Marten Transport (MRTN) 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
Marten Transport (MRTN) has outperformed Saia (SAIA) over the past year, gaining 15.6% versus a gain of 9.5%. Over five years, SAIA leads with a +28.0% price change compared with -18.0% for MRTN. Saia is the larger company by market cap ($9.08 billion vs $1.04 billion), about 8.7 times the size.
On valuation, Marten Transport trades at a lower forward P/E (19.7x vs 24.0x for Saia). Marten Transport pays a dividend yielding 1.88%, while Saia does not currently pay one.
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 | MRTN | SAIA |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $12.79 | $341.26 |
| Market cap | $1.04B | $9.08B |
| 1-day change | +0.95% | +1.95% |
| YTD return | +12.39% | +2.51% |
| 1-year return | +15.64% | +9.54% |
| 5-year return | -17.96% | +27.97% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 85.27 | 32.94 |
| Forward P/E | 19.68 | 23.96 |
| EPS (TTM) | $0.15 | $10.36 |
| Dividend yield | 1.88% | 0.00% |
| Annual dividend | $0.24 | $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 | $18.48 | $494.71 |
| 52-week low | $9.35 | $249.32 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -30.79% | -31.02% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +32.92% | +25.28% |
| Average volume | 669.97K | 426.50K |
| Shares outstanding | 81.66M | 26.61M |
| Employees | 3,502 | 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
- Saia is about 8.7 times larger than Marten Transport by market value ($9.08B vs $1.04B).
- Marten Transport trades at a higher earnings multiple (85.3x vs 32.9x trailing P/E).
- Marten Transport offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (1.88% vs 0.00%).
About Marten Transport
MRTN stock →Marten Transport, Ltd. operates as a temperature-sensitive truckload carrier for shippers in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
Industrials · Trucking Freight/Courier Services · 3,502 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
MRTN vs SAIA FAQ
Which is bigger, Marten Transport or Saia?
Saia (SAIA) is larger, with a market capitalization of $9.08B compared with $1.04B for Marten Transport (MRTN).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, MRTN or SAIA?
MRTN returned +15.64% 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, MRTN or SAIA?
SAIA has the lower trailing P/E at 32.9, versus 85.3 for MRTN. 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, Marten Transport or Saia?
Marten Transport pays a dividend yielding 1.88%, while Saia does not currently pay a regular dividend.
Are Marten Transport and Saia in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Trucking Freight/Courier Services industry within the Industrials sector.