Blue Bird Co. (NASDAQ:BLBD) Shares Purchased by Fmr LLC

FMR LLC boosted its holdings in Blue Bird Co. (NASDAQ:BLBD - Free Report) by 268.0% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 1,841,745 shares of the company's stock after acquiring an additional 1,341,259 shares during the period. FMR LLC owned 5.69% of Blue Bird worth $88,330,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Several other hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Renaissance Technologies LLC raised its position in Blue Bird by 81.7% in the second quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 509,422 shares of the company's stock valued at $27,432,000 after purchasing an additional 229,004 shares during the last quarter. Hennessy Advisors Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Blue Bird in the 2nd quarter valued at $11,788,000. Millennium Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of Blue Bird by 414.2% during the second quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 256,933 shares of the company's stock valued at $13,836,000 after purchasing an additional 206,966 shares during the period. Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan Trust Fund bought a new position in Blue Bird in the second quarter worth approximately $5,719,000. Finally, Squarepoint Ops LLC bought a new stake in Blue Bird during the 2nd quarter valued at $4,571,000. 93.59% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Blue Bird news, President Britton Smith sold 2,508 shares of Blue Bird stock in a transaction dated Thursday, September 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $49.81, for a total value of $124,923.48. Following the transaction, the president now owns 80,617 shares in the company, valued at $4,015,532.77. The trade was a 3.02 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. 2.10% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Blue Bird Trading Down 1.8 %

NASDAQ BLBD traded down $0.72 during trading on Friday, hitting $40.06. The stock had a trading volume of 602,364 shares, compared to its average volume of 624,891. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.56, a quick ratio of 0.83 and a current ratio of 1.37. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $42.35 and a 200 day simple moving average of $48.23. Blue Bird Co. has a one year low of $20.73 and a one year high of $59.40. The stock has a market capitalization of $1.29 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.82, a P/E/G ratio of 1.05 and a beta of 1.59.

Analyst Ratings Changes

BLBD has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. DA Davidson upped their target price on Blue Bird from $66.00 to $67.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, August 9th. Roth Mkm lowered Blue Bird from a "buy" rating to a "neutral" rating and set a $48.00 price objective on the stock. in a research note on Thursday, October 3rd. Bank of America dropped their price objective on Blue Bird from $66.00 to $63.50 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, November 26th. BTIG Research assumed coverage on shares of Blue Bird in a report on Wednesday, October 9th. They set a "buy" rating and a $55.00 price objective for the company. Finally, Craig Hallum increased their price objective on Blue Bird from $68.00 to $71.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Tuesday, November 26th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $60.64.

Blue Bird Profile

Blue Bird Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, designs, engineers, manufactures, and sells school buses in the United States, Canada, and internationally. The company operates through two segments, Bus and Parts. It offers Type C, Type D, and specialty buses; and alternative power options through its propane powered, gasoline powered, compressed natural gas powered, and electric powered school buses, as well as diesel engines.