Korn/Ferry International (NYSE:KFY) Upgraded by Wall Street Zen to “Buy” Rating

Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of Korn/Ferry International (NYSE:KFY) from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report released on Saturday.

Other analysts have also recently issued research reports about the company. The Goldman Sachs Group lowered their price target on Korn/Ferry International from $85.00 to $74.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, November 21st. Weiss Ratings restated a “buy (b-)” rating on shares of Korn/Ferry International in a research note on Friday, October 31st. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has given a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Korn/Ferry International currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $78.67.

Korn/Ferry International Stock Up 1.5%

Korn/Ferry International stock opened at $69.07 on Friday. Korn/Ferry International has a 1-year low of $59.23 and a 1-year high of $78.50. The stock has a market capitalization of $3.60 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.01 and a beta of 1.33. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.20, a current ratio of 2.14 and a quick ratio of 2.14. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $66.25 and a 200-day moving average price of $70.05.

Korn/Ferry International (NYSE:KFY) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, December 9th. The business services provider reported $1.33 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.31 by $0.02. Korn/Ferry International had a net margin of 9.21% and a return on equity of 14.53%. The firm had revenue of $729.80 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $705.16 million. During the same period last year, the firm posted $1.21 EPS. Korn/Ferry International’s revenue was up 7.0% on a year-over-year basis. Korn/Ferry International has set its Q3 2026 guidance at 1.19-1.250 EPS. Equities research analysts forecast that Korn/Ferry International will post 4.75 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Korn/Ferry International declared that its board has authorized a stock repurchase plan on Thursday, September 18th that permits the company to buyback $331.40 million in shares. This buyback authorization permits the business services provider to repurchase up to 8.7% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares buyback plans are often an indication that the company’s board of directors believes its shares are undervalued.

Korn/Ferry International Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, January 15th. Investors of record on Friday, December 19th will be given a dividend of $0.48 per share. This represents a $1.92 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.8%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, December 19th. Korn/Ferry International’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 38.95%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Kestra Investment Management LLC raised its position in shares of Korn/Ferry International by 71.8% in the second quarter. Kestra Investment Management LLC now owns 579 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $42,000 after acquiring an additional 242 shares during the period. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board raised its holdings in Korn/Ferry International by 200.0% in the 2nd quarter. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board now owns 600 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $44,000 after purchasing an additional 400 shares during the period. Federated Hermes Inc. boosted its position in Korn/Ferry International by 160.4% during the third quarter. Federated Hermes Inc. now owns 664 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $46,000 after purchasing an additional 409 shares in the last quarter. Danske Bank A S acquired a new stake in Korn/Ferry International in the third quarter valued at approximately $56,000. Finally, CX Institutional increased its position in shares of Korn/Ferry International by 45.4% in the second quarter. CX Institutional now owns 839 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $62,000 after buying an additional 262 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 98.82% of the company’s stock.

About Korn/Ferry International

Korn Ferry International is a global organizational consulting firm that partners with clients to design optimal structures, roles and responsibilities. The company’s core offerings include executive search, talent acquisition, leadership development and succession planning. By blending deep industry expertise with data-driven insights, Korn Ferry helps organizations identify, assess and develop executives and high-potential talent for critical roles.

Since its founding in 1969 and with headquarters in Los Angeles, Korn Ferry has expanded its presence to more than 50 offices across North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and Latin America.