KE Sees Unusually High Options Volume (NYSE:BEKE)

KE Holdings Inc. (NYSE:BEKE) was the target of unusually large options trading activity on Monday. Stock traders acquired 36,331 call options on the stock. This represents an increase of 144% compared to the typical daily volume of 14,864 call options.

KE Stock Performance

NYSE BEKE traded down $1.70 on Monday, reaching $17.86. 6,709,206 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 9,668,203. The company has a market cap of $21.59 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 36.19, a PEG ratio of 3.45 and a beta of -0.73. KE has a 12 month low of $12.49 and a 12 month high of $26.05. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $20.72 and a 200-day moving average price of $19.98.

KE Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a — dividend, which will be paid on Friday, April 25th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, April 9th will be given a dividend of $0.36 per share. This represents a yield of 1.4%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, April 9th. This is a boost from KE’s previous — dividend of $0.17. KE’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 64.58%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

BEKE has been the subject of several analyst reports. Morgan Stanley upped their price objective on KE from $19.00 to $27.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note 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 cut KE from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating and lifted their target price for the stock from $22.70 to $24.50 in a report on Thursday, March 20th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $27.26.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On KE

Institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Point72 Asia Singapore Pte. Ltd. acquired a new stake in KE in the third quarter valued at approximately $30,000. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. purchased a new position in KE in the 4th quarter worth $30,000. Principal Securities Inc. increased its holdings in KE by 411.9% in the 4th quarter. Principal Securities Inc. now owns 2,068 shares of the company’s stock worth $38,000 after buying an additional 1,664 shares during the period. Rakuten Securities Inc. boosted its holdings in KE by 42.3% in the fourth quarter. Rakuten Securities Inc. now owns 4,762 shares of the company’s stock valued at $88,000 after purchasing an additional 1,416 shares during the last quarter. Finally, State of Wyoming purchased a new position in shares of KE during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $100,000. 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.