JOHNS CREEK, Ga., Feb. 02, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Saia, Inc. (Nasdaq: SAIA), a leading transportation provider offering national less-than-truckload (LTL), non-asset truckload, expedited and logistics services, today reported fourth quarter 2023 financial results.  Diluted earnings per share for the quarter were $3.33 compared to $2.65 in the fourth quarter of 2022.  Full year diluted earnings per share were $13.26 in 2023 compared to $13.40 in 2022.

Highlights from the fourth quarter and full year operating results were as follows:

Fourth Quarter 2023 Compared to Fourth Quarter 2022 Results

• Revenue was $751.1 million, a 14.5% increase
• Operating income was $112.7 million, a 21.5% increase
• Operating ratio of 85.0% compared to 85.9%
• LTL shipments per workday increased 18.1%
• LTL tonnage per workday increased 8.2%
• LTL revenue per hundredweight, excluding fuel surcharge revenue, increased 11.7%
• LTL revenue per shipment, excluding fuel surcharge revenue, increased 2.4%

Full Year 2023 Results Compared to Full Year 2022 Results

• Revenue was $2.9 billion, a 3.2% increase
• Operating income was $460.5 million, a 2.1% decrease
• Operating ratio of 84.0% compared to 83.1%
• LTL shipments per workday increased 4.3%
• LTL tonnage per workday increased 1.7%
• LTL revenue per hundredweight, excluding fuel surcharge revenue, increased 6.9%
• LTL revenue per shipment, excluding fuel surcharge revenue, increased 4.2%

Saia President and CEO, Fritz Holzgrefe, commented on the quarter stating, “I am pleased to bring 2023 to a close by reporting that our fourth quarter operating ratio improved by 90 basis points year-over-year to 85.0%.  Our market share gains have been meaningful since last summer's industry disruption, and it has been very satisfying for our organization to step up and provide excellent service to both new and existing customers.  To this end, we have onboarded nearly 1,500 new associates since the end of the second quarter and closed the year with just under 14,000 employees company-wide.”

“We ended the fourth quarter by being the winning bidder for the purchase of 17 terminals, along with lease rights for 11 additional terminal properties.  We completed the acquisition of these properties in mid-January. These terminals, once opened, will allow us to provide direct coverage in new markets, add density in existing markets and serve as replacement terminals for some of our existing leased and owned facilities.  In 2024, we have plans to open 15-20 new terminals and will relocate from a handful of existing properties into new locations,” continued Holzgrefe.

“Saia celebrates its 100^th anniversary in 2024, and our future has never been brighter.  As we add direct service to new geographies, we are rounding out our value proposition through a strong service offering, including a claims ratio of 0.63% in 2023, which is among the best in our industry. Our customers who value that level of quality have shown that they will increasingly use our service when we add new coverage areas,” said Holzgrefe.

“Moving into 2024, we remain focused on operational excellence in order to meet customer expectations.  In doing so, we are able to price for that high level of service which is key to achieving our profitability goals,” concluded Holzgrefe.

Financial Position and Capital Expenditures

We ended 2023 with $296.2 million of cash on hand and total debt of $16.5 million, which compares to $187.4 million of cash on hand and total debt of $31.0 million at December 31, 2022.

Net capital expenditures were $437.2 million during 2023, compared to $365.5 million in net capital expenditures during 2022.  In 2024, we anticipate that net capital expenditures will be approximately $1 billion, subject to ongoing evaluation of market conditions.

Conference Call

Management will hold a conference call to discuss quarterly results today at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time. To participate in the call, please dial 1-888-440-5655 or 1-646-960-0338 referencing conference ID #9246157. Callers should dial in five to ten minutes in advance of the conference call. This call will be webcast live via the Company website at www.saia.com/about-us/investor-relations/financial-releases. A replay of the call will be offered two hours after the completion of the call through March 3, 2024 at 11:59 P.M. Eastern Time. The replay will be available by dialing 1-800-770-2030 or 1-647-362-9199 referencing conference ID #9246157.

Saia, Inc. (NASDAQ: SAIA) offers customers a wide range of less-than-truckload, non-asset truckload, expedited and logistics services.  With headquarters in Georgia, Saia LTL Freight operates 194 terminals with service across 45 states.  For more information on Saia, Inc. visit the Investor Relations section at www.saia.com/about-us/investor-relations.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

The Securities and Exchange Commission encourages companies to disclose forward-looking information so that investors can better understand the future prospects of a company and make informed investment decisions. This news release may contain these types of statements, which are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.

Words such as “anticipate,” “estimate,” “expect,” “project,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “predict,” “believe,” “should” and similar words or expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, except as required by law. All forward-looking statements reflect the present expectation of future events of our management as of the date of this news release and are subject to a number of important factors, risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in any forward-looking statements. These factors, risks, uncertainties and assumptions include, but are not limited to, (1) general economic conditions including downturns or inflationary periods in the business cycle; (2) operation within a highly competitive industry and the adverse impact from downward pricing pressures, including in connection with fuel surcharges, and other factors; (3) industry-wide external factors largely out of our control; (4) cost and availability of qualified drivers, dock workers, mechanics and other employees, purchased transportation and fuel; (5) inflationary increases in operating expenses and corresponding reductions of profitability; (6) cost and availability of diesel fuel and fuel surcharges; (7) cost and availability of insurance coverage and claims expenses and other expense volatility, including for personal injury, cargo loss and damage, workers’ compensation, employment and group health plan claims; (8) failure to successfully execute the strategy to expand our service geography; (9) costs and liabilities from the disruption in or failure of our technology or equipment essential to our operations, including as a result of cyber incidents, security breaches, malware or ransomware attacks; (10) failure to keep pace with technological developments; (11) labor relations, including the adverse impact should a portion of our workforce become unionized; (12) cost, availability and resale value of real property and revenue equipment; (13) supply chain disruption and delays on new equipment delivery; (14) capacity and highway infrastructure constraints; (15) risks arising from international business operations and relationships; (16) seasonal factors, harsh weather and disasters caused by climate change; (17) economic declines in the geographic regions or industries in which our customers operate; (18) the creditworthiness of our customers and their ability to pay for services; (19) our need for capital and uncertainty of the credit markets; (20) the possibility of defaults under our debt agreements, including violation of financial covenants; (21) inaccuracies and changes to estimates and assumptions used in preparing our financial statements; (22) failure to operate and grow acquired businesses in a manner that support the value allocated to acquired businesses; (23) dependence on key employees; (24) employee turnover from changes to compensation and benefits or market factors; (25) increased costs of healthcare benefits; (26) damage to our reputation from adverse publicity, including from the use of or impact from social media; (27) failure to make future acquisitions or to achieve acquisition synergies; (28) the effect of litigation and class action lawsuits arising from the operation of our business, including the possibility of claims or judgments in excess of our insurance coverages or that result in increases in the cost of insurance coverage or that preclude us from obtaining adequate insurance coverage in the future; (29) the potential of higher corporate taxes and new regulations, including with respect to climate change, employment and labor law, healthcare and securities regulation; (30) the effect of governmental regulations, including hours of service and licensing compliance for drivers, engine emissions, the Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA) initiative, regulations of the Food and Drug Administration and Homeland Security, and healthcare and environmental regulations; (31) unforeseen costs from new and existing data privacy laws; (32) changes in accounting and financial standards or practices; (33) widespread outbreak of an illness or any other communicable disease, including the COVID-19 pandemic; (34) international conflicts and geopolitical instability; (35) increasing investor and customer sensitivity to social and sustainability issues, including climate change; (36)  provisions in our governing documents and Delaware law that may have anti-takeover effects; (37) issuances of equity that would dilute stock ownership; (38) weakness, disruption or loss of confidence in financial or credit markets; and (39) other financial, operational and legal risks and uncertainties detailed from time to time in the Company’s SEC filings.

As a result of these and other factors, no assurance can be given as to our future results and achievements. Accordingly, a forward-looking statement is neither a prediction nor a guarantee of future events or circumstances and those future events or circumstances may not occur. You should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this news release. We are under no obligation, and we expressly disclaim any obligation, to update or alter any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as otherwise required by law.