SAIA vs UPS: which was the better investment?
Saia, Inc. against United Parcel Service, Inc. on real daily total-return data — every dividend reinvested, from Sep 11, 2002 to Jul 13, 2026.
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Frequently asked questions
Did SAIA beat UPS?
Yes — measured from Sep 11, 2002 to Jul 13, 2026 with dividends reinvested, SAIA came out ahead: $446,959 versus $36,990 from a $10,000 start. That gap compounds from a 17.3% annual return against 5.6%.
What would $10,000 in SAIA be worth today?
$10,000 invested in Saia, Inc. (SAIA) on Sep 11, 2002 would be worth about $446,959 as of Jul 13, 2026, a total return of 4369.6% (17.3% per year). The same $10,000 in UPS would be worth $36,990.
Which was riskier — SAIA or UPS?
SAIA swung with an annualized volatility of 47.9% and a worst peak-to-trough drop of -80.4%; UPS ran at 24.1% volatility with a -57.9% maximum drawdown. Risk-adjusted (Sharpe ratio), that is 0.32 for SAIA vs 0.15 for UPS.
What data is this comparison based on?
Daily adjusted closing prices covering Sep 11, 2002 through Jul 13, 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 UPS. 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.