Global investment firm KKR & Co. (NYSE:KKR) shares rose in Wednesday’s premarket session.

The firm announced a strategic partnership with Samsung SDS on Tuesday, including a 1.22 trillion South Korean won ($820 million) investment.

Investment Details

KKR will invest through convertible bonds to become an active minority investor, supporting Samsung SDS’s growth and long-term value creation.

The partnership will focus on organic and inorganic growth, expanding full-stack AI capabilities, and exploring new business areas.

KKR will also advise on M&A, capital allocation, and global expansion efforts.

Use of Funds

Samsung SDS plans to use the investment with existing resources to strengthen infrastructure and enhance capabilities.

The company aims to strengthen its position in key areas, including end-to-end AI transformation services. The transaction is expected to close in the second quarter, subject to customary conditions.

Company Background

KKR is making the investment primarily from its Asia Fund IV, building on its track record in Korean companies. It also expands KKR’s experience in global IT services investments.

Samsung SDS provides enterprise IT solutions across cloud, AI, and logistics, with about 26,000 employees and KRW 14 trillion in revenue.

“This unique strategic partnership brings together Samsung SDS, part of one of Korea’s most established conglomerates, with KKR’s global experience in long-term value creation,” said Chung Ho Park, Partner and Head of Korea at KKR.

“We are delighted to welcome KKR as a strategic investor as we continue to advance our growth strategy,” said Jun Hee Lee, President and CEO of Samsung SDS.

Technical Analysis

KKR is trading within its 52-week range of $153.87 (high) and $82.67 (low), near the midpoint. The stock is 9.8% above its 20-day SMA and 6.3% above its 50-day SMA.

However, it remains 9.3% below its 100-day SMA, indicating some intermediate-term weakness.

The RSI is at 63.43, placing the stock in neutral territory with balanced momentum. It indicates the stock is neither overbought nor oversold at current levels.

The MACD is above the signal line, suggesting momentum may be strengthening and signaling a bullish trend.

  • Key Resistance: $111.00 — A level where the stock may face selling pressure.
  • Key Support: $94.50 — A potential area for buyers to step in if tested.

Earnings & Analyst Outlook

KKR will provide its next financial update on May 5, 2026 (confirmed).

  • EPS Estimate: $1.32 (Up from $1.15)
  • Revenue Estimate: $1.96 billion (Up from $1.77 billion)
  • Valuation: P/E of 42.9x (Indicates premium valuation)

Analyst Consensus & Recent Actions: The stock carries a Buy Rating with an average price target of $141.14. Recent analyst moves include:

  • Oppenheimer: Outperform (Lowers Target to $140.00) (April 13)
  • Goldman Sachs: Buy (Lowers Target to $110.00) (April 7)
  • Piper Sandler: Overweight (Lowers Target to $117.00) (April 7)

Benzinga Edge Rankings

Below is the Benzinga Edge scorecard for KKR &, highlighting its strengths and weaknesses compared to the broader market:

  • Value: 65.45 — The stock is relatively fairly valued compared to peers.
  • Momentum: 11.08 — Stock is underperforming the broader market.

The Verdict: KKR’s Benzinga Edge signal shows a mixed profile, with a strong value rank but weak momentum, suggesting potential challenges in maintaining upward price momentum in the near term.

Top ETF Exposure

  • Akre Focus ETF (NYSE:AKRE): 8.68% Weight
  • VanEck Alternative Asset Manager ETF (NYSE:GPZ): 9.25% Weight
  • FM Focus Equity ETF (NYSE:FMCX): 5.43% Weight

Significance: Because KKR carries such a heavy weight in these funds, any significant inflows or outflows will likely trigger automatic buying or selling of the stock.

KKR Stock Price Activity: KKR shares were up 0.38% at $100.81 during premarket trading on Wednesday, according to Benzinga Pro data.

Photo by T. Schneider via Shutterstock