Financial Performance and Guidance - Blue Bird confirms FY25 revenue guidance of $1425 million to $1475 million[45] - The company anticipates an adjusted EBITDA of approximately $200 million with a margin of ~14% for FY25[45, 47] - Q2 FY25 adjusted EBITDA reached $49 million with a 14% margin, marking a $3 million increase compared to Q2 FY24[66, 67, 69] - Adjusted free cash flow for Q2 FY25 was $19 million[66, 69] Industry and Market Position - The school bus industry is expected to reach approximately 31,000 units in FY25[22] - Over 47% of school buses in service are 10 years or older, supporting replacement demand[24] - Blue Bird holds a leading market position in alternative power and electric school buses, with over 60% of sales being non-diesel[31, 34] Strategic Initiatives - Blue Bird is expanding its total addressable market (TAM) through the introduction of an EV commercial chassis offering[15, 40] - The company is focused on reducing structural costs through Lean Transformation initiatives[15] - Blue Bird was awarded an $80 million grant by the DOE for a new plant to support profitable growth plans for 12,000+ units[50, 52]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company achieved record quarterly revenue of $359 million, which is $13 million higher than the previous year [12][23] - Adjusted EBITDA reached $49 million, representing a 14% margin, which is 6.5% better compared to the same quarter last year [11][12] - Adjusted free cash flow for the quarter was $19 million, a decrease of $35 million year-over-year primarily due to a tax carryforward benefit in 2024 [14][23] - The company ended the quarter with $131 million in cash and reduced debt by approximately $5 million over the last year [29] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company sold 2,295 buses in Q2, with EV sales reaching a record of 265 units, which is 26% higher than last year [12][25] - Parts sales totaled $26 million in Q2, flat compared to Q1 but a small reduction of $2 million compared to the prior year [25] - The average selling price for buses increased by approximately 3%, from $141,000 to $145,000 per unit [15][25] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company ended the quarter with a backlog of nearly 5,000 units, representing over six months of production [8][14] - The mix of alternative power vehicles represented 57% of unit sales in Q2, significantly higher than the typical 10% to 15% mix for major competitors [15] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on improving operational efficiency and investing in new product development, including a new commercial chassis scheduled to launch in 2026 [20][41] - The company aims to maintain its leadership position in the alternative power segment while also strengthening its core internal combustion engine (ICE) business [10][13] - The company is navigating tariff impacts by implementing price increases and prioritizing ICE buses over EVs until the tariff situation stabilizes [33][34] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in maintaining full-year guidance despite tariff challenges, highlighting strong market demand for school buses [6][19] - The company anticipates continued strong demand for EVs, with a forecast of 800 to 1,000 EV unit sales for the full year [16][36] - Management noted that the Clean School Bus program remains a bipartisan initiative, which is expected to continue benefiting the company [48] Other Important Information - The company has executed $40 million in share repurchases over the last nine months, with an additional $20 million remaining in the current program [29] - The company is optimistic about the future of the Clean School Bus program, with funding for rounds two and three flowing to customers [17][39] Q&A Session Summary Question: Margin improvements and long-term targets - Management indicated it is early in the new CEO's tenure to speculate on margin improvements, but operational expertise may contribute positively [53][54] Question: EV pricing expectations - Current tariffs are hindering the company's ability to reduce EV prices as planned, but there is optimism for future price reductions once the tariff situation clarifies [58][59] Question: Dealer network response to pricing - The company has not faced significant pushback from dealers regarding price increases, and competitors are also implementing similar pricing actions [69][73] Question: Clean School Bus program funding - Management confirmed that rounds two and three of funding are flowing, and there is optimism for round four, although it is still in the early stages [75][106]

Group 1 - Blue Bird Corporation (BLBD) has lost most of its gains from May 2024 due to uncertainty surrounding a key industry tailwind for electric vehicle (EV) school buses [1] - The company operates in a sector that is influenced by various factors, including market demand for EVs and regulatory support for electric school buses [1] Group 2 - The investment focus is on value-oriented opportunities, particularly in sectors such as chemicals, homebuilders, building materials, industrials, and metals & mining [1] - The investment strategy emphasizes acquiring stocks that are undervalued and have potential catalysts within a time frame of one quarter to two years [1]