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KAI Stock Forecast: Kadant Inc. Price Predictions for 2026-2027

Last close, 21 Aug 2026
$314
−0.18% on the day

The 4 Wall Street analysts covering Kadant Inc. hold a median 12-month price target of $370 — +18.0% from the last close. Ticker Nerd's systematic factor model, run across ~4,600 US stocks, ranks it 49 of 100 as at 22 Aug 2026 — in the lower half.

Market cap
$3.7B
Ticker Nerd rank
49 / 100
Median analyst target
$370
Analysts covering
4
Total return, dividends reinvested
1W
−6.2%
1M
+2.3%
YTD
+10.4%
1Y
−3.6%
From 52W high
−9.5%
From 52W low
+27.1%
$247
$347
52-week range, adjusted closes · the dot is the last close
Ticker Nerd rank

KAI stock analysis: one number for the whole business

Consensus tells you what everyone already believes. The model scores Kadant Inc. on its factor families — the same systematic rank behind the Ticker Nerd portfolio.

Where the model ranks itAs at 22 Aug 2026
49 / 100

Percentile across ~4,600 US stocks on Ticker Nerd’s systematic factor model. Higher is better. How the model is built and tested

Quality
76
Revisions
74
Growth
70
Value
62
Momentum
37
Volatility
34
Accruals
33
Issuance
30
Size
28

Quality (76): The business earns solid, repeatable profits on what it owns.

Issuance (30): The company has been issuing shares or taking on financing, diluting existing holders.

Size (28): Larger than most of the companies we track — more scrutinised, less often mispriced.

Built and run by Aslam Ghouse, an ex-Goldman Sachs quant trader with fourteen years in markets.

Wall Street

KAI stock forecast 2026-2027: analyst price targets & predictions

The bullish and bearish analyst opinions on KAI, reported as data — targets and ratings, the market's view beside the model's.

Share price and the analyst range, 12 monthsAdjusted close, US dollars
$250$300$350$400Oct 25Jan 26Apr 26Jul 26KAIHigh $380Median $370Low $335

Price targets and ratings are third-party analyst estimates, reported here as data. They are not Ticker Nerd forecasts, and they are frequently wrong.

What Wall Street says4 analysts
2 Buy2 Hold0 Sell
Low $335Median $370High $380

The green dot is the last close — the median target sits +18.0% from it.

Recent analyst actionsNewest first
DateFirmActionRatingTarget
6 Aug 2026DA DavidsonMaintainsNeutral$306 → $335
4 May 2026Barrington ResearchMaintainsOutperform—
4 May 2026Barrington ResearchMaintainsOutperform$380
24 Feb 2026Barrington ResearchMaintainsOutperform—
19 Feb 2026Barrington ResearchMaintainsOutperform—
18 Feb 2026Barrington ResearchMaintainsOutperform—
9 Feb 2026DA DavidsonMaintainsNeutral—
4 Feb 2026DA DavidsonMaintainsNeutral—
3 Feb 2026Barrington ResearchMaintainsOutperform—
30 Oct 2025Barrington ResearchMaintainsOutperform—
29 Oct 2025Barrington ResearchMaintainsOutperform—
27 Oct 2025Barrington ResearchMaintainsOutperform—
10 Oct 2025Barrington ResearchMaintainsOutperform—
23 Sept 2025Barrington ResearchMaintainsOutperform—
4 Aug 2025DA DavidsonMaintainsNeutral—
30 July 2025Barrington ResearchReiteratesOutperform—
29 July 2025Barrington ResearchMaintainsOutperform—
1 May 2025Barrington ResearchMaintainsOutperform—
1 May 2025DA DavidsonMaintainsNeutral—
30 Apr 2025Barrington ResearchMaintainsOutperform—

Price targets and ratings are third-party analyst estimates, reported here as data. They are not Ticker Nerd forecasts, and they are frequently wrong.

Market Radar

This page is one stock. Monday covers all of them.

Computed off the Friday close and sent before the US open.

Market Radar reports the week’s largest rank changes across roughly 4,600 US stocks, the factor behind each one, and where the market went. KAI appears on the weeks it earns a place.

Free, every Monday. Unsubscribe any time.

Estimates

KAI analyst estimate revisions

Not the forecast itself — the direction analysts are revising it. Revision direction is one of the model's factor families.

Which way the estimates are movingNext fiscal year
EPS revision, 90 days
+0.7%
Analysts raising
3
Analysts cutting
1
Fundamentals

Kadant Inc. (KAI) financial data

A margin means little on its own. Each bar marks where the figure sits across the whole US universe we score.

Valuation
Trailing P/E
33.7×

Cheaper than 24% of US stocks

Price / sales
3.2×

Cheaper than 40% of US stocks

Price / book
3.6×

Cheaper than 30% of US stocks

EV / EBITDA
17.0×

Cheaper than 20% of US stocks

Growth & margins
Revenue growth (YoY)
22.6%

Higher than 73% of US stocks

Earnings growth (YoY)
24.1%

Higher than 62% of US stocks

Gross margin
45.0%

Higher than 57% of US stocks

Operating margin
16.8%

Higher than 75% of US stocks

Net margin
9.5%

Higher than 69% of US stocks

Returns & dividend
Return on equity
11.3%

Higher than 66% of US stocks

Return on assets
6.8%

Higher than 84% of US stocks

Dividend yield
0.5%

Higher than 9% of US dividend payers

Bars mark the percentile across the ~4,600 US stocks Ticker Nerd covers, among those reporting the figure.

Peers

KAI vs competitors

The nearest names by industry and size, scored by the same model — like for like.

Its peer group, ranked by the same modelSpecialty Industrial Machinery
CompanyMarket capTKN rank
KAIKadant Inc.$3.7B
49
SXIStandex International Corp.$3.8B
81
MIRMirion Technologies, Inc.$3.8B
30
MWAMueller Water Products, Inc.$3.9B
90
SMRNuScale Power Corp.$4.0B
4
EROCERock, Inc.$3.1B
0
FELEFranklin Electric Co., Inc.$4.6B
94

Look up any of the roughly 4,600 stocks we score.

The rank is the raw material. Whether the rules would actually own Kadant Inc. — and when they’d sell — is the membership. See the Ticker Nerd 20 →

News

Latest KAI news & analysis

Kadant Q2 Earnings Call Highlights

MarketBeat · 8 Aug 2026positive

Kadant reported record second-quarter revenue, adjusted earnings, and EBITDA for 2026, driven by acquisitions, organic growth, and steady demand for aftermarket parts and services, despite some customers delaying large capital-equipment commitments.

Why it matters — Record financial results show Kadant continues to perform strongly even as capital-equipment spending softens, highlighting the resilience of its aftermarket-focused business model.

Kadant Inc. (KAI) Q2 2026 Earnings Call Transcript

Seeking Alpha · 5 Aug 2026neutral

Kadant Inc. held its Q2 2026 earnings call, and Seeking Alpha published the full transcript of the event. The transcript covers the company's second-quarter results and management discussion.

Why it matters — The transcript provides KAI watchers with direct access to management's commentary on the quarter's performance and outlook.

Kadant (KAI) Surpasses Q2 Earnings and Revenue Estimates

Zacks Investment Research · 5 Aug 2026positive

Kadant (KAI) reported quarterly earnings of $3.42 per share for the second quarter, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.94 per share and up from $2.31 per share in the same quarter last year.

Why it matters — The earnings beat signals stronger-than-expected financial performance in the quarter, which may interest shareholders tracking the company's operational results.

Kadant Reports Second Quarter 2026 Results

GlobeNewsWire · 4 Aug 2026neutral

Kadant Inc. reported its financial results for the second quarter ended July 4, 2026, as announced in a press release on August 4, 2026.

Why it matters — KAI watchers would follow this as a regular earnings update to assess the company's financial performance and operational trends for the most recent quarter.

Kadant to Hold Earnings Conference Call on Wednesday, August 5, 2026

GlobeNewsWire · 30 July 2026neutral

Kadant Inc. announced it will release its 2026 second quarter results after market close on August 4, 2026, and hold an earnings conference call webcast on August 5, 2026 at 11:00 a.m.

Why it matters — The earnings call will provide Kadant's financial results and business update for the second quarter of 2026, which is of interest to shareholders and analysts tracking the company's performance.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about KAI stock

What is the KAI stock price forecast for 2026-2027?

The 4 Wall Street analysts covering Kadant Inc. have a median 12-month price target of $370, with estimates ranging from $335 to $380. These are third-party analyst estimates, not Ticker Nerd forecasts, and they are frequently wrong.

Is KAI stock a buy right now?

Of the 4 analysts covering Kadant Inc., 2 rate it a Buy, 2 a Hold and 0 a Sell. Ticker Nerd's systematic factor model ranks Kadant Inc. 49 out of 100 across roughly 4,600 US stocks as at 22 Aug 2026. None of this is personal advice — it does not consider your circumstances.

How does Ticker Nerd's model rank KAI?

As at 22 Aug 2026, Kadant Inc. ranks 49 out of 100 on Ticker Nerd's systematic factor model — a percentile across roughly 4,600 US stocks, built from its factor families. Its strongest factor family is Quality (76 of 100).

Will KAI stock go up?

No one can know that. What the data says: the median 12-month target from 4 analysts implies +18.0% from the last close, and Ticker Nerd's factor model ranks Kadant Inc. 49 out of 100 as at 22 Aug 2026. Analyst targets are third-party estimates and frequently wrong; none of this is personal advice.

What is the KAI stock forecast for 2030?

No analyst covering Kadant Inc. publishes a 2030 price target — Wall Street targets run 12 to 18 months out. Sites quoting a 2030 price for KAI are extrapolating price history, which says nothing about the business. The furthest attributed numbers are the current analyst targets: $335 to $380 over the next 12 months.

How has KAI stock performed over the past year?

Kadant Inc. returned -3.6% over the 12 months to 21 Aug 2026, with dividends reinvested. Past performance does not indicate future returns.

What does Kadant Inc. do?

Kadant Inc. is a global supplier of high-value, critical components and engineered systems used predominantly in process industries.

What is the latest news on KAI?

The most recent item we track (MarketBeat, 8 Aug 2026): "Kadant Q2 Earnings Call Highlights". Kadant reported record second-quarter revenue, adjusted earnings, and EBITDA for 2026, driven by acquisitions, organic growth, and steady demand for aftermarket parts and services, despite some customers delaying large capital-equipment commitments.

Company

About Kadant Inc.

Kadant Inc. is a global supplier of high-value, critical components and engineered systems used predominantly in process industries. The company plays a pivotal role in optimizing the efficiency and sustainability of industries such as paper, wood processing, and textiles. Kadant's offerings include stock-preparation equipment, fluid handling systems, and papermaking accessories that enhance performance, reduce waste, and conserve energy. With a strong focus on innovation, Kadant frequently develops new technologies that cater to the evolving needs of manufacturers. This ensures operational improvements and cost reductions across various production lines. Headquartered in Westford, Massachusetts, Kadant Inc.'s operations extend worldwide, underscoring its significance in the industrial sector. By supporting sustainable production and maintenance practices, Kadant contributes to the long-term ecological and economic objectives of modern manufacturing processes.

CEO Mr. Jeffrey L. Powell · 4,000 employees · United States · https://kadant.com