Phil Horlock Resigns from Blue Bird Board After 12 Years as CEO
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Dec 29 2025
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Source: Newsfilter
- Successful Leadership Transition: Blue Bird Corporation announces Phil Horlock's resignation from the Board, concluding over 12 years as CEO during which the company achieved transformative growth and operational excellence, establishing a strong foundation for long-term value creation.
- Continued Strategic Guidance: Although Horlock has stepped down as CEO, he remains on the Board providing strategic insights and mentorship, helping the new CEO maintain the company's successful trajectory and ensuring leadership stability.
- Industry Leadership Position: Since its founding in 1927, Blue Bird has been a technology innovator in school buses, having sold over 25,000 low- and zero-emission buses, driving the student transportation industry towards cleaner energy solutions.
- Optimistic Future Outlook: In his resignation statement, Horlock expressed full confidence in the current leadership and strategic direction of the company, indicating that Blue Bird is poised to continue leading the industry and maintaining its competitive edge in the future.
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Analyst Views on BLBD
Wall Street analysts forecast BLBD stock price to rise over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for BLBD is 59.20 USD with a low forecast of 49.00 USD and a high forecast of 70.00 USD. However, analyst price targets are subjective and often lag stock prices, so investors should focus on the objective reasons behind analyst rating changes, which better reflect the company's fundamentals.
7 Analyst Rating
6 Buy
1 Hold
0 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 49.760
Low
49.00
Averages
59.20
High
70.00
Current: 49.760
Low
49.00
Averages
59.20
High
70.00
About BLBD
Blue Bird Corporation is an independent designer and manufacturer of school buses. The Company is engaged in designing, engineering, and manufacturing low- and zero-emission school buses with more than 20,000 propane, natural gas, and electric-powered buses. The Bus segment includes the manufacture and assembly of buses to be sold to a variety of customers across the United States, Canada, and in certain limited international markets. The Parts segment consists primarily of the purchase of parts from third parties to be sold to dealers within its network and certain large fleet customers. It designs, engineers, manufactures, and sells three types of buses: Type C school buses, Type D school buses, and specialty buses. Each of its Type C and Type D buses is manufactured and assembled on its own dedicated purpose-built chassis in Fort Valley, Georgia. Its network of dealers and authorized repair centers operate over 200 locations to support the fleet across the United States and Canada.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
Blue Bird Corporation to Release Q1 Fiscal 2026 Results on February 4, 2026
- Earnings Release Schedule: Blue Bird Corporation will hold an audio webcast on February 4, 2026, at 4:30 PM ET, where executives will discuss Q1 fiscal 2026 financial results, providing crucial insights for investors.
- Investor Engagement Opportunity: The public can participate in the webcast via Blue Bird's Investor Relations website, enhancing transparency and fostering interaction with investors, thereby strengthening the company's trust in the market.
- Technological Leadership: Since its founding in 1927, Blue Bird has sold over 25,000 low- and zero-emission school buses, showcasing its innovative capabilities in clean energy solutions and driving transformation in the student transportation industry.
- Commitment to Safety and Reliability: Blue Bird focuses on designing and manufacturing safe, reliable, and durable school buses, ensuring the safe transportation of 25 million children daily, reflecting the company's strong commitment to social responsibility.
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Blue Bird Corporation CFO Sells 7,984 Shares for Approximately $402,300
- Insider Sale: On December 10, 2025, Blue Bird Corporation CFO Razvan Radulescu executed an open-market sale of 7,984 shares for approximately $402,300, representing 14% of his direct holdings, which now stands at 49,087 shares, indicating a cautious outlook on the company's future.
- Post-Sale Value: Following the transaction, Radulescu's direct ownership is valued at around $2.47 million, suggesting that despite the sale, he retains a significant stake, reflecting confidence in the company's long-term prospects.
- Market Performance: As of December 10, 2025, Blue Bird's stock price increased by 27.24% over the past year, outperforming the S&P 500's 14% gain, indicating strong market sentiment regarding the company's growth potential in the school bus sector.
- Financial Outlook: Blue Bird reported record revenue and adjusted EBITDA for fiscal year 2025, with guidance for 2026 net revenue at approximately $1.5 billion and adjusted EBITDA of $220 million, demonstrating robust momentum in profitable growth plans.
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