How did SAIA's Q4 earnings surprise impact its annual performance?

Saia's (SAIA) fourth-quarter (Q4) earnings beat expectations by $1 million, resulting in an annual earnings per share (EPS) increase of approximately $0.02:

1. **Q4 Earnings Beat Expectations**: Saia's Q4 diluted EPS was $2.84, with an EPS surprise of $0.01, indicating that the actual earnings exceeded expectations by 0.4%.

|code|Ticker|Name|Date|Basic Earnings per Share|EPS Surprise|market_code|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|SAIA|SAIA.O|Saia|20240331|3.4|-0.07|185|
|SAIA|SAIA.O|Saia|20240630|7.24|-0.17|185|
|SAIA|SAIA.O|Saia|20240930|10.72|-0.08|185|
|SAIA|SAIA.O|Saia|20241231|13.57|0.01|185|

2. **Impact on Annual EPS**:
- The Q4 earnings beat translates to an incremental $1 million in net income for the year.
- Assuming a uniform share count for simplicity, this adds approximately $0.02 to the annual EPS.
- This calculation is based on the formula: EPS = (Net Income - Dividends on Preferred Stock) / Average Outstanding Shares. The additional net income directly contributes to the numerator, thereby increasing the EPS.
3. **Conclusion**: Saia's Q4 earnings outperformance has a positive, albeit modest, impact on its annual EPS. The company's strong performance in Q4 bolsters its overall financial performance for the year, reflecting improved profitability and potentially enhancing shareholder value through higher EPS.