2,428,713 Shares in KE Holdings Inc. (NYSE:BEKE) Purchased by BNP Paribas Financial Markets

BNP Paribas Financial Markets purchased a new position in shares of KE Holdings Inc. (NYSE:BEKE - Free Report) in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor purchased 2,428,713 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $44,737,000. BNP Paribas Financial Markets owned 0.20% of KE at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in BEKE. Ameriprise Financial Inc. lifted its position in shares of KE by 253.8% during the fourth quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. now owns 1,333,337 shares of the company's stock worth $24,560,000 after purchasing an additional 956,476 shares in the last quarter. Aspex Management HK Ltd acquired a new position in KE in the 4th quarter worth $119,996,000. Hhlr Advisors LTD. boosted its position in KE by 3.6% in the 4th quarter. Hhlr Advisors LTD. now owns 11,261,276 shares of the company's stock valued at $207,433,000 after buying an additional 392,588 shares during the last quarter. Northern Trust Corp grew its stake in shares of KE by 180.1% during the fourth quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 3,699,677 shares of the company's stock valued at $68,148,000 after acquiring an additional 2,378,858 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Voya Investment Management LLC increased its position in shares of KE by 30.8% during the fourth quarter. Voya Investment Management LLC now owns 46,276 shares of the company's stock worth $852,000 after acquiring an additional 10,889 shares during the last quarter. 39.34% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

KE Stock Down 0.2 %

Shares of BEKE traded down $0.04 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $19.28. The stock had a trading volume of 3,062,535 shares, compared to its average volume of 9,504,356. The company has a market cap of $23.30 billion, a PE ratio of 39.35, a PEG ratio of 3.45 and a beta of -0.73. KE Holdings Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $12.92 and a fifty-two week high of $26.05. The company's fifty day simple moving average is $20.73 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $19.79.

KE Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a -- dividend, which was paid on Friday, April 25th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, April 9th were paid a dividend of $0.36 per share. This is a positive change from KE's previous -- dividend of $0.17. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, April 9th. This represents a yield of 1.4%. KE's payout ratio is presently 64.58%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research analysts recently commented on BEKE shares. Jefferies Financial Group reissued a "buy" rating on shares of KE in a report on Tuesday, March 18th. UBS Group downgraded shares of KE from a "buy" rating to a "neutral" rating and raised their price target for the stock from $22.70 to $24.50 in a research report on Thursday, March 20th. Finally, Morgan Stanley upped 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. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price 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.