Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) vs Kirby (KEX)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 9, 2026.
Summary
Kirby (KEX) has outperformed Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) over the past year, gaining 68.0% versus a loss of 8.9%. Over five years, KEX leads with a +152.9% price change compared with +25.9% for HII. Huntington Ingalls Industries is the larger company by market cap ($10.48 billion vs $7.33 billion), about 1.4 times the size.
On valuation, Huntington Ingalls Industries trades at a lower forward P/E (12.7x vs 16.8x for Kirby). Huntington Ingalls Industries pays a dividend yielding 2.06%, while Kirby does not currently pay one. Kirby converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 10.5% versus 4.8%.
Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology
Relative performance
Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.
Head-to-head
| Metric | HII | KEX |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $266.05 | $138.79 |
| Market cap | $10.48B | $7.33B |
| 1-day change | +0.39% | +0.49% |
| YTD return | -22.07% | +25.35% |
| 1-year return | -8.87% | +67.96% |
| 5-year return | +25.89% | +152.86% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 15.86 | 21.32 |
| Forward P/E | 12.69 | 16.78 |
| EPS (TTM) | $16.78 | $6.51 |
| Dividend yield | 2.06% | 0.00% |
| Annual dividend | $5.49 | $0.00 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $12.48B | $3.36B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +8.23% | +3.01% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $605.00M | $354.57M |
| Operating margin | 5.26% | 14.75% |
| Net margin | 4.85% | 10.54% |
| 52-week high | $460.00 | $157.69 |
| 52-week low | $256.79 | $79.52 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -42.16% | -11.99% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | strong_buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +38.04% | +18.65% |
| Average volume | 499.06K | 492.76K |
| Shares outstanding | 39.40M | 52.80M |
| Employees | 45,000 | 5,233 |
| Sector | Industrials | Consumer Discretionary |
| Industry | Marine Transportation | Marine Transportation |
Highlighted cells mark the higher value for growth, returns, margins and yield, and the lower value for P/E ratios. Highlighting is a mechanical comparison, not a recommendation.
Key differences
- KEX has outperformed HII by 76.8 percentage points over the past year.
- Kirby trades at a higher earnings multiple (21.3x vs 15.9x trailing P/E).
- Huntington Ingalls Industries offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (2.06% vs 0.00%).
- Kirby is more profitable, keeping 10.5 cents of every revenue dollar as net income versus 4.8 cents for Huntington Ingalls Industries.
- Huntington Ingalls Industries grew revenue faster in its latest fiscal year (+8.23% vs +3.01%).
- The two companies sit in different sectors: Huntington Ingalls Industries in Industrials and Kirby in Consumer Discretionary.
About Huntington Ingalls Industries
HII stock →Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc. designs, builds, overhauls, and repairs military ships in the United States.
Industrials · Marine Transportation · 45,000 employees
About Kirby
KEX stock →Kirby Corporation operates domestic tank barges in the United States. Its Marine Transportation segment provides marine transportation service and towing vessels transporting bulk liquid product, as well as operates tank barges throughout the Mississippi River System, on the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, and coastwise along three United States coasts, Alaska, and Hawaii.
Consumer Discretionary · Marine Transportation · 5,233 employees
HII vs KEX FAQ
Which is bigger, Huntington Ingalls Industries or Kirby?
Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) is larger, with a market capitalization of $10.48B compared with $7.33B for Kirby (KEX).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, HII or KEX?
KEX returned +67.96% over the past 12 months, compared with -8.87% for HII (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, HII or KEX?
HII has the lower trailing P/E at 15.9, versus 21.3 for KEX. A lower P/E is not by itself a sign of a better investment; it can reflect slower expected growth or higher risk.
Which pays a higher dividend, Huntington Ingalls Industries or Kirby?
Huntington Ingalls Industries pays a dividend yielding 2.06%, while Kirby does not currently pay a regular dividend.
Are Huntington Ingalls Industries and Kirby in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Marine Transportation industry within the Industrials sector.