KEX

Based on Kirby Corporation's historical closing prices, adjusted for stock splits and dividend reinvestment. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is for informational purposes only and is not financial advice.

What does Kirby Corporation do?

Kirby Corporation operates the largest domestic tank barge fleet in the United States, transporting bulk liquid products — including petrochemicals, refined petroleum, and agricultural chemicals — across inland waterways and coastal routes. It also runs a distribution and services business that sells parts, rebuilds engines, rents industrial equipment, and manufactures oilfield service equipment.

Does KEX pay dividends?

Kirby Corporation does not currently pay a dividend. The company retains earnings to fund fleet operations, vessel maintenance, and segment-level reinvestment. Investors seeking regular income should note that KEX is a total-return story dependent on price appreciation rather than dividend distributions.

When does KEX report earnings?

Kirby reports financial results on a quarterly basis, in line with standard U.S. equity reporting requirements. For precise dates and the most recent earnings releases, check Kirby Corporation's official investor relations page, as our data source does not cover forward earnings dates.

Is KEX a good stock to buy?

UQS Score rates KEX as Good overall. The Risk and Valuation pillars are both rated Good, which may appeal to investors focused on downside protection and fair pricing. The Moat pillar is rated Weak, and both Quality and Growth are Neutral — factors worth weighing carefully. The full pillar breakdown is available to Pro members.

Is KEX overvalued?

KEX carries a Good Valuation rating in the UQS framework, suggesting the stock is not trading at a significant premium relative to its fundamentals. That said, valuation is one of five pillars — a reasonable price does not offset weaknesses in moat or growth on its own. View the complete analysis with a Pro account.

How does KEX compare to its competitors?

Kirby's domestic focus on inland and coastal tank barge operations sets it apart from peers like Matson, Hafnia, and ZIM, which operate in containerized or international tanker markets. Kirby's niche in regulated U.S. waterway freight gives it a different demand profile, though its Weak Moat rating suggests this niche does not translate into strong pricing power.

What is KEX's market cap bracket?

Kirby Corporation is classified as a mid-cap stock. This places it in a range where institutional coverage exists but liquidity and analyst attention may be less extensive than for large- or mega-cap industrials. Mid-cap industrials can offer a balance of growth potential and established operations.

Who founded Kirby Corporation?

Kirby Corporation was founded in 1980. For detailed founding history and leadership background, the company's official website and investor relations materials are the most reliable sources.

Is KEX a long-term quality stock?

As a long-term quality indicator, KEX scores as Good under the UQS framework — driven by its Risk and Valuation ratings. However, the Weak Moat and Neutral Quality signals suggest the business may face challenges sustaining above-average returns over a full cycle. Long-term investors should weigh all five pillars before committing capital.

What is the main competitive advantage of Kirby Corporation?

Kirby's primary advantage is its scale as the dominant domestic tank barge operator, with an extensive fleet covering major U.S. waterway systems. However, the UQS Moat pillar rates this advantage as Weak, indicating that scale alone may not provide durable pricing power or meaningful barriers to competition in freight and distribution services.

What sector does KEX belong to?

Kirby Corporation is classified in the Industrials sector. More specifically, it operates within marine transportation and industrial distribution — two sub-industries sensitive to energy production activity, domestic freight demand, and broader manufacturing cycles. Explore other [top Industrials stocks](/sector/industrials) on UQS Score.

Kirby Corporation shows solid profitability with healthy returns on capital and reasonable margins.

Kirby Corporation demonstrates healthy growth trends across revenue and earnings.

Kirby Corporation maintains a reasonable risk profile with manageable debt levels.

Kirby Corporation appears attractively valued relative to its earnings, cash flows, and sector peers.

Kirby Corporation operates in a highly competitive environment with limited sustainable advantages. The Moat pillar evaluates competitive advantages across five dimensions: Switching Costs, Network Effects, Cost Advantage, Intangible Assets, and Scale & Ecosystem. Sign in to customize moat ratings for KEX.

The UQS (Unified Quality Score) for Kirby Corporation is calculated using a proprietary 6-pillar framework with 29 financial metrics. Each pillar evaluates a different dimension on a 0–100 scale, then combines into a single weighted score. Scoring thresholds are calibrated per sector. Momentum is an optional Pro toggle — without it, you get the 5-pillar / 25-metric core shown below.

Quality (25%) measures profitability and capital efficiency — ROIC, ROE, margins, GP/Assets, and FCF Yield.

Moat (25%) assesses Kirby Corporation's competitive advantages across switching costs, network effects, cost advantages, intangible assets, and ecosystem scale.

Growth (20%) tracks revenue trajectory and earnings momentum, combining historical results with analyst forward estimates.

Risk (15%) is inversely scored — lower leverage and strong balance sheet health result in higher scores.

Valuation (15%) measures whether Kirby Corporation is fairly priced using earnings yield, price-to-FCF, PEG ratio, and EV/EBITDA relative to sector peers.

Six investor-inspired presets are available, each with different pillar weights: Balanced, Buffett, Munger, Lynch, Cathie Wood, and Graham. The public score shown here uses the Balanced preset. Learn more in our FAQ.