Kadant Inc. is a global supplier of technologies and engineered systems that drive Sustainable Industrial Processing®. The company focuses on enhancing efficiency, optimizing energy utilization, and maximizing productivity in process industries. Kadant sells custom-engineered products and systems that help customers advance their sustainability initiatives by reducing waste and generating more yield with fewer inputs, particularly fiber, energy, and water.
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Industrial Processing - Provides equipment, machinery, and technologies for recycling paper and paperboard and processing timber for packaging, tissue, wood products, and alternative fuel industries. Offers fiber processing systems, recycling equipment, chemical pulping equipment, debarkers, stranders, chippers, and custom-engineered knife systems.
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Flow Control - Supplies custom-engineered products, systems, and technologies that control the flow of fluids in industrial and commercial applications. Key products include rotary sealing devices, steam systems, expansion joints, doctor systems, roll and fabric cleaning devices, and filtration and fiber recovery systems.
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Material Handling - Manufactures products and engineered systems for handling bulk and discrete materials for secondary processing or transport in industries such as aggregates, mining, food, and waste management. Includes conveying and vibratory equipment, balers, and biodegradable absorbent granules used in agricultural applications and oil/grease absorption.
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| Name | Position | External Roles | Short Bio | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Jeffrey L. Powell ExecutiveBoard | Chief Executive Officer | Jeffrey L. Powell is the Chief Executive Officer and Director of Kadant Inc. since July 2019 and has served as President since April 2019. He has extensive executive leadership experience at Kadant, having previously held roles such as Executive Vice President and Co-Chief Operating Officer from March 2018 to March 2019. | View Report → | |
Dara F. Mitchell Executive | Senior Vice President of Corporate Development | Dara F. Mitchell is Senior Vice President of Corporate Development at Kadant Inc. since May 2019. She previously served as Vice President from 2016 to 2019 and as Director from 2013 to 2016. | ||
Deborah S. Selwood Executive | Senior Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer | Deborah S. Selwood has served as the Senior Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer at Kadant Inc. since May 2019, previously holding roles as Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer (2015-2019) and Corporate Controller (2007-2015). | ||
Fredrik H. Westerhout Executive | Vice President | Fredrik H. Westerhout is Vice President at Kadant Inc. since 2021. He also serves as managing director of certain Kadant subsidiaries in Europe. | ||
Michael C. Colwell Executive | Senior Vice President | Senior Vice President at Kadant Inc. since December 2024, previously served as Vice President from August 2022 to December 2024 and held leadership roles overseeing industrial processing including wood processing and fiber-based products. | ||
Michael J. McKenney Executive | Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | Michael J. McKenney is the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at Kadant Inc., a role he has held since March 2018. He previously served as Senior Vice President and CFO from June 2015 to March 2018 and held earlier financial leadership positions at the company. | ||
Peter J. Flynn Executive | Senior Vice President | Peter J. Flynn is the Senior Vice President at Kadant Inc. since August 2022; he previously served as Vice President from July 2019 to July 2022 and as President of Kadant Black Clawson LLC from 2003 to 2019. | ||
Stacy D. Krause Executive | Senior Vice President, General Counsel, and Secretary | Stacy D. Krause has been serving as the Senior Vice President, General Counsel, and Secretary at Kadant Inc. since November 2021. Prior to this role, she held positions as Vice President, General Counsel, and Secretary (July 2018 to November 2021) and Deputy General Counsel (December 2017 to June 2018). | ||
Thomas Andrew Blanchard Executive | Vice President | Thomas Andrew Blanchard is the Vice President at Kadant Inc., responsible for the Material Handling segment since August 2022, and previously supervised conveying and vibratory equipment and fiber-based products from November 2021 to July 2022. He also served as President of Syntron Material Handling (SMH) from June 2014 to January 2019, transitioning to the role post-acquisition in January 2019. | ||
Erin L. Russell Board | Member of the Board of Directors | Director, Chair of the Audit Committee, and Member of the Compensation Committee at eHealth, Inc.; Director, Member of the Audit Committee, and Member of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee at Modivcare; Director at Fortrea; Chair of the Board at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic School of Fairfield, Connecticut; Chair at McIntire School of Commerce; Serving member at Jefferson Scholars Foundation at the University of Virginia | Erin L. Russell has served as a board member at KAI since January 2019 and chairs the risk oversight and sustainability committee, while also acting as one of KAI’s audit committee financial experts. Her extensive background includes active board roles at multiple public companies and organizations. | |
John M. Albertine Board | Board Member and Chairman of Compensation Committee | Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Albertine Enterprises, Inc. (since 1990); Founding Partner of JJ&B, LLC (since 2005); Board Member of Tecogen, Inc. (since 2022); Chairman of Crest Foundation (since 2021) | John M. Albertine has served on Kadant Inc.'s board of directors since June 2001, currently chairing the compensation committee and serving as an audit committee financial expert, demonstrating extensive expertise in economics and corporate governance. | |
Jonathan W. Painter Board | Chairman of the Board of Directors | Chairman of the Board and Member of Committees at Graham Corporation | Jonathan W. Painter has been the Chairman of the Board of Directors at KAI since July 2020, previously serving as CEO from January 2010 to June 2019 and holding multiple leadership roles at KAI. | |
Rebecca Martinez OMara Board | Member of the Board of Directors and Chair of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee | Director at Enviri Corporation | Rebecca Martinez O'Mara has been serving at KAI as a board director and as the Chair of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee since May 2022, and she brings a wealth of leadership experience from roles at Enviri Corporation, Stanley Black & Decker, Grundfos, Sullair, Fiat Industrial, and Caterpillar Inc. | |
Thomas C. Leonard Board | Board Member, Chairman of the Audit Committee | Thomas C. Leonard has served on Kadant Inc.'s board of directors since June 2005 and currently chairs the audit committee, leveraging his extensive expertise in finance and accounting from previous leadership roles. He is a seasoned financial professional with significant experience from prior positions, though he holds no active external roles at present. |
- How does management plan to mitigate the tariff-related material cost increase of approximately $5–$6 million while ensuring that these added costs do not permanently erode margins, especially given the volatility in steel pricing?
- With deferred capital orders potentially pushing revenue recognition into 2026, what specific actions will management take to accelerate order bookings and reduce the delay in recognizing capital equipment revenue?
- In light of the strong aftermarket parts performance offsetting weak capital shipments, how does management plan to rebalance the revenue mix to regain healthy capital revenue growth amid ongoing global uncertainty?
- Given the challenges posed by rapidly evolving tariffs and uncertain trade policies, what contingency measures are in place to address potential supply chain disruptions and maintain production efficiency?
- Considering that the weakening capital orders were largely driven by macroeconomic uncertainties, what specific strategies will management implement to restore confidence in customers and stimulate capital investments in the near term?
Research analysts who have asked questions during KADANT earnings calls.
Gary Prestopino
Barrington Research
4 questions for KAI
Ross Sparenblek
William Blair & Company
4 questions for KAI
Kurt Yinger
D.A. Davidson & Co.
3 questions for KAI
Walter Liptak
Seaport Research Partners
3 questions for KAI
Aditya Madan
D.A. Davidson Companies
1 question for KAI
Notable M&A activity and strategic investments in the past 3 years.
| Company | Year | Details |
|---|---|---|
A technology company (Material Handling segment) | 2024 | Kadant Inc. acquired a technology company for approximately $11.83M, structured with cash, post‐closing adjustment, and contingent consideration (up to about $12.07M), to expand its Material Handling segment. |
Certain Other Assets | 2024 | In August 2024, Kadant completed the acquisition of certain other assets for $1.755M in cash, adding new asset capabilities to its portfolio. |
Dynamic Sealing Technologies LLC (DSTI) | 2024 | Kadant acquired DSTI for approximately $55M, financed via its revolving credit facility, to complement its Flow Control segment with capabilities such as fluid rotary unions, custom rotary unions, and electrical slip rings across diverse industries. |
Key Knife Subsidiary (Remaining Shares) | 2024 | On May 6, 2024, Kadant acquired the remaining outstanding shares of a Key Knife subsidiary for $523K in cash, transitioning from a noncontrolling to full ownership to strengthen its strategic portfolio. |
Service Business in Germany | 2024 | Kadant acquired a service business in Germany on May 2, 2024, for $3.352M net of cash, integrating it into the Material Handling segment to further enhance its operational capabilities. |
KWS Manufacturing Company, Ltd. | 2024 | Completed on January 24, 2024, this acquisition was valued at approximately $84M in cash (with customary adjustments) and financed through Kadant’s revolving credit facility, expanding their product portfolio in bulk material handling (including screw conveyors, feeders, and other conveying equipment). |
Key Knife, Inc. | 2024 | On January 1, 2024, Kadant acquired Key Knife, Inc. for about $156M in cash, integrating a global supplier of engineered knife systems into its Industrial Processing segment, with notable terms including noncontrolling interest options in certain subsidiaries allowing future put/purchase rights. |
Recent press releases and 8-K filings for KAI.
- Kadant Inc. reported second quarter 2025 revenue of $255 million, a 7% decrease compared to the prior year, with GAAP EPS decreasing 17% to $2.22 and adjusted EPS decreasing 18% to $2.31.
- In Q2 2025, bookings increased 7% to $269 million, and free cash flow increased 58% to $37 million.
- For the full year 2025, Kadant maintained its revenue guidance of $1.020 to $1.040 billion and adjusted EPS guidance of $9.05 to $9.25, while revising GAAP EPS guidance to $8.89 to $9.09.
- For the third quarter of 2025, the company expects revenue of $256 to $263 million, GAAP EPS of $2.12 to $2.22, and adjusted EPS of $2.13 to $2.23.