Tearsheet

Investment Highlights Why It Matters Which of these 2 stories sounds closer for this stock?

1. Generates cash flow

The stock generated 4% or more of the share price (called cash flow yield), and shows moderate 10-15% or more growth.

2. Riding a trend

Think Tesla during the pandemic of 2020 when EVs were riding a cultural high, or Nvidia in the current AI boom, or even Figma. These companies don’t have enough yield, or, enough growth, or both - however - they are riding a trend. They have momentum. These can be more volatile - they don’t have the floor of strong cash flow


0 Attractive cash flow generation
CFO/Rev LTMCash Flow from Operations / Revenue (Sales), Last Twelve Months (LTM) is 18%
Weak multi-year price returns
2Y Excs Rtn is -1.0%, 3Y Excs Rtn is -3.8%
 
1 Low stock price volatility
Vol 12M is 39%
  
2 Megatrend and thematic drivers
Megatrends include US Energy Independence, and Future of Freight. Themes include US LNG, US Oilfield Technologies, Show more.
  

Valuation, Metrics & Events

KEX Stock


Why The Stock Moved


Qualitative Assessment

AI Generated Analysis | Feedback

Here are the key points explaining the positive movement in Kirby (KEX) stock leading up to December 4, 2025:



1. Strong Third Quarter 2025 Earnings Beat: Kirby reported net earnings attributable to the company of $1.65 per share for the third quarter ended September 30, 2025, surpassing analyst estimates of $1.64 per share and representing a 6% year-over-year increase. Consolidated revenues also exceeded expectations, reaching $871.2 million, a 4.8% increase compared to the prior year.

2. Robust Performance in Power Generation Segment: The distribution and services segment, particularly power generation, demonstrated substantial growth in the third quarter of 2025. Revenues for power generation surged by 56% year-over-year, and operating income increased by an impressive 96% year-over-year. This strong performance was primarily driven by high demand from data centers and prime power customers, contributing to a record backlog for the segment.

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Stock Movement Drivers

Return vs. Risk


Price Returns Compared

 202020212022202320242025Total [1]
Returns
KEX Return-42%15%8%22%35%7%27%
Peers Return-17%25%62%46%1%4%158%
S&P 500 Return16%27%-19%24%23%16%112%

Monthly Win Rates [3]
KEX Win Rate42%42%58%67%67%50% 
Peers Win Rate32%47%47%50%42%56% 
S&P 500 Win Rate58%75%42%67%75%70% 

Max Drawdowns [4]
KEX Max Drawdown-62%-7%-5%-6%-4%-24% 
Peers Max Drawdown-42%-0%-9%-6%-10%-21% 
S&P 500 Max Drawdown-31%-1%-25%-1%-2%-15% 


[1] Cumulative total returns since the beginning of 2020
[2] Peers: MATX, TDW, DHT, SFL, CMDB. See KEX Returns vs. Peers.
[3] Win Rate = % of calendar months in which monthly returns were positive
[4] Max drawdown represents maximum peak-to-trough decline within a year
[5] 2025 data is for the year up to 12/3/2025 (YTD)

How Low Can It Go

Unique KeyEventKEXS&P 500
2022 Inflation Shock2022 Inflation Shock  
2022 Inflation Shock% Loss% Loss-31.4%-25.4%
2022 Inflation Shock% Gain to Breakeven% Gain to Breakeven45.9%34.1%
2022 Inflation ShockTime to BreakevenTime to Breakeven159 days464 days
2020 Covid Pandemic2020 Covid Pandemic  
2020 Covid Pandemic% Loss% Loss-62.6%-33.9%
2020 Covid Pandemic% Gain to Breakeven% Gain to Breakeven167.3%51.3%
2020 Covid PandemicTime to BreakevenTime to Breakeven1465 days148 days
2018 Correction2018 Correction  
2018 Correction% Loss% Loss-33.2%-19.8%
2018 Correction% Gain to Breakeven% Gain to Breakeven49.8%24.7%
2018 CorrectionTime to BreakevenTime to Breakeven1922 days120 days
2008 Global Financial Crisis2008 Global Financial Crisis  
2008 Global Financial Crisis% Loss% Loss-66.8%-56.8%
2008 Global Financial Crisis% Gain to Breakeven% Gain to Breakeven200.9%131.3%
2008 Global Financial CrisisTime to BreakevenTime to Breakeven968 days1480 days

Compare to MATX, TDW, DHT, SFL, CMDB


In The Past

Kirby's stock fell -31.4% during the 2022 Inflation Shock from a high on 5/17/2021. A -31.4% loss requires a 45.9% gain to breakeven.

Preserve Wealth

Limiting losses and compounding gains is essential to preserving wealth over time.

Asset Allocation

Actively managed asset allocation strategies protect wealth. Learn more.

About Kirby (KEX)

Better Bets than Kirby (KEX)

Latest Trefis Analyses

Trade Ideas

Select past ideas related to KEX. For more, see Trefis Trade Ideas.

Unique KeyDateTickerCompanyCategoryTrade Strategy6M Fwd Rtn12M Fwd Rtn12M Max DD
CNM_11212025_Dip_Buyer_FCFYield11212025CNMCore & MainDip BuyDB | FCFY OPMDip Buy with High FCF Yield and High Margin
Buying dips for companies with high FCF yield and meaningfully high operating margin
7.3%7.3%-1.6%
VRRM_11212025_Dip_Buyer_FCFYield11212025VRRMVerra MobilityDip BuyDB | FCFY OPMDip Buy with High FCF Yield and High Margin
Buying dips for companies with high FCF yield and meaningfully high operating margin
2.3%2.3%-1.2%
LII_11212025_Dip_Buyer_ValueBuy11212025LIILennox InternationalDip BuyDB | P/E OPMDip Buy with Low PE and High Margin
Buying dips for companies with tame PE and meaningfully high operating margin
4.8%4.8%0.0%
ADP_11212025_Monopoly_xInd_xCD_Getting_Cheaper11212025ADPAutomatic Data ProcessingMonopolyMY | Getting CheaperMonopoly-Like with P/S Decline
Large cap with monopoly-like margins or cash flow generation and getting cheaper based on P/S multiple
1.6%1.6%-1.2%
CW_11212025_Quality_Momentum_RoomToRun_10%11212025CWCurtiss-WrightQualityQ | Momentum | UpsideQuality Stocks with Momentum and Upside
Buying quality stocks with strong momentum but still having room to run
2.2%2.2%0.0%
KEX_9052025_Dip_Buyer_FCFYield09052025KEXKirbyDip BuyDB | FCFY OPMDip Buy with High FCF Yield and High Margin
Buying dips for companies with high FCF yield and meaningfully high operating margin
27.3%27.3%-10.2%
Unique KeyDateTickerCompanyCategoryTrade Strategy6M Fwd Rtn12M Fwd Rtn12M Max DD
CNM_11212025_Dip_Buyer_FCFYield11212025CNMCore & MainDip BuyDB | FCFY OPMDip Buy with High FCF Yield and High Margin
Buying dips for companies with high FCF yield and meaningfully high operating margin
7.3%7.3%-1.6%
VRRM_11212025_Dip_Buyer_FCFYield11212025VRRMVerra MobilityDip BuyDB | FCFY OPMDip Buy with High FCF Yield and High Margin
Buying dips for companies with high FCF yield and meaningfully high operating margin
2.3%2.3%-1.2%
LII_11212025_Dip_Buyer_ValueBuy11212025LIILennox InternationalDip BuyDB | P/E OPMDip Buy with Low PE and High Margin
Buying dips for companies with tame PE and meaningfully high operating margin
4.8%4.8%0.0%
ADP_11212025_Monopoly_xInd_xCD_Getting_Cheaper11212025ADPAutomatic Data ProcessingMonopolyMY | Getting CheaperMonopoly-Like with P/S Decline
Large cap with monopoly-like margins or cash flow generation and getting cheaper based on P/S multiple
1.6%1.6%-1.2%
CW_11212025_Quality_Momentum_RoomToRun_10%11212025CWCurtiss-WrightQualityQ | Momentum | UpsideQuality Stocks with Momentum and Upside
Buying quality stocks with strong momentum but still having room to run
2.2%2.2%0.0%
KEX_9052025_Dip_Buyer_FCFYield09052025KEXKirbyDip BuyDB | FCFY OPMDip Buy with High FCF Yield and High Margin
Buying dips for companies with high FCF yield and meaningfully high operating margin
27.3%27.3%-10.2%

Recent Active Movers

Recent Active Movers

More From Trefis

Peer Comparisons for Kirby

Peers to compare with:

Financials

KEXMATXTDWDHTSFLCMDBMedian
NameKirby Matson TidewaterDHT SFL Costamar. 
Mkt Price112.96114.1659.7512.928.3616.6138.18
Mkt Cap6.33.63.02.11.1-3.0
Rev LTM3,2753,3831,360486851-1,360
Op Inc LTM467490297137238-297
FCF LTM261162286152-150-162
FCF 3Y Avg213307179171-105-179
CFO LTM584545312269331-331
CFO 3Y Avg542606208281350-350

Growth & Margins

KEXMATXTDWDHTSFLCMDBMedian
NameKirby Matson TidewaterDHT SFL Costamar. 
Rev Chg LTM2.4%1.9%7.8%-16.8%3.6%-2.4%
Rev Chg 3Y Avg9.7%-8.9%45.6%13.7%10.5%-10.5%
Rev Chg Q3.8%-8.5%0.6%-24.5%0.7%-0.6%
QoQ Delta Rev Chg LTM1.0%-2.4%0.2%-6.7%0.2%-0.2%
Op Mgn LTM14.3%14.5%21.9%28.1%28.0%-21.9%
Op Mgn 3Y Avg11.9%13.4%18.2%32.8%31.6%-18.2%
QoQ Delta Op Mgn LTM0.2%-2.1%-0.1%-0.1%-2.4%--0.1%
CFO/Rev LTM17.8%16.1%22.9%55.5%38.9%-22.9%
CFO/Rev 3Y Avg17.1%18.5%17.4%51.3%45.5%-18.5%
FCF/Rev LTM8.0%4.8%21.0%31.3%-17.6%-8.0%
FCF/Rev 3Y Avg6.7%9.4%14.7%31.1%-13.5%-9.4%

Valuation

KEXMATXTDWDHTSFLCMDBMedian
NameKirby Matson TidewaterDHT SFL Costamar. 
Mkt Cap6.33.63.02.11.1-3.0
P/S1.90.91.74.01.3-1.7
P/EBIT14.85.77.08.84.9-7.0
P/E21.07.211.59.632.2-11.5
P/CFO10.95.77.37.13.3-7.1
Total Yield4.8%14.2%8.7%16.9%16.0%-14.2%
Dividend Yield0.0%0.4%0.0%6.5%12.9%-0.4%
FCF Yield 3Y Avg3.6%8.1%6.2%9.6%-8.8%-6.2%
D/E0.20.20.30.12.5-0.2
Net D/E0.20.20.10.12.4-0.2

Returns

KEXMATXTDWDHTSFLCMDBMedian
NameKirby Matson TidewaterDHT SFL Costamar. 
1M Rtn8.3%14.6%15.2%0.4%12.5%29.1%13.5%
3M Rtn27.4%12.2%5.8%8.6%5.2%62.7%10.4%
6M Rtn1.4%2.0%41.9%16.4%1.8%85.6%9.2%
12M Rtn-8.4%-24.0%15.3%39.1%-12.3%--8.4%
3Y Rtn58.9%84.0%84.5%65.5%12.6%-65.5%
1M Excs Rtn8.3%14.6%15.2%0.5%12.5%29.1%13.6%
3M Excs Rtn19.9%4.4%-0.9%1.4%0.2%54.1%2.9%
6M Excs Rtn-13.3%-12.7%27.2%1.7%-12.9%70.9%-5.5%
12M Excs Rtn-24.3%-38.1%2.0%32.6%-24.5%--24.3%
3Y Excs Rtn-3.8%16.7%32.7%1.2%-57.3%-1.2%

Financials

Segment Financials

Revenue by Segment

$ Mil20242023202220212020
Marine Transportation (KMT)1,7221,6171,3231,4041,587
Distribution and Services (KDS)1,3701,1689247671,251
Total3,0922,7852,2472,1712,838


Operating Income by Segment
$ Mil20242023202220212020
Marine Transportation (KMT)23913663164216
Distribution and Services (KDS)1146728-1267
Gain on disposition of assets58608
Impairments00-341  
General corporate expenses-23-19-14-11-14
Inventory write-down   -561-36
Total335193-258-421242


Assets by Segment
$ Mil20242023202220212020
Marine Transportation (KMT)4,455  4,7604,536
Distribution and Services (KDS)1,156  8061,422
Other111  358120
Total5,722  5,9246,079


Price Behavior

Short Interest

Short Interest: As Of Date11142025
Short Interest: Shares Quantity2,115,496
Short Interest: % Change Since 10312025-15.8%
Average Daily Volume807,206
Days-to-Cover Short Interest2.62
Basic Shares Quantity56,105,000
Short % of Basic Shares3.8%

SEC Filings

Expand for More

Report DateFiling DateFiling
6302025811202510-Q 6/30/2025
3312025512202510-Q 3/31/2025
12312024218202510-K 12/31/2024
93020241112202410-Q 9/30/2024
6302024809202410-Q 6/30/2024
3312024506202410-Q 3/31/2024
12312023220202410-K 12/31/2023
93020231106202310-Q 9/30/2023
6302023807202310-Q 6/30/2023
3312023508202310-Q 3/31/2023
12312022221202310-K 12/31/2022
93020221104202210-Q 9/30/2022
6302022808202210-Q 6/30/2022
3312022509202210-Q 3/31/2022
12312021218202210-K 12/31/2021
93020211108202110-Q 9/30/2021