Saia Q1 EPS Beats at $1.86, Revenue Up 2.4% to $806M
Saia posted first-quarter profit of $49.9 million and EPS of $1.86, topping the $1.82 consensus, while revenue climbed 2.4% to $806.2 million. Operating income fell 4.8% to $66.8 million as operating ratio widened to 91.7%, with cash rising to $39.2 million.
1. First-Quarter Financial Results
Saia reported Q1 profit of $49.9 million and diluted EPS of $1.86, surpassing the $1.82 analyst consensus. Total revenue rose 2.4% year-over-year to $806.2 million, driven by record first-quarter shipments and pricing gains.
2. Operating Performance
Operating income declined 4.8% to $66.8 million, pushing the operating ratio to 91.7% from 91.1% a year earlier. LTL shipments per workday increased 1.0% while tonnage per workday fell 2.1%; revenue per hundredweight excluding fuel surcharge rose 1.9% even as revenue per shipment excluding surcharge declined 1.2%.
3. Liquidity and Capital Expenditures
Cash on hand grew to $39.2 million from $16.5 million at the prior-year quarter-end, and total debt fell to $112.8 million from $295.5 million. Net capital expenditures totaled $63.7 million in Q1, with full-year 2026 capex expected between $350 million and $400 million.