SNDR vs WERN

For growth investors, Schneider National, Inc.

(SNDR) is the stronger pick with 7. 3% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -1. 8% for Werner Enterprises, Inc. (WERN). Schneider National, Inc. (SNDR) offers the better valuation at 51. 9x trailing P/E (35. 5x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Schneider National, Inc. (SNDR) a "Hold" — based on 25 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.

On forward P/E, Schneider National, Inc.

is actually cheaper at 35. 5x.

Over the past 5 years, Schneider National, Inc.

(SNDR) delivered a total return of +23. 2%, compared to -19. 0% for Werner Enterprises, Inc. (WERN). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: SNDR returned +86. 1% versus WERN's +78. 1%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Werner Enterprises, Inc.

(WERN) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 24β versus Schneider National, Inc. 's 1. 27β — meaning SNDR is approximately 3% more volatile than WERN relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Schneider National, Inc. (SNDR) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 19% versus 54% for Werner Enterprises, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Schneider National, Inc.

(SNDR) is pulling ahead at 7. 3% versus -1. 8% for Werner Enterprises, Inc. (WERN). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Schneider National, Inc. grew EPS -10. 6% year-over-year, compared to -143. 6% for Werner Enterprises, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, WERN leads at -3. 3% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.

Schneider National, Inc.

(SNDR) is the more profitable company, earning 1. 8% net margin versus -0. 5% for Werner Enterprises, Inc. — meaning it keeps 1. 8% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: SNDR leads at 3. 0% versus 2. 3% for WERN. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — WERN leads at 5. 8%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.

On forward earnings alone, Schneider National, Inc.

(SNDR) trades at 35. 5x forward P/E versus 39. 8x for Werner Enterprises, Inc. — 4. 3x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for WERN: -0. 8% to $36. 10.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Werner Enterprises, Inc. (WERN) offers the highest yield at 1. 5%, versus 1. 2% for Schneider National, Inc. (SNDR).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Werner Enterprises, Inc.

(WERN) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1. 24), 1. 5% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (WERN: +78. 1%, SNDR: +86. 1%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.

Both stocks operate in the Industrials sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.

These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.