Should I Buy SAIA? SAIA 2026 Analysis

Should You Buy Saia Inc (SAIA) Today? Analysis, Price Targets, and 2026 Outlook.

Conclusion

Hold

Latest Price

341.780

1 Day change

-2.31%

52 Week Range

538.020

Analysis Updated At

2026/01/26

Based on the data provided, Saia Inc. (SAIA) is not a strong buy for a beginner, long-term investor at this moment. While there are some positive catalysts such as hedge fund buying and potential regulatory-driven demand spillover, the technical indicators are mixed, financial performance has been declining, and the options data suggests bearish sentiment. It is better to hold off on purchasing until clearer bullish signals emerge.

Technical Analysis

The technical indicators are mixed. The MACD is negative and expanding downward, indicating bearish momentum. The RSI is neutral at 46.459, and the stock is trading below its pivot level of 356.987, with key support at 342.267. However, the moving averages (SMA_5 > SMA_20 > SMA_200) are bullish, suggesting longer-term strength.

Options Data

Bullish

Open Interest Put-Call Ratio

Bearish

Option Volume Put-Call Ratio

The open interest put-call ratio of 0.83 indicates a slight preference for calls, but the option volume put-call ratio of 1.58 suggests more puts are being traded, reflecting bearish sentiment.

Technical Summary

Sell

Buy

Positive Catalysts

Hedge funds are significantly increasing their positions, with a 1241.86% increase in buying over the last quarter. Analysts see potential regulatory-driven demand spillover and pricing support in the Less-than-Truckload (LTL) market. A favorable Supreme Court ruling on IEEPA tariffs could positively impact future freight demand.

Neutral/Negative Catalysts

Options data reflects bearish sentiment, and the Cass Freight Index indicates persistent high freight costs.

Financial Performance

In Q3 2025, Saia's revenue dropped by -0.29% YoY to $839.6M, net income declined by -6.93% YoY to $86.3M, and EPS fell by -6.94% YoY to $3.22. Gross margin also dropped by -1.94% YoY to 65.57%. These figures indicate a challenging financial environment.

Growth

Profitability

Efficiency

Analyst Ratings and Price Target Trends

Analyst ratings are mixed. While some firms like Citi and Stephens have upgraded their price targets significantly (e.g., Citi to $431 and Stephens to $414), others like Wolfe Research have downgraded the stock to Peer Perform. The consensus appears to be cautious optimism, with many analysts maintaining Hold or Neutral ratings.

18 Analyst Rating

Wall Street analysts forecast SAIA stock price to rise over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for SAIA is 350.29 USD with a low forecast of 250 USD and a high forecast of 431 USD. However, analyst price targets are subjective and often lag stock prices, so investors should focus on the objective reasons behind analyst rating changes, which better reflect the company's fundamentals.

9 Buy

9 Hold

0 Sell

Moderate Buy

Current: 349.870

Low

250

Averages

350.29

High

431

Current: 349.870

Low

250

Averages

350.29

High

431

Stifel

Hold

maintain

$343 -> $371

AI Analysis

2026-01-21

Reason

Stifel

Price Target

$343 -> $371

AI Analysis

2026-01-21

maintain

Hold

Reason

Stifel raised the firm's price target on Saia to $371 from $343 and keeps a Hold rating on the shares. The firm's base case expectation is for mid-to-high single digit percentage organic and regulatory-driven attrition in long-haul over-the-road supply this year and while it expects significantly less supply impact for Less-than-Truckload than it does in its Truckload group coverage, the firm believes tightening in truckload creates marginal demand spillover, as well as pricing support, the analyst tells investors in a Q4 earnings preview for the group.

TD Cowen

Hold

maintain

$283 -> $326

2026-01-09

Reason

TD Cowen

Price Target

$283 -> $326

2026-01-09

maintain

Hold

Reason

TD Cowen raised the firm's price target on Saia to $326 from $283 and keeps a Hold rating on the shares. The firm adjusted targets in the trucking group as part of a Q4 preview. The quarter likely saw modest peak and limited project work, but a carrier survey corroborates regulation-driven capacity attrition, which bodes well for 2026, the analyst tells investors in a research note.

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SAIA Should I Buy

SAIA Should I Buy

Should You Buy Saia Inc (SAIA) Today? Analysis, Price Targets, and 2026 Outlook.

Technical Analysis

Options Data

Technical Summary

Positive Catalysts

Neutral/Negative Catalysts

Financial Performance

Growth

Profitability

Efficiency

Analyst Ratings and Price Target Trends

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