MetaCap

ArcBest (ARCB) vs Saia (SAIA)

Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 7, 2026.

Summary

ArcBest (ARCB) has outperformed Saia (SAIA) over the past year, gaining 76.0% versus a gain of 9.5%. Over five years, ARCB leads with a +48.5% price change compared with +28.0% for SAIA. Saia is the larger company by market cap ($8.91 billion vs $2.84 billion), about 3.1 times the size.

On valuation, ArcBest trades at a lower forward P/E (13.2x vs 23.4x for Saia). ArcBest pays a dividend yielding 0.38%, while Saia does not currently pay one.

Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology

Relative performance

ARCB+75.96%SAIA+9.54%
+148%+61%-26%
Oct 7, 20251 yearOct 7, 2026
ARCB+44.85%SAIA+31.58%
+141%+50%-42%
Oct 4, 20215 yearsOct 5, 2026

Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.

Head-to-head

ARCB versus SAIA key metrics
MetricARCBSAIA
Share price$126.87$334.72
Market cap$2.84B$8.91B
1-day change-1.07%-2.03%
YTD return+71.01%+2.51%
1-year return+75.96%+9.54%
5-year return+48.46%+27.97%
P/E ratio (TTM)183.8732.31
Forward P/E13.2023.40
EPS (TTM)$0.69$10.36
Dividend yield0.38%0.00%
Annual dividend$0.48$0.00
Revenue (latest FY)—$3.23B
Revenue growth (YoY)—+0.79%
Net income (latest FY)—$255.04M
Operating margin—10.89%
Net margin—7.89%
52-week high$176.69$494.71
52-week low$59.43$249.32
Distance from 52-week high-28.20%-32.34%
Analyst consensusbuybuy
Avg. price target upside+33.03%+27.72%
Average volume296.75K431.46K
Shares outstanding22.35M26.61M
Employees14,00013,734
SectorIndustrialsIndustrials
IndustryTrucking Freight/Courier ServicesTrucking Freight/Courier Services

Highlighted cells mark the higher value for growth, returns, margins and yield, and the lower value for P/E ratios. Highlighting is a mechanical comparison, not a recommendation.

Key differences

  • Saia is about 3.1 times larger than ArcBest by market value ($8.91B vs $2.84B).
  • ARCB has outperformed SAIA by 66.4 percentage points over the past year.
  • ArcBest trades at a higher earnings multiple (183.9x vs 32.3x trailing P/E).

About ArcBest

ARCB stock →

ArcBest Corporation, an integrated logistics company, provides ground, air, and ocean transportation solutions worldwide. It operates in two segments, Asset-Based and Asset-Light.

Industrials · Trucking Freight/Courier Services · 14,000 employees

About Saia

SAIA stock →

Saia, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, operates as a transportation company in North America. The company provides less-than-truckload services for shipments between 100 and 10,000 pounds.

Industrials · Trucking Freight/Courier Services · 13,734 employees

ARCB vs SAIA FAQ

Which is bigger, ArcBest or Saia?

Saia (SAIA) is larger, with a market capitalization of $8.91B compared with $2.84B for ArcBest (ARCB).

Which stock has performed better over the past year, ARCB or SAIA?

ARCB returned +75.96% over the past 12 months, compared with +9.54% for SAIA (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.

Which has the lower P/E ratio, ARCB or SAIA?

SAIA has the lower trailing P/E at 32.3, versus 183.9 for ARCB. A lower P/E is not by itself a sign of a better investment; it can reflect slower expected growth or higher risk.

Which pays a higher dividend, ArcBest or Saia?

ArcBest pays a dividend yielding 0.38%, while Saia does not currently pay a regular dividend.

Are ArcBest and Saia in the same industry?

Yes. Both are classified in the Trucking Freight/Courier Services industry within the Industrials sector.

More comparisons