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(in millions except Unit Sales and EPS data)	Three Months Ended March 28, 2026		B/(W) Prior Year		Six Months Ended March 28, 2026		B/(W) Prior Year
Unit Sales	2,148		(147)		4,283		(142)
GAAP Measures:
Revenue	$	352.6	$	(6.2)	$	685.7	$	13.0
Net Income	$	29.3	$	3.3	$	60.1	$	5.3
Diluted EPS	$	0.90	$	0.11	$	1.84	$	0.19
Non-GAAP Measures1:
Adjusted EBITDA	$	50.8	$	1.6	$	100.9	$	5.9
Adjusted Net Income	$	32.5	$	1.0	$	65.0	$	2.9
Adjusted Diluted EPS	$	1.00	$	0.04	$	2.00	$	0.13

“I am incredibly proud of our team in delivering another outstanding quarterly result,” said John Wyskiel, President & CEO of Blue Bird Corporation. “The Blue Bird team continued to exceed expectations, improving operations, navigating tariffs, and expanding our leadership in alternative-powered buses. We delivered an exceptional Adj. EBITDA of $51M / 14% for the second fiscal quarter of 2026, a new all-time second-quarter record for the Company.

“We are very pleased with our second quarter results, with our highest ever Q2 Adj. EBITDA and Free Cash Flow” said Razvan Radulescu, CFO of Blue Bird Corporation. “Our business is in a very strong position and we continue to deliver ahead of the plan we have been messaging. With the strong first half we delivered, we are raising all full-year 2026 guidance metrics, as well as building in consolidated results for Micro Bird for the second half. 2026 Guidance is being raised to Net Revenue at ~$1.75 Billion and Adj. EBITDA to ~$245 million. Additionally, we are raising our long-term profit outlook towards an Adjusted EBITDA margin of $375+ million, or 15%+, on $2.5+ billion in revenue. We are confident in our profitable growth plans.”

Net sales were $352.6 million for the second quarter of fiscal 2026, a decrease of $6.2 million, or 1.7%, compared to $358.9 million for the second quarter of fiscal 2025. The decrease in net sales is primarily due to a 6.4% decrease in units sold resulting from a 6.7% decrease in the number of production days in the second quarter of fiscal 2026 when compared with the same period in fiscal 2025, which primarily resulted from the timing of holidays, and our corresponding plant shutdown, in our production calendar. As a result of producing fewer buses, we had fewer units that were available to sale. However, the decrease resulting from selling fewer units was partially offset by Bus customer and product mix changes and cumulative Bus price increases, including increases that were intended to mitigate the impact of increased procurement costs for certain of our imported inventory as a result of the imposition of tariffs beginning during the second half of fiscal 2025 and continuing into the first half of fiscal 2026, as well as an increase in Parts sales.

Bus sales decreased $7.6 million, or 2.3%, reflecting a 6.4% decrease in unit bookings that was partially offset by a 4.4% increase in average sales price per unit. In the second quarter of fiscal 2026, 2,148 units booked compared to 2,295 units booked for the same period in fiscal 2025. The increase in unit price for the second quarter of fiscal 2026 compared to the same period in fiscal 2025 was primarily due to customer and product mix changes as well as price increases implemented to offset increases in inventory costs.

Net income was $29.3 million for the second quarter of fiscal 2026, an increase of $3.3 million from the second quarter of last year. Among other smaller fluctuations, the increase in net income was largely driven by a decrease of $5.6 million in selling, general and administrative expenses, primarily due to the significant amount of share-based compensation expense recorded in the second quarter of fiscal 2025 resulting from the retirement of our former President and Chief Executive Officer, with no similar significant expense recorded for the acceleration of vesting of stock awards in the second quarter of fiscal 2026. Partially offsetting the decrease in selling general, and administrative expenses was a decrease of $3.4 million in other (expense) income, net, primarily due to $2.7 million in pretax costs relating to the acquisition of the remaining 50% of the outstanding common stock of Micro Bird effective April 1, 2026, with no such costs incurred during the second quarter of fiscal 2025.

Adjusted net income of $32.5 million represented an increase of $1.0 million from the second quarter of last year. The increase was primarily driven by the $3.3 million increase in Net Income, discussed above, when adjusting for the impact of expenses that are excluded in calculating Adjusted Net Income, including share-based compensation and Micro Bird acquisition costs, discussed above.

Adjusted EBITDA was $50.8 million, which was an increase of $1.6 million compared with the second quarter of fiscal 2025. The increase primarily relates to the increase in Micro Bird earnings, when adjusted for the impact of expenses that are excluded in calculating Adjusted EBITDA, that was partially offset by a decrease in other income, net, when adjusted for the impact of expenses that are excluded in calculating Adjusted EBITDA, as discussed above.

Net sales were $685.7 million for the six months ended March 28, 2026, an increase of $13.0 million, or 1.9%, compared to $672.7 million for the six months ended March 29, 2025. The increase in net sales is primarily due to Bus customer and product mix changes and cumulative Bus price increases, including increases that were intended to mitigate the impact of increased procurement costs for certain of our imported inventory as a result of the imposition of tariffs beginning during the second half of fiscal 2025 and continuing into the first half of fiscal 2026, as well as an increase in Parts sales. The Bus increases described above were partially offset by a decrease in Bus units sold resulting from a 4.3% decrease in the number of production days during the six months ended March 28, 2026 when compared with the same period in fiscal 2025, which primarily resulted from the timing of holidays, and our corresponding plant shutdown, in our production calendar. As a result of producing fewer buses, we had fewer units that were available to sale.

Bus sales increased $11.9 million, or 1.9%, reflecting a 5.3% increase in average sales price per unit that was partially offset by a 3.2% decrease in units booked. The increase in unit price for the first six months of fiscal 2026 compared to the same period in fiscal 2025 was primarily due to customer and product mix changes as well as price increases implemented to offset increases in inventory costs. This increase was partially offset by the impact of booking 4,283 units in the six months ended March 28, 2026 compared with 4,425 units during the same period in fiscal 2025.

Gross profit for the six months ended March 28, 2026 was $141.9 million, an increase of $10.7 million compared with the same period in the prior year. The increase was primarily driven by the $13.0 million increase in net sales. This was partially offset by an increase of $2.3 million in cost of goods sold, primarily corresponding the increase net sales.

Net income was $60.1 million for the six months ended March 28, 2026, which was a $5.3 million increase from the same period in the prior year. Among other smaller fluctuations, the increase in net income was primarily driven by the $10.7 million increase in gross profit, discussed above, and partially offset by a $6.5 million increase in other expense. During the second quarter of fiscal 2026, the Company incurred approximately $2.7 million of pretax costs relating to the acquisition of the remaining 50% of the outstanding common stock of Micro Bird effective April 1, 2026, with no such costs incurred during the the six months ended March 29, 2025. Additionally, during the first quarter of fiscal 2025, the Company sold certain state emissions credits that it was not projecting to use for approximately $2.6 million, with no similar income recorded during the the first six months of fiscal 2026.

Adjusted EBITDA was $100.9 million for the six months ended March 28, 2026, an increase of $5.9 million compared with the same period in the prior year. The increase primarily relates to the increase in (i) gross profit, when adjusted for the impact of expenses that are excluded in calculating Adjusted EBITDA, as discussed above and (ii) Micro Bird earnings, when adjusted for the impact of expenses that are excluded in calculating Adjusted EBITDA, that were partially offset by (iii) an increase in selling, general and administrative expenses, when adjusting for the impact of expenses that are excluded in calculating Adjusted EBITDA, and (iv) a decrease in other income, net, when adjusted for the impact of expenses that are excluded in calculating Adjusted EBITDA, as discussed above.

Blue Bird will discuss its fiscal 2026 second quarter and year to date financial results in a conference call at 4:30 PM ET today. Participants may listen to the audio portion of the conference call either through a live audio webcast on the Company's website or by telephone. The slide presentation and webcast can be accessed via the Investor Relations portion of Blue Bird's website at www.blue-bird.com.

Blue Bird (NASDAQ: BLBD) is recognized as a technology leader and innovator of school buses since its founding in 1927. Our dedicated team members design, engineer and manufacture school buses with a singular focus on safety, reliability, and durability. School buses carry the most precious cargo in the world – 25 million children twice a day – making them the most trusted mode of student transportation. The company is the proven leader in low- and zero-emission school buses with more than 25,000 propane, natural gas, and electric powered buses sold. Blue Bird is transforming the student transportation industry through cleaner energy solutions. For more information on Blue Bird’s complete product and service portfolio, visit www.blue-bird.com.

This press release includes the following non-GAAP financial measures “Adjusted EBITDA,” "Adjusted EBITDA Margin," "Adjusted Net Income," "Adjusted Diluted Earnings per Share," “Free Cash Flow” and “Adjusted Free Cash Flow”. Adjusted EBITDA and Free Cash Flow are financial metrics that are utilized by management and the board of directors, as and when applicable, to determine (a) the annual cash bonus payouts, if any, to be made to certain employees based upon the terms of the Company’s Management Incentive Plan, and (b) whether the performance criteria have been met for the vesting of certain equity awards granted annually to certain members of management based upon the terms of the Company’s Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan. Additionally, consolidated EBITDA, which is an adjusted EBITDA metric defined by our Credit Agreement that could differ from Adjusted EBITDA discussed above as the adjustments to the calculations are not uniform, is used to determine the Company's ongoing compliance with several financial covenant requirements, including being utilized in the denominator of the calculation of the Total Net Leverage Ratio. Accordingly, management views these non-GAAP financial metrics as key for the above purposes and as a useful way to evaluate the performance of our operations as discussed further below.

Adjusted EBITDA is defined as net income or loss prior to interest income; interest expense including the component of operating lease expense (which is presented as a single operating expense within cost of goods sold or selling, general and administrative expenses in our U.S. GAAP financial statements) that represents interest expense on lease liabilities; income taxes; and depreciation and amortization including the component of operating lease expense (which is presented as a single operating expense within cost of goods sold or selling, general and administrative expenses in our U.S. GAAP financial statements) that represents amortization charges on right-of-use lease assets; as adjusted for certain non-cash charges or credits that we may record on a recurring basis such as share-based compensation expense and unrealized gains or losses on certain derivative financial instruments as well as certain charges such as (i) transaction related costs or (ii) discrete expenses related to major cost cutting and/or operational transformation initiatives. While certain of the charges that are added back in the Adjusted EBITDA calculation, such as transaction related costs and major cost cutting and/or operational transformation initiatives, represent operating expenses that may be recorded in more than one annual period, the significant project or transaction giving rise to such expenses is not considered to be indicative of the Company’s normal operations. Accordingly, we believe that these, as well as the other credits and charges that comprise the amounts utilized in the determination of Adjusted EBITDA described above, should not be used in evaluating the Company’s ongoing annual operating performance.

We believe that Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin are useful to investors in evaluating our performance because the measures consider the performance of our ongoing operations, excluding decisions made with respect to capital investment, financing, and certain other significant initiatives or transactions as outlined in the preceding paragraphs. We believe the non-GAAP measures offer additional financial metrics that, when coupled with the U.S. GAAP results and the reconciliation to U.S. GAAP results, provide a more complete understanding of our results of operations and the factors and trends affecting our business.

Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA margin, Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted Diluted Earnings per Share should not be considered as alternatives to net income or GAAP earnings per share as an indicator of our performance or as alternatives to any other measure prescribed by GAAP as there are limitations to using such non-GAAP measures. Although we believe the non-GAAP measures may enhance an evaluation of our operating performance because they exclude the impact of prior decisions made about capital investment, financing, and other expenses, (i) other companies in Blue Bird’s industry may define Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA margin, Adjusted Net Income, and Adjusted Diluted Earnings per Share differently than we do and, as a result, they may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies in Blue Bird’s industry, and (ii) Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA margin, Adjusted Net Income, and Adjusted Diluted Earnings per Share exclude certain financial information that some may consider important in evaluating our performance.

Our measures of “Free Cash Flow” and "Adjusted Free Cash Flow" are used in addition to and in conjunction with results presented in accordance with GAAP and Free Cash Flow and Adjusted Free Cash Flow should not be relied upon to the exclusion of GAAP financial measures. Free Cash Flow and Adjusted Free Cash Flow reflect an additional way of viewing our liquidity that, when viewed with our GAAP results, provides a more complete understanding of factors and trends affecting our cash flows. We strongly encourage investors to review our financial statements and publicly-filed reports in their entirety and not to rely on any single financial measure.

We define Free Cash Flow as total cash provided by/used in operating activities as adjusted for net cash paid for the acquisition of fixed assets and intangible assets. We use Free Cash Flow, and ratios based on Free Cash Flow, to conduct and evaluate our business because, although it is similar to cash flow from operations, we believe it is a more conservative measure of cash flow since purchases of fixed assets and intangible assets are a necessary component of ongoing manufacturing operations. Accordingly, we expect Free Cash Flow to be less than operating cash flows.

This press release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements relate to expectations for future financial performance, business strategies or expectations for our business. Specifically, forward-looking statements include statements in this press release regarding guidance, seasonality, product mix and gross profits and may include statements relating to:

These forward-looking statements are based on information available as of the date of this press release, and current expectations, forecasts and assumptions, and involve a number of judgments, risks and uncertainties. Accordingly, forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing our views as of any subsequent date, and we do not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date they were made, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required under applicable securities laws. The factors described above, as well as risk factors described in reports filed with the SEC by us (available at www.sec.gov), could cause our actual results to differ materially from estimates or expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements.


(in thousands of dollars, except for share data)	March 28, 2026		September 27, 2025
Assets
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$	275,893	$	229,313
Accounts receivable, net	12,940		20,650
Inventories	144,765		139,470
Other current assets	32,969		22,195
Total current assets	$	466,567	$	411,628

Property, plant and equipment, net	$	117,868	$	108,541
Goodwill	18,825		18,825
Intangible assets, net	40,750		41,685
Equity investment in affiliates	39,204		35,197
Deferred tax assets	—		2,697

Pension	4,664		4,889
Other assets	1,486		1,793
Total assets	$	689,364	$	625,255
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
Current liabilities
Accounts payable	$	127,124	$	151,479
Warranty	7,235		7,494
Accrued expenses	53,752		55,164
Deferred warranty income	12,015		11,329

Other current liabilities	49,156		6,333
Current portion of long-term debt	5,000		5,000
Total current liabilities	$	254,282	$	236,799
Long-term liabilities
Revolving credit facility	$	—	$	—
Long-term debt	82,982		85,324
Warranty	9,540		9,681
Deferred warranty income	23,292		22,368
Deferred tax liabilities	8,189		5,439

Other liabilities	13,151		10,229

Total long-term liabilities	$	137,154	$	133,041
Guarantees, commitments and contingencies
Stockholders' equity
Preferred stock, $0.0001 par value, 10,000,000 shares authorized, 0 shares issued and outstanding at March 28, 2026 and September 27, 2025	$	—	$	—
Common stock, $0.0001 par value, 100,000,000 shares authorized, 31,646,589 and 31,884,721 shares issued and outstanding at March 28, 2026 and September 27, 2025, respectively	3		3
Additional paid-in capital	197,690		195,466
Retained earnings	128,302		88,193
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(28,067)		(28,247)

Total stockholders' equity	$	297,928	$	255,415
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$	689,364	$	625,255


	Three Months Ended				Six Months Ended
(in thousands of dollars except for share data)	March 28, 2026		March 29, 2025		March 28, 2026		March 29, 2025
Net sales	$	352,635	$	358,851	$	685,719	$	672,723
Cost of goods sold	281,988		287,997		543,843		541,552
Gross profit	$	70,647	$	70,854	$	141,876	$	131,171
Operating expenses
Selling, general and administrative expenses	31,529		37,143		65,081		64,418
Operating profit	$	39,118	$	33,711	$	76,795	$	66,753
Interest expense	(1,545)		(1,813)		(3,111)		(3,728)
Interest income	1,929		1,258		3,910		2,826
Other (expense) income, net	(2,922)		444		(3,133)		3,360

Income before income taxes	$	36,580	$	33,600	$	74,461	$	69,211
Income tax expense	(9,102)		(9,129)		(18,221)		(17,822)
Equity in net income of non-consolidated affiliates	1,823		1,575		3,817		3,379
Net income	$	29,301	$	26,046	$	60,057	$	54,768

Earnings per share:
Basic weighted average shares outstanding	31,629,376		31,917,407		31,703,272		32,072,354
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding	32,430,122		32,885,993		32,558,241		33,152,066
Basic earnings per share	$	0.93	$	0.82	$	1.89	$	1.71
Diluted earnings per share	$	0.90	$	0.79	$	1.84	$	1.65


	Six Months Ended
(in thousands of dollars)	March 28, 2026		March 29, 2025
Cash flows from operating activities
Net income	$	60,057	$	54,768
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization expense	8,045		7,710
Non-cash interest expense	158		167
Share-based compensation expense	4,027		9,940
Equity in net income of non-consolidated affiliates	(3,817)		(3,379)

Loss on disposal of fixed assets	51		285


Deferred income tax expense (benefit)	5,390		(3,962)
Amortization of deferred actuarial pension losses	236		139

Changes in assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable	7,710		43,313
Inventories	(5,295)		(36,034)
Other assets	(10,241)		(10,955)
Accounts payable	(25,101)		9,929
Accrued expenses, pension and other liabilities	43,120		(17,741)

Total adjustments	$	24,283	$	(588)
Total cash provided by operating activities	$	84,340	$	54,180
Cash flows from investing activities
Cash paid for fixed assets	$	(13,319)	$	(13,616)
Equity investment in affiliates	(190)		(500)

Total cash used in investing activities	$	(13,509)	$	(14,116)
Cash flows from financing activities



Term loan repayments	$	(2,500)	$	(2,500)
Principal payments on finance leases	—		(604)



Repurchase of common stock in connection with repurchase programs	(19,948)		(30,053)
Repurchase of common stock in connection with stock award exercises	(2,574)		(4,412)
Cash received from stock option exercises	771		567

Total cash used in financing activities	$	(24,251)	$	(37,002)
Change in cash and cash equivalents	46,580		3,062
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	229,313		127,687
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$	275,893	$	130,749


	Three Months Ended						Six Months Ended
(in thousands of dollars)	March 28, 2026			March 29, 2025			March 28, 2026			March 29, 2025
Net income	$	29,301		$	26,046		$	60,057		$	54,768
Adjustments:
Interest (income) expense, net (1)	(233)			633			(486)			1,066
Income tax expense	9,102			9,129			18,221			17,822
Depreciation, amortization, and disposals (2)	4,673			4,251			9,244			8,494
Micro Bird acquisition costs	2,673			—			2,673			—
Share-based compensation expense	1,670			7,434			4,027			9,940




Micro Bird Holdings, Inc. total interest expense, net; income tax expense or benefit; depreciation expense and amortization expense	3,628			1,713			7,136			2,869

Adjusted EBITDA	$	50,814		$	49,206		$	100,872		$	94,959
Adjusted EBITDA margin (percentage of net sales)	14.4		%	13.7		%	14.7		%	14.1		%

(1) Includes $0.2 million and $0.1 million for the three months ended March 28, 2026 and March 29, 2025, and $0.3 million and $0.2 million for the six months ended March 28, 2026 and March 29, 2025, respectively, representing interest expense on operating lease liabilities, which are a component of lease expense and presented within cost of goods sold or selling, general and administrative expenses on our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.

(2) Includes $0.6 million and $0.4 million for the three months ended March 28, 2026 and March 29, 2025, and $1.2 million and $0.8 million for the six months ended March 28, 2026 and March 29, 2025, respectively, representing amortization charges on right-of-use lease assets, which are a component of lease expense and presented within cost of goods sold or selling, general and administrative expenses on our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.


	Three Months Ended				Six Months Ended
(in thousands of dollars)	March 28, 2026		March 29, 2025		March 28, 2026		March 29, 2025
Net cash provided by operating activities	$	47,761	$	27,770	$	84,340	$	54,180
Cash paid for fixed assets	(7,854)		(9,022)		(13,319)		(13,616)
Free cash flow	$	39,907	$	18,748	$	71,021	$	40,564

Cash paid for Micro Bird acquisition costs	2,673		—		2,673		—



Adjusted free cash flow	$	42,580	$	18,748	$	73,694	$	40,564


	Three Months Ended				Six Months Ended
(in thousands of dollars)	March 28, 2026		March 29, 2025		March 28, 2026		March 29, 2025
Net income	$	29,301	$	26,046	$	60,057	$	54,768
Adjustments, net of tax expense or benefit (1)
Micro Bird acquisition costs	1,978		—		1,978		—


Share-based compensation expense	1,236		5,501		2,980		7,356




Adjusted net income, non-GAAP	$	32,515	$	31,547	65,015		62,124


	Three Months Ended				Six Months Ended
	March 28, 2026		March 29, 2025		March 28, 2026		March 29, 2025
Diluted earnings per share	$	0.90	$	0.79	$	1.84	$	1.65
One-time charge adjustments, net of tax benefit or expense	0.10		0.17		0.16		0.22
Adjusted diluted earnings per share, non-GAAP	$	1.00	$	0.96	$	2.00	$	1.87
Adjusted weighted average dilutive shares outstanding	32,430,122		32,885,993		32,558,241		33,152,066