Kirby (KEX)
Market Price (12/4/2025): $112.94 | Market Cap: $6.3 BilSector: Industrials | Industry: Marine Transportation
Kirby (KEX)
Market Price (12/4/2025): $112.94Market Cap: $6.3 BilSector: IndustrialsIndustry: Marine Transportation
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
| Attractive cash flow generationCFO/Rev LTMCash Flow from Operations / Revenue (Sales), Last Twelve Months (LTM) is 18% | Weak multi-year price returns2Y Excs Rtn is -1.0%, 3Y Excs Rtn is -3.8% | |
| Low stock price volatilityVol 12M is 39% | ||
| Megatrend and thematic driversMegatrends include US Energy Independence, and Future of Freight. Themes include US LNG, US Oilfield Technologies, Show more. |
| Attractive cash flow generationCFO/Rev LTMCash Flow from Operations / Revenue (Sales), Last Twelve Months (LTM) is 18% |
| Low stock price volatilityVol 12M is 39% |
| Megatrend and thematic driversMegatrends include US Energy Independence, and Future of Freight. Themes include US LNG, US Oilfield Technologies, Show more. |
| Weak multi-year price returns2Y Excs Rtn is -1.0%, 3Y Excs Rtn is -3.8% |
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
| 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | Total [1] | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Returns | |||||||
| KEX Return | -42% | 15% | 8% | 22% | 35% | 7% | 27% |
| Peers Return | -17% | 25% | 62% | 46% | 1% | 4% | 158% |
| S&P 500 Return | 16% | 27% | -19% | 24% | 23% | 16% | 112% |
Monthly Win Rates [3] | |||||||
| KEX Win Rate | 42% | 42% | 58% | 67% | 67% | 50% | |
| Peers Win Rate | 32% | 47% | 47% | 50% | 42% | 56% | |
| S&P 500 Win Rate | 58% | 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
| Event | KEX | S&P 500 |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 Inflation Shock | ||
| % Loss | -31.4% | -25.4% |
| % Gain to Breakeven | 45.9% | 34.1% |
| Time to Breakeven | 159 days | 464 days |
| 2020 Covid Pandemic | ||
| % Loss | -62.6% | -33.9% |
| % Gain to Breakeven | 167.3% | 51.3% |
| Time to Breakeven | 1465 days | 148 days |
| 2018 Correction | ||
| % Loss | -33.2% | -19.8% |
| % Gain to Breakeven | 49.8% | 24.7% |
| Time to Breakeven | 1922 days | 120 days |
| 2008 Global Financial Crisis | ||
| % Loss | -66.8% | -56.8% |
| % Gain to Breakeven | 200.9% | 131.3% |
| Time to Breakeven | 968 days | 1480 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.
Latest Trefis Analyses
Trade Ideas
Select past ideas related to KEX. For more, see Trefis Trade Ideas.
| Date | Ticker | Company | Category | Trade Strategy | 6M Fwd Rtn | 12M Fwd Rtn | 12M Max DD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11212025 | CNM | Core & Main | Dip Buy | DB | FCFY OPMDip Buy with High FCF Yield and High MarginBuying dips for companies with high FCF yield and meaningfully high operating margin | 7.3% | 7.3% | -1.6% |
| 11212025 | VRRM | Verra Mobility | Dip Buy | DB | FCFY OPMDip Buy with High FCF Yield and High MarginBuying dips for companies with high FCF yield and meaningfully high operating margin | 2.3% | 2.3% | -1.2% |
| 11212025 | LII | Lennox International | Dip Buy | DB | P/E OPMDip Buy with Low PE and High MarginBuying dips for companies with tame PE and meaningfully high operating margin | 4.8% | 4.8% | 0.0% |
| 11212025 | ADP | Automatic Data Processing | Monopoly | MY | Getting CheaperMonopoly-Like with P/S DeclineLarge cap with monopoly-like margins or cash flow generation and getting cheaper based on P/S multiple | 1.6% | 1.6% | -1.2% |
| 11212025 | CW | Curtiss-Wright | Quality | Q | Momentum | UpsideQuality Stocks with Momentum and UpsideBuying quality stocks with strong momentum but still having room to run | 2.2% | 2.2% | 0.0% |
| 09052025 | KEX | Kirby | Dip Buy | DB | FCFY OPMDip Buy with High FCF Yield and High MarginBuying dips for companies with high FCF yield and meaningfully high operating margin | 27.3% | 27.3% | -10.2% |
| Date | Ticker | Company | Category | Trade Strategy | 6M Fwd Rtn | 12M Fwd Rtn | 12M Max DD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11212025 | CNM | Core & Main | Dip Buy | DB | FCFY OPMDip Buy with High FCF Yield and High MarginBuying dips for companies with high FCF yield and meaningfully high operating margin | 7.3% | 7.3% | -1.6% |
| 11212025 | VRRM | Verra Mobility | Dip Buy | DB | FCFY OPMDip Buy with High FCF Yield and High MarginBuying dips for companies with high FCF yield and meaningfully high operating margin | 2.3% | 2.3% | -1.2% |
| 11212025 | LII | Lennox International | Dip Buy | DB | P/E OPMDip Buy with Low PE and High MarginBuying dips for companies with tame PE and meaningfully high operating margin | 4.8% | 4.8% | 0.0% |
| 11212025 | ADP | Automatic Data Processing | Monopoly | MY | Getting CheaperMonopoly-Like with P/S DeclineLarge cap with monopoly-like margins or cash flow generation and getting cheaper based on P/S multiple | 1.6% | 1.6% | -1.2% |
| 11212025 | CW | Curtiss-Wright | Quality | Q | Momentum | UpsideQuality Stocks with Momentum and UpsideBuying quality stocks with strong momentum but still having room to run | 2.2% | 2.2% | 0.0% |
| 09052025 | KEX | Kirby | Dip Buy | DB | FCFY OPMDip Buy with High FCF Yield and High MarginBuying dips for companies with high FCF yield and meaningfully high operating margin | 27.3% | 27.3% | -10.2% |
Research & Analysis
Invest in Strategies
Wealth Management
Peer Comparisons for Kirby
| Peers to compare with: |
Financials
| Median | |
|---|---|
| Name | |
| Mkt Price | 38.18 |
| Mkt Cap | 3.0 |
| Rev LTM | 1,360 |
| Op Inc LTM | 297 |
| FCF LTM | 162 |
| FCF 3Y Avg | 179 |
| CFO LTM | 331 |
| CFO 3Y Avg | 350 |
Growth & Margins
| Median | |
|---|---|
| Name | |
| Rev Chg LTM | 2.4% |
| Rev Chg 3Y Avg | 10.5% |
| Rev Chg Q | 0.6% |
| QoQ Delta Rev Chg LTM | 0.2% |
| Op Mgn LTM | 21.9% |
| Op Mgn 3Y Avg | 18.2% |
| QoQ Delta Op Mgn LTM | -0.1% |
| CFO/Rev LTM | 22.9% |
| CFO/Rev 3Y Avg | 18.5% |
| FCF/Rev LTM | 8.0% |
| FCF/Rev 3Y Avg | 9.4% |
Valuation
| Median | |
|---|---|
| Name | |
| Mkt Cap | 3.0 |
| P/S | 1.7 |
| P/EBIT | 7.0 |
| P/E | 11.5 |
| P/CFO | 7.1 |
| Total Yield | 14.2% |
| Dividend Yield | 0.4% |
| FCF Yield 3Y Avg | 6.2% |
| D/E | 0.2 |
| Net D/E | 0.2 |
Returns
| Median | |
|---|---|
| Name | |
| 1M Rtn | 13.5% |
| 3M Rtn | 10.4% |
| 6M Rtn | 9.2% |
| 12M Rtn | -8.4% |
| 3Y Rtn | 65.5% |
| 1M Excs Rtn | 13.6% |
| 3M Excs Rtn | 2.9% |
| 6M Excs Rtn | -5.5% |
| 12M Excs Rtn | -24.3% |
| 3Y Excs Rtn | 1.2% |
Segment Financials
Revenue by Segment
| $ Mil | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marine Transportation (KMT) | 1,722 | 1,617 | 1,323 | 1,404 | 1,587 |
| Distribution and Services (KDS) | 1,370 | 1,168 | 924 | 767 | 1,251 |
| Total | 3,092 | 2,785 | 2,247 | 2,171 | 2,838 |
| $ Mil | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marine Transportation (KMT) | 239 | 136 | 63 | 164 | 216 |
| Distribution and Services (KDS) | 114 | 67 | 28 | -12 | 67 |
| Gain on disposition of assets | 5 | 8 | 6 | 0 | 8 |
| Impairments | 0 | 0 | -341 | ||
| General corporate expenses | -23 | -19 | -14 | -11 | -14 |
| Inventory write-down | -561 | -36 | |||
| Total | 335 | 193 | -258 | -421 | 242 |
| $ Mil | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marine Transportation (KMT) | 4,455 | 4,760 | 4,536 | ||
| Distribution and Services (KDS) | 1,156 | 806 | 1,422 | ||
| Other | 111 | 358 | 120 | ||
| Total | 5,722 | 5,924 | 6,079 |
Returns Analyses
SEC Filings
Expand for More| Report Date | Filing Date | Filing |
|---|---|---|
| 6302025 | 8112025 | 10-Q 6/30/2025 |
| 3312025 | 5122025 | 10-Q 3/31/2025 |
| 12312024 | 2182025 | 10-K 12/31/2024 |
| 9302024 | 11122024 | 10-Q 9/30/2024 |
| 6302024 | 8092024 | 10-Q 6/30/2024 |
| 3312024 | 5062024 | 10-Q 3/31/2024 |
| 12312023 | 2202024 | 10-K 12/31/2023 |
| 9302023 | 11062023 | 10-Q 9/30/2023 |
| 6302023 | 8072023 | 10-Q 6/30/2023 |
| 3312023 | 5082023 | 10-Q 3/31/2023 |
| 12312022 | 2212023 | 10-K 12/31/2022 |
| 9302022 | 11042022 | 10-Q 9/30/2022 |
| 6302022 | 8082022 | 10-Q 6/30/2022 |
| 3312022 | 5092022 | 10-Q 3/31/2022 |
| 12312021 | 2182022 | 10-K 12/31/2021 |
| 9302021 | 11082021 | 10-Q 9/30/2021 |
External Quote Links
| Y Finance | Barrons |
| TradingView | Morningstar |
| SeekingAlpha | ValueLine |
| Motley Fool | Robinhood |
| CNBC | Etrade |
| MarketWatch | Unusual Whales |
| YCharts | Perplexity Finance |
| FinViz |