Crane (CR) vs Kadant (KAI)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 10, 2026.
Summary
Crane (CR) has outperformed Kadant (KAI) over the past year, gaining 14.3% versus a loss of 9.0%. Crane is the larger company by market cap ($11.83 billion vs $3.08 billion), about 3.8 times the size. On valuation, Kadant trades at a lower forward P/E (19.3x vs 26.1x for Crane).
Kadant offers the higher dividend yield (0.54% vs 0.47%). Crane converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 15.9% versus 9.7%.
Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology
Relative performance
Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.
Head-to-head
| Metric | CR | KAI |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $204.75 | $260.43 |
| Market cap | $11.83B | $3.08B |
| 1-day change | +1.30% | -0.05% |
| YTD return | +11.02% | -8.63% |
| 1-year return | +14.31% | -9.05% |
| 5-year return | — | +26.38% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 35.73 | 28.00 |
| Forward P/E | 26.13 | 19.27 |
| EPS (TTM) | $5.73 | $9.30 |
| Dividend yield | 0.47% | 0.54% |
| Annual dividend | $0.97 | $1.40 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $2.31B | $1.05B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +8.16% | -0.11% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $366.60M | $101.97M |
| Gross margin | 42.20% | 45.21% |
| Operating margin | 18.40% | 14.95% |
| Net margin | 15.90% | 9.69% |
| 52-week high | $230.50 | $354.07 |
| 52-week low | $159.58 | $244.87 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -11.17% | -26.45% |
| Analyst consensus | strong_buy | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +15.85% | +38.87% |
| Average volume | 426.11K | 142.95K |
| Shares outstanding | 57.80M | 11.81M |
| Employees | 8,300 | 4,000 |
| Sector | Industrials | Industrials |
| Industry | Metal Fabrications | Industrial Machinery/Components |
Highlighted cells mark the higher value for growth, returns, margins and yield, and the lower value for P/E ratios. Highlighting is a mechanical comparison, not a recommendation.
Key differences
- Crane is about 3.8 times larger than Kadant by market value ($11.83B vs $3.08B).
- CR has outperformed KAI by 23.4 percentage points over the past year.
- Crane trades at a higher earnings multiple (35.7x vs 28.0x trailing P/E).
- Crane is more profitable, keeping 15.9 cents of every revenue dollar as net income versus 9.7 cents for Kadant.
- Crane grew revenue faster in its latest fiscal year (+8.16% vs -0.11%).
About Crane
CR stock →Crane Company, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the manufacture and sale of engineered industrial products in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Continental Europe, and internationally. The company operates in two segments, Aerospace & Advanced Technologies and Process Flow Technologies.
Industrials · Metal Fabrications · 8,300 employees
About Kadant
KAI stock →Kadant Inc. supplies technologies and engineered systems worldwide.
Industrials · Industrial Machinery/Components · 4,000 employees
CR vs KAI FAQ
Which is bigger, Crane or Kadant?
Crane (CR) is larger, with a market capitalization of $11.83B compared with $3.08B for Kadant (KAI).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, CR or KAI?
CR returned +14.31% over the past 12 months, compared with -9.05% for KAI (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, CR or KAI?
KAI has the lower trailing P/E at 28.0, versus 35.7 for CR. A lower P/E is not by itself a sign of a better investment; it can reflect slower expected growth or higher risk.
Which pays a higher dividend, Crane or Kadant?
Kadant has the higher yield at 0.54%, compared with 0.47% for Crane.
Are Crane and Kadant in the same industry?
Both are in the Industrials sector, but in different industries: Metal Fabrications for Crane and Industrial Machinery/Components for Kadant.