Kirby Co. (NYSE:KEX) Receives Average Recommendation of “Buy” from Analysts

Kirby Co. (NYSE:KEX) has earned a consensus rating of “Buy” from the five ratings firms that are presently covering the stock, Marketbeat Ratings reports. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating. The average 12 month price target among analysts that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $123.80.

A number of equities research analysts have commented on the stock. Bank of America increased their price objective on shares of Kirby from $138.00 to $141.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, July 23rd. StockNews.com downgraded shares of Kirby from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Sunday, September 22nd.

Insider Activity at Kirby

In related news, VP Amy D. Husted sold 2,853 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, September 19th. The shares were sold at an average price of $126.54, for a total value of $361,018.62. Following the sale, the vice president now directly owns 5,280 shares in the company, valued at $668,131.20. This trade represents a 0.00 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. In other Kirby news, VP Amy D. Husted sold 2,853 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, September 19th. The shares were sold at an average price of $126.54, for a total transaction of $361,018.62. Following the sale, the vice president now directly owns 5,280 shares in the company, valued at approximately $668,131.20. This trade represents a 0.00 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, CEO David W. Grzebinski sold 26,358 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, September 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $120.46, for a total transaction of $3,175,084.68. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 63,399 shares in the company, valued at $7,637,043.54. This trade represents a 0.00 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 46,012 shares of company stock worth $5,571,267 in the last ninety days. Company insiders own 1.50% of the company’s stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Kirby

Several hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Custom Index Systems LLC bought a new position in shares of Kirby during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $418,000. State of Alaska Department of Revenue grew its stake in shares of Kirby by 5.3% in the third quarter. State of Alaska Department of Revenue now owns 6,726 shares of the shipping company’s stock valued at $823,000 after buying an additional 340 shares in the last quarter. Pullen Investment Management LLC grew its stake in shares of Kirby by 8.1% in the third quarter. Pullen Investment Management LLC now owns 25,294 shares of the shipping company’s stock valued at $3,097,000 after buying an additional 1,888 shares in the last quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC grew its stake in shares of Kirby by 34.9% in the third quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC now owns 2,532 shares of the shipping company’s stock valued at $310,000 after buying an additional 655 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Tectonic Advisors LLC grew its stake in shares of Kirby by 27.6% in the third quarter. Tectonic Advisors LLC now owns 57,456 shares of the shipping company’s stock valued at $7,034,000 after buying an additional 12,444 shares in the last quarter. 96.15% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Kirby Stock Up 1.6 %

Shares of NYSE:KEX opened at $123.74 on Friday. Kirby has a 12 month low of $72.11 and a 12 month high of $130.90. The company’s 50-day moving average price is $120.51 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $117.19. The company has a quick ratio of 1.05, a current ratio of 1.70 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32. The firm has a market cap of $7.24 billion, a P/E ratio of 29.25, a P/E/G ratio of 0.75 and a beta of 1.17.

Kirby (NYSE:KEX) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, August 1st. The shipping company reported $1.43 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.32 by $0.11. Kirby had a net margin of 8.72% and a return on equity of 8.70%. The firm had revenue of $824.40 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $821.65 million. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $0.95 EPS. The company’s revenue was up 6.1% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, research analysts forecast that Kirby will post 5.46 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Kirby Company Profile

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.