UNITED STATES

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                              Washington, DC 20549

         --------------------------------------------------------------


                                    FORM 8-K


                                 CURRENT REPORT


                     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
                         Securities Exchange Act of 1934


       Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): October 22, 2003


                                   KADANT INC.
               (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)



Delaware                            1-11406                           52-1762325
(State or Other Jurisdiction      (Commission                      (IRS Employer
of Incorporation)                 File Number)               Identification No.)

One Acton Place
Acton, Massachusetts                                                       01720
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)                              (Zip Code)



                                 (978) 776-2000
               Registrant's telephone number, including area code


                                 Not Applicable
          (Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

KADANT INC. Item 12. Disclosure of Results of Operations and Financial Condition On October 22, 2003, Kadant Inc. announced its financial results for the fiscal quarter ended September 27, 2003. The full text of the press release issued in connection with the announcement is attached as Exhibit 99 to this Current Report on Form 8-K. The information shall not be deemed "filed" for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act") or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Exchange Act, except as expressly set forth by specific reference in such a filing. < 2

KADANT INC. SIGNATURE Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized. KADANT INC. Date: October 22, 2003 By: /s/ Thomas M. O'Brien -------------------------------------------------- Thomas M. O'Brien Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, and Treasurer < 3

KADANT INC. EXHIBIT INDEX Exhibit No. Description of Exhibit - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 99 Press Release dated October 22, 2003: Kadant Reports 2003 Third Quarter Results 4

                                                                      Exhibit 99

[LOGO]
KADANT                                                                      NEWS
AN ACCENT ON INNOVATION
One Acton Place, Suite 202
Acton, MA 01720


Investor contact: Thomas M. O'Brien, 978-776-2000
Media contact: GreatPoint Communications, 978-392-6866


                    Kadant Reports Third Quarter 2003 Results


ACTON, Mass., October 22, 2003 - For the third quarter of 2003, Kadant Inc.
(NYSE:KAI) reported GAAP diluted earnings per share of $.19, versus $.20 in the
2002 period. Earnings in 2003 included a $.01 charge for restructuring and
unusual items. GAAP net income was $2.7 million in both periods. Revenues in the
third quarter of 2003 were $45.9 million (including $2.2 million from the
favorable effect of currency translation), compared with $50.1 million a year
ago.

         William A. Rainville, chairman and chief executive officer of Kadant,
said, "Our EPS results this quarter were slightly better than we expected
despite weak performance from our composite building products business, which
reported an operating loss of $771,000. We were pleased to generate a record $17
million of operating cash in the quarter - all from our core papermaking
equipment segment. The strong cash flows contributed to a cash balance of $66
million at quarter-end, up more than $21 million since the beginning of the
year. These results attest to the strength of our core business in spite of
ongoing challenges in some of our markets.

         "Another positive was our 15 percent increase in total bookings for the
quarter over last year, led by strong orders for stock-preparation systems,
particularly in China. Just after quarter-end, we received an order for
approximately $3.5 million of these systems, which are used to recover usable
fiber from wastepaper in the production of recycled-paper products.

         "While the composite building products industry has been experiencing
lower-than-expected demand, we continue to believe in the potential
opportunities that our business represents. We recently launched an aggressive
program to further expand our dealer base, and expect to see the benefit in
2004."

         Mr. Rainville added, "With the loss in composites likely to be from
$1.0 to $1.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2003, we expect to earn $.15 to
$.17 per diluted share (on a GAAP basis) for the quarter, on revenues of $45 to
$47 million. For the full year, we expect to earn $.84 to $.86 per diluted share
(on a GAAP basis), on revenues of $198 to $200 million."

                                     -more-


Financial Highlights (unaudited) (In thousands except per share amounts and percentages) Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Consolidated Statement of Operations Sept. 27, 2003 Sept. 28, 2002(a) Sept. 27, 2003 Sept. 28, 2002(a) - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Revenues $ 45,906 $ 50,084 $ 153,065 $ 139,802 -------------- -------------- -------------- -------------- Costs and Operating Expenses: Cost of revenues 27,768 31,576 95,062 87,141 Selling, general, and administrative expenses 12,775 12,490 39,669 37,757 Research and development expenses 1,149 1,149 3,502 3,589 Restructuring and unusual items 157 101 (23) 3,738 -------------- -------------- -------------- -------------- 41,849 45,316 138,210 132,225 -------------- -------------- -------------- -------------- Operating Income 4,057 4,768 14,855 7,577 Interest Income 243 676 693 1,954 Interest Expense (11) (1,084) (39) (3,720) Other Income - 8 - 469 -------------- -------------- -------------- -------------- Income Before Provision for Income Taxes, Minority Interest, and Cumulative Effect of Change in Accounting Principle 4,289 4,368 15,509 6,280 Provision for Income Taxes 1,630 1,660 5,894 2,380 Minority Interest Expense (Income) (4) 1 68 3 -------------- -------------- -------------- -------------- Income Before Cumulative Effect of Change in Accounting Principle 2,663 2,707 9,547 3,897 Cumulative Effect of Change in Accounting Principle (net of income tax benefit of $12,420) - - - (32,756) -------------- -------------- -------------- -------------- Net Income (Loss) $ 2,663 $ 2,707 $ 9,547 $ (28,859) ============== ============== ============== ============== Earnings per Share Before Cumulative Effect of Change in Accounting Principle Basic $ .20 $ .20 $ .70 $ .31 ============== ============== ============== ============== Diluted $ .19 $ .20 $ .69 $ .30 ============== ============== ============== ============== Earnings (Loss) per Share Basic $ .20 $ .20 $ .70 $ (2.26) ============== ============== ============== ============== Diluted $ .19 $ .20 $ .69 $ (2.24) ============== ============== ============== ============== Weighted Average Shares Basic 13,632 13,547 13,602 12,744 ============== ============== ============== ============== Diluted 14,041 13,716 13,905 12,911 ============== ============== ============== ============== Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Adjusted Diluted Earnings per Share (b) Sept. 27, 2003 Sept. 28, 2002 Sept. 27, 2003 Sept. 28, 2002 - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- GAAP Diluted Earnings (Loss) per Share $ .19 $ .20 $ .69 $ (2.24) Restructuring and Unusual Items .01 - - .18 Gain on Repurchases of Debt - - - (.02) Cumulative Effect of Change in Accounting Principle - - - 2.54 -------------- -------------- -------------- --------------- $ .20 $ .20 $ .69 $ .46 ============== ============== ============== ============== -more- < 2

> Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Business Segment Information Sept. 27, 2003 Sept. 28, 2002 Sept. 27, 2003 Sept. 28, 2002 - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Revenues: Pulp and Papermaking Equipment and Systems $ 42,023 $ 46,322 $ 138,254 $ 128,822 Composite and Fiber-based Products 3,883 3,762 14,811 10,980 -------------- -------------- -------------- -------------- $ 45,906 $ 50,084 $ 153,065 $ 139,802 ============== ============== ============== ============== Gross Profit Margin: Pulp and Papermaking Equipment and Systems 42% 38% 39% 39% Composite and Fiber-based Products 11% 27% 28% 26% -------------- -------------- -------------- -------------- 40% 37% 38% 38% ============== ============== ============== ============== Operating Income: Pulp and Papermaking Equipment and Systems $ 5,702 $ 5,839 $ 17,633 $ 12,746 Composite and Fiber-based Products (c) (669) (272) 314 (2,647) Corporate (976) (799) (3,092) (2,522) -------------- -------------- -------------- -------------- $ 4,057 $ 4,768 $ 14,855 $ 7,577 ============== ============== ============== ============== Adjusted Operating Income (Excludes Restructuring and Unusual Items) (b): Pulp and Papermaking Equipment and Systems (d) $ 5,859 $ 5,940 $ 17,610 $ 14,845 Composite and Fiber-based Products (e) (669) (272) 314 (1,008) Corporate (976) (799) (3,092) (2,522) -------------- -------------- -------------- -------------- $ 4,214 $ 4,869 $ 14,832 $ 11,315 ============== ============== ============== ============== Bookings: Pulp and Papermaking Equipment and Systems $ 44,559 $ 38,983 $ 141,203 $ 125,275 Composite and Fiber-based Products 2,638 1,919 10,463 11,175 -------------- -------------- -------------- -------------- $ 47,197 $ 40,902 $ 151,666 $ 136,450 ============== ============== ============== ============== Capital Expenditures: Pulp and Papermaking Equipment and Systems $ 537 $ 266 $ 1,098 $ 897 Composite and Fiber-based Products 585 583 1,461 1,173 Corporate - 18 11 145 -------------- -------------- -------------- --------------- $ 1,122 $ 867 $ 2,570 $ 2,215 ============== ============== ============== ============== Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cash Flow and Other Data Sept. 27, 2003 Sept. 28, 2002 Sept. 27, 2003 Sept. 28, 2002 - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cash Provided by Operations $ 16,953 $ 4,557 $ 20,011 $ 17,174 Depreciation and Amortization Expense 1,248 1,306 3,855 3,893 Balance Sheet Data Sept. 27, 2003 Dec. 28, 2002 - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cash and Short-term Investments $ 65,687 $ 44,429 Short- and Long-term Debt 598 1,165 Shareholders' Investment 197,424 181,257 (a) Restated to reflect the reclassification to other income of an extraordinary item in accordance with the adoption of SFAS No. 145, resulting from repurchases of our subordinated convertible debentures. In addition, the nine-month period ended September 28, 2002, was restated to include a transitional goodwill impairment charge recorded as a cumulative effect of change in accounting principle in accordance with the adoption of SFAS No. 142. (b) In addition to the financial measures prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), we use the non-GAAP financial measures of adjusted diluted EPS and adjusted operating income, which exclude restructuring and other non-recurring items. We exclude these items because they are outside our normal operations. We believe that providing such non-GAAP measures helps investors to gain a more meaningful understanding of our operating results from period to period, and is consistent with how we measure our performance. The non-GAAP financial measures included in this press release are not meant to be considered superior to or a substitute for results of operations prepared in accordance with GAAP. In addition, the non-GAAP financial measures included in this press release may be different from, and therefore may not be comparable to, similar measures used by other companies. (c) Includes operating losses from the composite building products business of $771 and $661 in the three- and nine-month periods ended September 27, 2003, respectively; $376 in the three-month period ended September 28, 2002; and $3,285 (including restructuring and unusual costs of $1,178) in the nine-month period ended September 28, 2002. (d) Excludes restructuring costs of $157 in the three-month period ended September 27, 2003; net restructuring and unusual income of $23 in the nine-month period ended September 27, 2003; and restructuring and unusual costs of $101 and $2,099 in the three- and nine-month periods ended September 28, 2002, respectively. (e) Excludes restructuring and unusual costs of $1,639 in the nine-month period ended September 28, 2002. -more- < 3

> Kadant will hold its earnings conference call on Thursday, October 23, 2003, at 11 a.m. Eastern time. To listen, call 800-709-2159 within the U.S., or 973-582-2810 outside the U.S. You can also listen to the call live on the Web by visiting www.kadant.com and clicking on "Investors." An audio archive of the call will be available on our Web site until Thursday, November 20, 2003. Kadant Inc. is a leading supplier of a range of products for the global papermaking and paper recycling industries, including stock-preparation equipment, water-management systems, and papermaking accessories. We also develop and manufacture composite building materials produced from recycled fiber and plastic. Kadant, based in Acton, Massachusetts, had $186 million in revenues in 2002 and approximately 1,100 employees worldwide. For more information, please visit www.kadant.com. The following constitutes a "Safe Harbor" statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties, including forward-looking statements regarding our projected operating results and the future performance of our businesses, particularly our composites building products business. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by such statements are set forth under the heading "Risk Factors" in Kadant's quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the period ended June 28, 2003. These include risks and uncertainties relating to our dependence on the pulp and paper industry; international sales and operations; competition; ability to manufacture and distribute composite building products, and the seasonality in sales and the long-term performance of such products; availability of raw materials and exposure to commodity price fluctuations related to the manufacture of composite and fiber-based products; acquisition strategy; protection of patents and proprietary rights; fluctuations in quarterly operating results; and obligations or other consequences arising from our spinoff from Thermo Electron Corporation. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. ### < < 4

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