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Saia (SAIA) Q3 Earnings: Taking a Look at Key Metrics Versus Estimates

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Saia (SAIA - Free Report) reported $982.45 million in revenue for the quarter ended September 2026, representing a year-over-year increase of 17%. EPS of $3.41 for the same period compares to $2.81 a year ago.

The reported revenue represents a surprise of +0.89% over the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $973.81 million. With the consensus EPS estimate being $3.31, the EPS surprise was +3.02%.

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: 87.6% compared to the 87.9% average estimate based on four analysts.
  • LTL (Less-Than-Truckload) Shipments: 2,351 compared to the 2,359 average estimate based on two analysts.
  • LTL pounds/shipment: 1,465 versus the two-analyst average estimate of 1,454.
  • LTL revenue/cwt., excluding fuel surcharge: $21.25 compared to the $21.50 average estimate based on two analysts.
  • LTL (Less-Than-Truckload) Tonnage: 1,722.00 KTon compared to the 1,715.19 KTon average estimate based on two analysts.
  • LTL (Less-Than-Truckload) Revenue Per Hundredweight (CWT): $27.66 versus $27.51 estimated by two analysts on average.

View all Key Company Metrics for Saia here>>>

Shares of Saia have returned -2.7% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +0.9% 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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