Kirby (KEX) vs Tidewater (TDW)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 10, 2026.
Summary
Tidewater (TDW) has outperformed Kirby (KEX) over the past year, gaining 67.2% versus a gain of 66.7%. Over five years, TDW leads with a +583.9% price change compared with +149.5% for KEX. Kirby is the larger company by market cap ($7.19 billion vs $4.25 billion), about 1.7 times the size.
On valuation, Tidewater trades at a lower forward P/E (14.2x vs 16.5x for Kirby). Tidewater converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 24.7% versus 10.5%.
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 | KEX | TDW |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $136.25 | $85.42 |
| Market cap | $7.19B | $4.25B |
| 1-day change | -1.35% | +0.85% |
| YTD return | +23.66% | +69.12% |
| 1-year return | +66.73% | +67.23% |
| 5-year return | +149.45% | +583.91% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 20.93 | 17.26 |
| Forward P/E | 16.47 | 14.20 |
| EPS (TTM) | $6.51 | $4.95 |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Annual dividend | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $3.36B | $1.35B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +3.01% | +0.52% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $354.57M | $334.66M |
| Operating margin | 14.75% | 20.89% |
| Net margin | 10.54% | 24.74% |
| 52-week high | $157.69 | $101.58 |
| 52-week low | $79.81 | $46.65 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -13.60% | -15.91% |
| Analyst consensus | strong_buy | none |
| Avg. price target upside | +20.86% | +11.07% |
| Average volume | 492.47K | 606.17K |
| Shares outstanding | 52.80M | 49.76M |
| Employees | 5,233 | 7,300 |
| Sector | Consumer Discretionary | 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
- Tidewater is more profitable, keeping 24.7 cents of every revenue dollar as net income versus 10.5 cents for Kirby.
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
About Tidewater
TDW stock →Tidewater Inc., together with its subsidiaries, provides offshore support vessels and marine support services to the offshore energy industry through the operation of a fleet of offshore marine service vessels worldwide. The company operates through five segments: Americas, Asia Pacific, Middle East, Europe/Mediterranean, and West Africa.
Consumer Discretionary · Marine Transportation · 7,300 employees
KEX vs TDW FAQ
Which is bigger, Kirby or Tidewater?
Kirby (KEX) is larger, with a market capitalization of $7.19B compared with $4.25B for Tidewater (TDW).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, KEX or TDW?
TDW returned +67.23% over the past 12 months, compared with +66.73% for KEX (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, KEX or TDW?
TDW has the lower trailing P/E at 17.3, versus 20.9 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.
Are Kirby and Tidewater in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Marine Transportation industry within the Consumer Discretionary sector.