Kirby Co. (NYSE:KEX) Shares Acquired by Voya Investment Management LLC

Voya Investment Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of Kirby Co. (NYSE:KEX) by 4.1% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 245,563 shares of the shipping company’s stock after buying an additional 9,692 shares during the period. Voya Investment Management LLC owned approximately 0.43% of Kirby worth $25,981,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in KEX. Norges Bank acquired a new stake in Kirby during the 4th quarter worth about $74,293,000. First Trust Advisors LP lifted its holdings in shares of Kirby by 69.7% during the fourth quarter. First Trust Advisors LP now owns 876,292 shares of the shipping company’s stock worth $92,712,000 after purchasing an additional 359,770 shares during the period. Franklin Resources Inc. boosted its position in Kirby by 848.5% in the fourth quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 393,647 shares of the shipping company’s stock valued at $41,648,000 after buying an additional 352,144 shares during the last quarter. Artemis Investment Management LLP increased its holdings in Kirby by 112.0% in the 4th quarter. Artemis Investment Management LLP now owns 382,835 shares of the shipping company’s stock worth $40,504,000 after buying an additional 202,272 shares during the period. Finally, Raymond James Financial Inc. purchased a new position in Kirby during the 4th quarter worth approximately $18,749,000. 96.15% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Kirby Stock Performance

KEX opened at $96.67 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $5.50 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.69, a P/E/G ratio of 0.88 and a beta of 0.99. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.26, a current ratio of 1.45 and a quick ratio of 1.05. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $98.20 and a 200 day moving average price of $109.52. Kirby Co. has a 1 year low of $83.94 and a 1 year high of $132.21.

Kirby (NYSE:KEX) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, January 30th. The shipping company reported $1.29 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.30 by ($0.01). Kirby had a net margin of 8.78% and a return on equity of 9.71%. Equities research analysts anticipate that Kirby Co. will post 6.57 earnings per share for the current year.

Insider Activity

In other news, VP Scott P. Miller sold 1,244 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $107.61, for a total transaction of $133,866.84. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president now owns 5,545 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $596,697.45. The trade was a 18.32 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Company insiders own 0.90% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of analysts have recently weighed in on KEX shares. Bank of America cut their price objective on shares of Kirby from $133.00 to $123.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, March 28th. Stifel Nicolaus reduced their price objective on Kirby from $136.00 to $135.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, January 31st. Finally, StockNews.com downgraded Kirby from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Thursday, January 9th.

About Kirby

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.