Fool - Investing News·Jun 26, 2026
Kadant VP Sells $451,000 in Stock — Is KAI Worth Watching?Kadant Inc., a global supplier of industrial processing equipment, reported a notable insider sale amid ongoing portfolio adjustments.
Kadant Inc.(KAI)Earnings, Financials & Key Ratios
KAI•NYSE
$313.66
36.3× P/E·Price updated Jul 6, 2026
AboutKadant Inc. supplies technologies and engineered systems worldwide. It operates through three segments: Flow Control, Industrial Processing, and Material Handling. The Flow Control segment develops, manufactures, and markets fluid-handling systems and equipment, such as rotary joints, syphons, turbulator bars, expansion joints, and engineered steam and condensate systems; and doctoring, cleaning, and filtration systems and related consumables, consisting of doctor systems and holders, doctor blades, shower and fabric-conditioning systems, formation systems, and water-filtration systems. The Industrial Processing segment develops, manufactures, and markets ring and rotary debarkers, stranders, chippers, logging machinery, industrial automation and control systems, recycling and approach flow systems, and virgin pulping process equipment for use in the packaging, tissue, wood products, and alternative fuel industries. The Material Handling segment offers conveying and vibratory equipment, and balers and related equipment; and manufactures and sells biodegradable absorbent granules for carriers in as carriers in agricultural, home lawn and garden, professional lawn, turf, and ornamental applications, as well as for oil and grease absorption. The company was formerly known as Thermo Fibertek Inc. and changed its name to Kadant Inc. in July 2001. Kadant Inc. was incorporated in 1991 and is headquartered in Westford, Massachusetts.Show more
- Revenue$1.05B-0.1%
- EBITDA$209M-5.6%
- Net Income$102M-8.6%
- EPS (Diluted)8.65-8.8%
- Gross Margin45.21%+2.2%
- EBITDA Margin19.82%-5.5%
- Operating Margin14.95%-8.1%
- Net Margin9.69%-8.5%
- ROE11.03%-19.2%
KAI Price & Volume
Kadant Inc. (KAI) stock price & volume — 10-year historical chart
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Cyclical Revenue Volatility Masks Underlying Margin Resilience
Investment Thesis • Updated 2026Q1
VerdictNeutral
Growth:Mixed
Profitability:Moderate
Financial:Healthy
Cash Flow:Stable
Primary Risk:Cyclical industrial backlog volatility
Key Thesis Takeaways
- Kadant Inc.
- demonstrates a resilient business model anchored by mission-critical industrial consumables, though top-line growth remains susceptible to the timing of large-scale capital equipment projects.
- While the company has successfully utilized a conservative debt-to-equity ratio of 0.36 to fund strategic acquisitions, investors should monitor the recent compression of operating margins to 14.2% as SG&A expenses scale faster than gross profits.
- Long-term value creation appears tied to the company's ability to integrate its $551.1 million goodwill base while navigating the inherent volatility of its industrial project cycles.
Verdict Logic
while the company maintains a robust liquidity position with a current ratio of 2.47, the current P/E of 37.52 appears elevated given the recent compression of operating margins to 14.2% and the inherent volatility in cash conversion.
KAI Growth Metrics
Kadant Inc. (KAI) revenue, earnings & EPS growth — 3, 5 & 10-year CAGR
Revenue CAGR
10 Years10.43%
5 Years10.63%
3 Years5.16%
TTM4.88%
Profit CAGR
10 Years11.48%
5 Years13.06%
3 Years-5.53%
TTM-6.81%
EPS CAGR
10 Years10.81%
5 Years12.64%
3 Years-5.81%
TTM-6.9%
Return on Capital
10 Years13.27%
5 Years15.37%
3 Years14.86%
Last Year11.55%
KAI Recent Earnings
Kadant Inc. (KAI) EPS & revenue vs analyst estimates — last 4 quarters
●Beat EPS 12/12 qtrs (100%)●Beat Revenue 8/12 qtrs (67%)
Q2 2026Latest
May 5, 2026Metric
Actual
Est
EPS
$2.84+34.6%
$2.11
Rev
$282M+2.4%
$275M
Q1 2026
Feb 18, 2026Metric
Actual
Est
EPS
$2.27+3.7%
$2.19
Rev
$286M+4.3%
$274M
Q4 2025
Oct 28, 2025Metric
Actual
Est
EPS
$2.59+18.8%
$2.18
Rev
$272M-1.0%
$274M
Q3 2025
Jul 29, 2025Metric
Actual
Est
EPS
$2.31+19.1%
$1.94
Rev
$255M-5.8%
$271M
| Quarter | Date | EPS (Act vs Est) | Revenue (Act vs Est) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q2 2026Latest | May 5, 2026 | $2.84vs $2.11+34.6% | $282Mvs $275M+2.4% |
| Q1 2026 | Feb 18, 2026 | $2.27vs $2.19+3.7% | $286Mvs $274M+4.3% |
| Q4 2025 | Oct 28, 2025 | $2.59vs $2.18+18.8% | $272Mvs $274M-1.0% |
| Q3 2025 | Jul 29, 2025 | $2.31vs $1.94+19.1% | $255Mvs $271M-5.8% |
Based on last 12 quarters of dataView full earnings history →
Latest KAI News
Recent stock market news and headlines for Kadant Inc. (KAI)
Peers Comparison
Key metrics vs top competitors for Kadant Inc. (KAI)
| Company | Price | Market Cap | P/E Ratio | Rev Growth (1Y) | Net Margin | ROE | Div Yield |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $313.66 | $3.7B | 36.26 | -0.11% | 9.69% | 11.03% | 0.43% | |
| $208.73 | $9.99B | 632.52 | 2.49% | -0.63% | -0.78% | — | |
| $105.38 | $4.65B | 32.42 | 5.44% | 6.91% | 11.44% | — | |
| $82.50 | $2.73B | 56.90 | 4.11% | 6.98% | 6.59% | — | |
| $17.20 | $2.35B | -12.11 | -19.33% | -3506.95% | — | — | |
| $293.66 | $16.36B | 34.51 | 3.78% | 18.19% | 17.12% | — |
Compare KAI vs Peers
Kadant Inc. (KAI) vs competitors — business, growth, and fundamentals comparison against the closest industry rivals.
KAI SEC Filings & Documents
Kadant Inc. (KAI) SEC filings — annual & quarterly reports (10-K, 10-Q)
8-K Announcements
6Material company update
May 26, 2026·SEC
Material company update
May 5, 2026·SEC
Material company update
Apr 30, 2026·SEC
10-K Annual Reports
310-Q Quarterly Reports
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KAI Frequently Asked Questions
Kadant Inc. (KAI) stock FAQ — growth, dividends, profitability & financials explained
Growth & Financials
What is Kadant Inc.'s revenue?
Kadant Inc. (KAI) reported $1.09B in revenue for fiscal year 2025. This represents a 469% increase from $192.2M in 1996.
How fast is Kadant Inc. growing?
Kadant Inc. (KAI) saw revenue decline by 0.1% over the past year.
Is KAI profitable?
Yes, Kadant Inc. (KAI) is profitable, generating $103.4M in net income for fiscal year 2025 (9.7% net margin).
Dividend & Returns
Does KAI pay dividends?
Yes, Kadant Inc. (KAI) pays a dividend with a yield of 0.43%. This makes it attractive for income-focused investors.
What is KAI's return on equity?
Kadant Inc. (KAI) has a return on equity (ROE) of 11.0%. This is reasonable for most industries.
What is Kadant Inc.'s free cash flow?
Kadant Inc. (KAI) generated $153.9M in free cash flow for fiscal year 2025. Positive FCF indicates the company can fund dividends, buybacks, or reinvestment.