Vestmark Advisory Solutions Inc. Purchases 8,929 Shares of Kadant Inc $KAI

Key Points

• Vestmark Advisory Solutions Inc. increased its stake in Kadant Inc by 92.4% during the first quarter, owning a total of 18,596 shares valued at approximately $6.27 million.
• Kadant recently reported earnings of $2.31 EPS, surpassing analysts' expectations of $1.94, though revenue declined 7.3% year-over-year.
• The company announced a $50 million stock buyback plan, indicating management's belief that its stock is undervalued.

Vestmark Advisory Solutions Inc. grew its holdings in Kadant Inc (NYSE:KAI - Free Report) by 92.4% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 18,596 shares of the industrial products company's stock after acquiring an additional 8,929 shares during the quarter. Vestmark Advisory Solutions Inc. owned 0.16% of Kadant worth $6,265,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC lifted its stake in shares of Kadant by 7.3% in the 1st quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC now owns 836 shares of the industrial products company's stock valued at $282,000 after acquiring an additional 57 shares during the last quarter. Amalgamated Bank raised its position in Kadant by 736.5% in the first quarter. Amalgamated Bank now owns 3,346 shares of the industrial products company's stock valued at $1,127,000 after purchasing an additional 2,946 shares during the last quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC raised its holdings in Kadant by 348.1% in the 1st quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 242 shares of the industrial products company's stock valued at $82,000 after buying an additional 188 shares during the last quarter. Asset Management One Co. Ltd. bought a new position in Kadant in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $111,000. Finally, Yousif Capital Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Kadant during the first quarter valued at $1,475,000. 96.13% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research analysts recently issued reports on the company. Wall Street Zen raised Kadant from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Saturday, July 5th. DA Davidson raised their price target on shares of Kadant from $275.00 to $300.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a report on Monday, August 4th. Finally, Barrington Research restated an "outperform" rating and set a $380.00 price target on shares of Kadant in a report on Tuesday, July 29th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has issued a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Kadant has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $340.00.

Kadant Stock Down 0.9%

KAI traded down $3.23 during midday trading on Tuesday, reaching $340.14. 110,759 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 143,901. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.26, a quick ratio of 1.53 and a current ratio of 2.38. The company's fifty day moving average price is $327.59 and its 200 day moving average price is $332.35. The company has a market cap of $4.01 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 37.77 and a beta of 1.24. Kadant Inc has a one year low of $281.30 and a one year high of $429.95.

Kadant (NYSE:KAI - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, July 29th. The industrial products company reported $2.31 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.94 by $0.37. Kadant had a return on equity of 12.62% and a net margin of 10.34%.The business had revenue of $255.27 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $245.99 million. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $2.81 earnings per share. Kadant's revenue was down 7.3% compared to the same quarter last year. Kadant has set its Q3 2025 guidance at 2.130-2.230 EPS. FY 2025 guidance at 9.050-9.250 EPS. As a group, analysts expect that Kadant Inc will post 9.97 EPS for the current year.

Kadant declared that its board has authorized a stock buyback plan on Thursday, May 15th that authorizes the company to buyback $50.00 million in shares. This buyback authorization authorizes the industrial products company to reacquire up to 1.3% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback plans are typically an indication that the company's board believes its shares are undervalued.

About Kadant

Kadant Inc supplies technologies and engineered systems worldwide. It operates in 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, cleaning shower and fabric-conditioning systems, forming systems and wear surfaces, and water-filtration systems.