Key statistics
Previous close$319.03
Open$309.94
Day high$321.47
Day low$307.71
52-week high$369.97
52-week low$244.87
Market cap3.67B
Volume124.92K
Average volume171.36K
P/E ratio31.07
Forward P/E—
EPS10.01
Dividend yield+0.45%
Market context
Why it moved
KAI shares declined amid a broad technology sector selloff triggered by the release of Kimi K3, a competitive open-source AI model from Chinese startup Moonshot AI, which reignited fears about reduced AI spending and challenged the dominance of U.S. AI companies, dragging down the Nasdaq and S&P 500.
What is happening
Recent company-specific developments and publisher coverage.
July 17, 2026Kadant declined alongside broader industrial sector softness, with the XLI ETF also retreating on a risk-off session driven by escalating U.S.-Iran strikes, AI sentiment deterioration, and a tech-led selloff that weighed on industrials. Despite the pullback, Kadant's fundamental backdrop remains constructive — the company posted a strong Q1 beat with EPS of $2.84 vs. $2.11 estimated and 17.9% revenue growth, while also announcing a $50M buyback and reaffirming FY2026 EPS guidance of $12.33–$12.68. Today also marked the ex-dividend date for Kadant's $0.36 quarterly dividend, which may have contributed to mild additional selling pressure.-2.5139
July 16, 2026Kadant surged roughly 6% on the session, closing near its July highs and well above its 52-week low of $244.87, as investors focused on the company's strong fundamental backdrop. Q1 2026 earnings beat consensus estimates significantly — EPS of $2.84 vs. the $2.11 estimate — with revenue up 17.9% year over year to $281.5 million, and the company issued Q2 EPS guidance of $2.88–$2.98. Adding to positive sentiment, Kadant declared a quarterly dividend and a new $50 million share buyback program, while institutional interest grew with Fifth Third Bancorp sharply increasing its stake. The industrials sector has been among the top-performing sectors YTD, up over 35%, providing a favorable backdrop.6.0358
July 16, 2026Kadant Inc. closed modestly higher and is extending gains in after-hours trading, with shares edging up further to around $304, outperforming the broader industrials sector (XLI) as the S&P 500 approaches its 52-week high on a favorable macro backdrop. The standout company-specific development was Wasatch Advisors filing an amended 13G disclosing a 7.4% beneficial ownership stake in Kadant—a signal of meaningful institutional conviction in the industrial machinery name. More broadly, the engineered components and systems group reported a strong Q1 earnings season with peer stocks up ~10% on average, while Morningstar has flagged industrials as the top-performing sector over the past year (+35%), though now considered fully valued.0.2666
July 14, 2026Kadant Inc. closed up nearly 3%, outperforming the broader industrials sector (XLI), as a cooler-than-expected June CPI print of 3.5% lifted market sentiment and buoyed industrial machinery stocks. The softer inflation data eased near-term Fed rate hike concerns, benefiting capital equipment names like Kadant, which serves the paper, pulp, and industrial processing markets. The industrials sector has been a top-performing group year-to-date, up over 35% in the past year per Morningstar, with robust industrial demand diverging from softening consumer trends — a backdrop that supports Kadant's end-market exposure.2.7883
July 14, 2026Kadant shares edged lower, closing down roughly 0.9%, as broader market weakness from renewed U.S.-Iran tensions and a semiconductor selloff weighed on industrial stocks. The XLI industrials ETF also pulled back in a risk-off session. Recent analyst commentary pegs Kadant's fair value near $306 per share—modestly above current levels—while noting its P/E of ~33.6x sits above the U.S. Machinery industry average of 26.5x, raising valuation concerns. Analysts maintain a consensus price target of $341.50, implying ~15% upside, with no sell ratings on the stock.-0.9164
July 11, 2026Kadant shares rose modestly, recovering from a steep 4.3% selloff earlier in the week triggered by Iran's missile strikes on commercial tankers near the Strait of Hormuz, which rattled industrial stocks broadly on fears of rising fuel costs and inflation. With geopolitical tensions showing some stabilization and the S&P 500 closing up 0.42%, Kadant's rebound aligns with broader industrial sector resilience — though Morningstar flags the industrials sector as the most overvalued at a 14% premium, and a Simply Wall St. analysis questions whether Kadant's recent pullback represents a valuation opportunity ahead of Q2 earnings season.1.593
July 9, 2026Kadant closed modestly lower, weighed down by the broader geopolitical turbulence that rattled the industrials sector this week. Iran's missile attacks on commercial tankers near the Strait of Hormuz — and President Trump's declaration that the U.S.-Iran ceasefire is "over" — sent oil prices surging and reignited inflation fears, directly pressuring industrial machinery names. Kadant fell alongside peer industrials on Tuesday when the sector dropped ~4%, and Wednesday's renewed escalation extended the headwinds. The XLI industrials ETF also declined on the day, though the sector remains one of 2026's top performers, buoyed by AI infrastructure spending and defense demand.-1.2127
July 8, 2026Kadant Inc. declined alongside broader industrial peers as geopolitical risk dominated markets, with President Trump declaring the U.S.-Iran ceasefire 'over,' sending oil prices surging over 5% and reigniting inflation fears. The risk-off move hit industrials particularly hard—squeezed by rising fuel costs and borrowing cost concerns—with Kadant shares closing down roughly 3% on below-average volume, underperforming even the XLI industrials ETF, as investors rotated away from industrial machinery names sensitive to input cost pressures.-3.1026
TradingView · July 16, 2026The Top 5 Analyst Questions From Kadant’s Q1 Earnings Call↗ad-hoc-news.de · July 16, 2026Kadant stock steadies as revenue growth and margin strength underpin valuation↗富途牛牛 · July 15, 2026Kadant To Go Ex-Dividend On July 16th, 2026 With 0.36 USD Dividend Per Share↗Stock Titan · July 15, 2026Wasatch Advisors reports 7.4% Kadant Inc stake (NYSE: KAI)↗Simply Wall Street · July 11, 2026Is Kadant (KAI) Expensive Or Is Its Recent Pullback A Valuation Opportunity?↗GMK Center · January 30, 2026Voestalpine sells Böhler Profil to US company Kadant as part of business optimization↗ Mt Newswire · May 21, 2026Kadant Board Approves $50 Million Share Buyback Plan, Declares DividendBenzinga · May 21, 2026Kadant Announces $50M Buyback PlanBenzinga · May 6, 2026Full Transcript: Kadant Q1 2026 Earnings CallMt Newswire · May 5, 2026Kadant Q1 Adjusted Earnings, Revenue Rise; Updates GuidanceBenzinga · May 5, 2026Kadant Sees Q2 GAAP EPS $2.26-$2.36Benzinga · May 5, 2026Kadant Sees Q2 Adj EPS $2.88-$2.98 vs $2.95 Est; Sees Sales $296.000M-$306.000M vs $296.257M EstBenzinga · May 5, 2026Kadant Lowers FY2026 GAAP EPS Guidance from $10.27-$10.62 to $9.80-$10.15 vs $10.34 EstBenzinga · May 5, 2026Kadant Raises FY2026 Adj EPS Guidance from $10.50-$10.75 to $12.33-$12.68 vs $10.24 Est; Raises FY2026 Sales Guidance from $1.160B-$1.185B to $1.178B-$1.203B vs $1.159B Est
