany earnings announcements.

- Earnings Season is Here - Find Out How to Trade It

- Using Options to Trade Earnings

- Understanding Stock Analyst Research and Recommendations

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