Q1 2026 Blue Bird Corp Earnings Call Transcript
Key Points
- Blue Bird Corp (BLBD) beat guidance on all metrics for the 13th consecutive quarter, showcasing strong management and business model.
- The company reported a 45% increase in Q1 order intake compared to the first quarter of 2025, leading to a strong backlog of 3,400 units.
- Adjusted EBITDA for the quarter was $50 million, $4 million higher than the previous year, indicating improved profitability.
- Blue Bird Corp (BLBD) continues to lead in the Alt Power segment, with a strong EV backlog extending into 2027 and dominance in propane-powered buses.
- The company has a strong liquidity position with $385 million at the end of fiscal '26 Q1, enabling strategic opportunities for growth and investment.
- The company faces ongoing challenges with tariff volatility, which impacts pricing and cost management.
- Increased labor and engineering costs partially offset the high margins achieved during the quarter.
- There is uncertainty regarding future emission regulations, which may affect diesel bus sales and market dynamics.
- The timing of infrastructure readiness at customer sites is causing delays in EV deliveries, pushing some orders into fiscal 2027.
- The commercial chassis production start has been delayed to late Q4, affecting sales projections for fiscal 2026.
Hello, everyone, and thank you for attending today's Blue Bird fiscal 2026 first-quarter earnings call. My name is William, and I will be your moderator today. (Operator Instructions)
At this time, I would now like to pass the conference over to our host, Mark Benfield, Blue Bird's Head of Investor Relations. Mark?
Thank you, and welcome to Blue Bird's Fiscal 2026 first-quarter earnings conference call. The audio for our call is webcast live on blue-bird.com under the Investor Relations tab. You can access the supporting slides on our website by clicking on the Presentations box on the IR landing page.
Our comments today include forward-looking statements that are subject to risks that could cause actual results to be materially different. Those risks include, among others, matters we have noted on the following twp slides and in our filings with the SEC. Blue Bird disclaims any obligation to update the information in this call.
This afternoon, you will hear from Blue Bird's
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