PDT Partners LLC Invests $2.31 Million in Blue Bird Co. (NASDAQ:BLBD)

PDT Partners LLC purchased a new position in shares of Blue Bird Co. (NASDAQ:BLBD - Free Report) in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor purchased 59,784 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $2,309,000. PDT Partners LLC owned approximately 0.19% of Blue Bird as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

A number of other large investors also recently modified their holdings of BLBD. FMR LLC increased its holdings in Blue Bird by 162.8% in the 4th quarter. FMR LLC now owns 4,840,198 shares of the company's stock worth $186,977,000 after purchasing an additional 2,998,453 shares in the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its stake in shares of Blue Bird by 1.1% in the fourth quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 2,426,912 shares of the company's stock valued at $93,752,000 after buying an additional 25,745 shares during the period. Wellington Management Group LLP raised its holdings in Blue Bird by 13.6% in the 4th quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 1,335,122 shares of the company's stock valued at $51,576,000 after buying an additional 160,248 shares during the last quarter. First Trust Advisors LP boosted its position in Blue Bird by 355.3% during the 4th quarter. First Trust Advisors LP now owns 883,404 shares of the company's stock worth $34,126,000 after buying an additional 689,394 shares during the period. Finally, Geode Capital Management LLC boosted its position in Blue Bird by 1.8% during the 4th quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 765,490 shares of the company's stock worth $29,578,000 after buying an additional 13,262 shares during the period. 93.59% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Blue Bird Trading Up 5.4 %

Blue Bird stock traded up $1.96 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $37.97. 584,477 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 666,612. The firm has a market capitalization of $1.22 billion, a PE ratio of 11.76, a PEG ratio of 0.84 and a beta of 1.42. The company has a quick ratio of 0.73, a current ratio of 1.44 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.49. The firm's 50 day simple moving average is $34.08 and its 200 day simple moving average is $37.98. Blue Bird Co. has a twelve month low of $30.04 and a twelve month high of $59.40.

Blue Bird (NASDAQ:BLBD - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, February 5th. The company reported $0.86 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $0.83 by $0.03. Blue Bird had a return on equity of 75.22% and a net margin of 8.05%. Research analysts predict that Blue Bird Co. will post 3.86 earnings per share for the current year.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

BLBD has been the subject of several analyst reports. StockNews.com downgraded shares of Blue Bird from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Friday. DA Davidson lowered their target price on Blue Bird from $67.00 to $61.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research report on Monday, April 21st. Finally, Needham & Company LLC reduced their price target on Blue Bird from $66.00 to $49.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, February 6th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have given a buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Blue Bird has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $57.36.

Insider Activity at Blue Bird

In other Blue Bird news, CFO Razvan Radulescu sold 2,848 shares of Blue Bird stock in a transaction 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 completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 88,664 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $3,379,871.68. The trade was a 3.11 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. 1.10% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

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.