Oberweis Asset Management Inc. Raises Stock Position in Kirby Co. (NYSE:KEX)

Oberweis Asset Management Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Kirby Co. (NYSE:KEX - Free Report) by 6.9% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 56,950 shares of the shipping company's stock after buying an additional 3,700 shares during the quarter. Oberweis Asset Management Inc. owned approximately 0.10% of Kirby worth $6,025,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Voya Investment Management LLC grew its position in shares of Kirby by 4.1% during the 4th quarter. Voya Investment Management LLC now owns 245,563 shares of the shipping company's stock valued at $25,981,000 after acquiring an additional 9,692 shares during the period. Fuller & Thaler Asset Management Inc. lifted its position in Kirby by 6.5% during the fourth quarter. Fuller & Thaler Asset Management Inc. now owns 368,613 shares of the shipping company's stock valued at $38,999,000 after purchasing an additional 22,513 shares in the last quarter. Pinebridge Investments L.P. bought a new stake in Kirby during the fourth quarter valued at about $1,856,000. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD grew its holdings in Kirby by 45.6% during the fourth quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 355,781 shares of the shipping company's stock valued at $37,643,000 after purchasing an additional 111,385 shares during the period. Finally, Dark Forest Capital Management LP purchased a new stake in Kirby in the fourth quarter worth about $1,075,000. 96.15% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research firms recently issued reports on KEX. Bank of America reduced their target price on shares of Kirby from $133.00 to $123.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a report on Friday, March 28th. StockNews.com cut shares of Kirby from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Thursday, January 9th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus lowered their target price on shares of Kirby from $136.00 to $135.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, January 31st.

Insider Activity

In related news, VP Scott P. Miller sold 1,244 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $107.61, for a total value of $133,866.84. Following the sale, the vice president now directly owns 5,545 shares in the company, valued at approximately $596,697.45. The trade was a 18.32 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Company insiders own 0.90% of the company's stock.

Kirby Price Performance

NYSE KEX traded down $1.00 during trading hours on Monday, reaching $95.78. The company's stock had a trading volume of 346,539 shares, compared to its average volume of 534,069. Kirby Co. has a 1 year low of $83.94 and a 1 year high of $132.21. The company has a quick ratio of 1.05, a current ratio of 1.45 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.26. The company has a market capitalization of $5.45 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.51, a PEG ratio of 0.88 and a beta of 0.99. The firm's 50-day moving average price is $98.20 and its 200-day moving average price is $109.44.

Kirby (NYSE:KEX - Get Free Report) last released 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, equities research analysts predict that Kirby Co. will post 6.57 EPS for the current fiscal year.

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.