Who Owns KBR?
KBR, Inc. (NYSE: KBR) is a publicly traded American engineering, technology, and government services company headquartered in Houston, Texas. Founded in 1940 as Brown & Root, KBR was part of Halliburton from 1962 until being spun off as an independent public company in 2007. KBR reported $7.4 billion in revenue in 2024 and operates through two segments: Government Solutions and Sustainable Technology Solutions.
KBR Timeline
GlobalOfficial Website
Who Owns KBR?
- Parent Company: KBR
- Ownership Type: Public company
- Company Type: Publicly Traded
- Stock Ticker: NYSE: KBR
| Brand | Parent Company | Ownership Type |
|---|---|---|
| KBR | KBR | Public company |
History of KBR
- Founded: 1940
- Founders: George Brown, Herman Root
KBR's origins trace back to 1940 when George Brown and Herman Root founded Brown & Root, an engineering and construction company, in Houston, Texas. The company initially focused on road construction and small infrastructure projects in Texas.
Brown & Root grew rapidly during World War II, securing contracts for military construction projects. The company built the Corpus Christi Naval Air Station and other military facilities, establishing a relationship with the U.S. government that would define the company's trajectory.
In 1962, Halliburton Company acquired Brown & Root. That same year, Brown & Root merged with M.W. Kellogg Company's engineering division, creating Brown & Root Kellogg. The merger combined Brown & Root's construction expertise with Kellogg's engineering capabilities, particularly in oil and gas processing facilities. The combined entity became known as KBR (Kellogg Brown & Root) over time.
During the 1960s and 1970s, KBR built major oil and gas processing facilities, petrochemical plants, and LNG terminals worldwide. The company became a leading contractor for large-scale energy infrastructure projects in the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and Africa.
In the 1990s and 2000s, KBR became the primary contractor for the U.S. Army's Logistics Civil Augmentation Program (LOGCAP), providing logistics support for military operations in the Balkans, Somalia, and the Middle East. KBR was awarded the LOGCAP III contract in 2001, which covered support for U.S. military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan following the September 11, 2001 attacks. The LOGCAP III contract generated approximately $20 billion in revenue for KBR but also generated significant controversy.
Halliburton announced plans to spin off KBR in 2005, citing asbestos liabilities, government contracting controversies, and strategic differences between the two businesses. KBR held its initial public offering in November 2006, selling shares at $17 each. Halliburton completed the spin-off in April 2007, distributing remaining KBR shares to Halliburton stockholders.
Following the spin-off, KBR restructured its operations. The company shifted focus from its traditional engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) business toward government services and technology solutions. KBR acquired several companies to build its government services portfolio, including BE&K (2008), Wyle Laboratories (2016), and Stinger Ghaffarian Technologies (2018).
In the 2020s, KBR reorganized into two segments: Government Solutions and Sustainable Technology Solutions. The Government Solutions segment provides engineering, logistics, and support services to U.S. and international government agencies. The Sustainable Technology Solutions segment provides technology licensing, engineering services, and consulting to energy and industrial clients.
KBR reported $7.4 billion in revenue in 2024, up from $7.3 billion in 2023. The Government Solutions segment contributed approximately $5.6 billion, and the Sustainable Technology Solutions segment contributed approximately $1.8 billion. KBR employs approximately 37,000 people globally.
About KBR
What does KBR do?
KBR provides engineering, technology, and professional services through two segments. Sustainable Technology Solutions delivers EPC services and technology licensing to commercial energy and industrial clients, focusing on ammonia, hydrogen, refining, and petrochemical projects. Mission Technology Solutions provides digital integration, AI, mission engineering, and rapid prototyping services to U.S. and allied government agencies, including the Department of Defense, NASA, and intelligence organizations.
Is KBR publicly traded?
Yes, KBR trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol KBR. The company was spun off from Halliburton in 2006 and 2007. As of January 30, 2026, there were approximately 126.5 million shares outstanding. Institutional investors including Vanguard, BlackRock, and State Street are among the largest shareholders.
What is KBR's revenue?
KBR reported fiscal 2025 revenue of $7.8 billion, up 1% from $7.7 billion in fiscal 2024. Net income was $415 million, up 11%, and adjusted EBITDA was $968 million, up 12%. Diluted EPS was $3.21, up 15%. For fiscal 2026, the company guided to revenue of $7.9 billion to $8.4 billion and adjusted EBITDA of $980 million to $1.04 billion.
What is the KBR spin-off?
In September 2025, KBR announced plans to spin off its Mission Technology Solutions segment into an independent publicly traded company called Trinzic. The spin-off is expected to be completed on January 4, 2027. Trinzic will enter the market with approximately $5 billion in annual revenue and 20,000 employees. Michael LaRouche, formerly CEO of Serco North America, will serve as Trinzic's CEO. The remaining KBR entity will continue under CEO Stuart Bradie, focused on the Sustainable Technology Solutions business.
Who owns KBR?
KBR is a publicly traded corporation with no controlling shareholder. Institutional investors hold the majority of shares, with Vanguard Group, BlackRock, and State Street among the largest holders. The company is governed by a board of directors and subject to SEC reporting requirements.
Where is KBR headquartered?
KBR is headquartered in Houston, Texas, USA. The company operates in more than 28 countries and serves customers in over 85 countries. Major operational centers include offices in Arlington, Virginia for government services, and technology centers in Houston and the United Kingdom for commercial engineering.
How many people does KBR employ?
KBR employs approximately 37,000 people worldwide. The Mission Technology Solutions segment accounts for about 20,000 employees, while the Sustainable Technology Solutions segment employs the remainder. Following the planned spin-off, Trinzic will carry approximately 20,000 employees as an independent company.
What controversies has KBR faced?
KBR has faced scrutiny over its LOGCAP III contract billing practices in Iraq, resulting in a $62 million settlement with the Department of Justice in 2011. The company has also faced litigation related to burn pit operations at military bases, with service members alleging health impacts. In June 2025, KBR's joint venture lost the U.S. Transportation Command household goods contract, which contributed to revenue uncertainty in the government services segment.
- Founded: 1901
- Headquarters: Houston, Texas, USA
- Company Type: Publicly Traded
- Stock: NYSE: KBR
- Revenue: $7.8B (FY2025)
- Employees: ~37,000
Where Is KBR Made / Based?
- Headquarters: Houston, Texas, USA
KBR Categories & Tags
KBR Sustainability & Ethics
KBR has committed to achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions across its operations by 2050, with an interim target of 50% reduction by 2030. The company publishes an annual sustainability report aligned with GRI and SASB frameworks.
KBR's Sustainable Technology Solutions segment focuses on clean energy technologies, including ammonia, hydrogen, and biofuels. The company has licensed ammonia production technology to over 250 plants globally and is developing green ammonia and blue ammonia technologies for the energy transition.
KBR does not hold B Corp certification. The company's sustainability claims are verified by third-party auditors for greenhouse gas emissions data.
As a U.S. government contractor, KBR is subject to the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) and Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS), which establish ethical standards for government contracting. KBR maintains a compliance program covering anti-corruption, human trafficking prevention, and supply chain ethics.
KBR Recalls & Controversies
KBR has faced significant controversies, primarily related to its government contracting work in Iraq and Afghanistan:
The LOGCAP III contract (2001-2010) generated approximately $20 billion in revenue but became a source of major controversy. KBR was accused of overbilling the U.S. government, providing substandard services to troops, and failing to properly manage subcontractors in Iraq and Afghanistan.
In 2008, KBR came under scrutiny for the electrocution deaths of U.S. soldiers in Iraq. Staff Sergeant Ryan Maseth was electrocuted in a shower at a KBR-maintained facility in Baghdad in January 2008. Investigations revealed that KBR had failed to properly ground electrical systems in military facilities, leading to multiple electrocution incidents. The case prompted congressional hearings and lawsuits.
KBR faced litigation over burn pits in Iraq and Afghanistan. The company operated open-air burn pits to dispose of waste at military bases, exposing soldiers to toxic smoke. Veterans filed lawsuits alleging that burn pit exposure caused respiratory illnesses, cancers, and other health problems. The cases were consolidated into multidistrict litigation.
In 2012, KBR pleaded guilty to federal charges related to bribes paid to Nigerian government officials to secure engineering contracts for LNG facilities. The case was part of a broader investigation into violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. KBR and its former parent Halliburton paid a combined $579 million in penalties to the SEC and DOJ.
KBR faced a whistleblower lawsuit from former employee Harry Barko, who alleged that KBR used kickbacks to inflate costs on LOGCAP III contracts in Iraq. The case was initially dismissed but reinstated on appeal, highlighting concerns about KBR's subcontractor management practices.
In 2025, KBR was investigated for potential procurement violations related to its LOGCAP V work. The investigation focused on whether KBR improperly billed the government for costs that should have been classified as business development expenses.
KBR Ownership: Pros & Cons
Advantages
- +Independent public company with direct accountability to shareholders
- +Diversified revenue across government and commercial clients in over 30 countries
- +$21 billion backlog provides multi-year revenue visibility
- +Strong position in growing clean energy technology markets, particularly ammonia and hydrogen
- +Long-standing NASA and U.S. government relationships spanning over 50 years
- +Two-segment structure balances stable government revenue with higher-margin technology licensing
Considerations
- -U.S. government accounts for approximately 70% of revenue, creating concentration risk
- -History of government contracting controversies including LOGCAP III billing and electrocution incidents
- -Dependence on government budget cycles and political priorities
- -Competition from Leidos, SAIC, Fluor, and AECOM for government contracts
- -Foreign Corrupt Practices Act violations resulted in $579 million in penalties
- -Project-based revenue subject to timing and execution risks
Frequently Asked Questions About KBR
Sources & Further Reading
- KBR Official Website
- KBR Investor Relations
- KBR FY2024 Annual Report (10-K)
- Reuters: KBR LOGCAP and Iraq Controversies
- DOJ: KBR Foreign Corrupt Practices Act Settlement (2012)
- SEC: KBR Enforcement Actions
- U.S. Army LOGCAP Program
- NASA: KBR Space Operations Support
- Engineering News-Record: KBR Project Coverage
- Government Accountability Office: LOGCAP Reports
Competitors to KBR
These competing brands operate in the same categories and provide similar products or services. Compare key attributes to understand market positioning and competitive landscape.
| Brand | Parent Company | Country | Founded | Market Position | Primary Market | Gender Target |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brahmos Aerospace | India | 1998 | Mass market | Regional | All Genders | |
| Rtx Corporation | USA | 2018 | Premium | Global | All Genders | |
| Saic | USA | 2013 | Mass market | United states | All Genders | |
| Lockheed Martin | USA | 1996 | Premium | Global | All-ages | |
| Saic | United States | 2010 | Premium | United states | All Genders | |
| Rtx Corporation | USA | 1925 | Premium | Global | All-ages |
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Competitive Analysis
Market Positioning: KBR competes with 6 brands in the same categories, ranging from mass market to luxury positioning.
Geographic Distribution: Competitors are headquartered across multiple regions, indicating global competition in this market segment.
Brand Heritage: Competitor brands range from established heritage brands to newer market entrants, with founding years spanning several decades.
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