Value
4.0/10data confidence 100%| Component | Sub-score |
|---|---|
| P/E | 2.8 |
| P/S | 8.0 |
| EV/EBITDA | 0.5 |
| Fwd P/E | 4.3 |
| PEG | 4.4 |
| Analyst target | 4.0 |
- ▸Forward P/E: 28.7x
- ▸PEG: 2.09
SAIA · Why this verdict
Why Saia (SAIA) is rated SELL
Updated
Model-generated analysis — not investment advice. Not a registered investment advisor. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
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VerdictSELL
Overall score4.3/10
ConfidenceMEDIUM
MacroNEUTRAL
Thesis pillars
| Pillar | Expectation | Trend |
|---|---|---|
Saia beat earnings estimates in 3 of the last 4 quarters with an average positive surprise of 4.2%, demonstrating reliable execution in a capital-intensive trucking operation that benefits from long-haul freight dynamics. Earnings | Earnings beat rate remains 3 out of 4 quarters over the next year with average surprise above 3%. | →Stable |
| CounterTrucking margins are highly cyclical and dependent on freight volumes; the miss in the most recent quarter could signal the beginning of a freight cycle downturn affecting the entire sector. | ||
Free cash flow represents only 14% of net income, a critically low ratio that signals the business is consuming nearly all reported earnings in capital expenditures, leaving minimal free cash for debt reduction, dividends, or opportunistic investments. Quality breakdown | Free cash flow conversion improves to at least 50% of net income within 12 months as the capital expenditure cycle moderates. | →Stable |
| CounterAsset-intensive trucking companies frequently operate with low free cash flow relative to net income during network expansion phases, which can drive long-term competitive advantages. | ||
At a forward P/E of 32.9x and with the analyst consensus target already 14.1% below the current price of $474.19, the stock appears overvalued relative to its near-term earnings trajectory and carries negative expected return to analyst targets. Valuation breakdown | Either analyst targets are revised upward by at least 15% or price corrects to below $410, more than 13% below current levels, to restore a reasonable risk-reward ratio. | →Stable |
| CounterPremium trucking companies with strong service reputations and improving market share can sustain elevated multiples if the underlying freight cycle turns favorable. | ||
An elevated put/call ratio of 1.94 signals that options traders are placing nearly 2 put contracts for every call, reflecting significant professional skepticism about the stock's near-term direction despite the breakout setup. Risk breakdown | Put/call ratio declines below 1.0 within 6 months as either the stock corrects to a fairer valuation or the fundamental outlook improves sufficiently to attract call buyers. | →Stable |
| CounterHigh put/call ratios in trucking stocks can reflect freight companies using options for operational hedging rather than directional speculation, which may not be a reliable contrarian signal. | ||
Saia beat earnings estimates in 3 of the last 4 quarters with an average positive surprise of 4.2%, demonstrating reliable execution in a capital-intensive trucking operation that benefits from long-haul freight dynamics.
→StableEarnings
- Expectation
- Earnings beat rate remains 3 out of 4 quarters over the next year with average surprise above 3%.
CounterTrucking margins are highly cyclical and dependent on freight volumes; the miss in the most recent quarter could signal the beginning of a freight cycle downturn affecting the entire sector.
Free cash flow represents only 14% of net income, a critically low ratio that signals the business is consuming nearly all reported earnings in capital expenditures, leaving minimal free cash for debt reduction, dividends, or opportunistic investments.
→StableQuality breakdown
- Expectation
- Free cash flow conversion improves to at least 50% of net income within 12 months as the capital expenditure cycle moderates.
CounterAsset-intensive trucking companies frequently operate with low free cash flow relative to net income during network expansion phases, which can drive long-term competitive advantages.
At a forward P/E of 32.9x and with the analyst consensus target already 14.1% below the current price of $474.19, the stock appears overvalued relative to its near-term earnings trajectory and carries negative expected return to analyst targets.
→StableValuation breakdown
- Expectation
- Either analyst targets are revised upward by at least 15% or price corrects to below $410, more than 13% below current levels, to restore a reasonable risk-reward ratio.
CounterPremium trucking companies with strong service reputations and improving market share can sustain elevated multiples if the underlying freight cycle turns favorable.
An elevated put/call ratio of 1.94 signals that options traders are placing nearly 2 put contracts for every call, reflecting significant professional skepticism about the stock's near-term direction despite the breakout setup.
→StableRisk breakdown
- Expectation
- Put/call ratio declines below 1.0 within 6 months as either the stock corrects to a fairer valuation or the fundamental outlook improves sufficiently to attract call buyers.
CounterHigh put/call ratios in trucking stocks can reflect freight companies using options for operational hedging rather than directional speculation, which may not be a reliable contrarian signal.
TrendMatrix Research · core thesis
Engine thesis — one sentence
Saia's solid earnings beat streak and above-average technical momentum cannot overcome a negative analyst upside and free cash flow conversion rate of only 14%, making the stock a hold at best until valuation normalizes to a more attractive entry point.
Falsifiable statement — pillar-level invalidators below. Engine-derived; not personalized advice.
Per-dimension breakdown
Quality
3.6/10data confidence 100%| Component | Sub-score |
|---|---|
| ROE | 3.4 |
| ROA | 4.0 |
| Gross margin | 0.7 |
| Op margin | 3.3 |
| Net margin | 3.9 |
| Current ratio | 5.6 |
| FCF quality | 1.1 |
| Moat | 3.8 |
| Piotroski F | 6.7 |
- ▸Earnings quality RED FLAG: 14% FCF/NI
- ▸No competitive moat
Growth
2.5/10data confidence 67%| Component | Sub-score |
|---|---|
| Rev growth | 3.1 |
| EPS growth | 2.0 |
Momentum
2.9/10data confidence 100%| Component | Sub-score |
|---|---|
| RSI | 8.9 |
| MACD | 0.0 |
| OBV | 1.0 |
| MA position | 4.0 |
| Volume | 0.4 |
- ▸Oversold in uptrend (RSI 17)
- ▸Volume distribution (falling OBV)
- ▸Above 200-day MA
Sentiment
6.2/10data confidence 100%| Component | Sub-score |
|---|---|
| LLM sentiment | 4.5 |
| Analyst rating | 7.5 |
| Price target | 6.4 |
Insider
5.0/10data confidence 50%| Component | Sub-score |
|---|---|
| materiality | 5.0 |
| holder change | 5.1 |
- ▸Negligible insider selling — $136,881 (0.001% of mkt cap)
Peer rank
4.4/10data confidence 80%| Component | Sub-score |
|---|---|
| value rank | 4.3 |
| quality rank | 7.5 |
| growth rank | 5.8 |
- ▸Best-in-class margins
Technical
7.9/10data confidence 100%| Component | Sub-score |
|---|---|
| bollinger | 7.8 |
| support resistance | 9.1 |
| 52w position | 6.9 |
Risk (lower is worse)
4.6/10data confidence 100%| Component | Sub-score |
|---|---|
| short interest | 7.8 |
| days to cover | 8.0 |
| volatility | 2.8 |
| put call | 6.9 |
| implied vol | 4.0 |
| beta | 2.9 |
| debt equity | 0.0 |
Catalyst
5.5/10data confidence 100%| Component | Sub-score |
|---|---|
| erm | 5.0 |
| earnings history | 6.7 |
| earnings timing | 5.0 |
| surprise avg | 4.6 |
| news activity | 6.0 |
- ▸Strong earnings: 3B/1M
How the verdict was assembled
Engine trigger
Quality below minimum threshold.
Engine technical detail
verdict_path:
L1:HARD_BLOCKPassed (5)
- INSIDER:OK
- 8K:CLEAN
- EARNINGS_PROXIMITY:24d clear
- SEMI_CYCLE_PEAK:CLEAR
- MATERIALS_CYCLE_PEAK:CLEAR
Failed (2)
- MOMENTUM:2.9<4.5
- ASYMMETRY:-0.2=NEGATIVE
Warning (0)
none
Reward-to-Risk
-0.19
Upside
-1.4%
Downside
7.8%
Sizing output
AVOID
Setup— — No clear chart pattern; technical signals are mixed
EdgeCatalyst-Driven — Earnings in 24d with 3/4 beat streak
SuitabilityAggressive — Beta 2.13>1.3
Investment implication
The L1 gate blocked the positive-verdict path: a hard-floor threshold was breached, so dimensional pillars — including Technical at 7.9 could not lift the engine output above the verdict floor. Failed gate signal: MOMENTUM:2.9<4.5.
The strongest dimensions are Technical at 7.9, Sentiment at 6.2, and Catalyst at 5.5; the weakest are Growth at 2.5, Momentum at 2.9, and Quality at 3.6. The V9 engine flagged 2 failed gates, producing an asymmetric reward-to-risk of -0.19 and an engine sizing output of AVOID.
What would invalidate the thesis
Falsifying conditions — when triggered, the corresponding pillar's thesis is invalidated.
- P1Earnings Beat Consistency
Trip ifEPS surprise falls below negative 5% in at least 2 of the next 4 quarters.
- P2Fcf Quality Red Flag
Trip ifFree cash flow conversion remains below 25% of net income for at least 3 consecutive quarters.
- P3Rich Valuation Negative Upside
Trip ifPrice drops below $441, more than 7% below the current $474.19, confirming the valuation correction.
- P4Elevated Put Call Ratio
Trip ifPut/call ratio rises above 2.5 or remains above 1.5 for more than 3 consecutive months.