UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

     Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): February 16, 2026

    

KIRBY CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


Nevada	1-7615	74-1884980
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)	(Commission File Number)	(IRS Employer Identification No.)

55 Waugh Drive, Suite 1000
Houston, Texas		77007
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)		(Zip Code)

     Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: 713-435-1000

    

     Not Applicable

    

(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

☐ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

☐ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:


Title of each class	Trading Symbol(s)	Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock	KEX	New York Stock Exchange

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§ 230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§ 240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

Item 5.02. Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

On February 16, 2026, the Board of Directors of Kirby Corporation (“Kirby”) expanded the size of the Board of Directors from nine to ten directors and elected Tracy A. Embree to fill the vacancy, to serve as a Class I director until the Annual Meeting of Stockholders in 2026. The Board of Directors determined that Ms. Embree will serve as an independent director. Ms. Embree has more than 25 years of experience in power generation, commercial and industrial and distribution, and manufacturing. She most recently served as President, Otis Americas, of Otis Worldwide Corporation prior to that she served in various operations, product development, distribution, and manufacturing roles at Cummins, Inc. having last served as President of Cummins, Inc.’s Distribution Business. At this time, Ms. Embree has not been appointed to serve on a committee of the Board of Directors. Ms. Embree will receive the standard compensation for directors under Kirby’s Nonemployee Director Compensation Program, prorated for her current term of office, including an automatic grant of approximately $41,875 in value of restricted shares of Kirby common stock and a prorated annual director fee of $21,250 payable quarterly. The shares of restricted stock vest six months after the date of grant.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits

(d)

Exhibits

EXHIBIT INDEX


Exhibit Number		Description of Exhibit

99.1		Press release dated February 20, 2026
104		Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document)

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.


			KIRBY CORPORATION

Date:	February 20, 2026	By:	/s/ Raj Kumar
			Raj Kumar Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

KIRBY CORP 8-K