The chart below shows how SAIA performed 10 days before and after its earnings report, based on data from the past quarters. Typically, SAIA sees a +1.75% change in stock price 10 days leading up to the earnings, and a +5.15% change 10 days following the report. On the earnings day itself, the stock moves by -0.37%. This data can give you a slight idea of what to expect for the next quarter's release.
Positive
Record Q4 Revenue Growth: Record revenue of $789 million in Q4 2024, a 5% increase year-over-year, marking the highest fourth quarter revenue in company history.
Record Annual Revenue: Total revenue for 2024 reached $3.2 billion, establishing a new annual record for Saia, Inc.
Tonnage Increase Analysis: Tonnage increased by 10.1% in Q4 2024, driven by a 6.2% increase in shipments and a 3.7% rise in average weight per shipment.
Revenue per Shipment Increase: Revenue per shipment, excluding fuel surcharge, rose by 1.3% to $299.17 in Q4 2024, reflecting effective pricing and mix optimization efforts.
Earnings Per Share Growth: Diluted earnings per share for the full year 2024 were $13.51, an increase from $13.26 in 2023, demonstrating solid profitability growth.
Negative
Yield Decline Analysis: Yield excluding fuel surcharge declined by 2.3%, and yield decreased by 5.4% including fuel surcharge, indicating a negative trend in pricing power despite increased weight per shipment.
Operating Ratio Decline: The fourth quarter operating ratio deteriorated to 87.1%, a decline of 210 basis points compared to 85% in the same quarter last year, reflecting increased operational inefficiencies.
Rising Labor Costs: Salaries, wages, and benefits increased by 8.7%, driven by a 9.3% year-over-year growth in employee headcount, indicating rising labor costs that could pressure margins.
Claims Expense Increase: Claims and insurance expense rose by 16.6% year-over-year, primarily due to increased claims activity and unfavorable development of open cases, suggesting potential risk management issues.
Expense Growth vs. Revenue Growth: Total expenses increased by 7.7% in the quarter, outpacing the 5% revenue growth, which negatively impacted profitability and operational efficiency.
Saia, Inc. (NASDAQ:SAIA) Q4 2024 Earnings Call Transcript
SAIA.O
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