Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL) 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
Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL) has outperformed Saia (SAIA) over the past year, gaining 24.2% versus a gain of 9.5%. Over five years, SAIA leads with a +28.0% price change compared with +16.1% for ODFL. Old Dominion Freight Line is the larger company by market cap ($36.52 billion vs $8.91 billion), about 4.1 times the size, while Saia is growing revenue faster (+0.8% vs -5.5%).
On valuation, Saia trades at a lower forward P/E (23.4x vs 26.2x for Old Dominion Freight Line). Old Dominion Freight Line pays a dividend yielding 0.65%, while Saia does not currently pay one. Old Dominion Freight Line converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 18.6% versus 7.9%.
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 | ODFL | SAIA |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $175.61 | $334.72 |
| Market cap | $36.52B | $8.91B |
| 1-day change | -1.35% | -2.03% |
| YTD return | +12.00% | +2.51% |
| 1-year return | +24.23% | +9.54% |
| 5-year return | +16.10% | +27.97% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 33.77 | 32.31 |
| Forward P/E | 26.19 | 23.40 |
| EPS (TTM) | $5.20 | $10.36 |
| Dividend yield | 0.65% | 0.00% |
| Annual dividend | $1.14 | $0.00 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $5.50B | $3.23B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | -5.48% | +0.79% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $1.02B | $255.04M |
| Operating margin | 24.76% | 10.89% |
| Net margin | 18.63% | 7.89% |
| 52-week high | $252.03 | $494.71 |
| 52-week low | $126.01 | $249.32 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -30.32% | -32.34% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +29.34% | +27.72% |
| Average volume | 1.74M | 431.46K |
| Shares outstanding | 207.97M | 26.61M |
| Employees | 20,173 | 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
- Old Dominion Freight Line is about 4.1 times larger than Saia by market value ($36.52B vs $8.91B).
- ODFL has outperformed SAIA by 14.7 percentage points over the past year.
- Old Dominion Freight Line is more profitable, keeping 18.6 cents of every revenue dollar as net income versus 7.9 cents for Saia.
- Saia grew revenue faster in its latest fiscal year (+0.79% vs -5.48%).
About Old Dominion Freight Line
ODFL stock →Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc. operates as a less-than-truckload motor carrier in the United States and North America.
Industrials · Trucking Freight/Courier Services · 20,173 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
ODFL vs SAIA FAQ
Which is bigger, Old Dominion Freight Line or Saia?
Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL) is larger, with a market capitalization of $36.52B compared with $8.91B for Saia (SAIA).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, ODFL or SAIA?
ODFL returned +24.23% 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, ODFL or SAIA?
SAIA has the lower trailing P/E at 32.3, versus 33.8 for ODFL. 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, Old Dominion Freight Line or Saia?
Old Dominion Freight Line pays a dividend yielding 0.65%, while Saia does not currently pay a regular dividend.
Are Old Dominion Freight Line and Saia in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Trucking Freight/Courier Services industry within the Industrials sector.