Markel announces collaboration with Upfort to help enhance protection for U.S. cyber policyholders

Rhea-AI Summary

Markel (NYSE: MKL) announced a collaboration with Upfort on Feb. 19, 2026 to offer eligible U.S. cyber policyholders access to Upfort Shield, an AI-powered multi-layer cyber defense platform and an easy-to-deploy EDR solution.

The offering includes advanced email protection, continuous monitoring and employee training, intended to help predict, prevent and recover from cyber threats; service availability and pricing may vary.

Key Figures

Operating revenues: $15.51B Adjusted operating income: $2.30B Operating income: $3.19B +4 more

7 metrics

Operating revenues $15.51B Full-year 2025; up 5% YoY

Adjusted operating income $2.30B Full-year 2025; up 10% YoY

Operating income $3.19B Full-year 2025; down 14% YoY

Share repurchases $429.5M Repurchased in 2025

Shares outstanding 12.6M Year-end 2025

Combined ratio 95% Markel Insurance 2025

Return on equity 14% Full-year 2025

Market Reality Check

Price: $2071.16 Vol: Volume 30,843 vs 20-day a...

low vol

$2071.16 Last Close

Volume Volume 30,843 vs 20-day average 50,412 suggests subdued trading interest pre-announcement. low

Technical Price 2071.16 is trading above 200-day MA at 1993.22, indicating a longer-term uptrend into this news.

Peers on Argus

MKL was down 0.64% alongside peers CINF (-1.4%), WRB (-0.34%), L (-1.56%), HIG (...

MKL was down 0.64% alongside peers CINF (-1.4%), WRB (-0.34%), L (-1.56%), HIG (-1.33%) and CNA (-0.64%), indicating a broader property & casualty insurance fade rather than a company-specific move pre-release.

Previous Partnership Reports

2 past events · Latest: Nov 20 (Positive)

Same Type Pattern 2 events

Date	Event	Sentiment	Move	Catalyst
Nov 20	Environmental partnership	Positive	-0.0%	Collaboration with Greenhouse to deliver environmental casualty insurance solutions.
Sep 02	Nephila operations deal	Positive	-0.6%	Nephila selected SEI to handle back- and middle-office operations globally.

Pattern Detected

Recent partnership-related announcements have been strategically positive but followed by slightly negative next-day price moves.

Recent Company History

Over the past several months, Markel has emphasized strategic partnerships to enhance specialized capabilities. In September 2025, its Nephila Capital unit chose SEI as a global strategic partner to support operations on roughly $7 billion of ILS assets. In November 2025, Markel announced a collaboration with Greenhouse Specialty Insurance Services to deliver environmental casualty solutions. Today’s collaboration with Upfort continues this pattern of using external platforms to deepen product capabilities and underwriting tools.

Historical Comparison

-0.3% avg move · In the past year, MKL disclosed 2 partnership-type announcements, with an average next-day move of -...

partnership

-0.3%

Average Historical Move partnership

In the past year, MKL disclosed 2 partnership-type announcements, with an average next-day move of -0.3%, suggesting modest, slightly negative historical reactions to similar collaborations.

Partnerships have expanded from operational support for Nephila and environmental solutions with Greenhouse to cyber risk tools via Upfort, broadening Markel’s specialty and data-driven underwriting capabilities.

Market Pulse Summary

This announcement highlights Markel’s push to enhance cyber offerings by providing Upfort’s multi-la...

Analysis

This announcement highlights Markel’s push to enhance cyber offerings by providing Upfort’s multi-layer defense and EDR tools to eligible U.S. cyber policyholders. It follows earlier partnerships in environmental risks and ILS operations, underscoring a theme of using specialist platforms to support underwriting and service. Investors may watch adoption levels, impacts on cyber claim frequency, and how these tools inform Markel’s data-driven underwriting approach.

Key Terms

endpoint detection and response, behavioral analytics

2 terms

endpoint detection and response technical

"access to an easy-to-deploy endpoint detection and response (EDR) solution"

Endpoint detection and response (EDR) is a cybersecurity system that watches individual devices like computers and servers for suspicious activity and helps stop attacks in real time, combining automated alerts with tools to investigate and remediate threats. For investors, EDR matters because it reduces the risk of data breaches and operational downtime—protecting revenue, regulatory standing and company reputation much like a security camera plus rapid response team protects a storefront.

behavioral analytics technical

"EDR solution that uses behavioral analytics to help reduce the chance of a breach"

Behavioral analytics is the process of collecting and studying how people interact with a product, website, or service to identify patterns in actions like clicks, purchases, or time spent. For investors, it reveals whether customers are engaging, adopting, or abandoning offerings — similar to watching shoppers’ paths in a store — which helps predict revenue growth, assess product-market fit, and spot risks to future earnings.

AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.

RICHMOND, Va., Feb. 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Markel, the insurance operations within Markel Group Inc. (NYSE: MKL), announced today a new collaboration with Upfort to provide eligible U.S. cyber policyholders with an expanded suite of tools to help them safeguard their businesses and help reduce the risk of cyberattacks.

Upfort Shield, a multi-layer cyber defense platform, is now available to Markel eligible cyber policyholders, providing AI-powered, automated protection against common cyber threats. Policyholders can also gain access to an easy-to-deploy endpoint detection and response (EDR) solution that uses behavioral analytics to help reduce the chance of a breach. Service availability and pricing may vary.

"Markel's relationship with Upfort helps strengthen our 360-degree approach to cyber insurance protection and ensures we are there for our clients before, during and after a cyber incident," said Paul Melone, Executive Underwriting Officer, Professional Liability at Markel. "Providing businesses with tools that help them predict, prevent and recover from threats empowers them to stay resilient and confident in an increasingly complex digital environment."

"This collaboration aligns with Markel's long-term cyber strategy to provide innovative insurance solutions for middle-market businesses," said Raphael Da Costa, Senior Director, U.S. Cyber and Tech at Markel. "It allows us to broaden our appetite, helping our policyholders strengthen their risk prevention, and position ourselves to deliver customized cyber coverage as the market continues to mature."

With capabilities ranging from advanced email protection to continuous monitoring and employee training, Upfort equips businesses with employee training, EDR and practical, easy-to-use tools that help strengthen resilience while allowing them to stay focused on running and growing their operations.

"By deploying the full Upfort Shield platform, Markel is adopting a proven cybersecurity solution with a multi-year track record of drastically reducing claim frequency," said Josh Riley, Co-Founder of Upfort. "This collaboration can deliver market-leading value to policyholders to help prevent cyberattacks while also equipping Markel with the actionable intelligence needed to lead the next era of data-driven underwriting."

Click here to learn more about Upfort's capabilities.

About Markel Insurance

We are Markel Insurance, a leading global specialty insurer with a truly people-first approach. As the insurance operations within the Markel Group Inc. (NYSE: MKL), we leverage a broad array of capabilities and expertise to create intelligent solutions for the most complex specialty insurance needs. However, it is our people—and the deep, valued relationships they develop with colleagues, brokers and clients—that differentiates us worldwide. 

About Upfort

Upfort is a leading cybersecurity platform focused on closing the protection gap through AI-powered defense and intelligent automation. By leveraging proprietary threat intelligence and insurance claims data, its advanced behavioral models are designed to stop high-impact attacks that bypass traditional controls. Upfort equips organizations of all sizes with the essential layers of cyber defense proven to prevent loss.

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SOURCE Markel

FAQ

What did Markel (MKL) announce with Upfort on February 19, 2026?

Markel announced a collaboration to make Upfort Shield available to eligible U.S. cyber policyholders. According to Markel, Upfort Shield is an AI-powered, multi-layer platform plus EDR and employee training to help reduce cyber risk and support incident recovery.

How will the Upfort collaboration affect Markel (MKL) cyber policyholders?

Eligible policyholders can access AI-driven protection, EDR, and training to reduce breach risk and improve response. According to Markel, these tools aim to help policyholders predict, prevent and recover from cyber incidents while strengthening resilience and operational continuity.

Does Markel (MKL) say Upfort Shield reduces claim frequency?

Markel cites Upfort's claim of a multi-year track record of reducing claim frequency. According to Markel, deploying the full Upfort Shield can provide actionable intelligence to support data-driven underwriting and potentially lower incident counts.

Will all Markel (MKL) cyber customers get Upfort Shield and what about pricing?

Upfort Shield is available to eligible U.S. cyber policyholders; not all customers are guaranteed access. According to Markel, service availability and pricing may vary, implying access and cost depend on eligibility and program terms.

What capabilities does Upfort Shield provide to Markel (MKL) clients?

Upfort Shield offers advanced email protection, continuous monitoring, behavioral analytics EDR, and employee training to strengthen defenses. According to Markel, the platform combines automated AI protection and practical tools to help reduce common cyber threats and improve readiness.