Artisan Partners Limited Partnership Decreases Stake in KE Holdings Inc. (NYSE:BEKE)

Artisan Partners Limited Partnership cut its position in KE Holdings Inc. (NYSE:BEKE) by 18.8% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 3,503,827 shares of the company’s stock after selling 812,819 shares during the period. Artisan Partners Limited Partnership owned 0.29% of KE worth $64,540,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. TT International Asset Management LTD purchased a new stake in KE during the fourth quarter worth approximately $717,000. XTX Topco Ltd lifted its position in shares of KE by 324.8% during the 3rd quarter. XTX Topco Ltd now owns 117,780 shares of the company’s stock worth $2,345,000 after buying an additional 90,054 shares during the last quarter. Headwater Capital Co Ltd acquired a new position in shares of KE in the 4th quarter valued at $11,052,000. Y Intercept Hong Kong Ltd purchased a new position in shares of KE in the 3rd quarter valued at $13,540,000. Finally, ABS Direct Equity Fund LLC raised its stake in KE by 284.5% during the 4th quarter. ABS Direct Equity Fund LLC now owns 84,200 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,551,000 after acquiring an additional 62,300 shares in the last quarter. 39.34% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

KE Stock Up 2.5 %

NYSE BEKE opened at $21.22 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $25.63 billion, a P/E ratio of 43.30, a P/E/G ratio of 3.45 and a beta of -0.82. KE Holdings Inc. has a 52-week low of $12.49 and a 52-week high of $26.05. The business’s 50-day moving average price is $20.32 and its 200 day moving average price is $19.63.

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 paid a $0.36 dividend. This is an increase from KE’s previous — dividend of $0.17. This represents a dividend yield of 1.4%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, April 9th. KE’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 64.58%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities analysts have issued reports on the stock. Morgan Stanley upped their price objective on shares of KE from $19.00 to $27.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Wednesday, March 19th. Jefferies Financial Group reissued a “buy” rating on shares of KE in a research report on Tuesday, March 18th. Finally, UBS Group lowered KE from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating and lifted their price target for the stock from $22.70 to $24.50 in a research report on Thursday, March 20th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, KE currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $27.26.

KE 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.