KE Holdings Inc. (NYSE:BEKE) Given Consensus Recommendation of "Buy" by Analysts

KE Holdings Inc. (NYSE:BEKE - Get Free Report) has earned a consensus rating of "Buy" from the six research firms that are presently covering the firm, Marketbeat reports. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating. The average 12 month price objective among brokers that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $27.16.

BEKE has been the subject of several analyst reports. UBS Group raised shares of KE from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and raised their price target for the company from $22.10 to $23.00 in a research report on Friday, May 16th. Jefferies Financial Group reissued a "buy" rating on shares of KE in a report on Tuesday, March 18th. Morgan Stanley upped their price target on KE from $19.00 to $27.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a report on Wednesday, March 19th. Finally, Citigroup reduced their price objective on KE from $25.80 to $24.80 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a report on Friday, May 16th.

KE Price Performance

KE stock traded down $0.03 during mid-day trading on Monday, reaching $19.00. The stock had a trading volume of 11,099,842 shares, compared to its average volume of 9,328,825. KE has a one year low of $12.92 and a one year high of $26.05. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $19.28 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $19.44. The company has a market capitalization of $22.96 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 38.78, a PEG ratio of 3.45 and a beta of -0.76.

KE Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a -- dividend, which was paid on Friday, April 25th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, April 9th were issued a dividend of $0.36 per share. This represents a dividend yield of 1.4%. This is a boost from KE's previous -- dividend of $0.17. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, April 9th. KE's dividend payout ratio is presently 58.49%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of BEKE. Vontobel Holding Ltd. grew its stake in shares of KE by 3,315.0% during the 4th quarter. Vontobel Holding Ltd. now owns 944,667 shares of the company's stock valued at $17,401,000 after purchasing an additional 917,005 shares during the period. Northwest & Ethical Investments L.P. bought a new stake in KE during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $708,000. Rhumbline Advisers grew its position in KE by 10.8% during the fourth quarter. Rhumbline Advisers now owns 95,376 shares of the company's stock valued at $1,757,000 after buying an additional 9,330 shares during the period. C WorldWide Group Holding A S increased its holdings in KE by 2,639.9% during the fourth quarter. C WorldWide Group Holding A S now owns 969,694 shares of the company's stock valued at $17,862,000 after buying an additional 934,302 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. raised its position in KE by 8.3% in the fourth quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 1,077,371 shares of the company's stock worth $19,845,000 after acquiring an additional 82,856 shares during the period. Institutional investors 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.