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Saia (SAIA) Q1 Earnings: Taking a Look at Key Metrics Versus Estimates

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Saia (SAIA - Free Report) reported $806.23 million in revenue for the quarter ended March 2026, representing a year-over-year increase of 2.4%. EPS of $1.86 for the same period compares to $1.86 a year ago.

The reported revenue compares to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $787.58 million, representing a surprise of +2.37%. The company delivered an EPS surprise of +2.07%, with the consensus EPS estimate being $1.82.

While investors closely watch year-over-year changes in headline numbers -- revenue and earnings -- and how they compare to Wall Street expectations to determine their next course of action, some key metrics always provide a better insight into a company's underlying performance.

As these metrics influence top- and bottom-line performance, comparing them to the year-ago numbers and what analysts estimated helps investors project a stock's price performance more accurately.

Here is how Saia performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts:
  • Operating Ratio: 91.7% compared to the 73.3% average estimate based on four analysts.
  • LTL (Less-Than-Truckload) Shipments: 2,192 compared to the 2,175 average estimate based on two analysts.
  • LTL pounds/shipment: 1,380 versus 1,367 estimated by two analysts on average.
  • LTL revenue/cwt., excluding fuel surcharge: $21.52 versus $21.73 estimated by two analysts on average.
  • LTL (Less-Than-Truckload) Tonnage: 1,513.00 KTon compared to the 1,486.83 KTon average estimate based on two analysts.
  • LTL (Less-Than-Truckload) Revenue Per Hundredweight (CWT): $25.93 versus $26.13 estimated by two analysts on average.

View all Key Company Metrics for Saia here>>>

Shares of Saia have returned +18.9% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +12.2% change. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), indicating that it could perform in line with the broader market in the near term.

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