Knife River stock sits near a 52-week low as targets fall

Published on 10/04/2026 at 18:04 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS

Knife River stock was last at USD 50.38 on October 2, 2026, 1.5 percent above its 52-week low. Eleven analysts rate it Hold with a USD 78.29 target.

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Knife River stock (ISIN US4988941047) was last at USD 50.38 on the NYSE on October 2, 2026, just 1.5 percent above its 52-week low of USD 49.65. The company is balancing shareholder pressure with a second-quarter revenue increase of 12.6 percent to USD 938.59 million, according to MarketBeat.

Starboard pressure meets company strategy

On September 24, 2026, Knife River said it would engage with shareholder Starboard Value after receiving the investor's letter. In its response, Business Wire reported that the board reaffirmed its focus on margin expansion, operational execution, disciplined capital allocation and profitable growth.

The dispute adds a strategic question to the stock's valuation. Starboard has argued for stronger margins and strategic alternatives, while Knife River has pointed to its vertically integrated platform of aggregates, ready-mix concrete, asphalt, liquid asphalt and contracting services.

Revenue growth did not lift quarterly EPS

Knife River's second-quarter 2026 EPS was USD 0.77, below the USD 1.13 consensus estimate, even as revenue reached USD 938.59 million against the USD 931.39 million estimate, MarketBeat reported. The company earned USD 0.89 per share in the comparable quarter, making the latest EPS result USD 0.12 lower year over year.

Management's September investor presentation showed revenue of USD 3,307.5 million and adjusted EBITDA of USD 501.6 million for the 12 months ended June 30, 2026. The figures came with operating pressure from delayed work, fewer public bid lettings, adverse weather and fuel costs, according to StockTitan.

Analyst targets remain above the stock

Eleven brokerages carry a Hold consensus on Knife River, with an average 1-year price target of USD 78.29, a high target of USD 103.00 and a low target of USD 62.00. The average target lies 55.4 percent above the October 2 price, according to MarketBeat.

Target revisions show why that gap is not a uniform bullish signal. Oppenheimer cut its target from USD 90.00 to USD 80.00 on September 24, 2026, while keeping an Outperform rating, citing energy costs and uncertainty over federal transportation funding, Markets Insider reported.

Knife River stock stays near yearly low

Knife River's October 2 closing price of USD 50.38 was 47.7 percent below its 52-week high of USD 96.28. Trading volume was 894,021 shares, and market capitalization stood at USD 2.9 billion on the same date.