Astec Industries (ASTE) vs Blue Bird (BLBD)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.
Summary
Blue Bird (BLBD) has outperformed Astec Industries (ASTE) over the past year, gaining 4.6% versus a loss of 17.5%. Over five years, BLBD leads with a +182.4% price change compared with -24.2% for ASTE. Blue Bird is the larger company by market cap ($1.90 billion vs $897.2 million), about 2.1 times the size.
On valuation, Astec Industries trades at a lower forward P/E (9.8x vs 12.5x for Blue Bird). Astec Industries pays a dividend yielding 1.33%, while Blue Bird does not currently pay one.
Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology
Relative performance
Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.
Head-to-head
| Metric | ASTE | BLBD |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $39.02 | $55.83 |
| Market cap | $897.17M | $1.90B |
| 1-day change | -0.48% | -0.02% |
| YTD return | -9.49% | +18.81% |
| 1-year return | -17.47% | +4.65% |
| 5-year return | -24.20% | +182.45% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 45.91 | 6.61 |
| Forward P/E | 9.80 | 12.53 |
| EPS (TTM) | $0.85 | $8.45 |
| Dividend yield | 1.33% | 0.00% |
| Annual dividend | $0.52 | $0.00 |
| 52-week high | $65.69 | $83.39 |
| 52-week low | $38.34 | $46.14 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -40.60% | -33.05% |
| Analyst consensus | none | strong_buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +72.35% | +59.65% |
| Average volume | 236.09K | 533.83K |
| Shares outstanding | 22.99M | 31.35M |
| Employees | 4,468 | 2,008 |
| Sector | Industrials | Consumer Discretionary |
| Industry | Construction/Ag Equipment/Trucks | Construction/Ag Equipment/Trucks |
Highlighted cells mark the higher value for growth, returns, margins and yield, and the lower value for P/E ratios. Highlighting is a mechanical comparison, not a recommendation.
Key differences
- Blue Bird is about 2.1 times larger than Astec Industries by market value ($1.90B vs $897.17M).
- BLBD has outperformed ASTE by 22.1 percentage points over the past year.
- Astec Industries trades at a higher earnings multiple (45.9x vs 6.6x trailing P/E).
- Astec Industries offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (1.33% vs 0.00%).
- The two companies sit in different sectors: Astec Industries in Industrials and Blue Bird in Consumer Discretionary.
About Astec Industries
ASTE stock →Astec Industries, Inc. designs, engineers, manufactures, markets, and services equipment and components used primarily in road building and related construction activities worldwide.
Industrials · Construction/Ag Equipment/Trucks · 4,468 employees
About Blue Bird
BLBD stock →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.
Consumer Discretionary · Construction/Ag Equipment/Trucks · 2,008 employees
ASTE vs BLBD FAQ
Which is bigger, Astec Industries or Blue Bird?
Blue Bird (BLBD) is larger, with a market capitalization of $1.90B compared with $897.17M for Astec Industries (ASTE).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, ASTE or BLBD?
BLBD returned +4.65% over the past 12 months, compared with -17.47% for ASTE (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, ASTE or BLBD?
BLBD has the lower trailing P/E at 6.6, versus 45.9 for ASTE. A lower P/E is not by itself a sign of a better investment; it can reflect slower expected growth or higher risk.
Which pays a higher dividend, Astec Industries or Blue Bird?
Astec Industries pays a dividend yielding 1.33%, while Blue Bird does not currently pay a regular dividend.
Are Astec Industries and Blue Bird in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Construction/Ag Equipment/Trucks industry within the Industrials sector.