HOUSTON, July 29, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Kirby Corporation ("Kirby") (NYSE: KEX) today announced net earnings attributable to Kirby for the second quarter ended June 30, 2015 of $58.1 million, or $1.04 per share, compared with $75.0 million, or $1.31 per share, for the 2014 second quarter. Consolidated revenues for the 2015 second quarter were $543.2 million compared with $628.1 million reported for the 2014 second quarter.

David Grzebinski, Kirby's President and Chief Executive Officer, commented, "Our results for the second quarter were largely in line with our expectations. Demand across the majority of the products we carry in the inland marine transportation market remained at healthy levels. Utilization remained in the 90% to 95% range and spot prices were at or above contract prices. However, uncertainty related to future barge movements for domestic crude oil and condensate continued to put pressure on contract renewals. Pricing on inland term contracts that renewed during the quarter declined in the low-single digit percentage range. In the coastal marine transportation business, market fundamentals remained stable, with pricing for term contract renewals increasing in the mid-single digit percentage range. As forecasted, the second quarter was negatively impacted by planned shipyards for our coastal business. In our land-based diesel engine services business, market conditions continue to be challenging due to the decline in the price of crude oil. In our marine diesel engine services and power generation markets, results reflected continued soft activity in the Gulf of Mexico oilfield service market, but otherwise stable levels of demand."

Segment Results - Marine Transportation

Marine transportation revenues for the 2015 second quarter were $425.1 million compared with $456.7 million for the 2014 second quarter. Operating income for the 2015 second quarter was $97.0 million compared with $116.0 million for the 2014 second quarter.

Kirby's inland marine transportation business maintained tank barge utilization in the 90% to 95% range. Demand for inland barge transportation of petrochemicals, refined products and black oil products, excluding crude oil, was healthy. Demand for barges moving crude oil and condensate during the quarter was lower sequentially and year over year. Inland marine operating conditions presented challenges, particularly late in the quarter, with high water conditions on the inland waterways leading to smaller tow sizes, increased transit times, navigational delays, and the closure of certain locks.

The coastal marine transportation market experienced stable demand for the transportation of refined petroleum products, black oil, including crude oil, and petrochemicals, with utilization remaining in the 90% to 95% range. Operating conditions in the coastal market were seasonally normal during the second quarter.

The marine transportation segment's 2015 second quarter operating margin was 22.8% compared with 25.4% for the second quarter of 2014 as a result of higher labor costs, including pension, lower inland marine transportation rates, shipyard activity in the coastal business, and the impact of lagging fuel price escalators on inland marine affreightment contracts.

Segment Results - Diesel Engine Services

Diesel engine services revenues for the 2015 second quarter were $118.1 million compared with $171.3 million for the 2014 second quarter. Operating income for the second quarter of 2015 was $4.9 million compared with operating income of $14.3 million for the 2014 second quarter.

The lower revenues and operating income as compared to the second quarter of 2014 were primarily a result of a decline in the manufacture of new pressure pumping units, as well as a decline in demand for parts and services in the oilfield service market.

During the 2015 second quarter, demand in the marine diesel engine services market was down due to weakness in the Gulf of Mexico oilfield service market. Partially offsetting this decline was improvement in the power generation market, benefiting from major generator set upgrades and parts sales for both domestic and international power generation customers.

The diesel engine services operating margin was 4.2% for the 2015 second quarter compared with 8.4% for the 2014 second quarter.

Treasury Stock Purchases

During the 2015 second quarter, Kirby purchased 531,000 shares of its common stock at an average price of $76.99 per share. From July 1, 2015 through July 29, 2015, Kirby has purchased an additional 477,000 shares at an average price of $76.20 per share, bringing total year-to-date purchases through July 29 to 2,260,000 shares at an average price of $77.53 per share. As of July 29, 2015, Kirby had approximately 2.5 million shares available under the existing repurchase authorization.

Cash Generation

Kirby continued to generate good cash flow during the 2015 first six months with EBITDA of $292.9 million compared with $314.5 million for the 2014 first six months. Operating cash flow was used in part to fund capital expenditures of $190.2 million for the 2015 first six months, including $60.3 million for new inland tank barge and towboat construction, $50.9 million for progress payments on the construction of four new coastal articulated tank barge and tugboat units ("ATBs"), and $79.0 million primarily for upgrades to existing inland and coastal fleets. Additionally, Kirby spent $138.9 million on share repurchases in the first six months of 2015. Total debt as of June 30, 2015 was $808.3 million versus $716.7 million on December 31, 2014, and Kirby's debt-to-capitalization ratio was 26.4%.

Outlook

Commenting on the 2015 third quarter and full year market outlook and guidance, Mr. Grzebinski said, "Our earnings guidance for the 2015 third quarter is $0.95 to $1.10 per share and we are narrowing our full year 2015 guidance slightly to $4.10 to $4.35 per share. Our third quarter outlook reflects some impact on our inland marine business from challenging operating conditions. High water, lock and river closures, which are typical early in the summer, have been more pronounced in July this year. Utilization in our inland fleet is projected to remain in the 90% to 95% range with pricing on contract renewals similar to the 2015 second quarter. In our coastal marine transportation business, we expect supply and demand to remain consistent with the first half of the year and utilization for the fleet to also remain in the 90% to 95% range. Our guidance assumes normal seasonal operating conditions for the coastal marine transportation market, although a continued heavy shipyard schedule will impact results for the remainder of the year."

Mr. Grzebinski continued, "For our diesel engine services segment, we expect demand to remain weak in the land-based diesel engine services market and the offshore oil services portion of the marine diesel engine services market. We expect demand to remain relatively stable in the remainder of the marine and power generation markets."

Kirby expects 2015 capital spending to be in the $315 to $325 million range including approximately $70 million for the construction of 38 inland tank barges and three inland towboats, all expected to be delivered in 2015. The capital spending guidance range also includes approximately $95 million in progress payments for the construction of two 185,000 barrel coastal ATBs and two 155,000 barrel coastal ATBs. The balance of $150 to $160 million is primarily for capital upgrades and improvements to existing inland and coastal marine equipment and facilities, as well as diesel engine services facilities.

Conference Call

A conference call is scheduled at 7:30 a.m. central time tomorrow, Thursday, July 30, 2015, to discuss the 2015 second quarter performance as well as the outlook for the 2015 third quarter and year. The conference call number is 800-446-2782 for domestic callers and 847-413-3235 for international callers. The leader's name is Sterling Adlakha. The confirmation number is 40183673. An audio playback will be available at 1:00 p.m. central time on Thursday, July 30, 2015, through 5:00 p.m. central time on Friday, August 28, 2015, by dialing 888-843-7419 for domestic and 630-652-3042 for international callers. The passcode is 40183673#. A live audio webcast of the conference call will be available to the public and a replay available after the call by visiting Kirby's website at http://www.kirbycorp.com/.


GAAP to Non-GAAP Financial Measures

The financial and other information to be discussed in the conference call is available in this press release and in a Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. This press release and the Form 8-K include a non-GAAP financial measure, EBITDA, which Kirby defines as net earnings attributable to Kirby before interest expense, taxes on income, depreciation and amortization. A reconciliation of EBITDA with GAAP net earnings attributable to Kirby is included in this press release. This earnings press release includes marine transportation performance measures, consisting of ton miles, revenue per ton mile, towboats operated and delay days. Comparable performance measures for the 2014 year and quarters are available at Kirby's website, http://www.kirbycorp.com/, under the caption Financial Highlights in the Investor Relations section.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements contained in this press release with respect to the future are forward-looking statements. These statements reflect management's reasonable judgment with respect to future events. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those anticipated as a result of various factors, including cyclical or other downturns in demand, significant pricing competition, unanticipated additions to industry capacity, changes in the Jones Act or in U.S. maritime policy and practice, fuel costs, interest rates, weather conditions and timing, magnitude and number of acquisitions made by Kirby. Forward-looking statements are based on currently available information and Kirby assumes no obligation to update any such statements. A list of additional risk factors can be found in Kirby's annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

About Kirby Corporation

Kirby Corporation, based in Houston, Texas, is the nation's largest domestic tank barge operator transporting bulk liquid products throughout the Mississippi River System, the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, coastwise along all three United States coasts, and in Alaska and Hawaii. Kirby transports petrochemicals, black oil, refined petroleum products and agricultural chemicals by tank barge. Kirby also operates offshore dry-bulk barge and tugboat units engaged in the offshore transportation of dry-bulk cargoes in the United States coastal trade. Through the diesel engine services segment, Kirby provides after-market service for medium-speed and high-speed diesel engines and reduction gears used in marine and power generation applications. Kirby also distributes and services diesel engines, transmissions, pumps, compression products and manufactures and remanufactures oilfield service equipment, including pressure pumping
units, for land-based pressure pumping and oilfield service markets.




                                                        CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS
                                                        ---------------------------------------------


                                                                                                                           Second Quarter                                Six Months
                                                                                                                           --------------                              ----------

                                                                                                             2015                  2014         2015                 2014
                                                                                                             ----                  ----         ----                 ----

                                                                                                        (unaudited, $ in thousands except per share amounts)

    Revenues:

         Marine
          transportation                                                                                 $425,053              $456,745     $844,958             $892,516

         Diesel engine
          services                                                                                        118,103               171,309      285,871              324,784
                                                                                                          -------               -------      -------              -------

                                                                                                          543,156               628,054    1,130,829            1,217,300
                                                                                                          -------               -------    ---------            ---------

    Costs and expenses:

         Costs of sales and
          operating expenses                                                                              343,745               403,460      728,526              786,689

         Selling, general
          and administrative                                                                               49,165                52,065      100,209              105,663

         Taxes, other than
          on income                                                                                         5,378                 4,624        9,923                9,204

         Depreciation and
          amortization                                                                                     46,825                41,407       92,591               82,443

         Gain on disposition
          of assets                                                                                          (91)                (527)     (1,646)               (578)
                                                                                                              ---                  ----       ------                 ----

                                                                                                          445,022               501,029      929,603              983,421
                                                                                                          -------               -------      -------              -------

            Operating income                                                                               98,134               127,025      201,226              233,879

      Other income
       (expense)                                                                                            (303)                  123        (243)               (113)

      Interest expense                                                                                    (4,759)              (5,469)    (10,009)            (11,087)
                                                                                                           ------                ------      -------              -------

         Earnings before
          taxes on income                                                                                  93,072               121,679      190,974              222,679

      Provision for taxes
       on income                                                                                         (34,696)             (45,768)    (71,187)            (83,757)
                                                                                                          -------               -------      -------              -------

         Net earnings                                                                                      58,376                75,911      119,787              138,922

    Less: Net earnings
     attributable to
     noncontrolling
     interests                                                                                              (301)                (919)       (634)             (1,684)
                                                                                                             ----                  ----         ----               ------


         Net earnings
          attributable to
          Kirby                                                                                           $58,075               $74,992     $119,153             $137,238
                                                                                                          =======               =======     ========             ========


    Net earnings per share attributable to Kirby common
     stockholders:

         Basic                                                                                              $1.04                 $1.32        $2.14                $2.41

         Diluted                                                                                            $1.04                 $1.31        $2.13                $2.40

    Common stock outstanding (in thousands):

         Basic                                                                                             55,315                56,679       55,446               56,623

         Diluted                                                                                           55,432                56,869       55,565               56,826


                                                        CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL INFORMATION
                                                        --------------------------------------------


                                                                                                                           Second Quarter                                SixMonths
                                                                                                                           --------------                               ---------

                                                                                                             2015                  2014         2015                 2014
                                                                                                             ----                  ----         ----                 ----

                                                                                                                    (unaudited, $ in thousands)

    EBITDA: (1)

         Net earnings
          attributable to
          Kirby                                                                                           $58,075               $74,992     $119,153             $137,238

         Interest expense                                                                                   4,759                 5,469       10,009               11,087

         Provision for taxes
          on income                                                                                        34,696                45,768       71,187               83,757

         Depreciation and
          amortization                                                                                     46,825                41,407       92,591               82,443
                                                                                                           ------                ------       ------               ------

                                                                                                         $144,355              $167,636     $292,940             $314,525
                                                                                                         ========              ========     ========             ========


    Capital
     expenditures                                                                                         $93,619              $101,042     $190,152             $163,299

    Acquisition of
     marine equipment                                                                                 $         -   $                -     $41,250    $               -


                                                                                                                                                                          June 30,
                                                                                                                                                                        --------

                                                                                                                                  2015         2014
                                                                                                                                  ----         ----

                                                                                                                    (unaudited, $ in thousands)

    Long-term debt, including current portion                                                                                                                $808,300          $649,300

    Total equity                                                                                                                                           $2,255,843        $2,174,114

    Debt to capitalization ratio                                                                                                                                 26.4%            23.0%



                    MARINE TRANSPORTATION STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS


                                         ---

                                                  Second Quarter                Six Months
                                                  --------------                ----------

                                                   2015          2014           2015           2014
                                                   ----          ----           ----           ----

                                                       (unaudited, $ in thousands)


    Marine
     transportation
     revenues                                  $425,053      $456,745       $844,958       $892,516
                                               --------      --------       --------       --------


    Costs and expenses:

         Costs
          of
          sales
          and
          operating
          expenses                              251,784       269,232        500,868        533,658

          Selling,
          general
          and
          administrative                         28,660        29,778         57,393         62,205

         Taxes,
          other
          than
          on
          income                                  4,816         4,127          8,947          8,208

          Depreciation
          and
          amortization                           42,782        37,640         84,470         74,926
                                                 ------        ------         ------         ------

                                                328,042       340,777        651,678        678,997
                                                -------       -------        -------        -------


              Operating
              income                            $97,011      $115,968       $193,280       $213,519
                                                =======      ========       ========       ========


              Operating
              margins                             22.8%        25.4%         22.9%         23.9%
                                                   ====          ====           ====           ====



                  DIESEL ENGINE SERVICES STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS
                  ---------------------------------------------


                                                Second Quarter             Six Months
                                                --------------             ----------

                                                   2015          2014           2015           2014
                                                   ----          ----           ----           ----

                                                       (unaudited, $ in thousands)


    Diesel
     engine
     services
     revenues                                  $118,103      $171,309       $285,871       $324,784
                                               --------      --------       --------       --------


    Costs and expenses:

         Costs
          of
          sales
          and
          operating
          expenses                               91,961       134,228        227,658        253,031

          Selling,
          general
          and
          administrative                         17,603        19,469         37,335         38,044

         Taxes,
          other
          than
          income                                    549           488            947            972

          Depreciation
          and
          amortization                            3,059         2,787          6,157          5,628
                                                  -----         -----          -----          -----

                                                113,172       156,972        272,097        297,675
                                                -------       -------        -------        -------


              Operating
              income                             $4,931       $14,337        $13,774        $27,109
                                                 ======       =======        =======        =======


              Operating
              margins                              4.2%         8.4%          4.8%          8.3%
                                                    ===           ===            ===            ===


                           


    OTHER COSTS AND EXPENSES
                              ------------------------


                                                Second Quarter             Six Months
                                                --------------             ----------

                                                   2015          2014           2015           2014
                                                   ----          ----           ----           ----

                                                       (unaudited, $ in thousands)


     General
     corporate
     expenses                                    $3,899        $3,807         $7,474         $7,327
                                                 ======        ======         ======         ======


    Gain
     on
     disposition
     of
     assets                                         $91          $527         $1,646           $578
                                                    ===          ====         ======           ====


                 MARINE TRANSPORTATION PERFORMANCE MEASUREMENTS
                 ----------------------------------------------


                                                 SecondQuarter             Six Months
                                                 -------------             ----------

                                                   2015          2014           2015           2014
                                                   ----          ----           ----           ----



    Inland Performance Measurements:

          Ton
           Miles
           (in
           millions)
           (2)                                   3,261         3,358          6,359          6,348

           Revenue/
           Ton
           Mile
           (cents/
           tm)
           (3)                                     8.6           8.8            8.7            9.2

           Towboats
           operated
           (average)
           (4)                                     251           252            250            254

          Delay
           Days
           (5)
           (5)                                   2,076         2,117          4,454          5,014

           Average
           cost
           per
           gallon
           of
           fuel
           consumed                               $2.03         $3.18          $2.04          $3.15



    Barges (active):

          Inland tank barges                        912           874

          Coastal tank barges                        69            71

          Offshore dry-cargo barges                   6             7

    Barrel capacities (in millions):

          Inland tank barges                       18.1          17.3

          Coastal tank barges                       6.0           6.0


     (1)             Kirby has historically evaluated
                      its operating performance using
                      numerous measures, one of which is
                      EBITDA, a non-GAAP financial
                      measure.  Kirby defines EBITDA as
                      net earnings attributable to Kirby
                      before interest expense, taxes on
                      income, depreciation and
                      amortization.  EBITDA is presented
                      because of its wide acceptance as
                      a financial indicator.  EBITDA is
                      one of the performance measures
                      used in Kirby's incentive bonus
                      plan.  EBITDA is also used by
                      rating agencies in determining
                      Kirby's credit rating and by
                      analysts publishing research
                      reports on Kirby, as well as by
                      investors and investment bankers
                      generally in valuing companies.
                      EBITDA is not a calculation based
                      on generally accepted accounting
                      principles and should not be
                      considered as an alternative to,
                      but should only be considered in
                      conjunction with, Kirby's GAAP
                      financial information.

    (2)               Ton miles indicate fleet
                      productivity by measuring the
                      distance (in miles) a loaded tank
                      barge is moved.  Example:  A
                      typical 30,000 barrel tank barge
                      loaded with 3,300 tons of liquid
                      cargo is moved 100 miles, thus
                      generating 330,000 ton miles.

    (3)               Inland marine transportation
                      revenues divided by ton miles.
                      Example:  Second quarter 2015
                      inland marine transportation
                      revenues of $279,367,000 divided
                      by 3,261,000,000 inland marine
                      transportation ton miles = 8.6
                      cents.

    (4)               Towboats operated are the average
                      number of owned and chartered
                      towboats operated during the
                      period.

    (5)               Delay days measures the lost time
                      incurred by a tow (towboat and one
                      or more tank barges) during
                      transit.  The measure includes
                      transit delays caused by weather,
                      lock congestion and other
                      navigational factors.

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SOURCE Kirby Corporation