Kirby Corporation (KEX) Fell Due to Softened Inland Barge Utilization

KEX -0.25%

Scout Investments, Inc., an affiliate of Carillon Tower Advisers, recently released its third-quarter 2025 investor letter for “Carillon Scout Mid Cap Fund”. A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. The Russell Midcap Index posted positive returns in the quarter, fueled by strong corporate earnings, the continued momentum in artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure, and the anticipation of the U.S. Federal Reserve’s (Fed) interest rates. In addition, please check the fund’s top five holdings to know its best picks in 2025.

In its third-quarter 2025 investor letter, Carillon Scout Mid Cap Fund highlighted stocks such as Kirby Corporation (NYSE:KEX). Kirby Corporation (NYSE:KEX) is a US-based domestic tank barge operator. The one-month return of Kirby Corporation (NYSE:KEX) was 6.77%, and its shares lost 6.26% of their value over the last 52 weeks. On December 02, 2025, Kirby Corporation (NYSE:KEX) stock closed at $113.44 per share, with a market capitalization of $6.33 billion.

Carillon Scout Mid Cap Fund stated the following regarding Kirby Corporation (NYSE:KEX) in its third quarter 2025 investor letter:

"Kirby Corporation (NYSE:KEX) operates in two main segments: marine transportation (primarily via inland and coastal tank barges moving petrochemicals, refined products, and agricultural liquids) and the distribution and services segment (which services oilfield equipment and diesel engines for marine, power and railroad customers). Its stock underperformed because inland barge utilization softened; demand for transported volumes has weakened; and investors have grown cautious about cyclical pressures in energy, chemical, and industrial markets. We believe its largest chemical customers could remain economically challenged, which pressures inland barge pricing for Kirby."

Kirby Corporation (NYSE:KEX) is not on our list of 30 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds. As per our database, 46 hedge fund portfolios held Kirby Corporation (NYSE:KEX) at the end of the third quarter, which was 40 in the previous quarter. While we acknowledge the potential of Kirby Corporation (NYSE:KEX) as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock.

In addition, please check out our hedge fund investor letters Q3 2025 page for more investor letters from hedge funds and other leading investors.

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Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.