Saia Reports Fourth Quarter Earnings per Share of

JOHNS CREEK, GA--(Marketwired - Feb 3, 2017) - Saia, Inc. ( NASDAQ : SAIA ), a leading transportation provider offering multi-regional less-than-truckload (LTL), non-asset truckload, expedited and logistics services, today reported fourth quarter and year-end 2016 financial results.

Fourth Quarter 2016 Compared to Fourth Quarter 2015 Results

• Revenues were $300.2 million, a 4.4% increase despite one less workday
• Operating income decreased 2.4% to $17.2 million
• Net income fell 9.1% to $10.3 million
• Diluted earnings per share were $0.40 compared to $0.45
• Operating ratio deteriorated by 40 basis points to 94.3
• LTL shipments per workday increased 2.1%
• LTL tonnage per workday increased 1.4%
• LTL revenue per hundredweight increased 5.1%

2016 Results Compared to 2015 Results

• Revenues were essentially flat at $1.2 billion
• Operating income fell by 12.0% to $79.1 million
• Net income of $48.0 million was 12.7% lower than the prior year
• Diluted earnings per share were $1.87 versus the $2.16 earned in 2015 
• Operating ratio of 93.5 compares to 92.6 last year
• LTL shipments were down 0.7%
• LTL tonnage declined 2.4%
• LTL revenue per hundredweight increased 3.2%

"We were encouraged by shipment and tonnage per workday trends in the fourth quarter and our results reflected some of the same themes we saw in the business all year," said Saia President and Chief Executive Officer, Rick O'Dell. "We continued our very positive pricing actions and saw fourth quarter contractual renewals average 5.2%. Customer service standards remain very high and we achieved a cargo claims ratio of 0.74% in the fourth quarter compared to 0.97% in the fourth quarter last year. It is with our customers in mind that we turn our sights towards opportunities in 2017 and beyond. We at Saia are all excited about the prospects of serving our customers in an expanded geography. We are moving forward with plans to begin service in select markets in Pennsylvania and New Jersey in the second quarter. These are the first steps in our multi-year strategy of becoming a 48-state LTL service provider," O'Dell continued.

"We continue to see productivity improvements across the network offset some of the ongoing cost challenges in the business. On the cost side, the year-over results were impacted by a couple of trends. First of all, depreciation and amortization expense was up 17.2% in the fourth quarter, a reflection of the significant investments we are making in our fleet, real estate and information technology. The benefits of a newer fleet accrue to us in the form of lower maintenance costs, better reliability, advanced safety technology in our tractors and better fuel mileage. The other significant expense item was our claims and insurance line, which increased by more than $4 million in the fourth quarter versus the prior year. The increase was not the result of one or two major accidents, rather it reflects the general inflationary trends in the costs of settlement and litigation in the trucking industry," O'Dell concluded.

Financial Position and Capital Expenditures

Total debt was $73.8 million at December 31, 2016 and inclusive of the cash on-hand, net debt to total capital was 13.0% at year end. This compares to total debt of $69.0 million and net debt to total capital of 13.9% at December 31, 2015.

Net capital expenditures in 2016 were $152 million including equipment acquired with capital leases. This compares to $113 million in net capital expenditures in 2015, which included equipment acquired with capital leases, but excluded the acquisition of LinkEx. The Company currently plans net capital expenditures in 2017 of approximately $200 million.

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 888-724-9518 or 913-312-1496 referencing conference ID #4025429. Callers should dial in five to ten minutes in advance of the conference call. This call will be webcast live via the Company web site at www.saiacorp.com . A replay of the call will be offered two hours after the completion of the call through Friday, March 31, 2017 at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time. The replay will be available by dialing 1-888-203-1112 or 719-457-0820.

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 148 terminals in 34 states. For more information on Saia, Inc. visit the Investor Relations section at www.saiacorp.com .

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 contains 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. 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, assumptions and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, (1) general economic conditions including downturns in the business cycle; (2) effectiveness of Company-specific performance improvement initiatives, including management of the cost structure to match shifts in customer volume levels; (3) the creditworthiness of our customers and their ability to pay for services; (4) failure to achieve acquisition synergies; (5) failure to operate and grow acquired businesses in a manner that supports the value allocated to these acquired businesses, including their goodwill; (6) economic declines in the geographic regions or industries in which our customers operate; (7) competitive initiatives and pricing pressures, including in connection with fuel surcharge; (8) loss of significant customers; (9) the Company's need for capital and uncertainty of the credit markets; (10) the possibility of defaults under the Company's debt agreements (including violation of financial covenants); (11) possible issuance of equity which would dilute stock ownership; (12) integration risks; (13) the effect of litigation including class action lawsuits; (14) cost and availability of qualified drivers, fuel, purchased transportation, real property, revenue equipment and other assets; (15) governmental regulations, including but not limited to Hours of Service, engine emissions, the Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA) initiative, compliance with legislation requiring companies to evaluate their internal control over financial reporting, Homeland Security, environmental regulations and the Food and Drug Administration; (16) changes in interpretation of accounting principles; (17) dependence on key employees; (18) inclement weather; (19) labor relations, including the adverse impact should a portion of the Company's workforce become unionized; (20) terrorism risks; (21) self-insurance claims and other expense volatility; (22) cost and availability of insurance coverage; (23) increased costs of healthcare and prescription drugs, including as a result of healthcare reform legislation; (24) social media risks; (25) cyber security risk; and (26) 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. 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.

Saia, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Amounts in thousands)
(Unaudited)
				December 31, 2016				December 31, 2015
ASSETS
CURRENT ASSETS:
	Cash and cash equivalents			$	1,539			$	124
	Accounts receivable, net				135,083				124,222
	Prepaid expenses and other				29,857				34,643
		Total current assets			166,479				158,989
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT:
	Cost				1,101,946				995,514
	Less: accumulated depreciation				497,827				456,335
		Net property and equipment			604,119				539,179
OTHER ASSETS					29,772				31,025
		Total assets		$	800,370			$	729,193
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
	Accounts payable			$	45,149			$	54,754
	Wages and employees' benefits				31,700				27,834
	Other current liabilities				51,333				46,360
	Current portion of long-term debt				16,762				12,432
		Total current liabilities			144,944				141,380
OTHER LIABILITIES:
	Long-term debt, less current portion				57,041				56,540
	Deferred income taxes				80,199				67,417
	Claims, insurance and other				35,108				35,967
		Total other liabilities			172,348				159,924
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY:
	Common stock				25				25
	Additional paid-in capital				237,846				230,593
	Deferred compensation trust				(3,190	)			(3,102	)
	Retained earnings				248,397				200,373
		Total stockholders' equity			483,078				427,889
		Total liabilities and stockholders' equity		$	800,370			$	729,193

Saia, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Operations
For the Quarters and Years Ended December 31, 2016 and 2015
(Amounts in thousands, except per share data)
(Unaudited)
				Fourth Quarter								Years
				2016				2015				2016				2015
OPERATING REVENUE				$	300,223			$	287,610			$	1,218,481			$	1,221,311
OPERATING EXPENSES:
	Salaries, wages and employees' benefits				171,169				164,356				696,046				670,173
	Purchased transportation				13,890				13,399				56,329				70,611
	Fuel, operating expenses and supplies				57,953				59,955				230,364				261,387
	Operating taxes and licenses				9,798				9,238				40,025				37,003
	Claims and insurance				10,676				6,488				39,625				26,832
	Depreciation and amortization				19,330				16,495				76,240				65,020
	Operating loss, net				220				63				716				310
		Total operating expenses			283,036				269,994				1,139,345				1,131,336
OPERATING INCOME					17,187				17,616				79,136				89,975
NONOPERATING EXPENSES (INCOME):
	Interest expense				984				981				4,394				4,107
	Other, net				(30	)			(76	)			(177	)			(95	)
		Nonoperating expenses, net			954				905				4,217				4,012
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES					16,233				16,711				74,919				85,963
Income tax expense					5,885				5,324				26,895				30,947
NET INCOME				$	10,348			$	11,387			$	48,024			$	55,016
Average common shares outstanding - basic					25,084				24,972				25,038				24,919
Average common shares outstanding - diluted					25,782				25,483				25,680				25,471
Basic earnings per share				$	0.41			$	0.46			$	1.92			$	2.21
Diluted earnings per share				$	0.40			$	0.45			$	1.87			$	2.16

Saia, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
For the Years Ended December 31, 2016 and 2015
(Amounts in thousands)
(Unaudited)
				Years
				2016				2015
OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net cash provided by operating activities				$	145,776			$	142,714
		Net cash provided by operating activities			145,776				142,714
INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
	Acquisition of business, net of cash received				-				(22,238	)
	Acquisition of property and equipment				(119,365	)			(86,499	)
	Proceeds from disposal of property and equipment				1,682				818
		Net cash used in investing activities			(117,683	)			(107,919	)
FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
	Repayment of long-term debt				(7,143	)			(7,143	)
	Repayment of revolving credit agreement, net				(14,534	)			(30,466	)
	Proceeds from stock option exercises				3,173				2,533
	Other financing activity				(8,174	)			(3,962	)
		Net cash used in financing activities			(26,678	)			(39,038	)
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS					1,415				(4,243	)
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, BEGINNING OF PERIOD					124				4,367
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, END OF PERIOD				$	1,539			$	124
NON-CASH ITEMS:
	Equipment financed with capital leases			$	34,683			$	27,054

Saia, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Financial Information
For the Quarters Ended December 31, 2016 and 2015
(Unaudited)
															Fourth Quarter
				Fourth Quarter								%			Amount/Workday				%
				2016				2015				Change			2016		2015		Change
Workdays															61		62
Operating ratio					94.3	%			93.9	%
Tonnage (1)		LTL			842				844			(0.2	)		13.80		13.61		1.4
		TL			172				165			4.3			2.83		2.67		6.0
Shipments (1)		LTL			1,506				1,499			0.5			24.69		24.18		2.1
		TL			24				24			2.3			0.40		0.38		4.0
Revenue/cwt. (2)		LTL		$	16.45			$	15.66			5.1
		TL		$	5.61			$	5.84			(3.9	)
Revenue/shipment (2)		LTL		$	183.91			$	176.23			4.4
		TL		$	798.53			$	815.23			(2.0	)
Pounds/shipment		LTL			1,118				1,125			(0.7	)
		TL			14,237				13,969			1.9
Length of Haul (3)					792				775			2.2

(1)	In thousands
(2)	Revenue does not include the adjustment required for financial statement purposes in accordance with the Company's revenue recognition policy and other revenue.
(3)	In miles

Saia, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Financial Information
For the Years Ended December 31, 2016 and 2015
(Unaudited)
															Year Over Year
				Year Over Year								%			Amount/Workday				%
				2016				2015				Change			2016		2015		Change
Workdays															253		253
Operating ratio					93.5	%			92.6	%
Tonnage (1)		LTL			3,541				3,628			(2.4	)		14.00		14.34		(2.4	)
		TL			705				741			(4.9	)		2.79		2.93		(4.9	)
Shipments (1)		LTL			6,335				6,381			(0.7	)		25.04		25.22		(0.7	)
		TL			100				106			(5.7	)		0.39		0.42		(5.7	)
Revenue/cwt. (2)		LTL		$	15.93			$	15.44			3.2
		TL		$	5.56			$	5.88			(5.5	)
Revenue/shipment (2)		LTL		$	178.13			$	175.55			1.5
		TL		$	785.65			$	823.86			(4.6	)
Pounds/shipment		LTL			1,118				1,137			(1.7	)
		TL			14,126				14,003			0.9
Length of Haul (3)					787				775			1.5

(1)	In thousands
(2)	Revenue does not include the adjustment required for financial statement purposes in accordance with the Company's revenue recognition policy and other revenue.
(3)	In miles