Knife River stock gains 3.26 percent as Wells Fargo cuts target

Published on 10/05/2026 at 23:56 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS

Knife River stock gained 3.26 percent to USD 51.97 on October 5, while Wells Fargo cut its target from USD 62 to USD 54. Second-quarter revenue rose 12.6 percent.

KNF, US4988941047, Illustration mit AI erstellt.

Knife River Corporation stock (ISIN US4988941047) was last at USD 51.97 on the NYSE on October 5, 2026, up 3.26 percent from USD 50.33. The move came as Wells Fargo cut its price target from USD 62 to USD 54 while keeping an Equal Weight rating, according to Markets Insider on October 5, 2026.

Wells Fargo lowers its target

The revised USD 54 target lies 3.9 percent above the October 5 price. Wells Fargo described the third quarter as a possible clearing event and pointed to second-half weakness, potential 2026 guidance cuts, public-spending pressure and housing headwinds, according to Markets Insider.

The target reduction contrasts with the broader analyst picture. Knife River has a consensus Hold rating from 11 brokerages, including five Buy ratings, three Sell ratings, two Hold ratings and one Strong Buy rating, while the average 12-month target is USD 78.29, according to MarketBeat on October 4, 2026. That average target lies 50.6 percent above the October 5 price, leaving a wide gap between the consensus and Wells Fargo view.

Revenue grows as EPS misses

Knife River's latest reported quarter was the second quarter of 2026, ended June 30. Revenue increased 12.6 percent year over year to USD 938.59 million, but diluted EPS was USD 0.77 versus a USD 1.13 consensus estimate, according to MarketBeat.

The combination explains the split in the valuation debate: sales expanded, but earnings fell short of expectations. For investors, the next test is whether pricing and infrastructure demand can offset the seasonal and housing pressures highlighted by Wells Fargo.

Stock remains near yearly low

At USD 51.97, Knife River was USD 2.81 above its 52-week low of USD 49.16 and USD 44.31 below its 52-week high of USD 96.28 on October 5, 2026. The company had a market capitalization of USD 2.9 billion and trading volume of 1,131,985 shares on that date.

Knife River supplies aggregates, asphalt, ready-mix concrete and related construction services across the western and north-central United States. Its market position now meets a more demanding earnings test: the next reported quarter must convert revenue growth into earnings closer to analyst expectations.

Knife River stock at USD 51.97

Knife River stock was last at USD 51.97 on the NYSE on October 5, 2026, with a 52-week range of USD 49.16 to USD 96.28 and a daily gain of 3.26 percent.