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Saia Inc (SAIA)
NASDAQ:SAIA
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Saia (SAIA) AI Stock Analysis

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SAIA

Saia

(NASDAQ:SAIA)

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Neutral 64 (OpenAI - 4o)
Rating:64Neutral
Price Target:
$303.00
▲(3.59% Upside)
Saia's overall stock score reflects a mixed financial performance with strong profitability but concerns over revenue growth and cash flow. Technical analysis indicates bearish momentum, while valuation suggests moderate pricing. The company's strategic focus on cost control and network expansion is promising, but current market conditions are challenging.
Positive Factors
Operational Efficiency
Saia's focus on cost control and operational efficiency, as evidenced by reduced shipment costs, strengthens its competitive position and profitability.
Network Expansion
Saia's strategic network expansion into new markets enhances its service capabilities and potential for long-term revenue growth.
Customer Retention
High customer retention rates reflect strong service satisfaction and provide a stable revenue base, supporting long-term business sustainability.
Negative Factors
Revenue Stagnation
Stagnant revenue growth indicates potential challenges in market expansion and demand, which could impact future profitability.
Increased Operating Expenses
Rising operating expenses reduce margins and may hinder the company's ability to invest in growth initiatives, affecting long-term competitiveness.
Negative Free Cash Flow
Negative free cash flow suggests potential liquidity challenges and limits the company's ability to fund operations and growth without external financing.

Saia (SAIA) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

Saia Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionSaia, Inc. (SAIA) is a prominent transportation and logistics company based in the United States, specializing in less-than-truckload (LTL) freight shipping services. Established in 1924, Saia operates a network that spans across the U.S., providing regional and national delivery solutions. The company serves a diverse range of sectors, including retail, manufacturing, and e-commerce, and offers additional services such as truckload shipping, logistics, and warehousing.
How the Company Makes MoneySaia generates revenue primarily through its LTL freight services, which account for a significant portion of its earnings. The company charges customers based on weight, distance, and service type, providing tailored solutions for shipping needs. In addition to LTL shipping, Saia also earns revenue from truckload services and logistics solutions, catering to customers with larger freight requirements. The company has established partnerships with various businesses and e-commerce platforms, enhancing its market reach and service offerings. Furthermore, Saia's focus on operational efficiency and strategic investments in technology and infrastructure contributes to cost management and improved profitability.

Saia Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Oct 30, 2025
(Q3-2025)
|
% Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:Jan 30, 2026
Earnings Call Sentiment Neutral
The earnings call reflects a company that is managing to improve operational efficiency and optimize its network despite a challenging economic environment, which has resulted in flat revenue and increased operating expenses. The focus on cost control and network expansion shows promise, but the current market conditions are holding back significant growth.
Q3-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Expansion and Network Optimization
The company's ramping markets improved their operating ratio by over 100 basis points compared to the second quarter and are now operating at a sub-95 OR. The expansion strategy is yielding tangible results with over 70% of volume growth in 1- and 2-day lanes.
Continued Focus on Cost Control
Sequential improvement in adjusted cost per shipment by 0.7% from the second quarter, driven by cost control efforts despite headwinds from increased insurance-related costs.
Record Low Cargo Claims Ratio
Achieved a cargo claims ratio of 0.54%, marking the fourth straight quarter of sub 0.6 ratio, a company record.
Negative Updates
Revenue Stagnation
Third quarter revenue was relatively flat compared to the previous year, decreasing 0.3% to $839.6 million, reflecting a challenging macroeconomic environment.
Increased Operating Expenses
Adjusted operating ratio increased to 87.6% compared to 85.1% a year ago, driven by increased operating expenses and a decrease in revenue.
Volume Decline
Shipments per workday decreased 1.9% compared to the third quarter of 2024, with tonnage per workday also decreasing by 1.5%.
Insurance and Depreciation Costs
Accident claims and insurance expenses increased by 22.5% year-over-year, and depreciation expense rose by 17.2% due to ongoing investments.
Company Guidance
In the third quarter of 2025, Saia, Inc. reported a revenue of $839.6 million, which remained relatively flat compared to the previous year. The adjusted operating ratio was 87.6%, reflecting an increase of 250 basis points from the third quarter of 2024 but an improvement of 20 basis points sequentially from the second quarter of 2025. This improvement was attributed to continued focus on cost control, despite higher costs related to self-insurance and real estate transactions. The cargo claims ratio was recorded at 0.54%, marking the fourth consecutive quarter below 0.6, establishing a company record. Contractual renewal rates stood at 5.1%, indicating strong customer retention. Additionally, shipments per workday reflected a sequential improvement of 3.2%, although they were down 1.9% compared to the same period in 2024. The company successfully reduced adjusted cost per shipment by 70 basis points sequentially, highlighting operational efficiency improvements. Saia's efforts in network optimization and expansion into newer markets, with 39 new terminals since 2022, are expected to continue driving growth and operational efficiencies.

Saia Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Saia's financial performance is mixed. Strong profitability and a robust balance sheet with low leverage are positives. However, the decline in revenue growth and negative free cash flow are significant concerns.
Income Statement
70
Positive
Saia's income statement shows a mixed performance. The company experienced a decline in revenue growth rate in the TTM period, which is a concern. However, it maintains a healthy gross profit margin and net profit margin, indicating operational efficiency. The EBIT and EBITDA margins are also strong, suggesting good profitability despite the revenue decline.
Balance Sheet
75
Positive
The balance sheet is robust with a low debt-to-equity ratio, indicating conservative leverage. Return on equity has decreased in the TTM period but remains reasonable, reflecting decent profitability. The equity ratio is strong, showcasing a solid capital structure with a good proportion of equity financing.
Cash Flow
60
Neutral
Cash flow analysis reveals some challenges. The free cash flow is negative in the TTM period, which is concerning. However, the operating cash flow to net income ratio is strong, indicating good cash generation relative to net income. The negative free cash flow growth rate highlights potential cash management issues.
BreakdownTTMDec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income Statement
Total Revenue3.24B3.21B2.88B2.79B2.29B1.82B
Gross Profit569.51M644.41M598.93M590.96M451.69M283.85M
EBITDA627.92M695.04M647.61M627.86M477.69M316.11M
Net Income290.05M362.06M354.86M357.42M253.24M138.34M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets3.46B3.17B2.58B2.17B1.85B1.55B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments18.84M19.47M296.21M187.39M106.59M25.31M
Total Debt444.34M324.46M138.71M154.51M160.38M186.51M
Total Liabilities1.02B855.59M642.07M595.37M624.92M587.49M
Stockholders Equity2.44B2.31B1.94B1.58B1.22B961.29M
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow-112.90M-459.86M138.07M105.60M96.85M78.00M
Operating Cash Flow626.27M583.70M577.95M473.03M382.59M309.14M
Investing Cash Flow-743.55M-1.04B-448.70M-365.51M-277.85M-218.82M
Financing Cash Flow124.95M175.42M-20.42M-26.71M-23.46M-65.27M

Saia Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Negative
Last Price292.50
Price Trends
50DMA
302.67
Negative
100DMA
296.46
Negative
200DMA
328.98
Negative
Market Momentum
MACD
-4.62
Positive
RSI
46.94
Neutral
STOCH
27.57
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For SAIA, the sentiment is Negative. The current price of 292.5 is below the 20-day moving average (MA) of 299.83, below the 50-day MA of 302.67, and below the 200-day MA of 328.98, indicating a bearish trend. The MACD of -4.62 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 46.94 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 27.57 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Negative sentiment for SAIA.

Saia Risk Analysis

Saia disclosed 47 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Saia reported the most risks in the "Production" category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 0 New Risks

Saia Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (63)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
$1.69B11.0512.50%0.65%-6.42%25.72%
$7.79B27.6311.92%1.96%-24.55%
$7.32B51.532.01%1.55%>-0.01%279.47%
$10.79B15.437.44%2.01%2.89%-14.66%
$1.52B31.391.78%2.14%-3.42%
$3.75B32.953.81%1.68%5.46%2.31%
$835.58M43.102.53%2.34%-9.74%-42.57%
* Industrials Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
SAIA
Saia
292.50
-193.64
-39.83%
KNX
Knight Transportation
45.12
-7.18
-13.73%
MRTN
Marten Transport
10.25
-5.37
-34.38%
WERN
Werner Enterprises
26.20
-10.42
-28.45%
ARCB
ArcBest
74.32
-25.63
-25.64%
SNDR
Schneider National
21.37
-6.78
-24.09%

Saia Corporate Events

Saia, Inc. Reports Third Quarter 2025 Earnings
Oct 31, 2025

Saia, Inc., headquartered in Georgia, is a prominent transportation provider specializing in less-than-truckload (LTL), non-asset truckload, expedited, and logistics services across a national network of 213 terminals.

Business Operations and StrategyFinancial Disclosures
Saia Reports Decline in August 2025 LTL Shipments
Negative
Sep 5, 2025

On September 5, 2025, Saia, Inc. released its shipment and tonnage data for July and August 2025, revealing a decline in LTL shipments per workday by 1.2% in July and 2.2% in August compared to the previous year. Despite these declines, LTL weight per shipment saw slight increases, indicating shifts in operational metrics that could impact Saia’s market positioning and stakeholder interests.

The most recent analyst rating on (SAIA) stock is a Hold with a $311.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Saia stock, see the SAIA Stock Forecast page.

Business Operations and StrategyFinancial Disclosures
Saia Reports Q2 2025 Earnings with Revenue Decline
Neutral
Jul 31, 2025

Saia, Inc. reported its second quarter 2025 earnings, highlighting a slight year-over-year revenue decline of 0.7% to $817 million, attributed to muted volume trends due to macroeconomic conditions. Despite this, the company achieved a sequential operating ratio improvement, driven by cost optimization and network efficiency efforts. Saia’s newer markets showed strong customer acceptance, with terminals opened less than three years ago seeing a 4% improvement in shipments per workday. The company’s focus on customer service and operational efficiency resulted in a 4% sequential decrease in cost per shipment, despite headwinds from increased depreciation expenses. Saia continues to adapt to changing market conditions while executing its long-term strategy.

The most recent analyst rating on (SAIA) stock is a Hold with a $455.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Saia stock, see the SAIA Stock Forecast page.

Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.Date of analysis: Oct 31, 2025