Fruth Investment Management Sells 3,929 Shares of Kirby Corporation $KEX

Fruth Investment Management reduced its stake in Kirby Corporation (NYSE:KEX) by 25.7% during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 11,388 shares of the shipping company’s stock after selling 3,929 shares during the quarter. Fruth Investment Management’s holdings in Kirby were worth $1,548,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in KEX. King Luther Capital Management Corp lifted its stake in Kirby by 3.0% in the 4th quarter. King Luther Capital Management Corp now owns 1,617,100 shares of the shipping company’s stock valued at $178,172,000 after acquiring an additional 47,099 shares in the last quarter. Mountaineer Partners Management LLC boosted its position in Kirby by 33.6% during the 4th quarter. Mountaineer Partners Management LLC now owns 87,444 shares of the shipping company’s stock worth $9,635,000 after acquiring an additional 22,013 shares during the last quarter. Strs Ohio grew its stake in shares of Kirby by 4,237.3% during the 1st quarter. Strs Ohio now owns 57,990 shares of the shipping company’s stock worth $7,706,000 after acquiring an additional 56,653 shares in the last quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of Kirby during the 4th quarter worth approximately $618,000. Finally, Norges Bank acquired a new stake in shares of Kirby in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $81,355,000. 96.15% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, VP Amy D. Husted sold 4,000 shares of Kirby stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, May 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $145.43, for a total transaction of $581,720.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president directly owned 10,814 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,572,680.02. The trade was a 27.00% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, COO Christian G. O’neil sold 11,287 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, May 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $145.93, for a total value of $1,647,111.91. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Over the last 90 days, insiders sold 15,965 shares of company stock worth $2,328,749. Company insiders own 0.80% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research analysts recently commented on KEX shares. Bank of America increased their target price on shares of Kirby from $169.00 to $182.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, July 8th. Evercore reiterated an “outperform” rating and issued a $158.00 price target on shares of Kirby in a research note on Friday, May 1st. Wall Street Zen cut shares of Kirby from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Saturday. BTIG Research restated a “buy” rating and set a $170.00 price objective on shares of Kirby in a research note on Wednesday, July 29th. Finally, Citigroup lifted their target price on Kirby from $165.00 to $170.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, July 31st. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and two have assigned a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Kirby currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $163.20.

Kirby Stock Performance

NYSE KEX opened at $132.33 on Wednesday. The firm has a market capitalization of $6.99 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.36, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.16 and a beta of 0.84. The company has a current ratio of 1.68, a quick ratio of 1.12 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.30. The firm’s fifty day moving average price is $139.13 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $136.61. Kirby Corporation has a 1 year low of $79.51 and a 1 year high of $157.69.

Kirby (NYSE:KEX) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, July 29th. The shipping company reported $1.67 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.63 by $0.04. The company had revenue of $922.40 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $870.38 million. Kirby had a net margin of 10.18% and a return on equity of 10.44%. The company’s quarterly revenue was up 7.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $1.67 EPS. Kirby has set its FY 2026 guidance at 7.280-7.280 EPS. As a group, research analysts anticipate that Kirby Corporation will post 7.28 EPS for the current year.

Kirby Company Profile

Kirby Corporation is a leading domestic maritime transporter of bulk liquid products in the United States. Through its Marine Transportation segment, the company operates one of North America’s largest fleets of inland tank barges and towing vessels. Kirby’s fleet moves petrochemicals, black oil, refined petroleum products and agricultural chemicals along coastal and inland waterways, providing critical logistical support to energy, chemical and agricultural producers.

In addition to its marine operations, Kirby’s Distribution and Services segment offers diesel engine and power generation services, along with aftermarket parts sales.