Core Insights - Soapstone Management sold its entire stake in Saia, amounting to 23,750 shares valued at $6.51 million, during the third quarter of 2025, resulting in a complete exit from the stock [2][3] - The sale reduced Soapstone's exposure to Saia by 4.4% of its reportable assets, and as of September 30, 2025, Saia no longer contributed to the fund's assets under management (AUM) [3] Company Overview - Saia, Inc. is a prominent North American provider of less-than-truckload (LTL) freight transportation, operating a large fleet and extensive terminal network [5][8] - As of December 5, 2025, Saia's stock price was $330.91, with a market capitalization of $8.81 billion, revenue of $3.23 billion, and net income of $283.62 million for the trailing twelve months (TTM) [4] Market Performance - Saia shares experienced a one-year decline of 36%, underperforming the S&P 500 by 49 percentage points [3] - Despite recent challenges, Saia has been acquiring terminals from former competitor Yellow, positioning itself for potential recovery as market conditions improve [11] Investment Perspective - The LTL industry is currently in a cyclical trough, and while Soapstone's exit may reflect a search for better short-term opportunities, Saia is viewed as a long-term buy-and-hold investment, still 45% below its all-time high [10][12]

Core Insights - Covenant Logistics Group reported lower third-quarter earnings due to overcapacity and muted freight demand impacting the trucking industry [1][2] - Adjusted earnings per share were $0.44, down from $0.54 in Q3 2024, while total revenue increased by 2.8% year-over-year to $296.9 million [1][5] Financial Performance - The truckload segment's operating income fell to $9.2 million from $23.1 million a year earlier, affected by rising insurance, wages, and maintenance costs [2] - Freight revenue per total mile increased by 5% year-over-year, but lower utilization led to a decline in overall efficiency [3] - The expedited segment's freight revenue decreased by 9% year-over-year to $80.2 million, while dedicated operations grew by 11% year-over-year to $91.6 million, driven by new contracts in the protein supply chain [3] Future Outlook - The company anticipates a decline in fourth-quarter adjusted earnings per share, citing reduced contributions from its transport enterprise leasing affiliate and the loss of a major managed freight customer [4] - Covenant is evaluating contracts in its truckload business for potential improvements or exits, expecting modest contraction in its combined truckload fleet while focusing on growth in asset-light segments [2]