Kearny Financial (NASDAQ:KRNY) Stock Crosses Above 200-Day Moving Average - Should You Sell?

Key Points

• Technical breakout and renewed analyst optimism: KRNY shares crossed above their 200‑day moving average (200‑day = $7.19; intraday high $7.23) and Piper Sandler raised its target from $7.50 to $9 with an "overweight" rating, while the consensus target sits at $8 and the average rating is "Hold."
• High dividend yield but possible sustainability risk: The bank pays a quarterly $0.11 dividend (annualized $0.44, a 6.2% yield) but has an 84.62% payout ratio and recently missed EPS ($0.15 vs. $0.16) and revenue estimates, which could pressure future payouts.

Kearny Financial (NASDAQ:KRNY - Get Free Report) shares crossed above its two hundred day moving average during trading on Thursday . The stock has a two hundred day moving average of $7.19 and traded as high as $7.23. Kearny Financial shares last traded at $7.13, with a volume of 337,822 shares changing hands.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities analysts have commented on KRNY shares. Piper Sandler upped their target price on shares of Kearny Financial from $7.50 to $9.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 10th. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a "hold (c)" rating on shares of Kearny Financial in a research note on Wednesday, January 28th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating and two have assigned a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Kearny Financial has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $8.00.

Kearny Financial Price Performance

The firm has a fifty day moving average of $7.79 and a two-hundred day moving average of $7.19. The stock has a market capitalization of $461.59 million, a P/E ratio of 13.71 and a beta of 0.69. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.45, a current ratio of 1.03 and a quick ratio of 1.03.

Kearny Financial (NASDAQ:KRNY - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, January 22nd. The savings and loans company reported $0.15 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.16 by ($0.01). Kearny Financial had a return on equity of 4.26% and a net margin of 9.41%.The business had revenue of $43.54 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $44.84 million.

Kearny Financial Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, February 18th. Investors of record on Wednesday, February 4th were paid a $0.11 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, February 4th. This represents a $0.44 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 6.2%. Kearny Financial's payout ratio is 84.62%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, EVP Timothy A. Swansson sold 4,000 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on Tuesday, March 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $7.60, for a total value of $30,400.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 55,833 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $424,330.80. The trade was a 6.69% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, EVP Patrick M. Joyce sold 4,000 shares of the company's stock in a transaction on Wednesday, January 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $7.65, for a total value of $30,600.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president owned 54,365 shares of the company's stock, valued at $415,892.25. This trade represents a 6.85% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. 7.44% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Kearny Financial

Large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Segall Bryant & Hamill LLC acquired a new position in shares of Kearny Financial during the third quarter worth $1,583,000. Brandywine Global Investment Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Kearny Financial in the 2nd quarter worth $84,000. Creative Planning boosted its position in shares of Kearny Financial by 22.3% in the 2nd quarter. Creative Planning now owns 190,120 shares of the savings and loans company's stock worth $1,228,000 after purchasing an additional 34,695 shares in the last quarter. White Pine Capital LLC grew its stake in Kearny Financial by 123.5% during the 2nd quarter. White Pine Capital LLC now owns 172,416 shares of the savings and loans company's stock worth $1,114,000 after buying an additional 95,271 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Fourthstone LLC increased its position in Kearny Financial by 351.4% during the 2nd quarter. Fourthstone LLC now owns 1,109,666 shares of the savings and loans company's stock valued at $7,168,000 after buying an additional 863,816 shares in the last quarter. 71.01% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

About Kearny Financial

Kearny Financial, Inc was the bank holding company for Kearny Bank, a New Jersey–based community bank offering a full suite of commercial and consumer banking services. Through its subsidiary, the company provided deposit products, lending facilities and electronic banking solutions to individuals, small businesses and middle-market corporations.

The company's core products included checking and savings accounts, certificates of deposit, residential and commercial real estate loans, construction financing, equipment financing, home equity lines of credit and consumer installment loans.

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