KEX vs TK

For growth investors, Kirby Corporation (KEX) is the stronger pick with 3.

0% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -16. 7% for Teekay Corporation (TK). Teekay Corporation (TK) offers the better valuation at 9. 9x trailing P/E (64. 0x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Kirby Corporation (KEX) a "Buy" — based on 29 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.

On trailing P/E, Teekay Corporation (TK) is the cheapest at 9.

9x versus Kirby Corporation at 22. 5x. On forward P/E, Kirby Corporation is actually cheaper at 20. 8x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Teekay Corporation (TK) delivered a total return of +412.

3%, compared to +110. 9% for Kirby Corporation (KEX). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: KEX returned +123. 3% versus TK's +97. 1%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Teekay Corporation (TK) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

38β versus Kirby Corporation's 0. 83β — meaning KEX is approximately 118% more volatile than TK relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Teekay Corporation (TK) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 3% versus 39% for Kirby Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Kirby Corporation (KEX) is pulling ahead at 3.

0% versus -16. 7% for Teekay Corporation (TK). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Kirby Corporation grew EPS 28. 9% year-over-year, compared to -7. 8% for Teekay Corporation. Over a 3-year CAGR, TK leads at 21. 4% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.

Teekay Corporation (TK) is the more profitable company, earning 11.

0% net margin versus 10. 5% for Kirby Corporation — meaning it keeps 11. 0% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: TK leads at 29. 9% versus 14. 6% for KEX. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — TK leads at 32. 3%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.

On forward earnings alone, Kirby Corporation (KEX) trades at 20.

8x forward P/E versus 64. 0x for Teekay Corporation — 43. 3x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis.

In this comparison, TK (6.

5% yield) pays a dividend. KEX does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Teekay Corporation (TK) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.

38), 6. 5% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (TK: +97. 1%, KEX: +123. 3%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.

These companies operate in different sectors (KEX (Industrials) and TK (Energy)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: KEX is a small-cap quality compounder stock; TK is a small-cap deep-value stock. TK pays a dividend while KEX does not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.