SAIA INC (SAIA) Fundamental Analysis & Valuation
NASDAQ:SAIA • US78709Y1055
368.78 USD
+9 (+2.5%)
At close: Mar 9, 2026
368.78 USD
0 (0%)
After Hours: 3/9/2026, 8:00:02 PM
This SAIA fundamental analysis includes valuation metrics, fair value assessment, financial health analysis, profitability trends, growth metrics and dividend sustainability analysis.
We assign a fundamental rating of 6 out of 10 to SAIA. SAIA was compared to 42 industry peers in the Ground Transportation industry. SAIA has outstanding health and profitabily ratings, belonging to the best of the industry. This is a solid base for any company. SAIA is valied quite expensively at the moment, while it does show a decent growth rate. These ratings could make SAIA a good candidate for quality investing.
1. SAIA Profitability Analysis
1.1 Basic Checks
- SAIA had positive earnings in the past year.
- In the past year SAIA had a positive cash flow from operations.
- SAIA had positive earnings in each of the past 5 years.
- SAIA had a positive operating cash flow in each of the past 5 years.
1.2 Ratios
- SAIA has a Return On Assets of 7.32%. This is in the better half of the industry: SAIA outperforms 78.57% of its industry peers.
- With a decent Return On Equity value of 9.89%, SAIA is doing good in the industry, outperforming 61.90% of the companies in the same industry.
- SAIA has a better Return On Invested Capital (7.98%) than 76.19% of its industry peers.
- The Average Return On Invested Capital over the past 3 years for SAIA is above the industry average of 7.21%.
- The 3 year average ROIC (12.18%) for SAIA is well above the current ROIC(7.98%). The reason for the recent decline needs to be investigated.
| Industry Rank | Sector Rank | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| ROA | 7.32% | ||
| ROE | 9.89% | ||
| ROIC | 7.98% |
ROA(3y)10.83%
ROA(5y)12.53%
ROE(3y)14.61%
ROE(5y)17.44%
ROIC(3y)12.18%
ROIC(5y)14.36%
1.3 Margins
- With a decent Profit Margin value of 7.89%, SAIA is doing good in the industry, outperforming 73.81% of the companies in the same industry.
- In the last couple of years the Profit Margin of SAIA has remained more or less at the same level.
- The Operating Margin of SAIA (10.47%) is better than 76.19% of its industry peers.
- SAIA's Operating Margin has improved in the last couple of years.
- The Gross Margin of SAIA (72.50%) is better than 85.71% of its industry peers.
- In the last couple of years the Gross Margin of SAIA has remained more or less at the same level.
| Industry Rank | Sector Rank | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| OM | 10.47% | ||
| PM (TTM) | 7.89% | ||
| GM | 72.5% |
OM growth 3Y-13.55%
OM growth 5Y2.22%
PM growth 3Y-14.91%
PM growth 5Y0.77%
GM growth 3Y1.82%
GM growth 5Y-0.89%
2. SAIA Health Analysis
2.1 Basic Checks
- With a Return on Invested Capital (ROIC) just above the Cost of Capital (WACC), SAIA is creating some value.
- Compared to 1 year ago, SAIA has about the same amount of shares outstanding.
- SAIA has more shares outstanding than it did 5 years ago.
- SAIA has a better debt/assets ratio than last year.
2.2 Solvency
- An Altman-Z score of 8.59 indicates that SAIA is not in any danger for bankruptcy at the moment.
- SAIA's Altman-Z score of 8.59 is amongst the best of the industry. SAIA outperforms 88.10% of its industry peers.
- The Debt to FCF ratio of SAIA is 6.00, which is a neutral value as it means it would take SAIA, 6.00 years of fcf income to pay off all of its debts.
- SAIA has a better Debt to FCF ratio (6.00) than 71.43% of its industry peers.
- SAIA has a Debt/Equity ratio of 0.06. This is a healthy value indicating a solid balance between debt and equity.
- SAIA has a better Debt to Equity ratio (0.06) than 80.95% of its industry peers.
| Industry Rank | Sector Rank | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Debt/Equity | 0.06 | ||
| Debt/FCF | 6 | ||
| Altman-Z | 8.59 |
ROIC/WACC0.76
WACC10.53%
2.3 Liquidity
- SAIA has a Current Ratio of 1.64. This is a normal value and indicates that SAIA is financially healthy and should not expect problems in meeting its short term obligations.
- With a decent Current ratio value of 1.64, SAIA is doing good in the industry, outperforming 71.43% of the companies in the same industry.
- A Quick Ratio of 1.64 indicates that SAIA should not have too much problems paying its short term obligations.
- SAIA has a better Quick ratio (1.64) than 71.43% of its industry peers.
| Industry Rank | Sector Rank | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio | 1.64 | ||
| Quick Ratio | 1.64 |
3. SAIA Growth Analysis
3.1 Past
- SAIA shows a strong negative growth in Earnings Per Share. In the last year the EPS decreased by -29.53%.
- Measured over the past years, SAIA shows a quite strong growth in Earnings Per Share. The EPS has been growing by 12.86% on average per year.
- Looking at the last year, SAIA shows a small growth in Revenue. The Revenue has grown by 0.79% in the last year.
- The Revenue has been growing by 12.16% on average over the past years. This is quite good.
EPS 1Y (TTM)-29.53%
EPS 3Y-10.77%
EPS 5Y12.86%
EPS Q2Q%-37.68%
Revenue 1Y (TTM)0.79%
Revenue growth 3Y5.02%
Revenue growth 5Y12.16%
Sales Q2Q%0.13%
3.2 Future
- Based on estimates for the next years, SAIA will show a very strong growth in Earnings Per Share. The EPS will grow by 20.80% on average per year.
- The Revenue is expected to grow by 7.62% on average over the next years.
EPS Next Y13.68%
EPS Next 2Y21.05%
EPS Next 3Y19.66%
EPS Next 5Y20.8%
Revenue Next Year4.72%
Revenue Next 2Y7%
Revenue Next 3Y7.15%
Revenue Next 5Y7.62%
3.3 Evolution
- The EPS growth rate is accelerating: in the next years the growth will be better than in the last years.
- When comparing the Revenue growth rate of the last years to the growth rate of the upcoming years, we see that the growth is decreasing.
4. SAIA Valuation Analysis
4.1 Price/Earnings Ratio
- A Price/Earnings ratio of 38.74 indicates a quite expensive valuation of SAIA.
- The rest of the industry has a similar Price/Earnings ratio as SAIA.
- When comparing the Price/Earnings ratio of SAIA to the average of the S&P500 Index (26.46), we can say SAIA is valued slightly more expensively.
- The Price/Forward Earnings ratio is 34.07, which means the current valuation is very expensive for SAIA.
- Compared to the rest of the industry, the Price/Forward Earnings ratio of SAIA is on the same level as its industry peers.
- When comparing the Price/Forward Earnings ratio of SAIA to the average of the S&P500 Index (24.65), we can say SAIA is valued slightly more expensively.
| Industry Rank | Sector Rank | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| PE | 38.74 | ||
| Fwd PE | 34.07 |
4.2 Price Multiples
- SAIA's Enterprise Value to EBITDA is on the same level as the industry average.
- The rest of the industry has a similar Price/Free Cash Flow ratio as SAIA.
| Industry Rank | Sector Rank | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| P/FCF | 359.82 | ||
| EV/EBITDA | 16.59 |
4.3 Compensation for Growth
- The high PEG Ratio(NY), which compensates the Price/Earnings for growth, indicates SAIA does not grow enough to justify the current Price/Earnings ratio.
- SAIA has an outstanding profitability rating, which may justify a higher PE ratio.
- SAIA's earnings are expected to grow with 19.66% in the coming years. This may justify a more expensive valuation.
PEG (NY)2.83
PEG (5Y)3.01
EPS Next 2Y21.05%
EPS Next 3Y19.66%
5. SAIA Dividend Analysis
5.1 Amount
- SAIA does not give a dividend.
| Industry Rank | Sector Rank | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield | 0% |
SAIA Fundamentals: All Metrics, Ratios and Statistics
368.78
+9 (+2.5%)
Chartmill FA Rating
GICS SectorIndustrials
GICS IndustryGroupTransportation
GICS IndustryGround Transportation
Earnings (Last)02-10 2026-02-10/bmo
Earnings (Next)04-23 2026-04-23/bmo
Inst Owners108.6%
Inst Owner Change-3.07%
Ins Owners0.21%
Ins Owner Change1.79%
Market Cap9.84B
Revenue(TTM)3.23B
Net Income(TTM)255.04M
Analysts74.07
Price Target400.34 (8.56%)
Short Float %6.52%
Short Ratio3.31
Dividend
| Industry Rank | Sector Rank | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield | 0% |
Yearly DividendN/A
Dividend Growth(5Y)N/A
DPN/A
Div Incr Years0
Div Non Decr Years0
Ex-DateN/A
Surprises & Revisions
EPS beat(2)1
Avg EPS beat(2)7.71%
Min EPS beat(2)-8.77%
Max EPS beat(2)24.19%
EPS beat(4)2
Avg EPS beat(4)-2.27%
Min EPS beat(4)-33.92%
Max EPS beat(4)24.19%
EPS beat(8)2
Avg EPS beat(8)-2.91%
EPS beat(12)5
Avg EPS beat(12)-1.29%
EPS beat(16)7
Avg EPS beat(16)-0.33%
Revenue beat(2)1
Avg Revenue beat(2)-0.23%
Min Revenue beat(2)-0.53%
Max Revenue beat(2)0.06%
Revenue beat(4)1
Avg Revenue beat(4)-1.61%
Min Revenue beat(4)-4.79%
Max Revenue beat(4)0.06%
Revenue beat(8)1
Avg Revenue beat(8)-2.02%
Revenue beat(12)2
Avg Revenue beat(12)-1.83%
Revenue beat(16)4
Avg Revenue beat(16)-1.37%
PT rev (1m)13.19%
PT rev (3m)21.19%
EPS NQ rev (1m)-5.38%
EPS NQ rev (3m)-8.11%
EPS NY rev (1m)-0.63%
EPS NY rev (3m)-2.52%
Revenue NQ rev (1m)0.08%
Revenue NQ rev (3m)0.12%
Revenue NY rev (1m)-0.03%
Revenue NY rev (3m)-0.09%
Valuation
| Industry Rank | Sector Rank | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| PE | 38.74 | ||
| Fwd PE | 34.07 | ||
| P/S | 3.04 | ||
| P/FCF | 359.82 | ||
| P/OCF | 16.53 | ||
| P/B | 3.82 | ||
| P/tB | 3.84 | ||
| EV/EBITDA | 16.59 |
EPS(TTM)9.52
EY2.58%
EPS(NY)10.82
Fwd EY2.93%
FCF(TTM)1.02
FCFY0.28%
OCF(TTM)22.31
OCFY6.05%
SpS121.27
BVpS96.65
TBVpS96.07
PEG (NY)2.83
PEG (5Y)3.01
Graham Number143.89
Profitability
| Industry Rank | Sector Rank | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| ROA | 7.32% | ||
| ROE | 9.89% | ||
| ROCE | 10.52% | ||
| ROIC | 7.98% | ||
| ROICexc | 8.03% | ||
| ROICexgc | 8.07% | ||
| OM | 10.47% | ||
| PM (TTM) | 7.89% | ||
| GM | 72.5% | ||
| FCFM | 0.85% |
ROA(3y)10.83%
ROA(5y)12.53%
ROE(3y)14.61%
ROE(5y)17.44%
ROIC(3y)12.18%
ROIC(5y)14.36%
ROICexc(3y)13.01%
ROICexc(5y)15.51%
ROICexgc(3y)13.1%
ROICexgc(5y)15.66%
ROCE(3y)16.07%
ROCE(5y)18.94%
ROICexgc growth 3Y-26.4%
ROICexgc growth 5Y-5.24%
ROICexc growth 3Y-26.26%
ROICexc growth 5Y-5.02%
OM growth 3Y-13.55%
OM growth 5Y2.22%
PM growth 3Y-14.91%
PM growth 5Y0.77%
GM growth 3Y1.82%
GM growth 5Y-0.89%
F-Score5
Asset Turnover0.93
Health
| Industry Rank | Sector Rank | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Debt/Equity | 0.06 | ||
| Debt/FCF | 6 | ||
| Debt/EBITDA | 0.28 | ||
| Cap/Depr | 228.36% | ||
| Cap/Sales | 17.55% | ||
| Interest Coverage | 21.43 | ||
| Cash Conversion | 101.33% | ||
| Profit Quality | 10.72% | ||
| Current Ratio | 1.64 | ||
| Quick Ratio | 1.64 | ||
| Altman-Z | 8.59 |
F-Score5
WACC10.53%
ROIC/WACC0.76
Cap/Depr(3y)323.67%
Cap/Depr(5y)281.27%
Cap/Sales(3y)21.78%
Cap/Sales(5y)18.2%
Profit Quality(3y)N/A
Profit Quality(5y)N/A
High Growth Momentum
Growth
EPS 1Y (TTM)-29.53%
EPS 3Y-10.77%
EPS 5Y12.86%
EPS Q2Q%-37.68%
EPS Next Y13.68%
EPS Next 2Y21.05%
EPS Next 3Y19.66%
EPS Next 5Y20.8%
Revenue 1Y (TTM)0.79%
Revenue growth 3Y5.02%
Revenue growth 5Y12.16%
Sales Q2Q%0.13%
Revenue Next Year4.72%
Revenue Next 2Y7%
Revenue Next 3Y7.15%
Revenue Next 5Y7.62%
EBIT growth 1Y-30.42%
EBIT growth 3Y-9.21%
EBIT growth 5Y14.65%
EBIT Next Year86.36%
EBIT Next 3Y36.2%
EBIT Next 5Y30.6%
FCF growth 1Y105.94%
FCF growth 3Y-36.27%
FCF growth 5Y-18.92%
OCF growth 1Y1.93%
OCF growth 3Y7.95%
OCF growth 5Y13.99%
SAIA INC / SAIA FAQ
What is the ChartMill fundamental rating of SAIA INC (SAIA) stock?
ChartMill assigns a fundamental rating of 6 / 10 to SAIA.
What is the valuation status for SAIA stock?
ChartMill assigns a valuation rating of 2 / 10 to SAIA INC (SAIA). This can be considered as Overvalued.
Can you provide the profitability details for SAIA INC?
SAIA INC (SAIA) has a profitability rating of 8 / 10.
How financially healthy is SAIA INC?
The financial health rating of SAIA INC (SAIA) is 7 / 10.
What is the expected EPS growth for SAIA INC (SAIA) stock?
The Earnings per Share (EPS) of SAIA INC (SAIA) is expected to grow by 13.68% in the next year.