Kirby Corp: A Quiet Transaction

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A small matter, really. On February 4th, 2026, Mr. Ronald A. Dragg, a controller at Kirby Corporation (KEX +2.80%), parted with 5,429 shares. Six hundred and sixty-two thousand, three hundred and thirty-eight dollars changed hands. One imagines Mr. Dragg had his reasons, as people usually do. A quiet transaction, lost in the larger currents of the market. The kind that rarely makes a ripple, yet perhaps, tells a story if one bothers to listen.

A Glance at the Figures

Metric Value
Shares Sold (Direct) 5,429
Transaction Value ~$662,338
Post-Transaction Shares (Direct) 10,399
Post-Transaction Value (Direct Ownership) ~$1,263,583

Note: These values are calculated based on the SEC Form 4 weighted average purchase price of $122.00, and the market close on February 4th, 2026, also at $122.00. Such precision, and for what, one wonders?

A Question of Proportions

The sale represented a considerable portion – 34.30% – of Mr. Dragg’s direct holdings. A rather substantial release, especially when compared to the typical trade. One suspects a need, or perhaps simply a re-evaluation. The market, after all, is a stern teacher, and even those within the company are not immune to its lessons. It stemmed from the exercise of stock options, followed by an immediate sale. A common enough practice, yet it leaves one pondering the motivations.

The Company Itself

Metric Value
Market Capitalization 6.77 billion
Revenue (TTM) $3.36 billion
Net Income (TTM) $354.57 million
1-Year Price Change 17.77%

Note: The 1-year price change is calculated as of February 14th, 2026. A fleeting measurement in the grand scheme of things.

A Snapshot of Kirby

Kirby Corporation, a transporter of materials. Tank barges and towboats. The Mississippi River, a slow, muddy artery. They carry the things we need – petrochemicals, oils, the unseen fuel of modern life. It’s a business that requires patience, a tolerance for the mundane. And a good deal of steel. They recently reported earnings slightly above expectations, a minor triumph in a world full of disappointments. The stock has enjoyed a modest five-year growth, a quiet success.

They operate in the shadows, unseen by most. A vital, yet unglamorous industry. It’s a good business, perhaps. Reliable. But one can’t help but wonder if it will ever truly shine. If any of us ever truly do.

One imagines the barges continue their slow journey, regardless. The river flows on. And the market, indifferent as always, awaits the next transaction, the next small story, lost in the vastness of it all.

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2026-02-16 04:12