KE Sees Unusually High Options Volume (NYSE:BEKE)

KE Holdings Inc. (NYSE:BEKE) was the recipient of some unusual options trading on Monday. Stock traders purchased 20,542 call options on the company. This is an increase of approximately 22% compared to the average volume of 16,800 call options.

KE Trading Down 0.9%

BEKE opened at $19.05 on Tuesday. The stock’s 50 day simple moving average is $20.25 and its 200-day simple moving average is $19.69. The stock has a market cap of $23.02 billion, a PE ratio of 38.88, a P/E/G ratio of 3.45 and a beta of -0.73. KE has a 1 year low of $12.92 and a 1 year high of $26.05.

KE Increases Dividend

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

Hedge Funds Weigh In On KE

A number of hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the business. China Universal Asset Management Co. Ltd. raised its position in KE by 55.0% in the fourth quarter. China Universal Asset Management Co. Ltd. now owns 169,000 shares of the company’s stock worth $3,113,000 after purchasing an additional 60,000 shares in the last quarter. ABS Direct Equity Fund LLC grew its stake in shares of KE by 284.5% in the 4th quarter. ABS Direct Equity Fund LLC now owns 84,200 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,551,000 after purchasing an additional 62,300 shares during the period. Atomi Financial Group Inc. acquired a new position in shares of KE in the 4th quarter worth approximately $234,000. Park Avenue Securities LLC acquired a new position in shares of KE in the 4th quarter worth approximately $304,000. Finally, Caas Capital Management LP bought a new position in shares of KE during the 4th quarter worth approximately $1,689,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 39.34% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of brokerages have recently commented on BEKE. Jefferies Financial Group reiterated a “buy” rating on shares of KE in a report on Tuesday, March 18th. Citigroup cut their target price on shares of KE from $25.80 to $24.80 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Friday. UBS Group upgraded shares of KE from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and raised their price target for the stock from $22.10 to $23.00 in a research report on Friday. Finally, Morgan Stanley boosted their price objective on shares of KE from $19.00 to $27.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Wednesday, March 19th. Six analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating, Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of “Buy” and an average price target of $27.16.

About KE

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.