UPS vs ODFL vs FDX vs SAIA

For growth investors, Saia, Inc.

(SAIA) is the stronger pick with 0. 8% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -5. 5% for Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc. (ODFL). United Parcel Service, Inc. (UPS) offers the better valuation at 15. 3x trailing P/E (14. 1x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate FedEx Corporation (FDX) a "Buy" — based on 49 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 trailing P/E, United Parcel Service, Inc.

(UPS) is the cheapest at 15. 3x versus Saia, Inc. at 47. 2x. On forward P/E, United Parcel Service, Inc. is actually cheaper at 14. 1x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: United Parcel Service, Inc. wins at 0. 42x versus Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc. 's 3. 36x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Saia, Inc.

(SAIA) delivered a total return of +83. 3%, compared to -40. 0% for United Parcel Service, Inc. (UPS). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: SAIA returned +1568% versus UPS's +44. 7%. 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), United Parcel Service, Inc.

(UPS) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 90β versus Saia, Inc. 's 1. 90β — meaning SAIA is approximately 111% more volatile than UPS relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc. (ODFL) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 3% versus 199% for United Parcel Service, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Saia, Inc.

(SAIA) is pulling ahead at 0. 8% versus -5. 5% for Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc. (ODFL). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: FedEx Corporation grew EPS -2. 3% year-over-year, compared to -29. 6% for Saia, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, SAIA leads at 5. 0% 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.

Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc.

(ODFL) is the more profitable company, earning 18. 6% net margin versus 4. 7% for FedEx Corporation — meaning it keeps 18. 6% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: ODFL leads at 24. 8% versus 6. 9% for FDX. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — ODFL leads at 32. 2%, 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.

The PEG ratio (forward P/E divided by expected earnings growth rate) is the most precise measure of undervaluation relative to growth potential.

By this metric, United Parcel Service, Inc. (UPS) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 42x versus Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc. 's 3. 36x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, United Parcel Service, Inc. (UPS) trades at 14. 1x forward P/E versus 42. 3x for Saia, Inc. — 28. 1x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for UPS: 15. 1% to $115. 23.

In this comparison, UPS (6.

3% yield), FDX (1. 5% yield), ODFL (0. 6% yield) pay a dividend. SAIA does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc.

(ODFL) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (0. 6% yield, +841. 8% 10Y return). Saia, Inc. (SAIA) carries a higher beta of 1. 90 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (ODFL: +841. 8%, SAIA: +1568%), 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.

In terms of investment character: UPS is a mid-cap deep-value stock; ODFL is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; FDX is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; SAIA is a mid-cap quality compounder stock. UPS, ODFL, FDX pay a dividend while SAIA does not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. 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.