In the latest market close, Blue Bird (BLBD) reached $42.25, with a +1.93% movement compared to the previous day. This move outpaced the S&P 500's daily gain of 1.83%. Meanwhile, the Dow experienced a rise of 1.65%, and the technology-dominated Nasdaq saw an increase of 2.45%.Coming into today, shares of the school bus maker had lost 6.58% in the past month. In that same time, the Auto-Tires-Trucks sector lost 10.85%, while the S&P 500 lost 3.31%.The investment community will be paying close attention to th ...

Industry Overview - The yellow school bus industry has remained relatively unchanged for the past 50 years, but is now undergoing significant transformation due to the adoption of alternative powertrains and electric vehicles [1] Analyst Background - The author has nearly 10 years of experience in trading and investing, with a focus on technology and energy companies [1] - The author holds a Masters Degree in Civil Engineering and works in Asset Management, bringing a unique perspective to financial analysis [1] - The author runs a financial education company called Oak Investing, which has a wide following across 40 countries [1] - The author specializes in identifying growth opportunities, value plays, and dividend-paying stocks across various geographies and sectors [1] - The author is ranked in the Top 10% of Financial Bloggers on TipRanks, with a 75% Success Rate and 19% Average Return [1]

Group 1: Blue Bird (BLBD) - Blue Bird is engaged in the designing, engineering, manufacturing, and sale of school buses and related parts [1] - The company carries a Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy) [1] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings has increased by 4.9% over the last 60 days [1] - Blue Bird has a PEG ratio of 0.99 compared to 1.17 for the industry [2] - The company possesses a Growth Score of A [2] Group 2: Carpenter Technology (CRS) - Carpenter Technology is an international energy company focused on hydrocarbons in Latin America [2] - The company carries a Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy) [2] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings has increased by 15.1% over the last 60 days [2] - Carpenter Technology has a PEG ratio of 0.21 compared to 0.63 for the industry [3] - The company possesses a Growth Score of B [3] Group 3: The Travelers Companies (TRV) - The Travelers Companies is a producer and distributor of premium specialty alloys, including titanium alloys and stainless steels [3][4] - The company carries a Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy) [3] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings has increased by 2.4% over the last 60 days [3] - The Travelers Companies has a PEG ratio of 0.91 compared to 0.94 for the industry [4] - The company possesses a Growth Score of B [4]

Core Insights - The January effect, where stock prices typically rise at the beginning of the year, is not universally applicable, yet investor optimism at the start of 2025 is notable [1][2] - Investors are particularly bullish due to a potential relaxed regulatory environment, favorable corporate tax policies, and ongoing economic momentum [2] Company Summaries Blue Bird Corp (NASDAQ: BLBD) - Blue Bird designs and manufactures school buses, focusing on alternative energy and electric buses, with a 12-month stock price forecast of $60.64, indicating a 45.32% upside [3][4] - The company reported record revenue of $350.2 million for the latest quarter, a 16.5% year-over-year increase in units sold, and an adjusted EBITDA of $41 million, surpassing the previous year's figures [4] - Despite a strong performance in 2024, Blue Bird's stock has declined over 16% in the last six months leading to January 9, 2025 [3][4] UiPath Inc (NYSE: PATH) - UiPath specializes in robotic process automation (RPA) and has a 12-month stock price forecast of $17.44, suggesting a 34.50% upside [6][9] - The company reported a 9% year-over-year revenue increase to $355 million and a 17% rise in annualized renewal run-rate (ARR) to $1.6 billion for the third quarter of fiscal 2025 [7] - UiPath is not yet consistently profitable but has been repurchasing shares when profits are available, indicating a strategic approach to capital management [8] Zeta Global Holdings Corp (NYSE: ZETA) - Zeta Global operates a marketing platform utilizing machine learning and AI, with a 12-month stock price forecast of $37.64, reflecting a 117.34% upside [10] - The company announced a 108% increase in platform usage year-over-year, showcasing significant growth potential [10] - Zeta Global faces a class action lawsuit alleging securities fraud, which may pose risks despite its growth prospects in AI-driven marketing [11]

The most recent trading session ended with Blue Bird (BLBD) standing at $40.29, reflecting a +0.02% shift from the previouse trading day's closing. The stock fell short of the S&P 500, which registered a gain of 0.16% for the day. Elsewhere, the Dow gained 0.25%, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq lost 0.06%.Heading into today, shares of the school bus maker had gained 0.67% over the past month, outpacing the Auto-Tires-Trucks sector's loss of 2.03% and the S&P 500's loss of 2.8% in that time.Market participants w ...

Blue Bird (BLBD) closed the latest trading day at $38.66, indicating a -1.98% change from the previous session's end. The stock's change was less than the S&P 500's daily loss of 1.07%. Elsewhere, the Dow saw a downswing of 0.97%, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq depreciated by 1.19%.The school bus maker's shares have seen a decrease of 2.98% over the last month, not keeping up with the Auto-Tires-Trucks sector's gain of 19.11% and the S&P 500's loss of 0.36%.The upcoming earnings release of Blue Bird will be of ...

Buoyed by the positive customers’ sentiment of owning an electric vehicle (EV), the auto sector expected a massive rise in EV demand in 2024. However, affordability concerns among customers amid high interest rates and insufficient EV charging infrastructure resulted in inventory build-up, which prompted manufacturers to slash their production and sales guidance for EVs. The industry was taken by surprise as demand fell short of expectations, especially after substantial investments had been committed to th ...

I am a full-time analyst interested in a wide range of stocks. With my unique insights and knowledge, I hope to provide other investors with a contrasting view of my portfolio, given my particular background.If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to me via a direct message on Seeking Alpha or leave a comment on one of my articles.Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within the ...

In 2024, the U.S. auto industry found itself at a crossroads, with affordability taking center stage as consumers tightened their belts. With high interest rates and elevated vehicle prices straining consumers' wallets, demand for new vehicles softened. In the third quarter, new vehicle sales in the United States fell 2% year over year, the second straight quarterly decline. Production forecasts for North American light vehicles were adjusted downward, from 15.8 million units to 15.5 million, reflecting del ...

Shares of Blue Bird (BLBD) have gained 9.9% over the past four weeks to close the last trading session at $42.15, but there could still be a solid upside left in the stock if short-term price targets of Wall Street analysts are any indication. Going by the price targets, the mean estimate of $56.44 indicates a potential upside of 33.9%.The mean estimate comprises eight short-term price targets with a standard deviation of $13.17. While the lowest estimate of $34 indicates a 19.3% decline from the current pr ...