Kirby Corp. reported second quarter earnings per share of $.44 versus $.39 a year ago, beating a Wall Street consensus estimate of $.40, reported Lazard Frères & Co., LLC. The marine transportation segment benefited from 94 inland barges leased from Dow Chemical Company in February, the Lazard report said. Lazard noted that the weakness in the company's core chemical and petrochemical business is expected to continue at least through the third quarter, while refined product, fertilizer and black oil volumes should continue to be strong. The company is expected to benefit from lower interest rates and a declining debt balance. As a result, Lazard has raised its 2001 EPS estimate to $1.60 from $1.53 and its 2002 EPS estimate to $1.72 from $1.69.