New York, February 2, 2026, 14:52 EST — Regular session
- Shares of Saia jumped roughly 10% following a surge in transport stocks, sparked by a better-than-expected U.S. factory report
- Investors are positioning themselves ahead of Saia’s quarterly report and outlook set for Feb. 10
- Traders remain focused on shipment patterns and pricing amid a persistently uneven LTL freight market
Shares of Saia, Inc. climbed almost 10% on Monday, following a wider surge in transportation and other economically sensitive stocks. The move came after data revealed U.S. factory activity grew for the first time in a year.
The less-than-truckload carrier’s shares climbed 9.9%, reaching $368.19 in afternoon trading, up from last Friday’s close of $334.87.
This move is significant since freight stocks often react to shifts in industrial demand. The surge on Monday arrives just a week ahead of Saia’s earnings report, putting pressure on investors to gauge if recent growth indicators will translate quickly into higher shipment volumes and stronger pricing to boost margins.
U.S. stocks climbed across the board as investors reacted to better economic data and robust earnings reports. “The fundamentals are good and earnings are strong,” said Tim Ghriskey, senior portfolio strategist at Ingalls & Snyder in New York. Source: Reuters
Saia climbed along with other LTL and freight stocks. Old Dominion Freight Line jumped roughly 6.4%, while ArcBest and XPO each surged 7.8% during the session.
The Institute for Supply Management’s manufacturing PMI jumped to 52.6 in January, up from 47.9 in December, pushing back above the crucial 50 mark that signals expansion. Source: Prnewswire
Saia operates a national less-than-truckload (LTL) network, where shipments from various customers share space on the same trailer. This business is highly sensitive to shifts in inventories and factory production.
Saia plans to report its fourth-quarter results before the market opens on Tuesday, Feb. 10. The company will hold a conference call at 10 a.m. Eastern, it said. Source: Nasdaq
Investors will zero in on daily shipment patterns, weight per shipment, and “yield” — revenue per hundredweight — alongside the company’s cost management. Labor and network expenses tend to lag behind volume declines during slowdowns, making cost control crucial.
But one solid factory number isn’t enough to ensure a lift in LTL freight. If pricing weakens or volume growth lags, operating margins will stay under strain, even with stable costs.
