MACON, Ga.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Blue Bird Corporation (Nasdaq: BLBD), the leader in electric and clean-emission school buses, today announced that Phil Horlock, former Chief Executive Officer and a member of the company's Board of Directors, will be stepping down from the Board, effective immediately. Phil served as President & CEO of Blue Bird for more than 12 years, leading the organization through a period of transformative growth, operational excellence, and long-term value creation. Follo. ...

Key Takeaways U.S. auto sales are expected to near 16M units in 2026 as pricing, inventory and dealer supply normalize.Long-term growth themes like electrification, autonomy and affordability continue to shape demand.Analysts favor GTX, BLBD, SMP and WRD for their positioning across turbo tech, aftermarket parts and EVs/AVs.The auto industry in 2025 navigated policy uncertainty and shifting incentives. Early tariff concerns pulled demand forward as buyers rushed to purchase vehicles ahead of possible price ...

Company Performance - Blue Bird (BLBD) closed at $50.74, down 2.12% from the previous trading session, which is less than the S&P 500's daily loss of 0.03% [1] - Over the past month, shares of Blue Bird have decreased by 1.71%, underperforming the Auto-Tires-Trucks sector, which gained 12.09%, and the S&P 500, which gained 2.57% [1] Upcoming Earnings - Blue Bird is expected to report an EPS of $0.8, reflecting a decrease of 13.04% from the prior-year quarter, with anticipated revenue of $350 million, indicating an 11.51% increase from the same quarter last year [2] Annual Estimates - For the annual period, Zacks Consensus Estimates project earnings of $4.21 per share and revenue of $1.57 billion, representing changes of -3.88% and +5.74% respectively from the previous year [3] Analyst Sentiment - Recent changes to analyst estimates for Blue Bird suggest optimism regarding the business and profitability, as positive revisions typically reflect favorable near-term business trends [3] Zacks Rank - Blue Bird currently holds a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy), with the consensus EPS projection having increased by 1.63% in the past 30 days [5] Valuation Metrics - Blue Bird has a Forward P/E ratio of 12.31, which is lower than the industry average of 16.69, indicating that Blue Bird is trading at a discount [6] - The company has a PEG ratio of 2.37, compared to the industry average PEG ratio of 1.97 [6] Industry Overview - The Automotive - Domestic industry, which includes Blue Bird, has a Zacks Industry Rank of 76, placing it in the top 31% of over 250 industries [7] - Research indicates that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1 [7]

Key Takeaways Global EV sales hit about 18.5M YTD in 2025, up 21%, with EVs making up over one-quarter of new cars sold.Europe drove growth as November EV sales rose 36% year over year, helped by new incentives and more models.General Motors, BorgWarner and Blue Bird are positioned to benefit as EV adoption expands into 2026.Global electric vehicle sales reached approximately 2 million units in November 2025, bringing year-to-date sales to around 18.5 million vehicles, per Benchmark Mineral Intelligence rep ...

Core Insights - Artificial intelligence (AI) is identified as the greatest investment opportunity of the current era, with a strong emphasis on the urgency to invest now [1][13] - The energy demands of AI technologies are highlighted, with data centers consuming as much energy as small cities, leading to concerns about power grid strain and rising electricity prices [2][3] Investment Opportunity - A specific company is positioned as a critical player in the AI energy sector, owning essential energy infrastructure assets that will benefit from the increasing energy demands of AI [3][7] - This company is not a chipmaker or cloud platform but is described as a "toll booth" operator in the AI energy boom, collecting fees from energy exports [5][6] Financial Position - The company is noted for being debt-free and holding a significant cash reserve, amounting to nearly one-third of its market capitalization, which positions it favorably compared to other energy firms burdened with debt [8][10] - It is trading at less than 7 times earnings, indicating a potentially undervalued investment opportunity in the context of its critical role in the AI and energy sectors [10][12] Market Trends - The article discusses the broader trends of onshoring driven by tariffs and a surge in U.S. LNG exports, which the company is well-positioned to capitalize on [14][7] - The influx of talent into the AI sector is expected to drive rapid advancements and innovation, further solidifying the importance of investing in AI-related companies [12][11] Conclusion - The narrative emphasizes the urgency for investors to engage in the AI market, suggesting that the time to act is now to capitalize on the anticipated growth and disruption caused by AI technologies [13][15]

Key Takeaways Global EV adoption continues, supported by better batteries, faster charging and expanding infrastructure.China and emerging markets are driving EV growth, even as policy rollbacks slow adoption in the US and Europe.BLBD, WKHS, QS and CHPT are well positioned across buses, trucks, batteries & charging.Electric vehicles (EVs) are becoming a core part of global transportation. Advances in battery technology and a steady build-out of charging infrastructure are making EVs more practical and affor ...

In this article, we will discuss: 10 Best EV Stocks to Buy Heading into 2026.Bloomberg’s story on December 16, 2025, stated that after several years of fast expansion, the rise of electric vehicles has slowed globally, impacting employment, industry planning, and climate targets. Adoption of EVs is essential to achieving net-zero emissions since road transportation contributes about one-fifth of the world’s carbon dioxide emissions. Following years of industrial retooling and subsidies, momentum waned as go ...

Core Insights - The article emphasizes the author's extensive experience in investment and research, particularly in mid-sized hedge funds with assets ranging from $100 million to $500 million [1] - The investment strategy focuses on medium-term opportunities that have catalysts for value unlocking or downside risks for short selling, with a preference for growth stories at reasonable prices [1] Sector Preferences - The author has a generalist approach but has primarily analyzed the industrial, consumer, and technology sectors, indicating higher conviction in investments within these areas [1]

Blue Bird Corporation (NASDAQ:BLBD) is making significant strides in the electric vehicle market, indicating a strong future outlook. The company's financial health is robust, with a solid balance sheet and a $100 million buyback initiative, highlighting its confidence in future growth. Blue Bird's competitive positioning is strong, with a Zacks Rank of #2, suggesting a positive earnings outlook compared to Tesla's more moderate Zacks Rank of #3.Blue Bird Corporation, trading as NASDAQ:BLBD, is a prominent ...

Core Viewpoint - Blue Bird (BLBD) is set to report its earnings, with expectations of a decline in EPS but an increase in revenue compared to the previous year [2][3]. Financial Performance - The stock closed at $51.48, reflecting a +1.12% change from the previous day, outperforming the S&P 500's gain of 0.21% [1] - Over the past month, Blue Bird's shares have decreased by 1.36%, underperforming the Auto-Tires-Trucks sector, which gained 2.04% [1] - The upcoming earnings report is expected to show an EPS of $0.8, a decline of 13.04% year-over-year, while revenue is projected at $350 million, an increase of 11.51% [2] Earnings Estimates - Full-year estimates predict earnings of $4.21 per share and revenue of $1.57 billion, representing year-over-year changes of -3.88% and +5.74%, respectively [3] - Recent analyst estimate revisions indicate a 1.76% increase in the consensus EPS projection over the past 30 days, reflecting positive sentiment [6] Valuation Metrics - Blue Bird has a Forward P/E ratio of 12.09, which is lower than the industry average of 16.56 [7] - The current PEG ratio for Blue Bird is 2.33, compared to the Automotive - Domestic industry average of 1.89 [8] Industry Context - The Automotive - Domestic industry, part of the Auto-Tires-Trucks sector, holds a Zacks Industry Rank of 65, placing it in the top 27% of over 250 industries [8][9] - The Zacks Rank system, which ranges from 1 (Strong Buy) to 5 (Strong Sell), currently rates Blue Bird as 2 (Buy), indicating a favorable outlook based on estimate changes [6]