Posted on May 2, 2025
- First quarter 2025 earnings per share of $1.33
- Inland marine experienced improved market conditions with a sequential increase in spot market prices and operating margins around 20% despite an increase in delay days
- Kirby repurchased 1,258,031 shares at an average price of $99.16 for $124.7 million year-to-date through April 30, 2025
- Acquired 14 barges, including four specialty barges, and four high horsepower boats from undisclosed seller for $97.3 million
- Quarterly earnings and free cash flow expected to strengthen as the year progresses
HOUSTON, May 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Kirby Corporation (“Kirby”) (NYSE: KEX) today announced net earnings attributable to Kirby for the first quarter ended March 31, 2025, of $76.0 million or $1.33 per share, compared with earnings of $70.1 million, or $1.19 per share for the 2024 first quarter. Consolidated revenues for the 2025 first quarter were $785.7 million compared with $808.0 million reported for the 2024 first quarter.
David Grzebinski, Kirby’s Chief Executive Officer, commented, “Our first quarter results reflected improved market fundamentals in marine transportation and continued strong demand for power generation in distribution and services. These positive trends were partially offset by weather and navigational challenges in marine and continued supply delays in distribution and services. Overall, our combined businesses performed well during the quarter.
“In inland marine transportation, our first quarter results were considerably impacted by delay days. Throughout the quarter, our operations were challenged by winter storms, high winds, and fog along the Gulf Coast, as well as lock delays throughout the system. These weather and navigational issues slowed transit times and impacted the financial performance of our contracts of affreightment. Overall, delay days increased 50% compared to the fourth quarter of 2024 and increased 15% year-over-year. Despite the increase in delays, market conditions improved from the fourth quarter, due to better customer demand and limited barge availability, which contributed to favorable price improvements. From a demand standpoint, customer activity was strong in the quarter with barge utilization rates running in the low to mid-90% range throughout the quarter. Spot prices were up in the low single digits sequentially and in the high single digit range year-over-year. Term contract prices also renewed up higher with mid-single digit increases versus a year ago. Overall, margins were right around 20% despite the poor operating conditions.
“In coastal, market fundamentals remained strong with our barge utilization levels running in the mid to high-90% range. During the quarter, we saw continued strength in customer demand and limited availability of large capacity vessels which resulted in mid-20% range price increases on term contract renewals. Our planned shipyard maintenance on several large vessels that we mentioned last year continues to wind down and was a headwind to coastal revenue and margins during the quarter. Overall, first quarter coastal revenues decreased 6% year-over-year and operating margins were in the high single to low double-digit range.
“In distribution and services, demand was mixed across our end markets with growth in some areas offset by slowness or delays in other areas. In power generation, the pace of inbound orders was strong, adding to our backlog, with continued project wins from backup power and other industrial customers as the need for power remains critical. In oil and gas, while an exceptionally soft conventional oil and gas business pushed revenues down 18% year-over-year, operating income was up 123% year-over-year driven by e-frac and cost management initiatives. In our commercial and industrial market, revenues grew 6% sequentially and 12% year-over-year, driven by growth in marine repair activity, while operating income was up 23% year-over-year due to favorable product mix and ongoing cost control initiatives.” Mr. Grzebinski concluded.
Segment Results – Marine Transportation
Marine transportation revenues for the 2025 first quarter were $476.1 million compared with $475.4 million for the 2024 first quarter. Operating income for the 2025 first quarter was $86.6 million compared with $83.0 million for the 2024 first quarter. Segment operating margin for the 2025 first quarter was 18.2% compared with 17.5% for the 2024 first quarter.
In the inland market, 2025 first quarter average barge utilization was in the low to mid-90% range and similar to the 2024 first quarter. Throughout the quarter, operating conditions on the inland waterways were affected by winter weather conditions, including significant wind and fog along the Gulf Coast, and lock delays on the Mississippi River, all of which contributed to a 50% sequential increase in delay days. During the quarter, average spot market rates increased in the low-single digits sequentially and in the high-single digit range as compared to the 2024 first quarter. Term contracts that renewed in the first quarter increased in the mid-single digits on average compared to a year ago. The inland market represented 82% of segment revenues in the first quarter of 2025. Inland’s operating margin was around 20% for the quarter.
In coastal, market conditions were strong during the quarter, with Kirby’s barge utilization in the mid to high-90% range. During the quarter, average spot market rates increased in the low to mid-single digits sequentially and in the low 20% range compared to the 2024 first quarter. Term contracts that renewed in the first quarter increased in the mid-20% range on average compared to a year ago. Coastal revenues decreased 6% year-over-year as elevated levels of planned shipyards were partially offset by increased pricing. Coastal represented 18% of marine transportation segment revenues during the first quarter and had an operating margin in the high single to low double-digit range.
Segment Results – Distribution and Services
Distribution and services revenues for the 2025 first quarter were $309.5 million compared with $332.6 million for the 2024 first quarter. Operating income for the 2025 first quarter was $22.6 million compared with $22.0 million for the 2024 first quarter. Operating margin was 7.3% for the 2025 first quarter compared with 6.6% for the 2024 first quarter.
In the power generation market, revenues declined 23% compared to the 2024 first quarter as supply delays pushed delivery of some projects out of the quarter. Orders continued to grow as the need for 24/7 power and back up capabilities remains critical. Overall, power generation revenues represented approximately 34% of segment revenues. Power generation operating margins were in the mid to high-single digits.
In the commercial and industrial market, revenues increased 12% and operating income increased 23% compared to the 2024 first quarter, as higher business levels in marine repair were offset by lower activity in on-highway repair. Overall, commercial and industrial revenues represented approximately 52% of segment revenues. Commercial and industrial operating margins were in the high-single digits.
In the oil and gas market, revenues declined 18% while operating income increased 123% compared to the 2024 first quarter driven by lower levels of conventional oilfield activity which resulted in decreased demand for new transmissions and parts partially offset by deliveries of e-frac equipment. Overall, oil and gas revenues represented approximately 14% of segment revenues. Oil and gas operating margins were in the high-single digits.
Cash Generation
For the 2025 first quarter, EBITDA was $174.3 million compared with $162.6 million for the 2024 first quarter. During the quarter, net cash provided by operating activities was $36.5 million, and capital expenditures were $78.7 million. During the quarter, the Company had net proceeds from asset sales totaling $0.1 million. Kirby also used $101.5 million to repurchase stock at an average price of $101.19. As of March 31, 2025, the Company had $51.1 million of cash and cash equivalents on the balance sheet and $334.2 million of liquidity available. Total debt was $1,098.4 million, and the debt-to-capitalization ratio was 24.8%.
2025 Outlook
Commenting on the outlook for the remainder of 2025, Mr. Grzebinski said, “We’re off to a solid start in 2025. While recent macro events have created some near-term uncertainty in places, we continue to see favorable fundamentals as 2025 progresses. Our balance sheet is strong, and we expect to generate significant free cash flow despite high levels of capital expenditures this year and, absent meaningful acquisitions, we expect to use the majority of free cash flow for share repurchases. We see favorable markets continuing and expect our businesses will produce improving financial results as we move through this year.”
In inland marine, we anticipate positive market dynamics due to limited new barge construction. We expect our barge utilization rates to be in the low to mid-90% range for the year with continued improvement in term contract pricing as renewals occur throughout the year. However, we continue to see inflationary pressures and there remains an acute mariner shortage in the industry which continues to drive up labor costs. These pressures, along with the increasing cost of equipment, should continue to put upward pressure on spot and contract prices. Overall, inland revenues are expected to grow in the mid to high single-digit range for the full year. With the caveat that we are assuming little to no recessionary impacts from tariffs, we expect operating margins will gradually improve during the year from the first quarter levels and average 200-300bps higher for the full year.
In coastal marine, market conditions remain very favorable, and supply and demand remain balanced across the industry fleet. Steady customer demand is expected to keep our barge utilization in the mid-90% range. Revenues for the full year are expected to increase in the high-single to low-double digit range compared to 2024 driven by higher pricing on contracts. Coastal operating margins are expected to improve to the mid-teens range on a full year basis.
In the distribution and services segment, we see mixed results as near-term volatility from supply issues, customers deferring maintenance, and lower overall levels of activity in oil and gas, are partially offset by orders for power generation. In commercial and industrial, the demand outlook in marine repair remains steady while on-highway service and repair remains weak in the current environment. In oil and gas, we expect revenues to be down in the high-single to low-double digit range as the shift away from conventional frac to e-frac continues to take place. In power generation, we anticipate continued robust growth in orders as data center demand and the need for backup power is strong. We expect extended lead times for certain OEM products to continue contributing to a volatile delivery schedule of new products throughout 2025. Overall, the Company expects segment revenues to be flat to slightly down for the full year with operating margins in the high-single digits but slightly lower year-over-year.
Kirby expects to generate net cash provided from operating activities of $620 million to $720 million in 2025 and capital spending is expected to range between $280 million to $320 million. Approximately $180 million to $220 million is associated with marine maintenance capital and improvements to existing inland and coastal marine equipment, and facility improvements. Up to approximately $100 million is associated with growth capital spending in both our businesses.
Conference Call
A conference call is scheduled for 7:30 a.m. Central Daylight Time today, Thursday, May 1, 2025, to discuss the 2025 first quarter performance as well as the outlook for 2025. To listen to the webcast, please visit the Investor Relations section of Kirby’s website at www.kirbycorp.com. For listeners who wish to participate in the question and answer session via telephone, please pre-register at Kirby Earnings Call Registration. All registrants will receive dial-in information and a PIN allowing them to access the live call. A slide presentation for this conference call will be posted on Kirby’s website approximately 15 minutes before the start of the webcast. A replay of the webcast will be available for a period of one year by visiting the News & Events page in the Investor Relations section of Kirby’s website.
About Kirby Corporation
Kirby Corporation, based in Houston, Texas, is the nation’s largest domestic tank barge operator transporting bulk liquid products throughout the Mississippi River System, on the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, and coastwise along all three United States coasts. Kirby transports petrochemicals, black oil, refined petroleum products and agricultural chemicals by tank barge. In addition, Kirby participates in the transportation of dry-bulk commodities in United States coastwise trade. Through the distribution and services segment, Kirby provides after-market service and genuine replacement parts for engines, transmissions, reduction gears, electric motors, drives, and controls, specialized electrical distribution and control systems, and related equipment used in oilfield services, marine, power generation, on-highway, and other industrial applications. Kirby also rents equipment including generators, industrial compressors, high capacity lift trucks, construction equipment, and refrigeration trailers for use in a variety of industrial markets. Kirby also manufactures and remanufactures specialized equipment, including pressure pumping units, electric power generation equipment, and specialized electrical distribution and control equipment for oilfield service, railroad and other industrial customers.
