KirbyKEX -0.80%83 Operating Margin % is 12.58% as of Mar. 2026, which is 35% above its 10-year median of 9.35. 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 1,007 Transportation companies, Kirby ranks better than 70.01% on this metric.
Operating Margin % is calculated as Operating Income divided by its Revenue. Kirby's Operating Income for the
three
months ended in Mar. 2026 was $106 Mil. Kirby's Revenue for the
three
months ended in Mar. 2026 was $844 Mil. Therefore, Kirby's Operating Margin % for the quarter that ended in Mar. 2026 was 12.58%.
Good Sign:
Kirby Corp operating margin is expanding. Margin expansion is usually a good sign.
The historical rank and industry rank for Kirby's Operating Margin % or its related term are showing as below:
KEX'
s Operating Margin % Range Over the Past 10 Years
Min: 3.42 Med: 9.35 Max: 14.61
Current: 14.38
KEX's Operating Margin % is ranked better than 70.01% of 1007
companies
in the Transportation industry
Industry Median: 7.37
vs KEX: 14.38
Kirby's 5-Year Average Operating Margin % Growth Rate was 28.40% per year.
Kirby's Operating Income for the
three
months ended in Mar. 2026 was $106 Mil.
Its Operating Income for the trailing twelve months (TTM) ended in Mar. 2026 was $492 Mil.
Kirby (NYSE:KEX) Operating Margin % Explanation
Just like Gross Margin %, it is important to see a company maintains its operating margin over time. Among the same industry, a company with higher operating margin is more efficient in its operation. It is also more stable during industry slowdown or recessions. Peter Lynch prefers those with higher margins than those with lower margins.
Be Aware
Operating Margin % can be manipulated by adjusting the rate of depreciation, depletion and amortization (DDA).
If a company is facing competition, its Operating Margin % may decline. Often the Operating Margin % declines well before the company's Revenue or even profit decline. Therefore, Operating Margin % is a very important indicator of whether the company is facing problems.
For instance, by 2012, Nokia (NOK)'s problems were well known and its stock had lost more than 90% of its market value since 2007. But Nokias Operating Margin % had already been in decline since 2002, although its Earnings per Share (Diluted) were still rising. Investors who paid attention to Operating Margin % would have avoided this huge loss. The same can be said for Research-in-Motion (RIMM).
Therefore, Operating Margin % is a very important screening filter for GuruFocus. GuruFocus's Buffett-Munger screener requires that the profit margin is either consistent or expanding. The Model Portfolio of the Buffett-Munger screener has outperformed the market every year since inception in 2009.
Kirby Operating Margin % Related Terms
Kirby Operating Margin % Historical Data
* Premium members only.
The historical data trend for Kirby's Operating Margin % 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.
KEX vs MATX, SBLK, ZIM: Operating Margin % Comparison
For the Marine Shipping subindustry, Kirby's Operating Margin %, along with its competitors' market caps and Operating Margin % 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 Operating Margin % vs Transportation Industry
For the Transportation industry and Industrials sector, Kirby's Operating Margin % distribution charts can be found below:
* The bar in red indicates where Kirby's Operating Margin % falls into.
Operating Margin % - also known as operating income margin, operating profit margin and return on sales (ROS) - is the ratio of Operating Income divided by net sales or Revenue, usually presented in percent.
Kirby's Operating Margin % for the fiscal year that ended in Dec. 2025 is calculated as
* 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 (KEX) has a Operating Margin % of 12.58% as of Mar. 2026. Operating margin is the ratio of total operating income to net sales. View historical data on Kirby and its competitors. This is 35% above median its historical median of 9.35. Over the past decade, Kirby's Operating Margin % has ranged from 3.42 to 14.61. According to the industry distribution chart, Kirby ranks #302 out of 1007 companies in the Transportation industry, placing it in the top 30%.
Is Kirby's Operating Margin % too high?
Kirby's current Operating Margin % of 12.58% is 35% above median its 10-year median of 9.35. Over the past 10 years, this metric has ranged from a low of 3.42 to a high of 14.61. The Transportation industry median Operating Margin % is 7.37. Kirby's value of 12.58% is 70.7% above this industry median. Based on the distribution chart, Kirby ranks #302 out of 1007 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 Operating Margin % compare to MATX and SBLK?
According to the Transportation industry distribution chart, Kirby ranks #302 out of 1007 companies for Operating Margin %. This puts Kirby in the upper half of its industry. The industry median Operating Margin % is 7.37. Kirby's value of 12.58% is 70.7% above this benchmark. Historically, Kirby's own Operating Margin % has ranged from 3.42 to 14.61 over the past decade. While the company's 10-year median is 9.35 vs. the industry median of 7.37, Kirby has consistently been above the industry average. See the competitive comparison table and distribution chart on this page for a detailed peer-by-peer breakdown.
What is a good Operating Margin % for a Transportation company?
The median Operating Margin % among Transportation companies is 7.37, based on 1,007 companies in the industry. Companies in the top quartile (top 25%) have a Operating Margin % significantly above this median, while those in the bottom quartile fall well below. However, Operating Margin % should not be evaluated in isolation — investors should consider it alongside profitability, growth, and financial strength metrics. Kirby's current Operating Margin % of 12.58% is 70.7% above the industry median. Use the industry distribution chart on this page to see where any company falls relative to its peers.
What does a high Operating Margin % mean?
A high Operating Margin % can signal that a stock is expensive relative to its fundamentals. Operating margin is the ratio of total operating income to net sales. View historical data on Kirby and its competitors. For the Transportation industry, the median Operating Margin % is 7.37 — values significantly above this may indicate overvaluation, while values below may suggest a bargain or underlying issues. Kirby's current Operating Margin % is 12.58%, which is 35% above median its own 10-year median of 9.35. 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 $137.13 — trading 15.1% above its estimated fair value. The current Operating Margin % is 12.58%, which is 35% above median its 10-year median of 9.35 and 70.7% above the Transportation industry median of 7.37. 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 Operating Margin % calculated?
Operating Margin % is calculated from a company's financial statements. For Kirby (KEX), the current Operating Margin % is 12.58% as of Mar. 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 $137.13 is trading 15.1% above its estimated GF Value™ of $119.13.
GuruFocus considers Kirby to be Modestly Overvalued.
Key valuation signals for KEX:
Operating Margin %: 12.58% (35% above median its 10-year median of 9.35)
GF Value™: $119.13 vs. price of $137.13 (15.1% above fair value)
Industry Position: 70.7% above the Transportation median (#302 of 1007)
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 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
Operating Margin % is just one metric. See GF Value™, 30-year financials, guru trades, warning signs, and more.
Quick Browse
Personalize
Premium Gurus 
Create New Portfolio
KEX has been successfully added to your 
