Zacks Research Issues Optimistic Estimate for Kirby Earnings

Kirby Co. (NYSE:KEX) – Equities research analysts at Zacks Research increased their Q2 2025 earnings per share estimates for shares of Kirby in a research note issued on Tuesday, March 4th. Zacks Research analyst S. Goswami now anticipates that the shipping company will post earnings of $1.59 per share for the quarter, up from their prior forecast of $1.56. The consensus estimate for Kirby’s current full-year earnings is $6.57 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for Kirby’s Q3 2025 earnings at $1.85 EPS, FY2025 earnings at $6.39 EPS, Q1 2026 earnings at $1.52 EPS, Q2 2026 earnings at $1.89 EPS, Q3 2026 earnings at $1.88 EPS and FY2026 earnings at $7.12 EPS.

KEX has been the topic of a number of other research reports. StockNews.com lowered Kirby from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Thursday, January 9th. Stifel Nicolaus reduced their price target on Kirby from $136.00 to $135.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, January 31st. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $129.25.

Kirby Trading Up 0.8 %

NYSE KEX opened at $99.65 on Thursday. The business’s 50-day moving average price is $106.40 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $115.68. Kirby has a 12 month low of $86.02 and a 12 month high of $132.21. The firm has a market capitalization of $5.69 billion, a PE ratio of 20.30, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.88 and a beta of 1.19. The company has a current ratio of 1.45, a quick ratio of 1.05 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.26.

Kirby (NYSE:KEX) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 30th. The shipping company reported $1.29 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.30 by ($0.01). Kirby had a return on equity of 9.71% and a net margin of 8.78%.

Insider Activity

In other news, VP Scott P. Miller sold 1,244 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $107.61, for a total value of $133,866.84. Following the transaction, the vice president now directly owns 5,545 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $596,697.45. The trade was a 18.32 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. 1.50% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted its stake in shares of Kirby by 27.5% in the 3rd quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 142,265 shares of the shipping company’s stock valued at $17,418,000 after purchasing an additional 30,713 shares during the period. Atria Investments Inc lifted its stake in shares of Kirby by 27.5% in the 3rd quarter. Atria Investments Inc now owns 35,353 shares of the shipping company’s stock valued at $4,328,000 after purchasing an additional 7,629 shares during the period. Advantage Alpha Capital Partners LP raised its stake in Kirby by 51.2% during the 3rd quarter. Advantage Alpha Capital Partners LP now owns 48,693 shares of the shipping company’s stock worth $5,961,000 after buying an additional 16,497 shares during the period. Artemis Investment Management LLP raised its stake in Kirby by 112.0% during the 4th quarter. Artemis Investment Management LLP now owns 382,835 shares of the shipping company’s stock worth $40,504,000 after buying an additional 202,272 shares during the period. Finally, Asset Management One Co. Ltd. raised its stake in Kirby by 24.3% during the 4th quarter. Asset Management One Co. Ltd. now owns 29,659 shares of the shipping company’s stock worth $3,143,000 after buying an additional 5,804 shares during the period. 96.15% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About Kirby

Kirby Corporation operates domestic tank barges in the United States. Its Marine Transportation segment provides marine transportation service and towing vessel transporting bulk liquid product, as well as operates tank barge throughout the Mississippi River System, on the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, coastwise along three United States coasts, and in Alaska and Hawaii.