SAIA vs JBHT: which was the better investment?
Saia, Inc. against J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. on real daily total-return data — every dividend reinvested, from Sep 11, 2002 to Jul 15, 2026.
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Frequently asked questions
Did SAIA beat JBHT?
No — measured from Sep 11, 2002 to Jul 15, 2026 with dividends reinvested, JBHT came out ahead: $586,670 versus $439,148 from a $10,000 start. That gap compounds from a 18.6% annual return against 17.2%.
What would $10,000 in SAIA be worth today?
$10,000 invested in Saia, Inc. (SAIA) on Sep 11, 2002 would be worth about $439,148 as of Jul 15, 2026, a total return of 4291.5% (17.2% per year). The same $10,000 in JBHT would be worth $586,670.
Which was riskier — SAIA or JBHT?
SAIA swung with an annualized volatility of 47.9% and a worst peak-to-trough drop of -80.4%; JBHT ran at 31.8% volatility with a -53.1% maximum drawdown. Risk-adjusted (Sharpe ratio), that is 0.32 for SAIA vs 0.52 for JBHT.
What data is this comparison based on?
Daily adjusted closing prices covering Sep 11, 2002 through Jul 15, 2026 — the full period where both assets have price history. Adjusted prices include dividends and splits, so these are total returns. The page refreshes with new market data every day.
Can I change the dates, amounts, or add monthly investing?
Yes — the interactive tool on this page is pre-loaded with SAIA vs JBHT. You can set any start and end date, change the starting amount, add monthly contributions, or build a multi-asset portfolio and compare it against any benchmark.