Knight-Swift Transportation (KNX) vs Saia (SAIA)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 9, 2026.
Summary
Knight-Swift Transportation (KNX) has outperformed Saia (SAIA) over the past year, gaining 41.8% versus a gain of 5.8%. Over five years, KNX leads with a +31.5% price change compared with +30.5% for SAIA. Knight-Swift Transportation is the larger company by market cap ($10.49 billion vs $8.96 billion), about 1.2 times the size.
On valuation, Knight-Swift Transportation trades at a lower forward P/E (16.0x vs 23.6x for Saia). Knight-Swift Transportation pays a dividend yielding 1.18%, while Saia does not currently pay one. Saia converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 7.9% versus 0.9%.
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 | KNX | SAIA |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $64.47 | $336.75 |
| Market cap | $10.49B | $8.96B |
| 1-day change | -0.89% | -1.32% |
| YTD return | +24.43% | +4.51% |
| 1-year return | +41.81% | +5.85% |
| 5-year return | +31.52% | +30.47% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 238.78 | 32.50 |
| Forward P/E | 16.02 | 23.64 |
| EPS (TTM) | $0.27 | $10.36 |
| Dividend yield | 1.18% | 0.00% |
| Annual dividend | $0.76 | $0.00 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $7.47B | $3.23B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +0.80% | +0.79% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $65.95M | $255.04M |
| Operating margin | 2.89% | 10.89% |
| Net margin | 0.88% | 7.89% |
| 52-week high | $82.86 | $494.71 |
| 52-week low | $41.24 | $249.32 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -22.19% | -31.93% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +34.33% | +26.95% |
| Average volume | 3.61M | 428.97K |
| Shares outstanding | 162.76M | 26.61M |
| Employees | 37,100 | 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
- KNX has outperformed SAIA by 36.0 percentage points over the past year.
- Knight-Swift Transportation trades at a higher earnings multiple (238.8x vs 32.5x trailing P/E).
- Knight-Swift Transportation offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (1.18% vs 0.00%).
- Saia is more profitable, keeping 7.9 cents of every revenue dollar as net income versus 0.9 cents for Knight-Swift Transportation.
About Knight-Swift Transportation
KNX stock →Knight-Swift Transportation Holdings Inc., together with its subsidiaries, operates as a freight transportation company in the United States and Mexico. The company operates through four segments: Truckload, LTL, Logistics, and Intermodal.
Industrials · Trucking Freight/Courier Services · 37,100 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
KNX vs SAIA FAQ
Which is bigger, Knight-Swift Transportation or Saia?
Knight-Swift Transportation (KNX) is larger, with a market capitalization of $10.49B compared with $8.96B for Saia (SAIA).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, KNX or SAIA?
KNX returned +41.81% over the past 12 months, compared with +5.85% for SAIA (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, KNX or SAIA?
SAIA has the lower trailing P/E at 32.5, versus 238.8 for KNX. 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, Knight-Swift Transportation or Saia?
Knight-Swift Transportation pays a dividend yielding 1.18%, while Saia does not currently pay a regular dividend.
Are Knight-Swift Transportation and Saia in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Trucking Freight/Courier Services industry within the Industrials sector.