Kirby (KEX) Beneish M-Score: -2.69 (As of Jun. 24, 2026)


KEX Kirby Corp KEX
83 GF Score
Price $136.13
GF Value $119.13
Valuation Modestly Overvalued
! 6 Warning Signs
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What is Kirby Beneish M-Score?

Kirby KEX -1.52% 83 Beneish M-Score is -2.69 as of Jun. 24, 2026. GuruFocus rates KEX with a GF Score™ of 83/100 and a GF Value™ of $119.13 (Modestly Overvalued). The stock has 6 warning signs investors should review. Among 966 Transportation companies, Kirby ranks better than 59.94% on this metric.

The zones of discrimination for M-Score is as such:

An M-Score of equal or less than -1.78 suggests that the company is unlikely to be a manipulator.
An M-Score of greater than -1.78 signals that the company is likely to be a manipulator.

Good Sign:

Beneish M-Score -2.69 no higher than -1.78, which implies that the company is unlikely to be a manipulator.

The historical rank and industry rank for Kirby's Beneish M-Score or its related term are showing as below:

KEX' s Beneish M-Score Range Over the Past 10 Years
Min: -2.98   Med: -2.69   Max: -0.12
Current: -2.69

During the past 13 years, the highest Beneish M-Score of Kirby was -0.12. The lowest was -2.98. And the median was -2.69.


Kirby Beneish M-Score Historical Data

* Premium members only.

The historical data trend for Kirby's Beneish M-Score can be seen below:

* For Operating Data section: All numbers are indicated by the unit behind each term and all currency related amount are in USD.
* For other sections: All numbers are in millions except for per share data, ratio, and percentage. All currency related amount are indicated in the company's associated stock exchange currency.

Kirby Beneish M-Score Chart

Kirby Annual Data
Trend Dec16 Dec17 Dec18 Dec19 Dec20 Dec21 Dec22 Dec23 Dec24 Dec25
Beneish M-Score
Get a 7-Day Free Trial Premium Member Only Premium Member Only -2.72 -2.60 -2.84 -2.91 -2.75

Kirby Quarterly Data
Jun21 Sep21 Dec21 Mar22 Jun22 Sep22 Dec22 Mar23 Jun23 Sep23 Dec23 Mar24 Jun24 Sep24 Dec24 Mar25 Jun25 Sep25 Dec25 Mar26
Beneish M-Score Get a 7-Day Free Trial Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only -1.53 -2.66 -2.66 -2.75 -2.69

KEX vs MATX, SBLK, ZIM: Beneish M-Score Comparison

For the Marine Shipping subindustry, Kirby's Beneish M-Score, along with its competitors' market caps and Beneish M-Score data, can be viewed below:

* Competitive companies are chosen from companies within the same industry, with headquarter located in same country, with closest market capitalization; x-axis shows the market cap, and y-axis shows the term value; the bigger the dot, the larger the market cap. Note that "N/A" values will not show up in the chart.


Kirby Beneish M-Score vs Transportation Industry

For the Transportation industry and Industrials sector, Kirby's Beneish M-Score distribution charts can be found below:

* The bar in red indicates where Kirby's Beneish M-Score falls into.


KEX
83GF Score
Kirby Corp KEX
Beneish M-Score is just one metric. See GF Score™, valuation, warning signs, and more.
View Full Analysis

Kirby Beneish M-Score Calculation

The M-score was created by Professor Messod Beneish. Instead of measuring the bankruptcy risk (Altman Z-Score) or business trend (Piotroski F-Score), M-score can be used to detect the risk of earnings manipulation. This is the original research paper on M-score.

The M-Score Variables:

The M-score of Kirby for today is based on a combination of the following eight different indices:

M=-4.84+0.92 * DSRI+0.528 * GMI+0.404 * AQI+0.892 * SGI+0.115 * DEPI
=-4.84+0.92 * 1.0328+0.528 * 0.9888+0.404 * 1.0306+0.892 * 1.0552+0.115 * 0.9289
-0.172 * SGAI+4.679 * TATA-0.327 * LVGI
-0.172 * 1.0034+4.679 * -0.065549-0.327 * 0.9414
=-2.69

* For Operating Data section: All numbers are indicated by the unit behind each term and all currency related amount are in USD.
* For other sections: All numbers are in millions except for per share data, ratio, and percentage. All currency related amount are indicated in the company's associated stock exchange currency.

This Year (Mar26) TTM:Last Year (Mar25) TTM:
Total Receivables was $603 Mil.
Revenue was 844.099 + 851.775 + 871.161 + 855.455 = $3,422 Mil.
Gross Profit was 217.332 + 223.486 + 223.797 + 226.547 = $891 Mil.
Total Current Assets was $1,142 Mil.
Total Assets was $6,119 Mil.
Property, Plant and Equipment(Net PPE) was $4,343 Mil.
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization(DDA) was $269 Mil.
Selling, General, & Admin. Expense(SGA) was $362 Mil.
Total Current Liabilities was $717 Mil.
Long-Term Debt & Capital Lease Obligation was $1,137 Mil.
Net Income was 81.197 + 91.81 + 92.496 + 94.277 = $360 Mil.
Non Operating Income was 8.734 + 5.781 + 8.559 + 6.499 = $30 Mil.
Cash Flow from Operations was 97.65 + 312.21 + 227.531 + 93.922 = $731 Mil.
Total Receivables was $554 Mil.
Revenue was 785.659 + 802.315 + 831.149 + 824.39 = $3,244 Mil.
Gross Profit was 209.593 + 196.42 + 218.405 + 210.676 = $835 Mil.
Total Current Assets was $1,102 Mil.
Total Assets was $6,015 Mil.
Property, Plant and Equipment(Net PPE) was $4,307 Mil.
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization(DDA) was $246 Mil.
Selling, General, & Admin. Expense(SGA) was $342 Mil.
Total Current Liabilities was $699 Mil.
Long-Term Debt & Capital Lease Obligation was $1,237 Mil.




1. DSRI = Days Sales in Receivables Index

Measured as the ratio of Revenue in Total Receivables in year t to year t-1.

A large increase in DSR could be indicative of revenue inflation.

DSRI=(Receivables_t / Revenue_t) / (Receivables_t-1 / Revenue_t-1)
=(603.313 / 3422.49) / (553.62 / 3243.513)
=0.176279 / 0.170685
=1.0328

2. GMI = Gross Margin Index

Measured as the ratio of gross margin in year t-1 to gross margin in year t.

Gross margin has deteriorated when this index is above 1. A firm with poorer prospects is more likely to manipulate earnings.

GMI=GrossMargin_t-1 / GrossMargin_t
=(GrossProfit_t-1 / Revenue_t-1) / (GrossProfit_t / Revenue_t)
=(835.094 / 3243.513) / (891.162 / 3422.49)
=0.257466 / 0.260384
=0.9888

3. AQI = Asset Quality Index

AQI is the ratio of asset quality in year t to year t-1.

Asset quality is measured as the ratio of non-current assets other than Property, Plant and Equipment to Total Assets.

AQI=(1 - (CurrentAssets_t + PPE_t) / TotalAssets_t) / (1 - (CurrentAssets_t-1 + PPE_t-1) / TotalAssets_t-1)
=(1 - (1142.135 + 4342.581) / 6119.203) / (1 - (1102.28 + 4307.202) / 6014.601)
=0.103688 / 0.100608
=1.0306

4. SGI = Sales Growth Index

Ratio of Revenue in year t to sales in year t-1.

Sales growth is not itself a measure of manipulation. However, growth companies are likely to find themselves under pressure to manipulate in order to keep up appearances.

SGI=Sales_t / Sales_t-1
=Revenue_t / Revenue_t-1
=3422.49 / 3243.513
=1.0552

5. DEPI = Depreciation Index

Measured as the ratio of the rate of Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization in year t-1 to the corresponding rate in year t.

DEPI greater than 1 indicates that assets are being depreciated at a slower rate. This suggests that the firm might be revising useful asset life assumptions upwards, or adopting a new method that is income friendly.

DEPI=(Depreciation_t-1 / (Depreciaton_t-1 + PPE_t-1)) / (Depreciation_t / (Depreciaton_t + PPE_t))
=(246.41 / (246.41 + 4307.202)) / (268.634 / (268.634 + 4342.581))
=0.054113 / 0.058257
=0.9289

Note: If the Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization data is not available, we assume that the depreciation rate is constant and set the Depreciation Index to 1.

6. SGAI = Sales, General and Administrative expenses Index

The ratio of Selling, General, & Admin. Expense(SGA) to Sales in year t relative to year t-1.

SGA expenses index > 1 means that the company is becoming less efficient in generate sales.

SGAI=(SGA_t / Sales_t) / (SGA_t-1 /Sales_t-1)
=(362.278 / 3422.49) / (342.178 / 3243.513)
=0.105852 / 0.105496
=1.0034

7. LVGI = Leverage Index

The ratio of total debt to Total Assets in year t relative to yeat t-1.

An LVGI > 1 indicates an increase in leverage

LVGI=((LTD_t + CurrentLiabilities_t) / TotalAssets_t) / ((LTD_t-1 + CurrentLiabilities_t-1) / TotalAssets_t-1)
=((1136.714 + 717.464) / 6119.203) / ((1237.282 + 698.583) / 6014.601)
=0.30301 / 0.321861
=0.9414

8. TATA = Total Accruals to Total Assets

Total accruals calculated as the change in working capital accounts other than cash less depreciation.

TATA=(IncomefromContinuingOperations_t - CashFlowsfromOperations_t) / TotalAssets_t
=(NetIncome_t - NonOperatingIncome_t - CashFlowsfromOperations_t) / TotalAssets_t
=(359.78 - 29.573 - 731.313) / 6119.203
=-0.065549

An M-Score of equal or less than -1.78 suggests that the company is unlikely to be a manipulator. An M-Score of greater than -1.78 signals that the company is likely to be a manipulator.

Kirby has a M-score of -2.69 suggests that the company is unlikely to be a manipulator.

Frequently Asked Questions Learn more about Beneish M-Score →
What does a Beneish M-Score of -2.69 mean?
Kirby (KEX) has a Beneish M-Score of -2.69 as of Jun. 24, 2026. The Beneish M-score measures the likelihood of earnings manipulation. View historical data on Kirby and its competitors. According to the industry distribution chart, Kirby ranks #387 out of 966 companies in the Transportation industry, placing it in the top 40.1%.
Is Kirby's Beneish M-Score too high?
Kirby's current Beneish M-Score is -2.69. Based on the distribution chart, Kirby ranks #387 out of 966 companies in the Transportation industry, which is above the industry midpoint. Overall, Kirby has a GF Score™ of 83/100 and is considered Modestly Overvalued, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does Kirby's Beneish M-Score compare to MATX and SBLK?
According to the Transportation industry distribution chart, Kirby ranks #387 out of 966 companies for Beneish M-Score. This puts Kirby in the upper half of its industry. See the competitive comparison table and distribution chart on this page for a detailed peer-by-peer breakdown.
What is a good Beneish M-Score for a Transportation company?
A good Beneish M-Score depends on the Transportation industry context. However, Beneish M-Score should not be evaluated in isolation — investors should consider it alongside profitability, growth, and financial strength metrics. Use the industry distribution chart on this page to see where any company falls relative to its peers.
What does a high Beneish M-Score mean?
A high Beneish M-Score can signal that a stock is expensive relative to its fundamentals. The Beneish M-score measures the likelihood of earnings manipulation. View historical data on Kirby and its competitors. Kirby's current Beneish M-Score is -2.69. However, context matters — high-growth companies often justify higher valuations. Always evaluate alongside other metrics like GF Score™ and GF Value™.
Is Kirby stock overvalued right now?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Kirby (KEX) is currently considered Modestly Overvalued. The stock's GF Value™ is $119.13, compared to a current price of $136.13 — trading 14.3% above its estimated fair value. The current Beneish M-Score is -2.69. Kirby's overall GF Score™ is 83/100 with 6 warning signs to review. Investors should evaluate multiple metrics — including profitability, growth, and financial strength — before making a decision.
How is Beneish M-Score calculated?
Beneish M-Score is calculated from a company's financial statements. For Kirby (KEX), the current Beneish M-Score is -2.69 as of Jun. 24, 2026. GuruFocus calculates this using data sourced from SEC filings and annual reports. See the calculation section and 30-year financial data on this page for the full breakdown.

Is Kirby (KEX) Overvalued in 2026?

Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Kirby stock appears to be overvalued. The current stock price of $136.13 is trading 14.3% above its estimated GF Value™ of $119.13. GuruFocus considers Kirby to be Modestly Overvalued.

Key valuation signals for KEX:

  • Beneish M-Score: -2.69
  • GF Value™: $119.13 vs. price of $136.13 (14.3% above fair value)
  • GF Score™: 83/100 with 6 warning signs

No single metric tells the full story. See the KEX stock analysis page for a complete view including 30-year financials, guru trades, and insider activity.


Kirby Business Description

Other Exchanges KIY:Germany
Address 55 Waugh Drive, Suite 1000, Houston, TX, USA, 77007
Kirby Corp is a domestic tank barge operator, transporting bulk liquid products throughout three United States coasts. The Company transports petrochemicals, liquid cargoes, inland waterway systems, and dry bulk cargoes. The Company conducts operations in two reportable business segments: The Marine transportation segment which provides marine transportation services, operating tank barges and towing vessels transporting bulk liquid products, and the Distribution and services segment, which provides after-market service, and genuine replacement parts for engines, transmissions, reduction gears, and power generation equipment used in oil and gas and commercial and industrial applications. The company's majority revenue is generated from the Marine Transportation segment.
83GF Score

Get the complete analysis for KEX

Beneish M-Score is just one metric. See GF Value™, 30-year financials, guru trades, warning signs, and more.

$136.13
Price
$119.13
GF Value