Blue Bird to Acquire Full Ownership of Micro Bird

Blue Bird ( (BLBD) ) just unveiled an update.

On Feb. 15, 2026, Blue Bird agreed to acquire Girardin Group’s 50% stake in their Micro Bird joint venture for approximately $200 million, paying 30% in cash and 70% in equity, which will give Blue Bird full ownership of the business. The deal, expected to close in the first half of 2026 subject to conditions and approvals, also includes purchase of Micro Bird’s Plattsburgh, N.Y., manufacturing facility and a five-year non-compete from the sellers in bus manufacturing.

By consolidating Micro Bird, Blue Bird plans to unify its operations under one brand and team, enabling what it calls the broadest product portfolio of Type A, C and D school, multi-purpose, and commercial buses with diesel, gasoline, propane and electric powertrains. The transaction significantly expands Blue Bird’s addressable market in Buy America–compliant shuttle buses, and the company intends to add longtime partner executive Steve Girardin to its board as a Class III director, aligning governance with the enlarged North American bus platform.

The most recent analyst rating on (BLBD) stock is a Buy with a $76.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Blue Bird stock, see the BLBD Stock Forecast page.

Spark’s Take on BLBD Stock

According to Spark, TipRanks’ AI Analyst, BLBD is a Outperform.

BLBD scores well on financial performance and the latest earnings outlook, reflecting a credible profitability turnaround, strong recent free cash flow, improved leverage, and raised FY2026 EBITDA guidance supported by backlog and liquidity. Technicals are supportive with positive momentum above key moving averages. Valuation is reasonable at ~14x earnings but lacks dividend support, tempering the overall score.

To see Spark’s full report on BLBD stock, click here.

More about Blue Bird

Blue Bird Corporation is a U.S.-based manufacturer of school and commercial buses, recognized as a technology leader in low- and zero-emission student transportation since its founding in 1927. The company offers diesel, gasoline, propane, natural gas, and electric-powered buses, focusing on safety, reliability, and durability for the North American market, where it has sold more than 25,000 alternative-fuel and electric buses.

Micro Bird, established in 2009 as a joint venture between Girardin Minibus and Blue Bird, designs and manufactures Type A school, commercial, and electric shuttle buses with capacities from 9 to 36 passengers. Headquartered in Drummondville, Quebec, with a 2025-built facility in Plattsburgh, N.Y., Micro Bird employs about 960 people and is positioned to supply Buy America–compliant shuttle buses across North America.

Average Trading Volume: 464,261

Technical Sentiment Signal: Buy

Current Market Cap: $1.82B

See more insights into BLBD stock on TipRanks’ Stock Analysis page.