KEX vs. UNP
KEX (Kirby Corporation) and UNP (Union Pacific Corporation) are both stocks. Both are in the Industrials sector — KEX in Marine Shipping, UNP in Railroads. Over the past 10 years, KEX returned 7.65%/yr vs 14.24%/yr for UNP. At a 0.37 correlation, their price movements are largely independent.
Performance
KEX vs. UNP - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, KEX achieves a 31.42% return, which is significantly higher than UNP's 14.50% return. Over the past 10 years, KEX has underperformed UNP with an annualized return of 7.65%, while UNP has yielded a comparatively higher 14.24% annualized return.
KEX
- 1D
- 0.99%
- 1M
- 0.22%
- YTD
- 31.42%
- 6M
- 28.19%
- 1Y
- 27.76%
- 3Y*
- 24.73%
- 5Y*
- 16.29%
- 10Y*
- 7.65%
UNP
- 1D
- -0.96%
- 1M
- 0.03%
- YTD
- 14.50%
- 6M
- 13.26%
- 1Y
- 20.88%
- 3Y*
- 12.17%
- 5Y*
- 5.35%
- 10Y*
- 14.24%
KEX vs. UNP - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
KEX Kirby Corporation | 31.42% | 4.14% | 34.81% | 21.96% | 8.30% | 14.64% | -42.11% | 32.91% | 0.84% | 0.45% |
UNP Union Pacific Corporation | 14.50% | 3.86% | -5.10% | 21.61% | -15.93% | 23.31% | 17.64% | 33.70% | 5.26% | 32.30% |
Correlation
The correlation between KEX and UNP is 0.30, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.30 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.35 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.42 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.45 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Aug 22, 1991 | 0.37 |
The correlation between KEX and UNP shifts across timeframes, from 0.30 (1 year) to 0.45 (10 years), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
Fundamentals
KEX:
$6.37
UNP:
$9.29
KEX:
22.73
UNP:
28.23
KEX:
0.70
UNP:
5.65
KEX:
2.40
UNP:
8.42
KEX:
$3.36B
UNP:
$18.49B
KEX:
$883.42M
UNP:
$8.47B
KEX:
$781.87M
UNP:
$9.89B
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Return for Risk
KEX vs. UNP — Risk / Return Rank
KEX
UNP
KEX vs. UNP - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Kirby Corporation (KEX) and Union Pacific Corporation (UNP). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.
| KEX | UNP | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.19 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -0.34 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.21 | 1.19 | +0.02 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 0.82 | 1.71 | -0.88 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 1.99 | 4.16 | -2.17 |
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month. | |||
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Sharpe Ratios by Period
| KEX | UNP | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.80 | 0.99 | -0.19 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.51 | 0.24 | +0.27 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.21 | 0.56 | -0.35 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.21 | 0.42 | -0.21 |
Drawdowns
KEX vs. UNP - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum KEX drawdown since its inception was -75.42%, which is greater than UNP's maximum drawdown of -67.49%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for KEX and UNP.
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Drawdown Indicators
| KEX | UNP | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -75.42% | -67.49% | -7.93% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -33.83% | -12.28% | -21.55% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -38.76% | -17.75% | -21.01% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -38.76% | -31.83% | -6.93% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -63.34% | -38.72% | -24.62% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -5.11% | -5.69% | +0.58% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -28.63% | -17.08% | -11.55% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 13.98% | 5.03% | +8.95% |
Volatility
KEX vs. UNP - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Kirby Corporation (KEX) is 6.28%, while Union Pacific Corporation (UNP) has a volatility of 7.50%. This indicates that KEX experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than UNP based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| KEX | UNP | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 6.28% | 7.50% | -1.22% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 17.13% | 17.06% | +0.07% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 34.90% | 21.30% | +13.60% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 32.05% | 22.75% | +9.30% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 35.96% | 25.30% | +10.66% |
Dividends
KEX vs. UNP - Dividend Comparison
KEX has not paid dividends to shareholders, while UNP's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.11%.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
KEX Kirby Corporation | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
UNP Union Pacific Corporation | 2.11% | 2.35% | 2.32% | 2.12% | 2.45% | 1.70% | 1.86% | 2.05% | 2.21% | 1.85% | 2.17% | 2.81% |
Financials
KEX vs. UNP - Financials Comparison
This section allows you to compare key financial metrics between Kirby Corporation and Union Pacific Corporation. You can select fields from income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow statements to easily visualize and compare the financial health of both companies.
Total Revenue: Total amount of money received from sales and other business activities
KEX vs. UNP - Profitability Comparison
KEX - Gross Margin
Gross margin is calculated as gross profit divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Kirby Corporation reported a gross profit of 223.49M and revenue of 851.78M. Therefore, the gross margin over that period was 26.2%.
UNP - Gross Margin
Gross margin is calculated as gross profit divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Union Pacific Corporation reported a gross profit of 4.35M and revenue of 6.22M. Therefore, the gross margin over that period was 69.9%.
KEX - Operating Margin
Operating margin is calculated as operating income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Kirby Corporation reported an operating income of 127.89M and revenue of 851.78M, resulting in an operating margin of 15.0%.
UNP - Operating Margin
Operating margin is calculated as operating income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Union Pacific Corporation reported an operating income of 2.46M and revenue of 6.22M, resulting in an operating margin of 39.5%.
KEX - Net Margin
Net margin is calculated as net income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Kirby Corporation reported a net income of 91.81M and revenue of 851.78M, resulting in a net margin of 10.8%.
UNP - Net Margin
Net margin is calculated as net income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Union Pacific Corporation reported a net income of 1.70M and revenue of 6.22M, resulting in a net margin of 27.4%.
Frequently Asked Questions
KEX and UNP have a correlation of 0.30, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
UNP has higher volatility (7.50%) compared to KEX (6.28%). In terms of maximum drawdown, KEX dropped -75.42% vs UNP's -67.49%.
UNP currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (0.99 vs 0.80), meaning it's delivered slightly more return per unit of risk over the trailing 12 months. However, this ranking shifts over time - use the Risk/Return Score above for a more comprehensive view that combines Sharpe, Sortino, and other measures used by quantitative funds.
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