Saia (SAIA) vs United Parcel Service (UPS)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.
Summary
Saia (SAIA) has outperformed United Parcel Service (UPS) over the past year, gaining 9.5% versus a gain of 7.3%. Over five years, SAIA leads with a +28.0% price change compared with -52.4% for UPS. United Parcel Service is the larger company by market cap ($78.52 billion vs $8.91 billion), about 8.8 times the size, while Saia is growing revenue faster (+0.8% vs -2.6%).
On valuation, United Parcel Service trades at a lower forward P/E (11.5x vs 23.4x for Saia). United Parcel Service pays a dividend yielding 7.11%, while Saia does not currently pay one. Saia converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 7.9% versus 6.3%.
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 | SAIA | UPS |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $334.72 | $92.29 |
| Market cap | $8.91B | $78.52B |
| 1-day change | -2.03% | -0.88% |
| YTD return | +2.51% | -6.96% |
| 1-year return | +9.54% | +7.34% |
| 5-year return | +27.97% | -52.37% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 32.98 | 17.32 |
| Forward P/E | 23.40 | 11.45 |
| EPS (TTM) | $10.15 | $5.33 |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | 7.11% |
| Annual dividend | $0.00 | $6.56 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $3.23B | $88.66B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +0.79% | -2.65% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $255.04M | $5.57B |
| Operating margin | 10.89% | 8.87% |
| Net margin | 7.89% | 6.28% |
| 52-week high | $494.71 | $122.41 |
| 52-week low | $249.32 | $82.00 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -32.34% | -24.61% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +27.72% | +24.86% |
| Average volume | 431.46K | 4.89M |
| Shares outstanding | 26.61M | 749.35M |
| Employees | 13,734 | 460,000 |
| 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
- United Parcel Service is about 8.8 times larger than Saia by market value ($78.52B vs $8.91B).
- Saia trades at a higher earnings multiple (33.0x vs 17.3x trailing P/E).
- United Parcel Service offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (7.11% vs 0.00%).
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
About United Parcel Service
UPS stock →United Parcel Service, Inc., a package delivery and logistics provider, offers transportation and delivery services. It operates through two segments, U.S.
Industrials · Trucking Freight/Courier Services · 460,000 employees
SAIA vs UPS FAQ
Which is bigger, Saia or United Parcel Service?
United Parcel Service (UPS) is larger, with a market capitalization of $78.52B compared with $8.91B for Saia (SAIA).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, SAIA or UPS?
SAIA returned +9.54% over the past 12 months, compared with +7.34% for UPS (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, SAIA or UPS?
UPS has the lower trailing P/E at 17.3, versus 33.0 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, Saia or United Parcel Service?
United Parcel Service pays a dividend yielding 7.11%, while Saia does not currently pay a regular dividend.
Are Saia and United Parcel Service in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Trucking Freight/Courier Services industry within the Industrials sector.