Principal Financial Group Inc. Has $27.09 Million Stock Holdings in Saia, Inc. (NASDAQ:SAIA)

Principal Financial Group Inc. decreased its holdings in shares of Saia, Inc. (NASDAQ:SAIA - Free Report) by 30.2% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 61,946 shares of the transportation company's stock after selling 26,785 shares during the quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. owned approximately 0.23% of Saia worth $27,087,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the business. Oddo BHF Asset Management Sas acquired a new stake in Saia in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $1,408,000. MML Investors Services LLC raised its position in shares of Saia by 89.8% in the third quarter. MML Investors Services LLC now owns 4,313 shares of the transportation company's stock valued at $1,886,000 after purchasing an additional 2,041 shares during the period. BRITISH COLUMBIA INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT Corp acquired a new stake in shares of Saia in the third quarter worth $22,979,000. BNP Paribas Financial Markets boosted its holdings in shares of Saia by 61.7% during the 3rd quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets now owns 3,698 shares of the transportation company's stock worth $1,617,000 after buying an additional 1,411 shares during the period. Finally, Franklin Resources Inc. grew its stake in Saia by 6.0% in the 3rd quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 68,474 shares of the transportation company's stock valued at $31,633,000 after buying an additional 3,886 shares during the last quarter.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

SAIA has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. Stifel Nicolaus lowered shares of Saia from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating and cut their target price for the stock from $440.00 to $437.00 in a research report on Monday, October 21st. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price objective on Saia from $400.00 to $410.00 and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a research report on Thursday, September 5th. Barclays raised their target price on Saia from $515.00 to $620.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a report on Wednesday, November 13th. Benchmark reiterated a "buy" rating and set a $480.00 price target on shares of Saia in a report on Thursday, September 19th. Finally, Bank of America increased their price objective on Saia from $443.00 to $460.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Thursday, September 5th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have issued a hold rating and twelve have assigned a buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $514.88.

Saia Price Performance

Saia stock traded up $11.18 during mid-day trading on Wednesday, hitting $476.03. 98,784 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 385,189. Saia, Inc. has a 1-year low of $358.90 and a 1-year high of $628.34. The company has a quick ratio of 1.26, a current ratio of 1.26 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.08. The business has a fifty day moving average of $510.23 and a 200 day moving average of $459.10. The company has a market capitalization of $12.66 billion, a PE ratio of 34.00, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.96 and a beta of 1.74.

Saia (NASDAQ:SAIA - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Friday, October 25th. The transportation company reported $3.46 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $3.53 by ($0.07). The firm had revenue of $842.10 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $839.82 million. Saia had a return on equity of 18.00% and a net margin of 11.83%. The company's revenue for the quarter was up 8.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $3.67 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that Saia, Inc. will post 13.51 earnings per share for the current year.

Insider Transactions at Saia

In related news, EVP Rohit Lal sold 1,120 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Thursday, November 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $560.00, for a total value of $627,200.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 8,270 shares in the company, valued at $4,631,200. This trade represents a 11.93 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Company insiders own 0.30% of the company's stock.

Saia Profile

Saia, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a transportation company in North America. The company provides less-than-truckload services for shipments between 100 and 10,000 pounds; and other value-added services, including non-asset truckload, expedited, and logistics services. It also offers other value-added services, including non-asset truckload, expedited, and logistics services.