KE (NYSE:BEKE) Upgraded to “Buy” at UBS Group

UBS Group upgraded shares of KE (NYSE:BEKE) from a neutral rating to a buy rating in a research note released on Friday morning, MarketBeat reports. UBS Group currently has $23.00 target price on the stock, up from their previous target price of $22.10.

A number of other equities analysts also recently weighed in on the stock. Jefferies Financial Group reissued a “buy” rating on shares of KE in a research note on Tuesday, March 18th. Morgan Stanley lifted their target price on shares of KE from $19.00 to $27.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Wednesday, March 19th. Six analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating, Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of “Buy” and an average price target of $27.16.

KE Stock Performance

BEKE stock opened at $19.24 on Friday. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $20.32 and a 200-day moving average price of $19.72. The company has a market capitalization of $23.25 billion, a P/E ratio of 39.27, a PEG ratio of 3.45 and a beta of -0.73. KE has a 52-week low of $12.92 and a 52-week high of $26.05.

KE Increases Dividend

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

Institutional Investors Weigh In On KE

A number of large investors have recently bought and sold shares of BEKE. Park Avenue Securities LLC acquired a new stake in KE in the fourth quarter worth $304,000. Atomi Financial Group Inc. acquired a new stake in KE in the fourth quarter worth $234,000. Blue Trust Inc. grew its holdings in KE by 86.8% in the fourth quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 27,810 shares of the company’s stock worth $554,000 after purchasing an additional 12,924 shares during the period. Union Bancaire Privee UBP SA acquired a new stake in KE in the fourth quarter worth $409,000. Finally, ABS Direct Equity Fund LLC grew its holdings in KE by 284.5% in the fourth quarter. ABS Direct Equity Fund LLC now owns 84,200 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,551,000 after purchasing an additional 62,300 shares during the period. 39.34% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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.