Kirby Corporation (KEX) Financial Ratios
30 years of historical data (1996–2025) · Industrials · Marine Shipping
EV/EBITDA
↓
11.65
+5% vs avg
5yr avg: 11.13
30Y Low4.7·High44.7
P/FCF
↓
18.68
↓-17% vs avg
5yr avg: 22.39
30Y Low7.3·High162.0
P/B Ratio
↑
2.34
↑+53% vs avg
5yr avg: 1.53
30Y Low1.0·High3.2
ROE
↑
10.5%
↓+136% vs avg
5yr avg: 4.5%
30Y Low-8%·High19%
Debt/EBITDA
↓
1.73
↓-21% vs avg
5yr avg: 2.19
30Y Low0.6·High11.0
Percentile shows where the current value sits in 30-year historical distribution. Sparklines show 5-year trend.
KEX Valuation Multiples
Price-based multiples — how expensive the stock is relative to earnings, sales, book value, and cash flow
Kirby Corporation trades at 22.3x earnings, roughly in line with its 5-year average of 22.9x, sitting at the 71st percentile of its historical range. Compared to the Industrials sector median P/E of 25.5x, the stock trades at a discount of 12%. On a free-cash-flow basis, the stock trades at 18.7x P/FCF, 17% below the 5-year average of 22.4x.
| Metric | TTM | FY 2025 | FY 2024 | FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Market Cap | $7.6B | $6.2B | $6.2B | $4.7B | $3.9B | $3.6B | $3.1B | $5.4B | $4.0B | $3.7B | $3.6B |
| Enterprise Value | $8.8B | $7.4B | $7.2B | $5.9B | $5.1B | $4.9B | $4.7B | $6.9B | $5.4B | $4.7B | $4.3B |
| P/E Ratio → | 22.33 | 17.41 | 21.55 | 21.10 | 31.70 | — | — | 37.78 | 51.42 | 11.89 | 25.38 |
| P/S Ratio | 2.25 | 1.84 | 1.89 | 1.52 | 1.39 | 1.59 | 1.43 | 1.89 | 1.35 | 1.67 | 2.01 |
| P/B Ratio | 2.34 | 1.83 | 1.84 | 1.47 | 1.27 | 1.24 | 1.01 | 1.59 | 1.25 | 1.19 | 1.47 |
| P/FCF | 18.68 | 15.22 | 14.92 | 33.92 | 31.95 | 15.96 | 10.46 | 20.34 | 89.07 | 20.99 | 19.26 |
| P/OCF | 11.31 | 9.21 | 8.16 | 8.70 | 13.20 | 11.10 | 6.98 | 10.48 | 11.59 | 10.47 | 8.56 |
P/E links to full P/E history page with 30-year chart
KEX EV Ratios
Enterprise-value multiples — capital-structure-neutral measures of total business value
Kirby Corporation's enterprise value stands at 11.7x EBITDA, roughly in line with its 5-year average of 11.1x. The Industrials sector median is 13.8x, placing the stock at a 16% discount on an enterprise-value basis.
| Metric | TTM | FY 2025 | FY 2024 | FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EV / Revenue | — | 2.20 | 2.19 | 1.89 | 1.82 | 2.18 | 2.16 | 2.42 | 1.83 | 2.11 | 2.41 |
| EV / EBITDA | 11.65 | 9.79 | 11.20 | 10.72 | 12.83 | — | — | 14.89 | 14.26 | 15.75 | 9.54 |
| EV / EBIT | 17.91 | 14.29 | 17.38 | 16.91 | 24.14 | — | — | 27.97 | 33.68 | 49.43 | 17.42 |
| EV / FCF | — | 18.24 | 17.30 | 42.27 | 41.64 | 21.88 | 15.80 | 26.08 | 120.14 | 26.51 | 23.15 |
KEX Profitability
Margins and return-on-capital ratios measuring operating efficiency
Kirby Corporation earns an operating margin of 14.6%, above the Industrials sector average of 4.3%. Operating margins have expanded from 10.8% to 14.6% over the past 3 years, signaling improving operational efficiency. ROE of 10.5% is modest. ROIC of 8.2% represents adequate returns on invested capital versus a sector median of 6.1%.
Margins
Full margin charts and quarterly trend are on the Earnings History page
| Metric | TTM | FY 2025 | FY 2024 | FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Margin | 26.3% | 26.3% | 25.3% | 22.6% | 18.8% | 16.9% | 20.3% | 20.7% | 19.7% | 20.5% | 25.1% |
| Operating Margin | 14.6% | 14.6% | 12.2% | 10.8% | 6.9% | -11.5% | -19.4% | 8.5% | 5.2% | 4.2% | 14.0% |
| Net Profit Margin | 10.5% | 10.5% | 8.8% | 7.2% | 4.4% | -11.0% | -12.6% | 5.0% | 2.6% | 14.1% | 8.0% |
Return on Capital
| Metric | TTM | FY 2025 | FY 2024 | FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ROE | 10.5% | 10.5% | 8.8% | 7.2% | 4.1% | -8.3% | -8.4% | 4.3% | 2.5% | 11.3% | 6.0% |
| ROA | 6.0% | 6.0% | 5.0% | 4.0% | 2.2% | -4.4% | -4.5% | 2.4% | 1.4% | 6.6% | 3.3% |
| ROIC | 8.2% | 8.2% | 6.9% | 5.9% | 3.4% | -4.4% | -6.6% | 3.8% | 2.7% | 1.9% | 6.0% |
| ROCE | 9.4% | 9.4% | 7.9% | 6.7% | 3.9% | -5.0% | -7.6% | 4.5% | 3.1% | 2.2% | 6.4% |
KEX Leverage & Debt
Solvency and debt-coverage ratios — lower is generally safer
Kirby Corporation carries a Debt/EBITDA ratio of 1.7x, which is manageable (46% below the sector average of 3.2x). Net debt stands at $1.2B ($1.3B total debt minus $79M cash). Interest coverage of 11.2x signals virtually no risk of debt distress — earnings comfortably cover interest obligations.
| Metric | TTM | FY 2025 | FY 2024 | FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Debt / Equity | 0.39 | 0.39 | 0.32 | 0.37 | 0.41 | 0.47 | 0.54 | 0.46 | 0.44 | 0.32 | 0.30 |
| Debt / EBITDA | 1.73 | 1.73 | 1.66 | 2.18 | 3.19 | — | — | 3.33 | 3.71 | 3.35 | 1.61 |
| Net Debt / Equity | — | 0.36 | 0.29 | 0.36 | 0.39 | 0.46 | 0.51 | 0.45 | 0.44 | 0.31 | 0.30 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 1.62 | 1.62 | 1.54 | 2.12 | 2.99 | — | — | 3.27 | 3.69 | 3.28 | 1.60 |
| Debt / FCF | — | 3.02 | 2.38 | 8.35 | 9.69 | 5.91 | 5.34 | 5.73 | 31.07 | 5.52 | 3.88 |
| Interest Coverage | 11.18 | 11.18 | 8.38 | 6.66 | 4.70 | -5.84 | -8.47 | 4.39 | 3.44 | 4.40 | 13.87 |
KEX Liquidity & Efficiency
Short-term solvency ratios and asset-utilisation metrics
A current ratio of 1.53x means Kirby Corporation can comfortably meet its short-term obligations, though there is limited excess liquidity. The quick ratio of 0.96x is notably lower than the current ratio, indicating a significant portion of current assets is tied up in inventory. The current ratio has declined from 1.68x to 1.53x over the past 3 years.
| Metric | TTM | FY 2025 | FY 2024 | FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio | 1.53 | 1.53 | 1.45 | 1.68 | 1.89 | 1.85 | 2.25 | 1.78 | 1.80 | 1.99 | 1.80 |
| Quick Ratio | 0.96 | 0.96 | 0.92 | 1.01 | 1.17 | 1.24 | 1.58 | 1.10 | 0.97 | 1.34 | 1.29 |
| Cash Ratio | 0.11 | 0.11 | 0.10 | 0.05 | 0.13 | 0.06 | 0.17 | 0.05 | 0.01 | 0.04 | 0.02 |
| Asset Turnover | — | 0.56 | 0.56 | 0.54 | 0.50 | 0.42 | 0.37 | 0.47 | 0.51 | 0.43 | 0.41 |
| Inventory Turnover | 6.23 | 6.23 | 6.20 | 5.26 | 4.90 | 5.63 | 5.59 | 6.40 | 4.70 | 5.58 | 7.15 |
| Days Sales Outstanding | — | 58.93 | 59.99 | 68.32 | 78.38 | 92.27 | 100.89 | 62.16 | 64.12 | 92.05 | 80.91 |
KEX Shareholder Yields
Earnings, FCF, buyback, and dividend yields — total returns to shareholders
Kirby Corporation returns 4.7% to shareholders annually primarily through share buybacks. The earnings yield of 4.5% (inverse of P/E) provides a useful comparison to bond yields when assessing the stock's relative attractiveness to fixed income.
Dividends
Full dividend history and growth charts are on the Dividend History page
| Metric | TTM | FY 2025 | FY 2024 | FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Payout Ratio | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Total Shareholder Return Metrics
| Metric | TTM | FY 2025 | FY 2024 | FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Earnings Yield | 4.5% | 5.7% | 4.6% | 4.7% | 3.2% | — | — | 2.6% | 1.9% | 8.4% | 3.9% |
| FCF Yield | 5.4% | 6.6% | 6.7% | 2.9% | 3.1% | 6.3% | 9.6% | 4.9% | 1.1% | 4.8% | 5.2% |
| Buyback Yield | 4.7% | 5.7% | 2.8% | 2.4% | 0.6% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.1% | 0.1% |
| Total Shareholder Yield | 4.7% | 5.7% | 2.8% | 2.4% | 0.6% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.1% | 0.1% |
| Shares Outstanding | — | $56M | $58M | $60M | $60M | $60M | $60M | $60M | $60M | $55M | $54M |
Peer Comparison
Compare KEX with 10 similar companies in its peer group
| Company | Market Cap | P/E | EV/EBITDA | P/FCF | Gross Margin | Op Margin | ROE | ROIC | Debt/EBITDA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 KEXYou | $8B | 22.3 | 11.7 | 18.7 | 26.3% | 14.6% | 10.5% | 8.2% | 1.7 |
 MATX | $6B | 14.2 | 8.3 | 39.0 | 22.8% | 14.0% | 16.4% | 10.8% | 0.9 |
 ARCB | $3B | 55.6 | 14.6 | 28.4 | 2.3% | 2.3% | 4.6% | 3.9% | 2.6 |
 SBLK | $3B | 36.3 | 11.6 | 14.4 | 22.5% | 13.5% | 3.4% | 3.2% | 3.5 |
 GNK | $1B | -235.7 | 13.6 | — | 13.4% | 2.7% | -0.5% | 0.7% | 2.3 |
 TK | $1B | 10.8 | 0.6 | 9.9 | 27.5% | 21.8% | 4.8% | 12.0% | 0.2 |
 GLNG | $5B | 78.1 | 36.5 | — | 46.9% | 34.4% | 3.0% | 2.9% | 14.9 |
 GATX | $6B | 19.7 | 14.4 | — | 48.6% | 30.7% | 11.0% | 3.7% | 13.0 |
 GNSS | $73M | -4.0 | — | — | 41.6% | -41.2% | -183.6% | -56.7% | — |
 PSX | $68B | 15.6 | 13.1 | 24.7 | 4.9% | 2.7% | 15.0% | 5.3% | 3.4 |
 VLO | $73B | 32.2 | 10.7 | 14.5 | 4.4% | 3.5% | 8.7% | 9.5% | 1.6 |
| Industrials Median | — | 25.5 | 13.8 | 20.0 | 32.0% | 4.3% | 8.2% | 6.1% | 3.2 |
Peer selection based on competitive and market overlap. Compare multiple stocks →
Download Financial Ratios Data
Includes 30+ ratios · 30 years · Updated daily
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KEX — Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to the most common questions about buying KEX stock.
What is Kirby Corporation's P/E ratio?
Kirby Corporation's current P/E ratio is 22.3x. The historical average is 21.9x. This places it at the 71th percentile of its historical range.
What is Kirby Corporation's EV/EBITDA?
Kirby Corporation's current EV/EBITDA is 11.7x. This enterprise value multiple compares the company's total value (equity + debt - cash) to its EBITDA. The historical average is 13.0x.
What is Kirby Corporation's ROE?
Kirby Corporation's return on equity (ROE) is 10.5%. The historical average is 9.4%.
Is KEX stock overvalued?
Based on historical data, Kirby Corporation is trading at a P/E of 22.3x. This is at the 71th percentile of its historical P/E range. Compare with industry peers and growth rates for a complete picture.
What are Kirby Corporation's profit margins?
Kirby Corporation has 26.3% gross margin and 14.6% operating margin. Operating margin between 10-20% is typical for established companies.
How much debt does Kirby Corporation have?
Kirby Corporation's Debt/EBITDA ratio is 1.7x, indicating moderate leverage. A ratio below 2x is generally considered financially healthy.