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

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.”

Is Kirby Corporation (KEX) the Best Marine Shipping Stock to Invest in Now?

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 risk and potential of Kirby Corporation (NYSE:KEX) as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and doing so within a shorter time frame. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than Kirby Corporation (NYSE:KEX) and that has 10,000% upside potential, check out our report about this cheapest 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.