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( mark one ) UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION WASHINGTON , D.C. 20549 ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15 ( D ) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 For the fiscal year ended January 2 , 2021 TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15 ( D ) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 For the transition period from Delaware ( State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization ) FORM 10 - K to Title of each class Common Stock , $ .01 par value Large accelerated filer X Non - accelerated filer OR Commission file number 001-11406 KADANT INC . ( Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter ) One Technology Park Drive Westford , Massachusetts 01886 ( Address of principal executive offices , including zip code ) ( 978 ) 776-2000 ( Registrant's telephone number , including area code ) Securities registered pursuant to Section 12 ( b ) of the Act : Trading Symbol ( s ) . ΚΑΙ Securities registered pursuant to Section 12 ( g ) of the Act : None Indicate by check mark if the Registrant is a well - known seasoned issuer , as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act . Yes X No Indicate by check mark if the Registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15 ( d ) of the Act . Yes No X Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant ( 1 ) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15 ( d ) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months ( or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to file such reports ) , and ( 2 ) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days . Yes No ☐ Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S - T ( § 232.405 of this chapter ) during the preceding 12 months ( or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to submit such files ) . Yes > No 52-1762325 ( I.R.S. Employer Identification No. ) Name of each exchange on which registered New York Stock Exchange Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a large accelerated filer , an accelerated filer , a non - accelerated filer , a smaller reporting company , or an emerging growth company . See the definitions of " large accelerated filer " , " accelerated filer " , " smaller reporting company " , and " emerging growth company " in Rule 12b - 2 of the Exchange Act . Accelerated filer Smaller reporting company Emerging growth company If an emerging growth company , indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13 ( a ) of the Exchange Act . Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management's assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404 ( b ) of the Sarbanes - Oxley Act ( 15 U.S.C. 7262 ( b ) ) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report . > Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a shell company ( as defined in Rule 12b - 2 of the Act ) . Yes No × The aggregate market value of the voting and non - voting common equity held by nonaffiliates of the Registrant as of June 27 , 2020 ( based on the closing price per share as reported on the New York Stock Exchange on the last business day of the Registrant's most recently completed second fiscal quarter ) , was approximately $ 1,058,603,000 . For purposes of the immediately preceding sentence , the term " affiliate " consists of each director and executive officer of the Registrant . As of February 19 , 2021 , the Registrant had 11,542,240 shares of common stock outstanding . DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE Portions of the Registrant's definitive Proxy Statement pursuant to Regulation 14A promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 , as amended , to be used in connection with the Registrant's 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders are incorporated by reference into Part III of this Form 10 - K .