Kirby (NYSE:KEX) Stock Picked Up by Analysts at JPMorgan Chase & Co.

Equities researchers at JPMorgan Chase & Co. initiated coverage on shares of Kirby (NYSE:KEX) in a report issued on Wednesday, Benzinga reports. The brokerage set an “overweight” rating and a $200.00 price target on the shipping company’s stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co.‘s price objective would suggest a potential upside of 46.09% from the stock’s previous close.

A number of other research firms have also commented on KEX. BTIG Research restated a “buy” rating and issued a $170.00 price objective on shares of Kirby in a research note on Wednesday, July 29th. Weiss Ratings raised shares of Kirby from a “hold (c+)” rating to a “buy (b-)” rating in a report on Monday, September 14th. 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 research note on Wednesday, July 8th. Citigroup decreased their target price on shares of Kirby from $170.00 to $169.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, October 8th. Finally, Wall Street Zen lowered Kirby from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Saturday, August 8th. Seven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has issued a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $169.17.

Kirby Stock Performance

Shares of Kirby stock opened at $136.91 on Wednesday. The firm’s fifty day simple moving average is $136.93 and its 200-day simple moving average is $139.94. Kirby has a 12 month low of $80.10 and a 12 month high of $157.69. The stock has a market capitalization of $7.23 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.91, a PEG ratio of 1.21 and a beta of 0.84. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.30, a current ratio of 1.68 and a quick ratio of 1.12.

Kirby (NYSE:KEX) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, July 29th. The shipping company reported $1.67 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.63 by $0.04. The firm 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%. Kirby’s revenue for the quarter was up 7.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $1.67 EPS. Kirby has set its FY 2026 guidance at 7.280-7.280 EPS. As a group, equities analysts forecast that Kirby will post 7.11 earnings per share for the current year.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Kirby

Several large investors have recently modified their holdings of KEX. Root Financial Partners LLC increased its stake in Kirby by 182.9% in the 1st quarter. Root Financial Partners LLC now owns 430 shares of the shipping company’s stock valued at $57,000 after buying an additional 278 shares during the period. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust raised its position in Kirby by 488.9% during the 2nd quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust now owns 477 shares of the shipping company’s stock worth $65,000 after buying an additional 396 shares during the last quarter. Annis Gardner Whiting Capital Advisors LLC raised its position in Kirby by 18.2% during the 1st quarter. Annis Gardner Whiting Capital Advisors LLC now owns 520 shares of the shipping company’s stock worth $69,000 after buying an additional 80 shares during the last quarter. Rockefeller Capital Management L.P. lifted its stake in shares of Kirby by 18.4% in the 4th quarter. Rockefeller Capital Management L.P. now owns 1,079 shares of the shipping company’s stock worth $119,000 after acquiring an additional 168 shares during the period. Finally, GAMMA Investing LLC lifted its stake in shares of Kirby by 34.2% in the 2nd quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 890 shares of the shipping company’s stock worth $121,000 after acquiring an additional 227 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 96.15% of the company’s stock.

About Kirby

Kirby Corporation is a marine transportation and engine-services company headquartered in Houston, Texas. Founded in 1921, the company operates primarily in the United States and is one of the largest domestic operators of tank barges.

Through its marine transportation business, Kirby transports bulk liquid products on the nation’s inland waterway system and along the U.S. coast. Its cargoes include refined petroleum products, petrochemicals, black oil, agricultural chemicals and other specialty liquids.