KE Holdings Inc. (NYSE:BEKE) Shares Purchased by Baird Financial Group Inc.

Baird Financial Group Inc. grew its stake in KE Holdings Inc. (NYSE:BEKE - Free Report) by 2.9% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 2,799,381 shares of the company's stock after purchasing an additional 77,767 shares during the period. Baird Financial Group Inc. owned approximately 0.23% of KE worth $51,565,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. acquired a new position in shares of KE during the fourth quarter worth about $30,000. Principal Securities Inc. increased its position in KE by 411.9% during the 4th quarter. Principal Securities Inc. now owns 2,068 shares of the company's stock worth $38,000 after purchasing an additional 1,664 shares during the period. Rakuten Securities Inc. raised its stake in shares of KE by 42.3% during the 4th quarter. Rakuten Securities Inc. now owns 4,762 shares of the company's stock worth $88,000 after buying an additional 1,416 shares in the last quarter. US Bancorp DE lifted its holdings in shares of KE by 42.3% in the 4th quarter. US Bancorp DE now owns 8,826 shares of the company's stock valued at $163,000 after buying an additional 2,623 shares during the period. Finally, PNC Financial Services Group Inc. boosted its stake in shares of KE by 8.8% in the fourth quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 9,379 shares of the company's stock valued at $173,000 after buying an additional 762 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 39.34% of the company's stock.

KE Stock Performance

NYSE:BEKE traded down $0.04 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $19.28. 3,062,535 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 9,504,356. KE Holdings Inc. has a 1 year low of $12.92 and a 1 year high of $26.05. The company has a market cap of $23.30 billion, a PE ratio of 39.35, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.45 and a beta of -0.73. The firm's 50 day simple moving average is $20.73 and its 200 day simple moving average is $19.79.

KE Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a -- dividend, which was paid on Friday, April 25th. Investors of record on Wednesday, April 9th were given a dividend of $0.36 per share. This is an increase from KE's previous -- dividend of $0.17. This represents a dividend yield of 1.4%. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, April 9th. KE's payout ratio is currently 64.58%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

BEKE has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. Morgan Stanley increased their price target on shares of KE from $19.00 to $27.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a report on Wednesday, March 19th. Jefferies Financial Group reaffirmed a "buy" rating on shares of KE in a report on Tuesday, March 18th. Finally, UBS Group downgraded shares of KE from a "buy" rating to a "neutral" rating and lifted their price target for the company from $22.70 to $24.50 in a research report on Thursday, March 20th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $27.26.

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.