Janus Henderson Group PLC Buys 45,055 Shares of Blue Bird Co. (NASDAQ:BLBD)

Janus Henderson Group PLC grew its position in shares of Blue Bird Co. (NASDAQ:BLBD - Free Report) by 357.6% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm owned 57,655 shares of the company's stock after purchasing an additional 45,055 shares during the quarter. Janus Henderson Group PLC owned 0.18% of Blue Bird worth $2,764,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

A number of other hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of BLBD. FMR LLC increased its stake in Blue Bird by 268.0% in the 3rd quarter. FMR LLC now owns 1,841,745 shares of the company's stock worth $88,330,000 after purchasing an additional 1,341,259 shares in the last quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC increased its position in shares of Blue Bird by 81.7% in the second quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 509,422 shares of the company's stock worth $27,432,000 after acquiring an additional 229,004 shares in the last quarter. Hennessy Advisors Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Blue Bird during the second quarter valued at approximately $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 acquiring an additional 206,966 shares during the period. Finally, Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan Trust Fund purchased a new stake in shares of Blue Bird in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $5,719,000. 93.59% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Blue Bird Stock Up 1.9 %

NASDAQ:BLBD traded up $0.80 during trading hours on Thursday, reaching $42.15. The company's stock had a trading volume of 646,026 shares, compared to its average volume of 625,691. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.56, a current ratio of 1.37 and a quick ratio of 0.83. The company has a market cap of $1.36 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.25, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.01 and a beta of 1.59. Blue Bird Co. has a one year low of $23.76 and a one year high of $59.40. The business's 50-day moving average is $41.78 and its 200-day moving average is $47.75.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research firms have weighed in on BLBD. Roth Capital cut shares of Blue Bird from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Thursday, October 3rd. StockNews.com raised shares of Blue Bird from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research report on Friday, November 8th. BTIG Research started coverage on shares of Blue Bird in a research report on Wednesday, October 9th. They issued a "buy" rating and a $55.00 target price for the company. Craig Hallum boosted their price target on shares of Blue Bird from $68.00 to $71.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Tuesday, November 26th. Finally, Needham & Company LLC reiterated a "buy" rating and set a $66.00 price objective on shares of Blue Bird in a report on Tuesday, November 26th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target 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.