Knife River Stock Shows Strong Institutional Buying Momentum Amid Bullish Riverside Market Outlook

Growing Institutional Interest in KNF

Institutional investors are increasingly positioning themselves in Knife River (NYSE:KNF), with 824 funds and institutions now reporting active positions in the company. This represents a shift in portfolio allocation, as institutional ownership has seen slight adjustments in recent quarters. Price T Rowe Associates has notably increased its commitment, now holding 3,792K shares—a 21.30% boost from its prior filing—and raising its portfolio allocation by 13.00%. Meanwhile, other major players like Baillie Gifford and Capital Research Global Investors maintain substantial stakes with 2,199K and 1,863K shares respectively.

The riverside market dynamics continue to influence broader market sentiment, with the put/call ratio for KNF standing at 0.29, reflecting investor optimism. Vanguard and iShares index funds also maintain notable positions, indicating that KNF has gained traction in mainstream investment portfolios.

Analyst Upgrade Targets 25% Potential Upside

On January 16, 2026, B. Riley Securities initiated fresh coverage of KNF with a Buy rating, signaling confidence in the company’s trajectory. The firm’s analysts project a one-year price target averaging $100.16 per share as of mid-January 2026, representing approximately 24.83% upside from the then-current price of $80.24/share. Price forecasts among analysts range from a conservative $75.75 to an ambitious $126.00.

Revenue Growth and Profitability Metrics

The company’s financial projections paint an encouraging picture. Projected annual revenue is estimated at 3,200 million, representing 4.98% growth. On the profitability front, projected non-GAAP EPS stands at 3.89, underscoring improving operational efficiency. These metrics suggest that Knife River is well-positioned within the riverside market context for sustained performance.

Fund Positioning Reflects Market Confidence

Despite a 7.10% decline in the number of institutional holders over the last quarter, total institutional holdings have remained resilient. Average portfolio weighting across all funds dedicated to KNF is 0.20%, though this represents a 0.16% increase year-over-year. Total shares owned by institutions decreased slightly by 2.10% to 67,889K shares, yet the overall sentiment remains constructive given the analyst upgrade and strategic buying by major asset managers.