KE (NYSE:BEKE) Shares Gap Up – What’s Next?

KE Holdings Inc. (NYSE:BEKE)’s stock price gapped up before the market opened on Monday . The stock had previously closed at $18.47, but opened at $19.30. KE shares last traded at $19.16, with a volume of 3,847,150 shares traded.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities research analysts have weighed in on BEKE shares. Citigroup reduced their target price on shares of KE from $25.80 to $24.80 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, May 16th. Morgan Stanley increased their price objective on KE from $19.00 to $27.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Wednesday, March 19th. Wall Street Zen raised KE from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Saturday. Jefferies Financial Group reiterated a “buy” rating on shares of KE in a research report on Tuesday, March 18th. Finally, UBS Group upgraded KE from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and raised their price objective for the stock from $22.10 to $23.00 in a research report on Friday, May 16th. Seven analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating, According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of “Buy” and an average target price of $27.16.

KE Price Performance

The firm has a market cap of $23.25 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 39.27, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.45 and a beta of -0.76. The firm’s fifty day moving average is $19.31 and its 200-day moving average is $19.45.

KE Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a — dividend, which was paid on Friday, April 25th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, April 9th were paid a $0.36 dividend. This represents a dividend yield of 1.4%. This is an increase from KE’s previous — dividend of $0.17. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, April 9th. KE’s payout ratio is currently 58.49%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On KE

Several large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. bought a new position in shares of KE during the 4th quarter worth approximately $30,000. GAMMA Investing LLC acquired a new position in shares of KE during the 1st quarter valued at $34,000. Principal Securities Inc. boosted its stake in KE by 411.9% during the fourth quarter. Principal Securities Inc. now owns 2,068 shares of the company’s stock worth $38,000 after acquiring an additional 1,664 shares in the last quarter. Strs Ohio acquired a new stake in KE in the first quarter worth $44,000. Finally, Wealthquest Corp bought a new stake in KE in the first quarter valued at $79,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 39.34% of the company’s stock.

KE Company 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.