Vanguard Group Inc. Sells 33,618 Shares of Saia, Inc. $SAIA

Key Points

• Vanguard trimmed its stake in Saia by 1.4% in Q4, selling 33,618 shares and still owning 2,451,650 shares (about 9.20% of the company) valued at roughly $800.5 million.
• Q1 results slightly beat estimates—EPS $1.86 vs. $1.82 and revenue $806.2M—and management guided to a 400–450 basis-point sequential improvement in the operating ratio in Q2, signaling expected margin recovery as volumes accelerate.
• Analysts moved more bullishly on the stock (Benchmark to $500, JPMorgan to $465), but insider activity was net selling—executives sold shares and insiders disposed of 15,533 shares worth about $6.0M—creating mixed signals for investors.

Vanguard Group Inc. decreased its holdings in Saia, Inc. (NASDAQ:SAIA - Free Report) by 1.4% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 2,451,650 shares of the transportation company's stock after selling 33,618 shares during the period. Vanguard Group Inc. owned 9.20% of Saia worth $800,513,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. State of Wyoming bought a new position in shares of Saia in the 3rd quarter valued at about $30,000. Allworth Financial LP raised its position in Saia by 69.0% in the 3rd quarter. Allworth Financial LP now owns 142 shares of the transportation company's stock worth $43,000 after purchasing an additional 58 shares during the period. Farther Finance Advisors LLC raised its position in Saia by 46.9% in the 4th quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC now owns 144 shares of the transportation company's stock worth $47,000 after purchasing an additional 46 shares during the period. Annis Gardner Whiting Capital Advisors LLC raised its position in Saia by 6,400.0% in the 3rd quarter. Annis Gardner Whiting Capital Advisors LLC now owns 195 shares of the transportation company's stock worth $58,000 after purchasing an additional 192 shares during the period. Finally, Danske Bank A S purchased a new stake in Saia in the 3rd quarter worth about $60,000.

Saia Stock Performance

Shares of NASDAQ:SAIA opened at $441.26 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $11.77 billion, a PE ratio of 46.35, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.38 and a beta of 2.12. The firm's 50 day simple moving average is $382.27 and its 200-day simple moving average is $346.57. Saia, Inc. has a one year low of $244.94 and a one year high of $457.99. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.04, a quick ratio of 1.64 and a current ratio of 1.52.

Saia (NASDAQ:SAIA - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, April 30th. The transportation company reported $1.86 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $1.82 by $0.04. The business had revenue of $806.23 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $789.08 million. Saia had a net margin of 7.84% and a return on equity of 9.60%. The company's quarterly revenue was up 2.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the company posted $1.86 earnings per share. As a group, equities analysts predict that Saia, Inc. will post 10.65 EPS for the current year.

Saia News Summary

Here are the key news stories impacting Saia this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Management expects a meaningful improvement in profitability: Saia guided to a 400–450 basis-point sequential improvement in the operating ratio in Q2 as volumes accelerate, signaling stronger margin recovery ahead. Saia anticipates 400-450 bps sequential operating ratio improvement in Q2 2026 as volumes accelerate
• Positive Sentiment: Q1 results slightly beat expectations: Saia reported EPS of $1.86 vs. $1.82 consensus and revenue of $806.2M vs. $789.1M, with management noting upticks in shipments — fundamentals that support upside if the margin recovery materializes. Saia Reports First Quarter Results (press release) Saia reports upticks in Q1 shipments
• Positive Sentiment: Analysts lifted targets and ratings today, providing near-term support: Benchmark raised its target to $500 (buy), JPMorgan boosted its target to $465 (overweight), and Wells Fargo raised its target to $445 (equal weight) — signaling improved sell‑side sentiment. Benchmark target raise coverage Benzinga: analyst price target changes
• Neutral Sentiment: Earnings call showed operational progress but a cautious tone: management highlighted network expansion and operational discipline as growth drivers while stopping short of aggressive near-term margin guidance beyond Q2 hopes. Q1 2026 Earnings Call Transcript
• Neutral Sentiment: Multiple media summaries and deep-dives confirm the mixed picture — sales strength and network investments offset by cost pressures; these write-ups help explain both the bullish analyst moves and investor caution. Deep dive: network expansion and cost pressures
• Negative Sentiment: EPS was flat year-over-year ($1.86 in both Q1 2026 and Q1 2025), which may disappoint growth-focused investors and help explain profit-taking after recent gains. Earnings recap showing EPS flat YoY
• Negative Sentiment: Technical/flow factors likely contributed: trading volume was below average and the shares are trading near 12‑month highs, which can amplify pullbacks as investors lock in gains.

Insider Buying and Selling at Saia

In other news, CFO Matthew J. Batteh sold 1,110 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $375.71, for a total transaction of $417,038.10. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer directly owned 5,360 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $2,013,805.60. This trade represents a 17.16% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, CAO Kelly W. Benton sold 800 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $389.00, for a total transaction of $311,200.00. Following the transaction, the chief accounting officer directly owned 3,157 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,228,073. This trade represents a 20.22% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. In the last quarter, insiders sold 15,533 shares of company stock valued at $6,015,055. 0.30% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

SAIA has been the topic of a number of recent analyst reports. Morgan Stanley reissued an "underweight" rating and issued a $265.00 price objective on shares of Saia in a research report on Friday. Bank of America increased their price objective on shares of Saia from $413.00 to $429.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research report on Tuesday, March 3rd. Benchmark increased their price objective on shares of Saia from $425.00 to $500.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Friday. Susquehanna lowered shares of Saia from a "positive" rating to a "neutral" rating and increased their price objective for the stock from $390.00 to $425.00 in a research report on Wednesday, February 11th. Finally, Raymond James Financial reissued an "outperform" rating and issued a $477.00 price objective on shares of Saia in a research report on Friday. Ten investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, ten have issued a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $440.83.

Saia Profile

Saia, Inc is a publicly traded transportation company specializing in less-than-truckload (LTL) freight services across North America. Headquartered in Johns Creek, Georgia, the company focuses on the efficient movement of time-sensitive freight for a diverse customer base that spans retail, manufacturing, automotive, and healthcare industries. By leveraging a network of terminals and service centers, Saia provides tailored solutions designed to optimize supply chain performance.

The company's core offerings include regional, interregional, and national LTL shipping, supported by volumetric LTL and port intermodal services.

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