Summary
A senior Kirby Corporation (NYSE: KEX) executive completed a sale of company stock and simultaneously exercised stock options on February 20, 2026. The same period saw the company publish fourth-quarter 2025 results that delivered an earnings-per-share beat but fell short on revenue expectations, and add a new independent director to its board.
Insider transaction details
Amy D. Husted, who serves as Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary at Kirby Corporation, sold 11,667 shares on February 20, 2026 for approximately $1.5 million. The sale averaged $129.33 per share, with executed prices ranging between $129.31 and $129.49.
On that same day Husted exercised options to acquire 8,667 shares at an exercise price of $73.29 per share, representing a total transaction value of $635,204 for the option exercise.
Valuation and research note
Analysis from InvestingPro cited in reporting indicates Kirby is trading at a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.47 and described the stock as undervalued at current levels. The analysis also references additional Pro Research materials and supplemental ProTips available for KEX.
Recent corporate developments
Kirby reported fourth-quarter 2025 earnings per share of $1.68, outpacing analysts' estimates of $1.63. Revenue for the quarter was reported at $851.8 million, however, which missed the anticipated $861.68 million. That revenue shortfall has drawn investor attention.
In governance news, Kirby announced the appointment of Tracy A. Embree as an independent director effective February 16. Embree is the retired President of Otis Americas and brings over 25 years of experience in industrial operations, manufacturing, distribution and services businesses.
Context and takeaways
The package of disclosures - an executive share sale, a concurrent option exercise, mixed quarterly results and the addition of an experienced independent director - represents a cluster of developments that investors and market participants may weigh when assessing Kirby's near-term outlook. The EPS beat contrasts with the revenue miss, while the insider activity and board appointment add distinct corporate governance and compensation dimensions to monitor.
Key points
- Amy D. Husted sold 11,667 Kirby shares on February 20, 2026 for about $1.5 million; sale prices ranged from $129.31 to $129.49.
- On the same day Husted exercised options to acquire 8,667 shares at $73.29 each, totaling $635,204.
- Kirby reported Q4 2025 EPS of $1.68 versus estimates of $1.63, while revenue came in at $851.8 million versus expected $861.68 million; Tracy A. Embree joined the board as an independent director effective February 16.
Risks and uncertainties
- The company’s quarterly revenue miss may attract continued investor scrutiny and could affect market perception of near-term operational performance - impacting the shipping and industrial services sectors.
- Insider selling, even when paired with option exercises, can raise questions for market participants about executive timing of transactions and may influence investor sentiment in equity markets.
- Valuation assessments cited by third-party research may differ from market pricing and are subject to change, which introduces uncertainty for investors relying on such metrics.