| Factor | Score | Distribution | Value | Avg | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Valuation | 34 | 33.9x | 17.8x | Bottom tier | |
Growth | 59 | 4.8% | 7.1% | Around median | |
Quality | 47 | 9.7% | 4.5% | Around median | |
Safety | 91 | 0.3x | 2.6x | Top tier | |
Capital Return | 81 | — | 2.12% | Top tier | |
Momentum | 39 | 20.0% | 2.9% | Bottom tier | |
Sentiment | 80 | 12 | 3 | Top tier |
Estimates — analyst targets and a simplified DCF, not investment advice.
Ten ratios that matter, each compared against its sector median and average — so you can see whether a number is rich or cheap relative to peers in the same sector.
Saia, Inc. operates in less-than-truckload LTL freight transportation through a nationwide network of 118 facilities, generating revenue from transporting shipments priced according to distance, weight, and business mix, along with fuel surcharges linked to base prices. Since 2022, it has invested approximately $1 billion in real estate, added 33 terminals, and relocated or expanded more than 25 others, increasing the number of operating doors by approximately 25%. It also invested an additional $1 billion in the fleet, increasing the number of tractors and trailers by 20%.
In fiscal Q2 2026, revenue according to EDGAR filings reached approximately $956.5 million, up 17.1% year over year, while net income was $94.3 million and diluted earnings per share were $3.51, with earnings per share growth of 31.5%. Operating income reached $125 million, up 26%, while the operating ratio improved to 86.9% from 87.8% in fiscal Q2 2025 and improved sequentially by 480 basis points, compared with a historical seasonal improvement of 250 to 300 basis points.
The growth mix in fiscal Q2 2026 consisted of a 4.4% increase in shipments per workday and an 8.4% increase in tonnage per workday, with shipment weight rising 3.9%. Fuel surcharges represented 22.3% of revenue, compared with 14.6% a year earlier, and revenue per shipment excluding fuel rose 1.5% to $303.12, while the metric including fuel increased 12%. For the trailing 12 months in 2026, EDGAR data shows revenue of $3.4 billion, net income of $278 million, and earnings per share of approximately $10.36.
The average analyst price target is $455.9, within a wide range of $285 to $504, and the stock carries a “Buy” consensus. The average target is below the 52-week range high of $494.71 and substantially above its low of $249.32, reflecting clear divergence in estimates of the pace of margin improvement and network maturation. No price-to-earnings ratio is provided in the data, so the risk assessment is based on the breadth of the target range and the balance between record quarterly growth and pressures from fuel, wages, and purchased transportation.
Figures in the text are as of 2026-08-29; the live price is shown at the top of the page.
Revenue reached $956.5 million, up 17.1% from fiscal Q2 2025. Shipments per workday increased 4.4%, tonnage per workday increased 8.4%, and shipment weight rose 3.9%. Revenue per shipment excluding fuel surcharges increased 1.5% to $303.12, while fuel surcharges represented 22.3% of total revenue.
Operating income rose 26% to $125 million, and the operating ratio improved to 86.9% from 87.8% a year earlier. Net income reached $94.3 million and diluted earnings per share were $3.51, with earnings per share growth of 31.5%. The sequential operating ratio improvement of 480 basis points also exceeded the historical seasonal range of 250 to 300 basis points.
Saia REV includes more than 2,000 transit-time improvements across the nationwide network. The initiative adds automation of guaranteed delivery service by 10:00 a.m., along with dynamic real-time tracking, updated estimated arrival times, and predictive insights. Management believes these improvements support contract renewals and the 7.1% general rate increase that took effect in July 2026.
Automated analysis for informational purposes only — not investment advice.
Fuel expenses rose 49.6% year over year due to a 50.3% increase in the average national diesel price. Purchased transportation expenses also rose 47.3% and represented 8.9% of revenue, compared with 7.1% in the comparable quarter. In addition, management expects the operating ratio to deteriorate sequentially by approximately 100 basis points in fiscal Q3 2026, with an impact of approximately one point from the July 2026 wage increase.
Since 2022, the company has spent approximately $1 billion on real estate and $1 billion on expanding and modernizing its fleet. These investments added 33 terminals, increased the number of operating doors by approximately 25%, and increased the numbers of tractors and trailers by 20%. In fiscal Q2 2026, the operating ratio of terminals opened in 2023 and 2024 improved by approximately 300 basis points, but remained in the low 90s, meaning the maturation process is not yet complete.
The stock carries a “Buy” consensus, and the average price target is $455.9. Targets range from $285 to $504, a wide range that indicates significant differences in analyst estimates. The average is below the 52-week range high of $494.71, while the data does not provide a price-to-earnings ratio that could be used as an additional valuation anchor.
