Capital Fund Management S.A. Invests $1.94 Million in Kirby Co. (NYSE:KEX)

Capital Fund Management S.A. purchased a new stake in Kirby Co. (NYSE:KEX - Free Report) during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm purchased 18,311 shares of the shipping company's stock, valued at approximately $1,937,000.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. Empowered Funds LLC acquired a new position in Kirby during the 4th quarter worth approximately $25,000. R Squared Ltd acquired a new stake in Kirby in the 4th quarter valued at $76,000. Signaturefd LLC boosted its stake in shares of Kirby by 13.1% during the 4th quarter. Signaturefd LLC now owns 1,746 shares of the shipping company's stock worth $185,000 after buying an additional 202 shares during the last quarter. Huntington National Bank grew its holdings in shares of Kirby by 6.8% in the 4th quarter. Huntington National Bank now owns 1,781 shares of the shipping company's stock valued at $188,000 after acquiring an additional 113 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Ieq Capital LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Kirby in the fourth quarter valued at about $257,000. Institutional investors own 96.15% of the company's stock.

Kirby Stock Performance

Kirby stock traded up $0.98 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $95.18. 757,457 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 545,957. 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 50 day simple moving average of $99.44 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $110.35. Kirby Co. has a fifty-two week low of $83.94 and a fifty-two week high of $132.21. The stock has a market cap of $5.42 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.38, a P/E/G ratio of 0.88 and a beta of 0.99.

Kirby (NYSE:KEX - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, January 30th. The shipping company reported $1.29 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.30 by ($0.01). Kirby had a return on equity of 9.71% and a net margin of 8.78%. On average, research analysts expect that Kirby Co. will post 6.57 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research analysts have weighed in on KEX shares. Bank of America decreased their price target on Kirby from $133.00 to $123.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research note on Friday, March 28th. Stifel Nicolaus dropped their price target on shares of 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 downgraded shares of Kirby from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Thursday, January 9th.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Kirby news, VP Scott P. Miller sold 1,244 shares of Kirby stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $107.61, for a total value of $133,866.84. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president now owns 5,545 shares in the company, valued at $596,697.45. The trade was a 18.32 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. 0.90% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Kirby Company 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.