Kellanova Boosts Dividend to 2.9% as Institutional Investors Trim Holdings Stock Ranks 429th in 240M Volume

Kellanova (K) traded with a 0.13% gain on September 3, 2025, with a volume of $0.24 billion, ranking 429th in trading activity. The company announced a quarterly dividend of $0.58 per share, effective September 15, marking a $0.01 increase from the prior payout. This raises the annualized yield to 2.9%, supported by a trailing 12-month payout ratio of 96%. Over the past three years, dividends have grown by an average of 1.17% annually, with the company maintaining an 19-year streak of consecutive increases.

Institutional ownership remains dominant, with 83.87% of shares held by large investors. Rafferty Asset Management reduced its stake by 20.6% in Q1, while firms like Pinnacle Associates and Sequoia Financial Advisors increased holdings by 1.3%–2.0%. The Kellogg W.K. Foundation Trust, the largest shareholder, cut its position by 0.25% in late August, selling 114,599 shares at $79.55. Meanwhile, passive giants such as Vanguard and BlackRock added 2.0%–2.2% of shares, reinforcing long-term stability.

Recent earnings reported $0.94 EPS, below the $0.99 estimate, with revenue of $3.2 billion, slightly exceeding forecasts. Analysts project 2025 EPS at $3.93. Despite a 0.3% revenue increase year-over-year, the company’s debt load remains high at $6.2 billion. Analyst ratings are mixed, with a consensus “Hold” and a $83.38 price target. JPMorgan and Citigroup maintained neutral stances, while Wall Street Zen downgraded to “Sell.”

The backtest results indicate a 2.9% dividend yield with a payout ratio of 59.84% based on current estimates. Institutional transactions and insider sales highlight cautious positioning, as hedge funds like DE Shaw and Citadel expanded stakes by 364%–6,600%, while others trimmed holdings. The market’s mixed signals reflect a balance between dividend appeal and growth challenges in a competitive sector.