ROIC % measures how well a company generates cash flow relative to the capital it has invested in its business. It is also called ROC %. Kirby's annualized return on invested capital (ROIC %) for the quarter that ended in Mar. 2026 was 5.92%.
As of today (2026-06-24), Kirby's WACC % is 8.04%. Kirby's ROIC % is 6.72% (calculated using TTM income statement data).
Kirby earns returns that do not match up to its cost of capital. It will destroy value as it grows.
Kirby (NYSE:KEX) ROIC % Explanation
ROIC % measures how well a company generates cash flow relative to the capital it has invested in its business. It is also called ROC %. The reason book values of debt and equity are used is because the book values are the capital the company received when issuing the debt or receiving the equity investments.
There are four key components to this definition. The first is the use of operating income or EBIT rather than net income in the numerator. The second is the tax adjustment to this operating income or EBIT, computed as a hypothetical tax based on an effective or marginal tax rate. The third is the use of book values for invested capital, rather than market values. The final is the timing difference; the capital invested is from the end of the prior year whereas the operating income or EBIT is the current year's number.
Why is ROIC % important?
Because it costs money to raise capital. A firm that generates higher returns on investment than it costs the company to raise the capital needed for that investment is earning excess returns. A firm that expects to continue generating positive excess returns on new investments in the future will see its value increase as growth increases, whereas a firm that earns returns that do not match up to its cost of capital will destroy value as it grows.
As of today, Kirby's WACC % is 8.04%. Kirby's ROIC % is 6.72% (calculated using TTM income statement data).
Kirby earns returns that do not match up to its cost of capital. It will destroy value as it grows.
Be Aware
Like ROE % and ROA %, ROIC % is calculated with only 12 months of data. Fluctuations in the company's earnings or business cycles can affect the ratio drastically. It is important to look at the ratio from a long term perspective.
Kirby ROIC % Related Terms
Kirby ROIC % Historical Data
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The historical data trend for Kirby's ROIC % 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.
For the Marine Shipping subindustry, Kirby's ROIC %, along with its competitors' market caps and ROIC % 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 ROIC % vs Transportation Industry
For the Transportation industry and Industrials sector, Kirby's ROIC % distribution charts can be found below:
* The bar in red indicates where Kirby's ROIC % falls into.
Note:
The Operating Income data used here is four times the quarterly (Mar. 2026) data.
The tax rate is limited to between 0% and 100%.
* 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 ROIC % of 5.92% as of Mar. 2026. Return on invested capital is the ratio of current-period net income to average two-period invested capital. View historical data on Kirby and its competitors.
Is Kirby's ROIC % too high?
Kirby's current ROIC % is 5.92%. The Transportation industry median ROIC % is 4.69. Kirby's value of 5.92% is 26.2% above this industry median. 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 ROIC % compare to MATX and SBLK?
Kirby's ROIC % of 5.92% can be compared against companies in the Transportation industry. The industry median ROIC % is 4.69. Kirby's value of 5.92% is 26.2% above this benchmark. See the competitive comparison table and distribution chart on this page for a detailed peer-by-peer breakdown.
What is a good ROIC % for a Transportation company?
The median ROIC % among Transportation companies is 4.69, based on 994 companies in the industry. Companies in the top quartile (top 25%) have a ROIC % significantly above this median, while those in the bottom quartile fall well below. However, ROIC % should not be evaluated in isolation — investors should consider it alongside profitability, growth, and financial strength metrics. Kirby's current ROIC % of 5.92% is 26.2% 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 ROIC % mean?
A high ROIC % can signal that a stock is expensive relative to its fundamentals. Return on invested capital is the ratio of current-period net income to average two-period invested capital. View historical data on Kirby and its competitors. For the Transportation industry, the median ROIC % is 4.69 — values significantly above this may indicate overvaluation, while values below may suggest a bargain or underlying issues. Kirby's current ROIC % is 5.92%. 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 ROIC % is 5.92% and 26.2% above the Transportation industry median of 4.69. 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 ROIC % calculated?
ROIC % is calculated from a company's financial statements. For Kirby (KEX), the current ROIC % is 5.92% 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 $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:
ROIC %: 5.92%
GF Value™: $119.13 vs. price of $136.13 (14.3% above fair value)
Industry Position: 26.2% above the Transportation median
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
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