KAI (Kadant) Moat Score: 6/10 (As of Jun. 25, 2026)


KAI Kadant Inc KAI
87 GF Score
Price $308.39
GF Value $336.90
Valuation Fairly Valued
! 4 Warning Signs
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What is Kadant Moat Score?

Kadant KAI +2.56% 87 Moat Score is 6 as of Jun. 25, 2026. GuruFocus rates KAI with a GF Score™ of 87/100 and a GF Value™ of $336.90 (Fairly Valued). The stock has 4 warning signs investors should review. Among 3,049 Industrial Products companies, Kadant ranks better than 98.95% on this metric.

Kadant has the Moat Score of 6, which implies that the company might have Narrow Moat - Strong narrow moat, clearly distinguishable but not wide.

Kadant has Narrow Moat: Kadant Inc has a strong narrow moat due to its proprietary technology and economies of scale in industrial machinery. The company benefits from customer loyalty and consistent innovation, but faces competition that prevents a wide moat classification.

Moat Score is a ranking system developed by GuruFocus to assess a company's ability to sustain a competitive advantage, rated on a scale from 0 to 10. It takes into account key factors such as market leadership, cost advantages, network effects, customer switching costs, and more.

The company's Moat Score is based on these criteria:

1. Market leadership and sustainable market share
2. Network effects and significant customer switching costs
3. Valuable intellectual property and patents
4. Strong brand strength and deep customer loyalty
5. Durable cost advantages (e.g., economies of scale, proprietary technology)
6. Significant regulatory barriers and exclusive licenses
7. Superior distribution network
8. Strong and sustainable pricing power
9. Consistent and impactful innovation and R&D capabilities

Based on the research, GuruFocus believes Kadant might have Narrow Moat - Strong narrow moat, clearly distinguishable but not wide.

Kadant  (NYSE:KAI) Moat Score Explanation

The Moat Score ranges from 0 to 10, with 10 as the highest. GuruFocus divided Moat Score into following 8 categories:

Moat Score Moat Level
10Wide Moat - Exceptionally dominant and durable wide moat
8 - 9Wide Moat - Clear and robust wide moat
7Wide Moat - Entry-level wide moat, clearly possessing durable advantages
6Narrow Moat - Strong narrow moat, clearly distinguishable but not wide
5Narrow Moat - Solid narrow moat
4Narrow Moat - Discernible but modest moat
1 - 3No Moat - Very weak/transient advantages
0No Moat - No discernible moat

Kadant Moat Score Related Terms

KAI vs MWA, SXI, FELE: Moat Score Comparison

For the Specialty Industrial Machinery subindustry, Kadant's Moat Score, along with its competitors' market caps and Moat Score data, can be viewed below:

* Competitive companies are chosen from companies within the same industry, with headquarter located in same country, with closest market capitalization; x-axis shows the market cap, and y-axis shows the term value; the bigger the dot, the larger the market cap. Note that "N/A" values will not show up in the chart.

Kadant Moat Score vs Industrial Products Industry

For the Industrial Products industry and Industrials sector, Kadant's Moat Score distribution charts can be found below:

* The bar in red indicates where Kadant's Moat Score falls into.


KAI
87GF Score
Kadant Inc KAI
Moat Score is just one metric. See GF Score™, valuation, warning signs, and more.
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Frequently Asked Questions Learn more about Moat Score →
What does a Moat Score of 6 mean?
Kadant (KAI) has a Moat Score of 6 as of Jun. 25, 2026. Moat Score is a ranking system developed by GuruFocus to assess a company's ability to sustain a competitive advantage, rated on a scale from 0 to 10. It takes into account key factors such as market leadership, cost advantages, network effects, customer switching costs, and more. According to the industry distribution chart, Kadant ranks #32 out of 3049 companies in the Industrial Products industry, placing it in the top 1%.
Is Kadant's Moat Score too high?
Kadant's current Moat Score is 6. Based on the distribution chart, Kadant ranks #32 out of 3049 companies in the Industrial Products industry, which is in the top quartile — a strong position relative to peers. Overall, Kadant has a GF Score™ of 87/100 and is considered Fairly Valued, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does Kadant's Moat Score compare to MWA and SXI?
According to the Industrial Products industry distribution chart, Kadant ranks #32 out of 3049 companies for Moat Score. This places Kadant in the top 1% of its industry — outperforming the majority of peers. See the competitive comparison table and distribution chart on this page for a detailed peer-by-peer breakdown.
What is a good Moat Score for an Industrial Products company?
A good Moat Score depends on the Industrial Products industry context. However, Moat Score should not be evaluated in isolation — investors should consider it alongside profitability, growth, and financial strength metrics. Use the industry distribution chart on this page to see where any company falls relative to its peers.
What does a high Moat Score mean?
A high Moat Score can signal that a stock is expensive relative to its fundamentals. Moat Score is a ranking system developed by GuruFocus to assess a company's ability to sustain a competitive advantage, rated on a scale from 0 to 10. It takes into account key factors such as market leadership, cost advantages, network effects, customer switching costs, and more. Kadant's current Moat Score is 6. However, context matters — high-growth companies often justify higher valuations. Always evaluate alongside other metrics like GF Score™ and GF Value™.
Is Kadant stock overvalued right now?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Kadant (KAI) is currently considered Fairly Valued. The stock's GF Value™ is $336.90, compared to a current price of $308.39 — trading 8.5% below its estimated fair value. The current Moat Score is 6. Kadant's overall GF Score™ is 87/100 with 4 warning signs to review. Investors should evaluate multiple metrics — including profitability, growth, and financial strength — before making a decision.
How is Moat Score calculated?
Moat Score is calculated from a company's financial statements. For Kadant (KAI), the current Moat Score is 6 as of Jun. 25, 2026. GuruFocus calculates this using data sourced from SEC filings and annual reports. See the calculation section and 30-year financial data on this page for the full breakdown.

Is Kadant (KAI) Overvalued in 2026?

Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Kadant stock appears to be undervalued. The current stock price of $308.39 is trading 8.5% below its estimated GF Value™ of $336.90. GuruFocus considers Kadant to be Fairly Valued.

Key valuation signals for KAI:

  • Moat Score: 6
  • GF Value™: $336.90 vs. price of $308.39 (8.5% below fair value)
  • GF Score™: 87/100 with 4 warning signs

No single metric tells the full story. See the KAI stock analysis page for a complete view including 30-year financials, guru trades, and insider activity.

Kadant Business Description

Other Exchanges KDA:Germany
Address One Technology Park Drive, Westford, MA, USA, 01886
Kadant Inc. supplies process and engineering equipment for papermaking, recycling, lumber manufacturing, and related industries. The company's three reportable segments are the Flow Control segment which consists of the fluid-handling and doctoring, cleaning, & filtration product lines; the Industrial Processing segment which consists of the wood processing and stock-preparation product lines; and Material handling systems, which provides conveyor-belt equipment for industries such as mining, food processing, and packaging. The company has a geographic presence in the U.S., China, Asia, Germany, Canada, and Others.
87GF Score

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Moat Score is just one metric. See GF Value™, 30-year financials, guru trades, warning signs, and more.

$308.39
Price
$336.90
GF Value