Ruffer LLP Buys New Shares in Blue Bird Co. (NASDAQ:BLBD)

Ruffer LLP purchased a new stake in Blue Bird Co. (NASDAQ:BLBD - Free Report) in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund purchased 72,229 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $2,790,000. Ruffer LLP owned approximately 0.22% of Blue Bird at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of BLBD. National Bank of Canada FI acquired a new position in shares of Blue Bird during the third quarter valued at about $26,000. Truvestments Capital LLC acquired a new position in shares of Blue Bird during the third quarter valued at about $35,000. Private Trust Co. NA acquired a new position in shares of Blue Bird during the third quarter valued at about $38,000. Millburn Ridgefield Corp acquired a new position in shares of Blue Bird during the third quarter valued at about $56,000. Finally, KBC Group NV grew its holdings in shares of Blue Bird by 75.3% during the fourth quarter. KBC Group NV now owns 1,420 shares of the company's stock valued at $55,000 after buying an additional 610 shares during the last quarter. 93.59% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Blue Bird news, CFO Razvan Radulescu sold 2,848 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $38.12, for a total value of $108,565.76. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 88,664 shares in the company, valued at $3,379,871.68. This represents a 3.11 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Corporate insiders own 1.10% of the company's stock.

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Blue Bird Stock Performance

Shares of NASDAQ BLBD traded down $0.53 during midday trading on Thursday, hitting $33.51. The company's stock had a trading volume of 417,351 shares, compared to its average volume of 735,391. The firm has a market capitalization of $1.08 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.37, a P/E/G ratio of 0.84 and a beta of 1.58. The company has a current ratio of 1.44, a quick ratio of 0.73 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.49. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $37.34 and a 200 day moving average price of $41.66. Blue Bird Co. has a one year low of $30.67 and a one year high of $59.40.

Blue Bird (NASDAQ:BLBD - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 5th. The company reported $0.86 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $0.83 by $0.03. Blue Bird had a net margin of 8.05% and a return on equity of 75.22%. On average, research analysts forecast that Blue Bird Co. will post 3.86 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research analysts recently weighed in on the stock. Needham & Company LLC cut their price target on shares of Blue Bird from $66.00 to $49.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, February 6th. Craig Hallum boosted their price target on shares of Blue Bird from $68.00 to $71.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Tuesday, November 26th. Bank of America cut their price target on shares of Blue Bird from $66.00 to $63.50 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, November 26th. Finally, StockNews.com cut shares of Blue Bird from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Wednesday, March 5th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $58.21.

About Blue Bird

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.