Saia (NASDAQ:SAIA – Get Free Report) and West Japan Railway (OTCMKTS:WJRYY – Get Free Report) are both mid-cap industrials companies, but which is the better business? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their profitability, valuation, analyst recommendations, risk, earnings, dividends and institutional ownership.
Profitability
This table compares Saia and West Japan Railway’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.
| Net Margins | Return on Equity | Return on Assets | |
| Saia | 8.01% | 10.53% | 7.74% |
| West Japan Railway | 6.17% | 9.05% | 3.09% |
Analyst Recommendations
This is a breakdown of recent ratings and recommmendations for Saia and West Japan Railway, as provided by MarketBeat.
| Sell Ratings | Hold Ratings | Buy Ratings | Strong Buy Ratings | Rating Score | |
| Saia | 1 | 6 | 14 | 0 | 2.62 |
| West Japan Railway | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2.00 |
Saia currently has a consensus target price of $432.26, suggesting a potential upside of 27.30%. Given Saia’s stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, analysts plainly believe Saia is more favorable than West Japan Railway.
Valuation and Earnings
This table compares Saia and West Japan Railway”s revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.
| Gross Revenue | Price/Sales Ratio | Net Income | Earnings Per Share | Price/Earnings Ratio | |
| Saia | $3.23 billion | 2.80 | $255.04 million | $10.55 | 32.19 |
| West Japan Railway | $12.26 billion | 0.76 | $841.49 million | $1.59 | 12.79 |
West Japan Railway has higher revenue and earnings than Saia. West Japan Railway is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Saia, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.
Risk and Volatility
Saia has a beta of 2.09, suggesting that its stock price is 109% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, West Japan Railway has a beta of 0.12, suggesting that its stock price is 88% less volatile than the S&P 500.
Summary
Saia beats West Japan Railway on 10 of the 12 factors compared between the two stocks.
About Saia
Saia, Inc. is a transportation company best known for its less-than-truckload (LTL) freight services, which combine shipments from multiple customers in a single truck. Its offerings include regional and interregional freight transportation, expedited and guaranteed services, and logistics solutions. Founded in 1924 in Houma, Louisiana, Saia has grown from a regional carrier into a network serving the contiguous United States. The company is headquartered in Johns Creek, Georgia, and also arranges service to Canada and Mexico through its transportation network and partners.
About West Japan Railway
West Japan Railway Company, commonly known as JR West, is a passenger rail operator serving western Japan. Its network includes conventional rail lines across the Kansai, Chugoku and Hokuriku regions, as well as the Sanyo Shinkansen, which connects Osaka with Hakata in Fukuoka. Established in 1987 as part of the breakup and privatization of Japan National Railways, JR West provides intercity and regional transportation, including commuter services in major urban areas such as Osaka, Kyoto and Kobe.
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