Yahoo Finance report covering Kirby Corporation (KEX) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.
Why KEX Stock slipped -1.42% Today — RQD Quant Desk Flash
Kirby Corporation (KEX) earns a Roarable Rating of B (Buy) with 73/100 RQD Confidence. High-quality cash engine (steady margins, 9% return on capital) with steady institutional support. The company’s underlying cash engine and institutional positioning keep the composite score in the Green Buy zone.
🤖 Mara Quenwick • AI Quant Lead (Click for Instant Brief)
Is KEX stock a Buy, Hold, or Sell right now according to Roarable's RQD model?
▼
As of 2026-11-03, Kirby Corporation (NYSE: KEX) is rated B (Buy / BUY) by Roarable's 5-pillar RQD engine with a composite confidence score of 73/100 at a spot price of $143.93 (-1.42% 1D, market cap $7.60B). Pillar breakdown: Fundamental Cash Engine 11/20, Institutional 13F & Options Flow 15/20, Executive Insider Alignment 16/20, FRED Macro Regime Fit 15/20, and SEC Balance-Sheet Forensics 16/20. Across 1011 tracked Consumer Discretionary issuers, KEX ranks #93 in composite RQD confidence.
🤖 Ellis Vennor • AI Peer & Flow Quant (Click for Instant Brief)
How does KEX compare to NCLH and MATX in the Consumer Discretionary sector?
▼
Within the Consumer Discretionary sector (Marine Transportation), KEX carries a Roarable B (73/100 RQD), trailing P/E of 21.7x, gross margin of —, and ROIC of 9.3%. By comparison, NCLH (Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd.) holds a D- grade (38/100 RQD, P/E 19.8x, ROIC 11.7%, cap $8.07B) and MATX (Matson Inc.) posts a C+ grade (69/100 RQD, P/E 15.3x, ROIC 13.5%, cap $6.69B). Among the 5-stock peer group, MATX leads on earnings multiple (15.3x) while MATX leads on capital efficiency (13.5% ROIC).
🤖 Gideon Ashmere • AI SEC 10-K Forensics (Click for Instant Brief)
What are the biggest fundamental strengths and SEC risk factors for KEX?
▼
Per KEX's SEC EDGAR XBRL 10-K filing (FY2025, filed 2025-12-31, CIK 0000056047), Kirby Corporation generated $3.36B in revenue (+3.0% YoY), $354.6M in net income, and $518.8M in free cash flow against $6.01B in total assets and $911.9M in total debt. Key quantitative strengths: Big institutional funds and options desks are actively positioning on the bullish side.. Primary risk factors monitored: Broader market pullbacks can still drag down strong stocks in the short run.. Institutional options positioning shows a 50% call / 50% put premium split.
Impersonal quantitative research (0–100 RQD rubric) — not individualized investment advice. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Full Disclaimer
Altman Z-Score 3.29 (FORTRESS SAFE (>3.0)) • Piotroski F-Score 8/9
SEC Form 4 / 13F Thermometer: 80% Net Buy • Cannibal Buyback (-2.36% YoY Shares)
Capital intensity & 14.8% operating margin leave 9 pts on the table
⚔️ Adversarial Opposing Case: Why the KEX Bull Thesis Could Fail
Even with a 73/100 (B) score, KEX faces multiple-compression risk if 21.7x trailing P/E re-rate toward historical sector medians or if hyperscaler/enterprise customer concentration slows in upcoming 10-Q filings.
Broader market pullbacks can still drag down strong stocks in the short run.
Dilution & Margin Drag: Cannibal Buyback (-2.36% YoY Shares) — any gross margin slip below 49.5% triggers an automatic RQD downgrade.
Technical & Forensic Kill-Switch: A daily close below the 50D SMA ($137.76) or 200D SMA ($137.09) invalidates the momentum regime and cuts Target Base ($153.65) toward Bear Floor ($118.02).
Why KEX Stock slipped -1.42% Today — RQD Quant Desk Flash
Kirby Corporation (KEX) slipped -1.42% to $143.93, trading at 75% of its 52-week range ($102.64 – $157.69). High-quality cash engine (steady margins, 9% return on capital) with steady institutional support.
- ▸Technical Tape: Trading at 75% of its 52-week range ($102.64 – $157.69) with RSI-14 at 59.7 (BULLISH MOMENTUM).
- ▸Volatility Profile: Historical 20-day realized swing band of ±5.1% around $143.93 (no active unusual options sweep snapshot on file).
- ▸Fundamental Anchor: Roarable B (Buy) backed by 52% gross margin and $518.8M annual free cash flow.
TradingView report covering Kirby Corporation (KEX) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.
Seeking Alpha report covering Kirby Corporation (KEX) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.
Yahoo Finance report covering Kirby Corporation (KEX) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.
MarketBeat report covering Kirby Corporation (KEX) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.
Stock Traders Daily report covering Kirby Corporation (KEX) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.
StocksToTrade report covering Kirby Corporation (KEX) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.
Seeking Alpha report covering Kirby Corporation (KEX) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.
Kirby’s third quarter results were well received by investors, reflecting outperformance across both its marine transportation and distribution and services segments. Management pointed to strong barge utilization, incre
JP Morgan analyst Tomohiko Sano maintains Kirby (NYSE:KEX) with a Overweight and raises the price target from $200 to $210.
Scheduled RQD Strong Buys & Whale Accumulation Briefing (KEX Tape Review)
- ✓Breakdown of the highest-scoring RQD Green-Light breakouts across our 5,200+ rated universe
- ✓Forensic Red-Light accounting & dilution traps to review on your watchlist
- ✓Includes downloadable .ics calendar invite & nightly RQD rating-change email alerts
KEX Dilution Monitor, Expectations Hurdle, Butterfly Connections & Policy Exposure
Multi-year comparable XBRL diluted share count not disclosed (ETF or recent listing).
vs. +3.0% actual YoY revenue growth (assuming 9.25% cost of equity & 16.5x terminal multiple).
No active Ellis Vennor swing setup published on KEX today. View full Setup Ledger →
No direct multi-tier Butterfly edges indexed yet for KEX. Explore sector supply chains on /butterfly.
📊 Quantitative Sector Peer Comparison, SEC Filing Delta & Investment FAQ (KEX)
1. Head-to-Head Consumer Discretionary Peer Comparison (KEX vs. NCLH, MATX, INSW, CMBT)
Industry: Marine Transportation (67 Tracked Issuers)Across 1011 tracked Consumer Discretionary securities in the Roarable RQD universe, Kirby Corporation (KEX) ranks #93 by composite RQD confidence (73/100, grade B) and #205 by equity capitalization ($7.60B). Within this direct 5-issuer industry benchmark cohort, MATX leads on earnings valuation at 15.3x trailing P/E, while MATX leads on capital efficiency and profitability with 13.5% ROIC and — gross margin. INSW currently holds the highest overall quantitative score in the immediate peer group at 79/100 (B+) compared with KEX at 73/100 (B).
| Ticker / Company | Roarable Grade | RQD Score | Trailing P/E | Gross Margin | ROIC | 1D Change | Market Cap | Head-to-Head |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KEX
ACTIVE
Kirby Corporation | B | 73/100 | 21.7x | — | 9.3% | -1.42% | $7.60B | Benchmark Subject |
| NCLH Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. | D- | 38/100 | 19.8x | — | 11.7% | -3.57% | $8.07B | /nclh-vs-kex → |
| MATX Matson Inc. | C+ | 69/100 | 15.3x | — | 13.5% | -1.38% | $6.69B | /matx-vs-kex → |
| INSW International Seaways Inc. | B+ | 79/100 | 18.8x | — | 11.2% | -1.45% | $5.73B | /insw-vs-kex → |
| CMBT CMB.TECH NV | D+ | 58/100 | — | — | — | -1.76% | $5.34B | /cmbt-vs-kex → |
2. Multi-Year SEC XBRL Revenue, Cash Flow & Balance-Sheet Trajectory (FY2023–FY2025)
SEC EDGAR 10-K • FILED 2025-12-31 • CIK 0000056047In its most recent audited fiscal period (FY2025, filed 2025-12-31), Kirby Corporation (KEX) reported GAAP revenue of $3.36B (+3.0% vs. FY2024 revenue of $3.27B , and +8.8% cumulative change since FY2023) , GAAP net income of $354.6M, operating cash flow of $670.2M, and free cash flow of $518.8M (-14.9% YoY). On the balance sheet, KEX closed FY2025 with $6.01B in total assets against $911.9M in total debt (Altman Z-Score: 3.29, Piotroski F-Score: 8/9).
| Fiscal Period | Filing Date | Revenue | Net Income | Operating Cash Flow | Free Cash Flow | Total Assets | Total Debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2025 (FY) | 2025-12-31 | $3.36B | $354.6M | $670.2M | $518.8M | $6.01B | $911.9M |
| FY2024 (FY) | 2024-12-31 | $3.27B | $286.7M | $756.5M | $609.5M | $5.85B | $866.7M |
| FY2023 (FY) | 2023-12-31 | $3.09B | $222.9M | $540.2M | $401.1M | $4.24B | $992.1M |
3. KEX Data-Verified Investor FAQ (RQD Rating, Sector Peers, SEC Forensics & Technicals)
✓ SCHEMA.ORG FAQPAGE JSON-LD ENABLEDIs KEX stock a Buy, Hold, or Sell right now according to Roarable's RQD model?
As of 2026-11-03, Kirby Corporation (NYSE: KEX) is rated B (Buy / BUY) by Roarable's 5-pillar RQD engine with a composite confidence score of 73/100 at a spot price of $143.93 (-1.42% 1D, market cap $7.60B). Pillar breakdown: Fundamental Cash Engine 11/20, Institutional 13F & Options Flow 15/20, Executive Insider Alignment 16/20, FRED Macro Regime Fit 15/20, and SEC Balance-Sheet Forensics 16/20. Across 1011 tracked Consumer Discretionary issuers, KEX ranks #93 in composite RQD confidence.
How does KEX compare to NCLH and MATX in the Consumer Discretionary sector?
Within the Consumer Discretionary sector (Marine Transportation), KEX carries a Roarable B (73/100 RQD), trailing P/E of 21.7x, gross margin of —, and ROIC of 9.3%. By comparison, NCLH (Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd.) holds a D- grade (38/100 RQD, P/E 19.8x, ROIC 11.7%, cap $8.07B) and MATX (Matson Inc.) posts a C+ grade (69/100 RQD, P/E 15.3x, ROIC 13.5%, cap $6.69B). Among the 5-stock peer group, MATX leads on earnings multiple (15.3x) while MATX leads on capital efficiency (13.5% ROIC).
What are the biggest fundamental strengths and SEC risk factors for KEX?
Per KEX's SEC EDGAR XBRL 10-K filing (FY2025, filed 2025-12-31, CIK 0000056047), Kirby Corporation generated $3.36B in revenue (+3.0% YoY), $354.6M in net income, and $518.8M in free cash flow against $6.01B in total assets and $911.9M in total debt. Key quantitative strengths: Big institutional funds and options desks are actively positioning on the bullish side.. Primary risk factors monitored: Broader market pullbacks can still drag down strong stocks in the short run.. Institutional options positioning shows a 50% call / 50% put premium split.
Where is KEX trading relative to its 50-day, 200-day, and 52-week technical levels?
KEX last traded at $143.93 (-1.42% on volume of 589,418 shares), positioning the stock +4.48% above its 50-day simple moving average ($137.76) and +4.99% above its 200-day simple moving average ($137.09). Across its 52-week range of $102.64 to $157.69, KEX sits at the 75.0% percentile with a 14-day RSI of 59.7 (BULLISH MOMENTUM) and an implied next-earnings move of ±5.1% ($136.59 to $151.27).
KEX Investor FAQ & Complete 8-Part Research Index
100% OPEN ACCESS • SEC EDGAR × CBOE × FREDWhy is KEX stock moving today?
Why KEX Stock slipped -1.42% Today — RQD Quant Desk Flash. High-quality cash engine (steady margins, 9% return on capital) with steady institutional support.
KEX — Kirby Corporation: What the Facts Mean to a Prospective Investor
Roarable Rating Brief: What This Means to a Prospective Investor
Per the Roarable RQD rating, KEX scores 75 out of 100, a B grade labeled "Roarable Buy — Good Risk/Reward." The five pillars are:
- Fundamental Cash Engine: 11 / 20. Per the RQD rating, this reflects ROIC of 9.3% and an FCF yield of 6.73%. This is the weakest pillar, suggesting the cash-generation case is adequate rather than exceptional.
- Whale 13F Flow: 16 / 20. Per the RQD rating, this reflects institutional accumulation and options positioning. The underlying holder-level detail is not available in source data.
- Insider Conviction: 16 / 20. Per the RQD rating, this reflects SEC Form 4 and Congressional PTR cluster flow. Transaction-level detail is not available in source data.
- Macro Regime Fit: 16 / 20. Per the RQD rating, this reflects a beta of 1.08 and sector sensitivity, implying roughly market-level volatility.
- Forensic Balance Sheet: 16 / 20. Per the RQD rating, this reflects an Altman Z-Score of 3.29, a Piotroski F-Score of 8/9, and a Debt/Equity ratio of 0.27.
For a prospective investor, the upside case rests mainly on balance-sheet strength and institutional and insider signals, while the valuation case is less compelling: the lowest pillar is cash-engine returns, and the stock trades at 21.7x trailing earnings and 13.7x EV/EBITDA. The rating is a structured summary of the source data, not a recommendation.
Snapshot
Business
Kirby Corporation is a NYSE-listed issuer classified under Consumer Discretionary, Marine Transportation, per the profile. The source data does not describe its products, customers, or revenue model beyond this classification. Operating margin is 14.8% and net margin is 10.5%, per the market data section.
Financial Trend
| Period | Revenue | Operating Income | Net Income | EPS | FCF | Cash | Debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2025 | $3364.1M | $496.3M | $354.6M | N/A | $518.8M | $78.8M | $911.9M |
| FY 2024 | $3265.9M | $399.1M | $286.7M | N/A | $609.5M | $74.4M | $866.7M |
| FY 2023 | $3091.6M | $335.1M | $222.9M | N/A | $401.1M | N/A | $992.1M |
Per the SEC financials, revenue, operating income, and net income rose in each reported year from FY 2023 to FY 2025. FCF declined from $609.5M in FY 2024 to $518.8M in FY 2025, and debt fell from $992.1M in FY 2023 to $911.9M in FY 2025. Per the RQD rating, the Altman Z-Score is 3.29, the Piotroski F-Score is 8/9, and the Debt/Equity ratio is 0.27. Per the market data section, ROIC is 9.3% and gross margin is reported as 0%.
Recent Catalysts & News Wire Analysis
Per the recent news section, five items cover KEX. Four are tagged YELLOW and one RED:
- Yahoo Finance (YELLOW): "What Makes Kirby (KEX) a New Buy Stock," covering market action and institutional positioning.
- TradingView (YELLOW): "Kirby Corporation Estimates," covering the same themes.
- Seeking Alpha (YELLOW): a 2026 Q3 results and earnings call presentation dated 2026-10-28.
- Yahoo Finance (YELLOW): "Kirby (KEX) Surpasses Q3 Earnings and Revenue Estimates."
- MarketBeat (YELLOW): an article on what researchers think of the stock.
- Stock Traders Daily (RED, tagged RISK WATCH): "Precision Trading with Kirby Corporation (KEX) Risk Zones."
The Q3 headlines indicate earnings and revenue above estimates per the news wire, though the underlying figures are not available in source data. The RED-tagged item is a risk-zone trading piece; its substance is not available in source data. The Butterfly supply-chain graph reports no supply-chain links and no proprietary signals.
Butterfly Effect: 2nd-Order Supply-Chain & Sector Ripples
Per the Butterfly Supply-Chain Graph, supply chain is "NONE," with no butterfly links and no proprietary signals. Upstream and downstream dependencies, sector correlations, and second-order bottlenecks are therefore not available in source data. The sector classification (Consumer Discretionary, Marine Transportation) is the only contextual data point; the beta of 1.08 per the market data is the only available indicator of co-movement with the broader market.
Open Questions
- What are KEX's core products, customers, and revenue segments, given the source data gives only sector and industry classification?
- What were the Q3 2026 reported earnings and revenue figures, and how did they compare with the estimates referenced in the news wire?
- What explains the decline in FCF from $609.5M in FY 2024 to $518.8M in FY 2025, and is it expected to persist?
- Which institutional holders and insiders are driving the whale and insider pillar scores, and what are the transaction sizes and dates?
- What is the basis for the RED RISK WATCH classification on the Stock Traders Daily item, and what risk zones does it identify?
KEX Live News Feed, Press Releases & Catalyst Wire
Real-time company headlines, analyst actions, and sector developments for Kirby Corporation (KEX) • Click "Debate This Headline" to argue it in the Roar Pit below
Yahoo Finance report covering Kirby Corporation (KEX) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.
TradingView report covering Kirby Corporation (KEX) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.
Seeking Alpha report covering Kirby Corporation (KEX) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.
Yahoo Finance report covering Kirby Corporation (KEX) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.
MarketBeat report covering Kirby Corporation (KEX) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.
Stock Traders Daily report covering Kirby Corporation (KEX) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.
StocksToTrade report covering Kirby Corporation (KEX) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.
Seeking Alpha report covering Kirby Corporation (KEX) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.
KEX Bull vs. Bear Conversation Board — What's Your Call at $143.93?
🔥 Official Bull vs. Bear Debate: Is KEX (B • RQD 75/100) a Buy at $146.00?
Welcome to the KEX (Kirby Corporation) Roar Pit. Current RQD Composite is 75/100 (Roarable Buy — Good Risk/Reward) in Marine Transportation. Bulls point to operating leverage and sector positioning, while bears focus on macro rate sensitivity and margin execution. Pick your side (🐂 Bull or 🐻 Bear) and drop your price target below.
Pump the brakes on KEX — check the valuation vs. margin headwinds
Everyone in here is repeating the bull case on KEX, but look at what you are paying: 21.7x trailing P/E with tightening sector spreads. Unless Kirby Corporation expands free cash flow yield next quarter, I would rather wait for a pullback closer to the 200-day moving average before touching this.
KEX cash flow & RQD setup is being underpriced by the Street here
Looking at the 5-pillar RQD breakdown on KEX, the market is fixating on short-term headline noise in Marine Transportation and ignoring the balance sheet and cash flow trajectory. At $146.00 (52-wk range $101.65 - $157.69), any beat on forward guidance forces shorts and underweight funds to chase.