AI Squared Management Ltd Acquires Shares of 686,810 KE Holdings Inc. (NYSE:BEKE)

AI Squared Management Ltd acquired a new position in shares of KE Holdings Inc. (NYSE:BEKE) during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm acquired 686,810 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $11,133,000. KE makes up 14.2% of AI Squared Management Ltd’s holdings, making the stock its 2nd biggest holding. AI Squared Management Ltd owned about 0.06% of KE at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the business. Nan Fung Trinity HK Ltd. lifted its position in shares of KE by 44.3% during the 4th quarter. Nan Fung Trinity HK Ltd. now owns 733,790 shares of the company’s stock worth $11,895,000 after buying an additional 225,190 shares during the last quarter. National Bank of Canada FI acquired a new position in shares of KE in the 4th quarter valued at $16,742,000. M&T Bank Corp purchased a new stake in shares of KE in the fourth quarter valued at about $549,000. Los Angeles Capital Management LLC increased its position in KE by 49.7% in the 4th quarter. Los Angeles Capital Management LLC now owns 219,612 shares of the company’s stock valued at $3,560,000 after acquiring an additional 72,958 shares during the period. Finally, EWA LLC lifted its position in KE by 44.7% during the 4th quarter. EWA LLC now owns 20,334 shares of the company’s stock worth $330,000 after acquiring an additional 6,283 shares during the period. 39.34% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

KE Stock Up 2.4 %

Shares of BEKE stock traded up $0.40 during mid-day trading on Thursday, hitting $16.87. 6,647,700 shares of the company’s stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 8,383,783. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $14.08 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $14.59. KE Holdings Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $12.44 and a fifty-two week high of $19.95. The stock has a market cap of $20.80 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 23.87, a PEG ratio of 0.47 and a beta of -0.77.

KE (NYSE:BEKE) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, March 14th. The company reported $0.11 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.08 by $0.03. The company had revenue of $2.85 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.66 billion. KE had a net margin of 7.62% and a return on equity of 9.19%. As a group, analysts anticipate that KE Holdings Inc. will post 0.77 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

KE Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared an annual dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, April 24th. Shareholders of record on Friday, April 5th were issued a $0.351 dividend. This represents a yield of 2.2%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, April 4th. KE’s dividend payout ratio is presently 44.93%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research analysts recently issued reports on BEKE shares. Citigroup reissued a “buy” rating and set a $21.10 price target on shares of KE in a report on Tuesday, March 19th. HSBC reduced their price target on shares of KE from $23.90 to $21.80 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, March 15th.

KE Profile

KE Holdings Inc, through its subsidiaries, engages in operating an integrated online and offline platform for housing transactions and services in the People's Republic of China. It operates through four segments: Existing Home Transaction Services, New Home Transaction Services, Home Renovation and Furnishing, and Emerging and Other Services.