Shares of Knowledge Marine & Engineering Works Ltd (KMEW) saw a significant rebound on Monday following two major announcements: a historic work order win and an upcoming stock split. The company, a multibagger stock backed by ace investor Ashish Kacholia, recorded a 4.5 percent surge, reaching Rs 3,170 from an intraday low of Rs 3,033.80, pushing its market capitalization to nearly Rs 8,100 crore.
KMEW Secures Largest Dredging Contract in Company History
KMEW has been awarded its largest maintenance dredging contract to date by the New Mangalore Port Authority (NMPA). The three-year contract is valued at Rs 303.17 crore, inclusive of taxes, and covers the financial years 2026–27, 2027–28, and 2028–29. This substantial order involves post-monsoon maintenance dredging of 15.9 million cubic metres over the three-year period, averaging 5.3 million cubic metres annually. Operations for the first year are scheduled to commence on November 15, 2026, with annual dredging work to be completed within 150 days.
Stock Split Announced: 5-for-1 Subdivision
In addition to the order win, KMEW’s board has set Friday, November 6, as the record date for determining shareholder entitlement to a stock split. Each equity share with a face value of Rs 5 will be subdivided into five shares, each with a face value of Re 1. This corporate action is expected to increase liquidity and make shares more accessible to a broader range of investors.
Market Performance and Investor Stakes
The company's stock has shown remarkable growth, soaring nearly 170 percent from its 52-week low of Rs 1,166 recorded a year ago. It has gained 55 percent in the last six months and surged 65 percent year-to-date in 2026. Over the past five years, KMEW shares have zoomed an astounding 17,500 percent from approximately Rs 18 in April 2021.
As of September 30, 2026, prominent investor Ashish Kacholia held 5,74,721 equity shares, representing a 2.27 percent stake in KMEW, valued at Rs 182.18 crore at current share prices. Institutional investors also hold significant positions, with seven mutual fund schemes owning a 2.15 percent stake and Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs) holding 12.72 percent. Promoters collectively retain more than 50 percent of the company's shares.