Tom Gayner’s Markel Gayner Asset Management Portfolio: Top 10 Finance Stocks

Published November 28, 2021 at 4:28 am EST Updated September 7, 2026 at 1:47 pm EDT

In this article, we discuss Tom Gayner’s Markel Gayner Asset Management’s top 10 finance stocks.

Tom Gayner has been the head of the investment division at Markel Gayner Asset Management since 1990, and he was appointed as the chief investment officer for the asset management firm in 2004. He also acts in the capacity of a Co-CEO at Markel Gayner Asset Management.

Gayner completed his Bachelor’s in Commerce from the University of Virginia in 1983, and has been with Markel Gayner Asset Management since 1990. Gayner also serves as the Chairman of Board at Davis Series Mutual Funds, a position he has held since 2004. In addition to that, Gayner is a director at Cable One, Inc. (NYSE:CABO), Graham Holdings Company (NYSE:GHC), and Colfax Corporation (NYSE:CFX).

Tom Gayner manages a portfolio worth over $7.91 billion for Markel Gayner Asset Management, which has a top ten holdings concentration of 42.65%. The largest holding in Gayner’s investment portfolio, as of June this year, is Brookfield Asset Management Inc. (NYSE:BAM), with Markel Gayner Asset Management owning stakes valued at $466.38 million in Brookfield Asset Management Inc. (NYSE:BAM).

As of June this year, 37.14% of Gayner’s portfolio consists of finance stocks. This suggests Tom Gayner’s immense interest in the finance sector. Some of the most notable finance stocks in Markel Gayner Asset Management’s Q2 portfolio are Visa Inc. (NYSE:V), Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA), The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (NYSE:GS), and American Express Company (NYSE:AXP), among others discussed in detail below.

Tom Gayner's Markel Gayner Asset Management Portfolio: Top 10 Finance Stocks

Tom Gayner of Markel Gayner Asset Management

Our Methodology

With this context in mind, let’s discuss the top 10 finance stocks of Tom Gayner’s Markel Gayner Asset Management. We used the Q2 portfolio of Markel Gayner Asset Management to select the companies that exclusively operate in the financial services sector.

Tom Gayner’s Markel Gayner Asset Management Portfolio: Top Finance Stocks

10. Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA)

Markel Gayner Asset Management’s Stake Value: $72,157,000

Percentage of Markel Gayner Asset Management’s 13F Portfolio: 0.91%

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 156

Mastercard Incorporated, a top finance stock from Tom Gayner’s Q2 portfolio, is an American multinational corporation operating in the financial services sector, offering paperless transactions via its debit, credit, and prepaid cards. Markel Gayner Asset Management owns 207,540 shares in Mastercard Incorporated, worth $72.15 million, representing 0.91% of the firm’s portfolio as of June this year.

Mastercard Incorporated, on October 28, reported that the Q3 EPS came in at $2.37, beating estimates by $0.18. Similarly, revenue for the quarter was $4.99 billion, exceeding estimated revenue by $35.79 million.

Ivan Feinseth, an analyst from the investment advisory Tigress Financial, on November 5 kept a Strong Buy rating on Mastercard Incorporated, with a $460 price target. He stated that shares of Mastercard Incorporated are surprisingly weak, even after the Q3 earnings beat.

As of the second quarter of 2021, 156 hedge funds among the 873 funds tracked by Insider Monkey were bullish on Mastercard Incorporated, up from 151 in the preceding quarter.

Here is what Polen Capital has to say about Mastercard Incorporated in its Q3 2021 investor letter:

“Mastercard faced pressure as some believe these “old payment infrastructure” businesses will be disrupted by newer fintech companies using blockchain, buy now, pay later (BNPL), or other innovations to provide better/cheaper payment services. However, we believe that some of these technologies have meaningful limitations which could benefit existing payment networks. For example, BNPL transactions are often funded with cards and turn a one-time transaction into many smaller ones with more transaction fees for Mastercard. Just like with regulation, we continually monitor for competition and technological disruption. As of now, we do not see a significant risk in the foreseeable future to this company.”

9. The Charles Schwab Corporation (NYSE:SCHW)

Markel Gayner Asset Management’s Stake Value: $79,781,000

Percentage of Markel Gayner Asset Management’s 13F Portfolio: 1.00%

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 72

An American financial services company dealing in commercial banking, wealth management, and electronic trading, The Charles Schwab Corporation (NYSE:SCHW) is a top finance stock according to Tom Gayner’s Markel Gayner Asset Management, as of the second quarter. The Charles Schwab Corporation caters to retail and institutional clients via its network of more than 360 branches across the United States and the United Kingdom. Markel Gayner Asset Management owns stakes worth $79.78 million in The Charles Schwab Corporation, representing 1.00% of the firm’s stock portfolio as of June.

On October 15, the Q3 EPS for The Charles Schwab Corporation came in at $0.84, beating analysts’ consensus estimates by $0.03. Revenue for the quarter equaled $4.57 billion, exceeding estimated revenue by $47.10 million.

Morgan Stanley analyst Michael Cyprys kept an Overweight rating on The Charles Schwab Corporation, raising the price target to $115 from $97 as of October 26. He believes that The Charles Schwab Corporation is uniquely positioned to capture the Gen Y and Gen Z customers.

As of the second quarter, 72 hedge funds were bullish on The Charles Schwab Corporation, down from 76 in the preceding quarter.

In addition to Visa Inc., Mastercard Incorporated, The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., and American Express Company, The Charles Schwab Corporation is a top finance stock according to Tom Gayner.

Here is what Lakehouse Capital has to say about The Charles Schwab Corporation in its Q2 2021 investor letter:

“Charles Schwab is not a household name in Australia but it is in the US where it is the largest discount broker with more than 32 million brokerage accounts, 2 million corporate retirement plans, and total client assets of US$7.4 trillion. Schwab’s shares performed extremely well during the year thanks to a confluence of factors including a strong stock market with the S&P 500 up 39% year-on-year, the company’s recent merger with industry heavyweight TD Ameritrade, and expectations that interest rate income would grow as the US economy gained steam.

Two other important contributors to Schwab’s year, which were a mix of cyclical and structural, were an increase in net new accounts and increased trading activity. We view these as cyclical in the sense that markets are performing very well and that retail investors have been bored and emboldened during the American lockdowns, however, also structural because Schwab’s shift to $0 commissions on equity trades has permanently reduced a barrier to trading for investors with smaller accounts. We also note that, while brokerage activity is cyclical, the average brokerage account itself is very sticky — we estimate normalised annual retention rates for accounts of better than 93% — and that the average client assets per account grow over time thanks to asset growth and clients collectively being net savers.

Schwab makes for an excellent natural hedge for the Fund as Schwab tends to perform well when interest rates increase, which is generally negative for the rest of the portfolio. And the position did its job for us by increasing during a rising interest rate environment, enabling us to harvest much of our gains from Schwab and redeploy them to shares of other growth companies that had gotten cheaper in response to higher rates. We’re mindful of the run in the shares and the cyclical nature of the business but comfortable keeping a small position for now given Schwab’s natural hedging dynamics, extremely loyal customers, and an industry-leading position in a growing market.”

8. American Express Company (NYSE:AXP)

Markel Gayner Asset Management’s Stake Value: $81,126,000

Percentage of Markel Gayner Asset Management’s 13F Portfolio: 1.02%

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 52

American Express Company, a top finance stock according to Tom Gayner, is an American multinational offering financial services, with its main products being credit cards, charge cards, and traveler’s cheques. American Express Company is also engaged in corporate banking. Markel Gayner Asset Management, as of June this year, owns 484,250 shares in American Express Company, amounting to $81.12 million. This stock represents 1.02% of Gayner’s Q2 portfolio.

At the end of June, 52 hedge funds monitored by Insider Monkey’s database of elite funds were long American Express Company, down from 53 in the preceding quarter.

On October 22, American Express Company reported earnings for the third quarter, with the EPS coming in at $2.27. The Q3 EPS beat estimates by $0.52. Similarly, American Express Company’s revenue for the quarter came in at $10.93 billion, exceeding estimates by $382.39 million.

BMO Capital analyst James Fotheringham, on October 25, kept a Market Perform rating on American Express Company, raising the price target from $147 to $151. After the strong Q3 earnings, the analyst predicts higher net interest income, reduced loan loss provisions, and lower share counts. However, Fotheringham describes the valuation on American Express Company as “stretched”.

Here is what ClearBridge Investments has to say about American Express Company in its Q2 2021 investor letter:

“In financials, American Express has done an excellent job demonstrating the resiliency of its franchise in the midst of a global pandemic that drove a 60% decline in its core travel and entertainment business. The company’s spend-centric model has been helped by fiscal stimulus ensuring a flush consumer, while management continues to execute well by adding millions of new consumer and small and medium business accounts, which should benefit the franchise over the medium to long term. We remain optimistic regarding the company’s prospects as travel and entertainment activity rebounds, adding to our position in the quarter.”

7. MSCI Inc. (NYSE:MSCI)

Markel Gayner Asset Management’s Stake Value: $83,342,000

Percentage of Markel Gayner Asset Management’s 13F Portfolio: 1.05%

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 37

MSCI Inc. (NYSE:MSCI) is one of the top finance stock picks of Tom Gayner’s Markel Gayner Asset Management, with the investment firm owning 137,000 shares in MSCI Inc., worth $83.34 million, representing 1.05% of the firm’s portfolio as of June this year. MSCI Inc. is an American finance company specializing in equity, fixed income, stock market indices, multi-asset portfolio analysis, and ESG products.

MSCI Inc., on October 26, reported Q3 earnings. EPS in the period totaled $2.53, beating estimates by $0.10. The actual revenue for the quarter came in at $517.10 million, beating estimated revenue by $7.60 million.

Owen Lau, an Oppenheimer analyst, on October 27 kept an Outperform rating on MSCI Inc., raising the price target from $685 to $713. The analyst believes that MSCI Inc. has strong growth fundamentals owing to its index products and ESG products.

Here is what Richie Capital Group has to say about MSCI Inc. in its Q3 2021 investor letter:

“MSCI (MSCI – up 14.36%) – We discussed this investment last quarter as well. In addition to a strong reported earnings quarter, MSCI also announced the acquisition of Real Capital Analytics (RCA), a commercial real estate and analytics provider. RCA aggregates transaction data to provide insights and analysis on market pricing and investment trends. Combined with offerings from their strategic partner Burgiss, the acquisition will allow MSCI to provide data and insights on commercial real estate, market activity, performance and risk. The acquisition will expand the suite of data products and analytic solutions MSCI can provide to its over 7,500 clients in 85 countries. In conjunction with the acquisition, MSCI raised $700M in a senior note offering to refinance their existing debt.”

6. KKR & Co. Inc. (NYSE:KKR)

Markel Gayner Asset Management’s Stake Value: $86,225,000

Percentage of Markel Gayner Asset Management’s 13F Portfolio: 1.09%

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 54

KKR & Co. Inc. is one of the top finance stocks to buy now, according to Markel Gayner Asset Management, with the investment firm owning stakes worth $86.2 million in KKR & Co. Inc., representing 1.09% of its stock portfolio as of the second quarter. KKR & Co. Inc. is a global investment corporation that is engaged in private equity, investment banking, credit, and hedge funds, as well as sponsoring investments in the real estate, energy, and infrastructure sectors.

KKR & Co. Inc., on November 2, posted Q3 earnings. The EPS for the quarter totaled $1.05, beating estimates by $0.10. The Q3 revenue for KKR & Co. Inc. came in at $818.58 million, surpassing analysts’ estimates by $108.92 million.

KKR & Co. Inc. announced on November 2 a dividend of $0.145 per common share, payable on November 30 to shareholders on record as of November 15.

Argus analyst Stephen Biggar kept a Buy rating and raised the price target on KKR & Co. Inc. from $72 to $94 on November 4.

Like Visa Inc., Mastercard Incorporated, The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., and American Express Company, KKR & Co. Inc. is a top finance stock to invest in.

Here is what Greenhaven Road Capital has to say about KKR & Co. Inc. in its Q3 2021 investor letter:

“KKR (KKR) – This remains an extremely resilient business with an A+ team enjoying the secular tailwinds of the migration of investable dollars toward alternative assets, where large allocators like the returns and love the muted volatility.”

5. The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (NYSE:GS)

Markel Gayner Asset Management’s Stake Value: $129,990,000

Percentage of Markel Gayner Asset Management’s 13F Portfolio: 1.64%

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 61

The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. is one of the top finance stock picks of Tom Gayner, who owns 343,860 shares in The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. as of June this year, via Markel Gayner Asset Management. With a stake value of $129.99 million, The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. represents 1.64% of Gayner’s investment portfolio. The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. is a multinational investment bank and financial services corporation, specializing in investment management, asset management, securities writing, and prime brokerage, in addition to commercial and investment banking.

Of the 873 hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey as of the second quarter, 61 funds were long The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., down from 77 in the preceding quarter.

The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. announced earnings for Q3 on October 15. The EPS for the period equaled $14.93, exceeding estimates by $4.92. The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.’s actual revenue totaled $13.61 billion, beating estimates by $1.99 billion.

Oppenheimer analyst Chris Kotowski on October 18 kept an Outperform rating on The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., raising the price target from $520 to $570, owing to the exceptional Q3 earnings beat.

Here is what Ariel Investments has to say about The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. in its Q2 2021 investor letter:

“Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (GS) returned +16.45%. Goldman has posted a series of excellent quarterly results. Merger and equity offering activity has been robust with trading profits bolstered by strong capital market volumes. Goldman’s asset management business has also performed well. Regulators recently moved to allow most large investment banks to return capital to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases. Fundamentally, we think Goldman Sachs is attractively priced at approximately 11 times earnings and a very reasonable multiple of book value.”

4. Blackstone Inc. (NYSE:BX)

Markel Gayner Asset Management’s Stake Value: $142,982,000

Percentage of Markel Gayner Asset Management’s 13F Portfolio: 1.80%

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 54

Blackstone Inc. (NYSE:BX) is an American financial services company focused on alternative investment management and private equity. Headquartered in New York, Blackstone Inc. was originally established as a mergers and acquisitions company in 1985, before it expanded into other financial services. Blackstone Inc. is one of the top finance stocks in Tom Gayner’s Q2 portfolio, with Markel Gayner Asset Management owning 1.22 million shares in Blackstone Inc., worth $142.9 million, representing 1.80% of the firm’s Q2 portfolio.

Earnings for the third quarter were posted on October 21 by Blackstone Inc.. EPS for the period totaled $1.28, beating estimates by $0.36. Revenue for the quarter came in at $3.04 billion, exceeding estimated revenue by $872.27 million.

BofA analyst Craig Siegenthaler, on November 4, kept a Buy rating on Blackstone Inc., with a $182 price target. The analyst stated that the retail channel will allow Blackstone Inc. to achieve tremendous earnings growth.

As of the second quarter of 2021, 54 hedge funds were long Blackstone Inc., compared to 49 in the preceding quarter.

Here is what Artisan Partners has to say about Blackstone Inc. in its Q2 2021 investor letter:

“Top contributors included The Blackstone Group. Investment stalwart Blackstone Group’s virtuous cycle is in full swing. Throughout Blackstone’s history, excellent investment performance and capital protection have allowed the firm to increase fundraising in existing verticals as well as launch new endeavors. Historically, less than 10% of assets under management matures in any given year, and that number should move lower with continued growth in perpetual capital vehicles. Blackstone’s A+ rated balance sheet and capital-light model are the backbone of its 85% of cash flow distribution policy via a variable quarterly dividend.”

3. BlackRock, Inc. (NYSE:BLK)

Markel Gayner Asset Management’s Stake Value: $184,673,000

Percentage of Markel Gayner Asset Management’s 13F Portfolio: 2.33%

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 47

Another top finance stock according to Markel Gayner Asset Management is BlackRock, Inc. (NYSE:BLK), which is an American multinational investment management corporation, with clients in over 100 countries. BlackRock, Inc. is the largest asset manager on a global level. Markel Gayner Asset Management owns stakes valued at $184.67 million in BlackRock, Inc. as of June this year, which accounts for 2.33% of the firm’s investment portfolio.

BlackRock, Inc. on October 13 posted Q3 results. The EPS for the quarter came in at $10.95, beating estimated EPS by $1.44. BlackRock, Inc.’s Q3 revenue was $5.05 billion, surpassing estimates by $230.32 million.

BofA analyst Craig Siegenthaler, on November 3, reinstated coverage of BlackRock, Inc. with a Buy rating and a $1,080 price target. He believes that BlackRock, Inc. will continue to outperform since it enjoys a leading market share and an early mover advantage in the financial services industry.

Out of the 873 hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey, 47 funds were bullish on BlackRock, Inc. at the end of June this year, up from 42 in the preceding quarter.

Here is what Baron FinTech Fund has to say about BlackRock, Inc. in its Q1 2021 investor letter:

“During the quarter, we initiated a position in BlackRock Inc., the world’s largest investment manager with $9 trillion in assets under management. BlackRock offers an array of products across equities, fixed income, alternatives, and cash management to institutional and retail investors worldwide. About one-quarter of BlackRock’s assets under management is actively managed, and the rest is in passive index funds and iShares-branded ETFs. The company offers technology services including the investment and risk management platform, Aladdin, as well as other advisory services and solutions. Over the five years ending December 31, 2020, assets under management and earnings per share grew at compound annual growth rates of 13% and 12%, respectively.

We believe BlackRock is well positioned for continued growth given its diverse product offering, global distribution, brand recognition, and capable management team. With most of its assets in index funds and ETFs, BlackRock is a prime beneficiary of the ongoing shift to passive investing. The company also benefits from increasing demand for sustainable investment strategies and “barbell” strategies that use a combination of low-cost index funds, active and illiquid alternatives products. BlackRock fits squarely within our Tech-Enabled Financials theme given its longstanding commitment to innovation and proprietary technology platform, Aladdin, which serves as the investment and risk management system for both BlackRock and a growing number of institutional investors around the world. We expect BlackRock’s earnings per share will continue to grow at a double digit annual rate over a market cycle through a combination of mid-single-digit growth in assets under management from net inflows, market appreciation, low to mid-teens revenue growth in technology services, modest margin expansion, and share repurchases.”

2. Visa Inc. (NYSE:V)

Markel Gayner Asset Management’s Stake Value: $213,404,000

Percentage of Markel Gayner Asset Management’s 13F Portfolio: 2.69%

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 162

Visa Inc. is a California-based financial services mega company that facilitates digital transfer of funds via credit, debit, and prepaid cards. Visa Inc.’s cards are available worldwide, and it is one of the most valuable global companies. Visa Inc. is also a top finance stock in the investment portfolio of Markel Gayner Asset Management as of June this year, with the investment firm owning 958,040 shares in Visa Inc., worth $213.4 million. This stock accounts for 2.69% of the firm’s Q2 portfolio.

On October 26, Visa Inc. posted Q3 earnings. The EPS came in at $1.62, beating estimates by $0.08. Visa Inc.’s revenue for the third quarter totaled $6.56 billion, exceeding estimated revenue by $45.89 million.

Mizuho analyst Dan Dolev, on November 1, lowered the price target of Visa Inc. from $275 to $255, and kept a Buy rating on the shares.

As of the second quarter of 2021, 162 hedge funds monitored by Insider Monkey were reportedly bullish on Visa Inc., compared to 164 in the preceding quarter.

Here is what Polen Capital has to say about Visa Inc. in its Q3 2021 investor letter:

“Visa Inc. faced pressure as some believe these “old payment infrastructure” businesses will be disrupted by newer fintech companies using blockchain, buy now, pay later (BNPL), or other innovations to provide better/cheaper payment services. However, we believe that some of these technologies have meaningful limitations which could benefit existing payment networks. For example, BNPL transactions are often funded with cards and turn a one-time transaction into many smaller ones with more transaction fees for Visa. Just like with regulation, we continually monitor for competition and technological disruption. As of now, we do not see a significant risk in the foreseeable future to this company.”

1. Brookfield Asset Management Inc. (NYSE:BAM)

Markel Gayner Asset Management’s Stake Value: $466,380,000

Percentage of Markel Gayner Asset Management’s 13F Portfolio: 5.89%

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 34

Brookfield Asset Management Inc. is an alternative asset management company, being one of the largest market players in the financial services industry. Brookfield Asset Management Inc. specializes in private equity, credit, and has controlling investments in the infrastructure, renewable energy, and real estate sectors. The Toronto-based corporation is a top finance stock to invest in, as per Markel Gayner’s Asset Management’s investment portfolio at the end of June this year, with the investment firm owning 8.71 million shares in Brookfield Asset Management Inc., worth $466.3 million, representing 5.89% of the firm’s 13F portfolio.

As of the second quarter of 2021, 34 hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey reported owning stakes in Brookfield Asset Management Inc., worth $1.65 billion. This is compared to the same number of hedge funds in the preceding quarter, with an approximate stake value of $1.38 billion.

Here is what Baron Funds has to say about Brookfield Asset Management Inc. in its Q2 2021 investor letter:

“The shares of long-term holding Brookfield Asset Management Inc. gained 15% in the most recent quarter. The company is a leading alternative asset manager focused on investing in high-quality real estate and infrastructure related assets that tend to generate predictable and growing cash flows. We remain bullish about the ongoing prospects for Brookfield given the secular growth opportunity for alternative assets, the company’s many competitive advantages including scale, global capabilities, its well known brand name, operating expertise, and performance track record. We hold management in high regard and believe the shares remain attractively valued.”

You can also take a look at Billionaire Stephen Mandel’s Top 10 Stock Picks and Tech Stock Portfolio: 10 Tech Stock Picks from Andrew Immerman and Jeremy Schiffman’s Palestra Capital Management.

Follow Insider Monkey on Twitter