• Wolfe Research maintains its "Outperform" rating for Kirby Corporation (NYSE:KEX) and raises its price target from $134 to $136.
• Despite a downgrade by BTIG Research, Kirby's stock price experienced a decline, but BTIG still maintains a buy rating.
• Citigroup and Wall Street Zen show optimism towards Kirby's future prospects with raised price targets and upgraded ratings.

Kirby Corporation (NYSE: KEX) is a prominent player in the marine transportation and diesel engine services industry. The company operates a large fleet of inland tank barges and towing vessels, providing transportation of bulk liquid products. Kirby also offers diesel engine services to various sectors, including marine, power generation, and industrial. Its competitors include companies like Ingram Barge Company and American Commercial Barge Line.

On January 30, 2026, Wolfe Research maintained its "Outperform" rating for KEX, with the stock priced at $122.17. Wolfe Research also raised its price target for Kirby from $134 to $136, indicating confidence in the company's future performance. This suggests that Wolfe Research sees potential for growth in Kirby's stock value, despite recent market fluctuations.

However, Kirby's share price experienced a decline following a downgrade by BTIG Research, which reduced its price target from $140 to $135. This downgrade caused the stock to open at $122.38, down from its previous close of $128.13. Despite the downgrade, BTIG Research maintains a buy rating, indicating that they still see value in the stock.

In contrast, Citigroup recently raised its price target for Kirby from $131 to $145, assigning a buy rating. This positive outlook from Citigroup suggests optimism about Kirby's future prospects. Additionally, Wall Street Zen upgraded Kirby from a hold to a buy rating, while Evercore ISI increased its price objective from $109 to $122, giving the stock an outperform rating.

Kirby's current stock price is $122.17, reflecting a decrease of approximately 4.65% from its previous close. The stock has traded between $115 and $123.50 today, with a market capitalization of approximately $6.82 billion. Over the past year, KEX has reached a high of $132.18 and a low of $79.52, indicating significant volatility in its stock price.