KE (NYSE:BEKE) Shares Gap Up - Time to Buy?

KE Holdings Inc. (NYSE:BEKE - Get Free Report)'s share price gapped up prior to trading on Monday . The stock had previously closed at $18.47, but opened at $19.30. KE shares last traded at $19.16, with a volume of 3,847,150 shares changing hands.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of analysts recently weighed in on the stock. Wall Street Zen raised shares of KE from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Saturday. Morgan Stanley lifted their target price on KE from $19.00 to $27.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a report on Wednesday, March 19th. Jefferies Financial Group reissued a "buy" rating on shares of KE in a research report on Tuesday, March 18th. UBS Group upgraded shares of KE from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and increased their target price for the stock from $22.10 to $23.00 in a report on Friday, May 16th. Finally, Citigroup cut 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. Seven investment analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating, Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of "Buy" and an average price target of $27.16.

KE Stock Up 4.2%

The company has a market cap of $23.25 billion, a P/E ratio of 39.27, a PEG ratio of 3.45 and a beta of -0.76. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $19.31 and a 200-day moving average price of $19.45.

KE Increases Dividend

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

Institutional Trading of KE

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in BEKE. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board lifted its stake in KE by 111,822,650.0% in the 4th quarter. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board now owns 11,182,275 shares of the company's stock valued at $205,978,000 after purchasing an additional 11,182,265 shares during the last quarter. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. boosted its holdings in shares of KE by 3,203.0% during the 1st quarter. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. now owns 8,002,448 shares of the company's stock valued at $160,769,000 after acquiring an additional 7,760,169 shares in the last quarter. Norges Bank bought a new stake in KE during the 4th quarter worth $130,167,000. Aspex Management HK Ltd acquired a new position in KE in the 4th quarter worth about $119,996,000. Finally, UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC raised its position in KE by 299.4% in the first quarter. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC now owns 7,323,774 shares of the company's stock valued at $147,135,000 after purchasing an additional 5,490,172 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 39.34% of the company's stock.

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.

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