J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT) vs Saia (SAIA)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.
Summary
J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT) has outperformed Saia (SAIA) over the past year, gaining 59.0% versus a gain of 9.5%. Over five years, SAIA leads with a +28.0% price change compared with +16.8% for JBHT. J.B. Hunt Transport Services is the larger company by market cap ($21.21 billion vs $8.95 billion), about 2.4 times the size, while Saia is growing revenue faster (+0.8% vs -0.7%).
On valuation, J.B. Hunt Transport Services trades at a lower forward P/E (22.8x vs 23.6x for Saia). J.B. Hunt Transport Services pays a dividend yielding 0.79%, while Saia does not currently pay one. Saia converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 7.9% versus 5.0%.
Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology
Relative performance
Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.
Head-to-head
| Metric | JBHT | SAIA |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $225.85 | $336.48 |
| Market cap | $21.21B | $8.95B |
| 1-day change | +1.44% | +0.53% |
| YTD return | +14.56% | +2.51% |
| 1-year return | +59.03% | +9.54% |
| 5-year return | +16.84% | +27.97% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 32.13 | 32.48 |
| Forward P/E | 22.83 | 23.62 |
| EPS (TTM) | $7.03 | $10.36 |
| Dividend yield | 0.79% | 0.00% |
| Annual dividend | $1.78 | $0.00 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $12.00B | $3.23B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | -0.73% | +0.79% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $598.28M | $255.04M |
| Operating margin | 7.21% | 10.89% |
| Net margin | 4.99% | 7.89% |
| 52-week high | $299.76 | $494.71 |
| 52-week low | $136.46 | $249.32 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -24.66% | -31.98% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +29.63% | +27.06% |
| Average volume | 1.02M | 426.50K |
| Shares outstanding | 93.91M | 26.61M |
| Employees | 31,750 | 13,734 |
| Sector | Industrials | Industrials |
| Industry | Trucking Freight/Courier Services | Trucking 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
- J.B. Hunt Transport Services is about 2.4 times larger than Saia by market value ($21.21B vs $8.95B).
- JBHT has outperformed SAIA by 49.5 percentage points over the past year.
About J.B. Hunt Transport Services
JBHT stock →J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc.
Industrials · Trucking Freight/Courier Services · 31,750 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
JBHT vs SAIA FAQ
Which is bigger, J.B. Hunt Transport Services or Saia?
J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT) is larger, with a market capitalization of $21.21B compared with $8.95B for Saia (SAIA).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, JBHT or SAIA?
JBHT returned +59.03% 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, JBHT or SAIA?
JBHT has the lower trailing P/E at 32.1, versus 32.5 for SAIA. 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, J.B. Hunt Transport Services or Saia?
J.B. Hunt Transport Services pays a dividend yielding 0.79%, while Saia does not currently pay a regular dividend.
Are J.B. Hunt Transport Services and Saia in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Trucking Freight/Courier Services industry within the Industrials sector.