Kadant (KAI) vs Veeco Instruments (VECO)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.
Summary
Veeco Instruments (VECO) has outperformed Kadant (KAI) over the past year, gaining 80.8% versus a loss of 13.5%. Over five years, VECO leads with a +128.2% price change compared with +25.1% for KAI. Veeco Instruments is the larger company by market cap ($3.23 billion vs $3.03 billion), about 1.1 times the size, while Kadant is growing revenue faster (-0.1% vs -7.4%).
On valuation, Veeco Instruments trades at a lower forward P/E (18.2x vs 19.0x for Kadant). Kadant pays a dividend yielding 0.55%, while Veeco Instruments does not currently pay one. Kadant converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 9.7% versus 5.3%.
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 | KAI | VECO |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $256.35 | $53.00 |
| Market cap | $3.03B | $3.23B |
| 1-day change | -0.59% | -0.99% |
| YTD return | -9.53% | +87.30% |
| 1-year return | -13.48% | +80.84% |
| 5-year return | +25.13% | +128.18% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 27.56 | 143.24 |
| Forward P/E | 18.97 | 18.24 |
| EPS (TTM) | $9.30 | $0.37 |
| Dividend yield | 0.55% | 0.00% |
| Annual dividend | $1.40 | $0.00 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $1.05B | $664.29M |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | -0.11% | -7.39% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $101.97M | $35.39M |
| Gross margin | 45.21% | 39.95% |
| Operating margin | 14.95% | 5.38% |
| Net margin | 9.69% | 5.33% |
| 52-week high | $354.07 | $86.63 |
| 52-week low | $244.87 | $26.00 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -27.60% | -38.82% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | none |
| Avg. price target upside | +41.08% | +15.72% |
| Average volume | 141.39K | 751.67K |
| Shares outstanding | 11.81M | 61.03M |
| Employees | 4,000 | 1,265 |
| Sector | Industrials | Technology |
| Industry | Industrial Machinery/Components | 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
- VECO has outperformed KAI by 94.3 percentage points over the past year.
- Veeco Instruments trades at a higher earnings multiple (143.2x vs 27.6x trailing P/E).
- Kadant grew revenue faster in its latest fiscal year (-0.11% vs -7.39%).
- The two companies sit in different sectors: Kadant in Industrials and Veeco Instruments in Technology.
About Kadant
KAI stock →Kadant Inc. supplies technologies and engineered systems worldwide.
Industrials · Industrial Machinery/Components · 4,000 employees
About Veeco Instruments
VECO stock →Veeco Instruments Inc., together with its subsidiaries, develops, manufactures, sells, and supports semiconductor and thin film process equipment primarily to make electronic devices in the United States, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, China, Rest of the Asia-Pacific, and internationally. It offers laser annealing, ion beam deposition and etch, metal organic chemical vapor deposition, single wafer wet processing and surface preparation, molecular beam epitaxy, advanced packaging lithography, atomic layer deposition, and other deposition systems.
Technology · Industrial Machinery/Components · 1,265 employees
KAI vs VECO FAQ
Which is bigger, Kadant or Veeco Instruments?
Veeco Instruments (VECO) is larger, with a market capitalization of $3.23B compared with $3.03B for Kadant (KAI).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, KAI or VECO?
VECO returned +80.84% over the past 12 months, compared with -13.48% for KAI (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, KAI or VECO?
KAI has the lower trailing P/E at 27.6, versus 143.2 for VECO. 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, Kadant or Veeco Instruments?
Kadant pays a dividend yielding 0.55%, while Veeco Instruments does not currently pay a regular dividend.
Are Kadant and Veeco Instruments in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Industrial Machinery/Components industry within the Industrials sector.