Fact based stock research
Saia (NasdaqGS:SAIA)
US78709Y1055
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For every stock, we judge its performance against its peers and rank it on a scale of 1 to 100. The higher the rank, the better the stock performs than its peers. And, we do this for six investment strategies:
Value - shows how good of a value the stock is. Green is "inexpensive"; red is "expensive".
Growth - shows a company's growth potential. Green is "high growth" expected; red is "tough times ahead".
Safety - relates to the amount of debt a company has. Green is low debt level; red is high debt level.
Combined Financial - this isn't an average of the first three ranks but rather a consolidated view across several financial indicators. Green = good; red = tread carefully.
(NEW) Sentiment - quantifies professional analyst ratings and holdings as well as market pulse. Green = positive sentiment; red = skepticism (Only available to Premium Subscribers).
(NEW) 360° View - the ultimate rating with all financial and non-financial indicators.
Saia stock research in summary
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Combined Rank of 60 (better than 60% compared with investment alternatives), Saia (Trucking, USA) shares have above-average financial characteristics compared with similar stocks. Shares of Saia are low in value (priced high) with a consolidated Value Rank of 4 (worse than 96% of alternatives). But they show above-average growth (Growth Rank of 64) and are safely financed (Safety Rank of 96, which means below-average debt burdens). ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: A Combined Rank of 60, is a buy recommendation based on Saia's financial characteristics. Investors looking for growth and low financial risk may find this stock attractive. While the company Saia exhibits low value (Obermatt Value Rank of 4), which means that the stock price is rather high, it also demonstrates above-average growth (Obermatt Growth Rank of 64). This is a typical case, as high-growth companies are often expensive. Good financing practices (Obermatt Safety Rank of 96) are a double-edged sword: if the company continues growing, low debt limits shareholder returns. But if the company increases its debt, it will also increase risk. In other words, this is an investment on the safer side, despite the above-average price (low value). Obermatt Premium subscribers can further check the stock’s Sentiment Ranks, which also flow into the Obermatt 360° View for investors. ...read more
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360° Viewnew| Country | USA |
| Industry | Trucking |
| Index | NASDAQ |
| Size class | Large |
19-Dec-2024. Stock data may be delayed. Log in or sign up to get the most recent research.
Analysts rarely agree on a stock’s future. So, who do you believe? Obermatt translates those collective views into a single Sentiment Rank. That plus the financial ranks give you the ultimate 360° View. Sign up to access them.
It’s easier said than done. When your stock drops, it’s easy to want to sell it and find a better performer. Think twice, or even three times, before trading. Those fees (especially the hidden ones) can eat up your gains.
Review the performance ranks of the individual metrics that form each investment strategy.
Research History: Saia
| RESEARCH HISTORY | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VALUE | ||||||||
| VALUE | 1 |
|
5 |
|
4 |
|
4 |
|
| GROWTH | ||||||||
| GROWTH | 95 |
|
76 |
|
99 |
|
64 |
|
| SAFETY | ||||||||
| SAFETY | 95 |
|
82 |
|
94 |
|
96 |
|
| SENTIMENT | ||||||||
| SENTIMENT | n/a |
|
27 |
|
51 |
|
new |
|
| 360° VIEW | ||||||||
| 360° VIEW | n/a |
|
38 |
|
83 |
|
new |
|
Combined financial peformance in Detail
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Combined Rank of 60 (better than 60% compared with investment alternatives), Saia (Trucking, USA) shares have above-average financial characteristics compared with similar stocks. Shares of Saia are low in value (priced high) with a consolidated Value Rank of 4 (worse than 96% of alternatives). But they show above-average growth (Growth Rank of 64) and are safely financed (Safety Rank of 96, which means below-average debt burdens). ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: A Combined Rank of 60, is a buy recommendation based on Saia's financial characteristics. Investors looking for growth and low financial risk may find this stock attractive. While the company Saia exhibits low value (Obermatt Value Rank of 4), which means that the stock price is rather high, it also demonstrates above-average growth (Obermatt Growth Rank of 64). This is a typical case, as high-growth companies are often expensive. Good financing practices (Obermatt Safety Rank of 96) are a double-edged sword: if the company continues growing, low debt limits shareholder returns. But if the company increases its debt, it will also increase risk. In other words, this is an investment on the safer side, despite the above-average price (low value). Obermatt Premium subscribers can further check the stock’s Sentiment Ranks, which also flow into the Obermatt 360° View for investors. ...read more
| RESEARCH HISTORY | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VALUE | ||||||||
| VALUE | 1 |
|
5 |
|
4 |
|
4 |
|
| GROWTH | ||||||||
| GROWTH | 95 |
|
76 |
|
99 |
|
64 |
|
| SAFETY | ||||||||
| SAFETY | 95 |
|
82 |
|
94 |
|
96 |
|
| COMBINED | ||||||||
| COMBINED | 71 |
|
51 |
|
87 |
|
60 |
|
Value Metrics in Detail
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Value Rank of 4 (worse than 96% compared with alternatives), Saia shares are significantly more expensive than comparable stocks. The Value Rank is based on consolidating four value indicators, with all four indicators below average for Saia. Price-to-Sales is 11 which means that the stock price compared with what market professionals expect for future profits is higher than 89% of comparable companies, indicating a low value concerning Saia's sales levels. Price-to-Book Capital (also referred to as market-to-book ratio) also has a low Price-to-Book Rank of 14, which means that both reliable company size indicators, sales, and invested capital cannot explain the high stock price of Saia. In addition, the two profit-related value indicators, Price-to-Profit (also referred to as price-earnings, P/E) with a low rank of 10 and Dividend Yield, which is lower than 99% of comparable companies, also make the stock more expensive compared with investment alternatives. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: The overall picture with a consolidated Value Rank of 4, is a sell recommendation based on Saia's stock price compared with the company's operational size and dividend yields. How can market participants pay such a high price for Saia? One reason may be that the company is simply too popular. If enough people want a particular stock, its price can exceed reasonable levels. This is often the case for companies offering new and exciting products and everybody wants a piece of the action. Should you pay a lot for a hot stock such as Saia? It's risky, and even if the stock price continues to grow because of popular demand, it may return to more typical lower levels later. And that return can be sudden and quick, making it impossible for retail investors to exit on time. Sometimes, high prices are deserved. This is the case when it is justified to believe that the company will dominate a market with high profit margins. It has happened in the past for many technology companies and indeed for commercially successful pharmaceutical discoveries. Sometimes they last, sometimes, they get eaten alive. Saia may be such a type of stock. That would mean, retail investors should be careful, only considering investing a small part of their wealth in this exciting category and always being ready to lose more than half, if not all of the investment. We recommend further analyzing the stock with Obermatt’s Value, Safety, and Sentiment Ranks, including the 360° View, before making an investment decision, which is essential in this case, as the financial indicators are inconclusive. ...read more
| VALUE METRICS | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PRICE VS. REVENUES (P/S) | ||||||||
| PRICE VS. REVENUES (P/S) | 21 |
|
23 |
|
15 |
|
11 |
|
| PRICE VS. PROFITS (P/E) | ||||||||
| PRICE VS. PROFITS (P/E) | 30 |
|
19 |
|
14 |
|
10 |
|
| PRICE VS. CAPITAL (Market-to-Book) | ||||||||
| PRICE VS. CAPITAL (Market-to-Book) | 4 |
|
19 |
|
25 |
|
14 |
|
| DIVIDEND YIELD | ||||||||
| DIVIDEND YIELD | 1 |
|
1 |
|
1 |
|
1 |
|
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: VALUE | ||||||||
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: VALUE | 1 |
|
5 |
|
4 |
|
4 |
|
Growth Metrics in Detail
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Growth Rank of 64 (better than 64% compared with alternatives), Saia shows an above-average growth dynamic in its industry. Investors also speak of positive momentum. The Growth Rank is based on consolidating four value indicators, with all but one indicator above average for Saia. Sales Growth has a rank of 85 which means that currently, professionals expect the company to grow more than 85% of its competitors. Both Profit Growth, with a rank of 63, and Stock Returns, with a rank of 72, are also above average. But Capital Growth only has a rank of 4, which means that, currently, professionals expect the company to grow its invested capital less than 96% of its competitors. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: The overall picture with a consolidated Growth Rank of 64, is a buy recommendation for growth and momentum investors. That may be a good sign if the company is already well positioned and doesn't require more investments at this time. They may focus on growing the top (revenues) and bottom (profits) lines, recently rewarded with above-average stock returns for shareholders. But it may also be a sign of danger as the company is falling back with capital investment activities concerning competition. This requires further analysis of corporate communications. While momentum is a popular investment factor, the value aspect might be the more important one, in the longer term. We recommend analyzing the stock with Obermatt’s Value, Safety, and Sentiment Ranks to arrive at a 360° View of the stock purchase case. ...read more
| GROWTH METRICS | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| REVENUE GROWTH | ||||||||
| REVENUE GROWTH | 71 |
|
65 |
|
91 |
|
85 |
|
| PROFIT GROWTH | ||||||||
| PROFIT GROWTH | 41 |
|
64 |
|
72 |
|
63 |
|
| CAPITAL GROWTH | ||||||||
| CAPITAL GROWTH | n/a |
|
36 |
|
72 |
|
4 |
|
| STOCK RETURNS | ||||||||
| STOCK RETURNS | 96 |
|
77 |
|
97 |
|
72 |
|
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: GROWTH | ||||||||
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: GROWTH | 95 |
|
76 |
|
99 |
|
64 |
|
Safety Metrics in Detail
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Safety Rank of 96 (better than 96% compared with alternatives) for 2024, the company Saia has safe financing practices, which means that their overall debt burden is low. This doesn't mean that the business of Saia is safe, it only means that the company is on the safer side regarding possible bankruptcy, assuming that public reporting is correct. The Safety Rank is based on consolidating three financing indicators, where all three are above average for Saia. Leverage is at 93, meaning the company has a below-average debt-to-equity ratio. It has less debt than 93% of its competitors. Refinancing is at a rank of 50, meaning that the portion of the debt about to be refinanced is below average. It has less debt in the refinancing stage than 50% of its competitors. Finally, Liquidity is also good at a rank of 94, which means that the company generates more profit to service its debt than 94% of its competitors. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: With a consolidated Safety Rank of 96 (better than 96% compared with alternatives), Saia has a financing structure that is significantly safer than that of its competitors. These three positive financing indicators signal that the company is less likely to default on its debt obligations. However, it also means that its shareholder returns will be more modest if things go well. A low safety means fewer troubles in downtimes and less upside in good times. Investors may not have a debt issue with Saia but they should also compare Obermatt’s Value, Growth, and Sentiment Ranks before making a decision. ...read more
| SAFETY METRICS | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LEVERAGE | ||||||||
| LEVERAGE | 96 |
|
88 |
|
92 |
|
93 |
|
| REFINANCING | ||||||||
| REFINANCING | 45 |
|
26 |
|
58 |
|
50 |
|
| LIQUIDITY | ||||||||
| LIQUIDITY | 100 |
|
94 |
|
96 |
|
94 |
|
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: SAFETY | ||||||||
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: SAFETY | 95 |
|
82 |
|
94 |
|
96 |
|
Sentiment Metrics in Detail
| SENTIMENT | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ANALYST OPINIONS | ||||||||
| ANALYST OPINIONS | n/a |
|
50 |
|
71 |
|
new |
|
| OPINIONS CHANGE | ||||||||
| OPINIONS CHANGE | n/a |
|
22 |
|
54 |
|
new |
|
| PRO HOLDINGS | ||||||||
| PRO HOLDINGS | n/a |
|
30 |
|
74 |
|
new |
|
| MARKET PULSE | ||||||||
| MARKET PULSE | n/a |
|
66 |
|
21 |
|
new |
|
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: SENTIMENT | ||||||||
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: SENTIMENT | n/a |
|
27 |
|
51 |
|
new |
|
Free stock analysis by the purely fact based Obermatt Method for Saia from December 19, 2024.
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