Aquatic Capital Management LLC Buys New Shares in Kirby Co. (NYSE:KEX)

Aquatic Capital Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Kirby Co. (NYSE:KEX - Free Report) during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor acquired 26,129 shares of the shipping company's stock, valued at approximately $2,764,000.

Other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Oxford Asset Management LLP bought a new position in shares of Kirby during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $473,000. Boothbay Fund Management LLC bought a new position in Kirby during the 4th quarter worth $272,000. Susquehanna Fundamental Investments LLC bought a new position in Kirby during the 4th quarter worth $5,838,000. Two Sigma Securities LLC acquired a new stake in Kirby in the fourth quarter worth $231,000. Finally, Nebula Research & Development LLC bought a new stake in Kirby in the fourth quarter valued at $515,000. Institutional investors own 96.15% of the company's stock.

Kirby Price Performance

Shares of KEX traded up $5.30 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $104.88. The stock had a trading volume of 1,107,886 shares, compared to its average volume of 539,404. The firm's 50 day moving average price is $97.59 and its 200-day moving average price is $108.89. Kirby Co. has a 52 week low of $83.94 and a 52 week high of $132.21. The company has a market capitalization of $5.97 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.36, 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.

Kirby (NYSE:KEX - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, May 1st. The shipping company reported $1.33 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $1.27 by $0.06. The company had revenue of $785.66 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $824.12 million. Kirby had a net margin of 8.78% and a return on equity of 9.71%. Kirby's revenue was down 2.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $1.19 EPS. On average, analysts forecast that Kirby Co. will post 6.57 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

KEX has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. Bank of America decreased their target price on shares of Kirby from $133.00 to $123.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research report on Friday, March 28th. Stifel Nicolaus lowered their target price on Kirby from $136.00 to $135.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, January 31st. Finally, StockNews.com lowered Kirby from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Thursday, January 9th.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, VP Scott P. Miller sold 1,244 shares of Kirby stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 5th. The stock was 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 approximately $596,697.45. This trade represents 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 accessible through the SEC website. Company insiders own 0.90% of the company's stock.

Kirby Profile

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.