Kirby Corp's top brass may swing the ship light toward a slowing backlog in distribution and services (D&S), driven by supplychain drag amid a tightening workforce.

"We expect the health of KEX's D&S business (40% of 2017 revenue) to get considerable attention during KEX's 10/25 report," Wells Fargo Securities analyst Michael Webber wrote in a note to clients.

"While we expect that Permian-related pressure to eventually ease, we think OFS (oilfield services) sentiment will likely remain the biggest swing factor within its NT (near-term) trading range of $76-$88."