Blue Bird (BLBD) vs Columbus McKinnon (CMCO)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.
Summary
Columbus McKinnon (CMCO) has outperformed Blue Bird (BLBD) over the past year, gaining 9.7% versus a gain of 4.6%. Over five years, BLBD leads with a +182.4% price change compared with -67.9% for CMCO. Blue Bird is the larger company by market cap ($1.75 billion vs $466.4 million), about 3.8 times the size.
On valuation, Columbus McKinnon trades at a lower forward P/E (6.1x vs 12.5x for Blue Bird). Columbus McKinnon pays a dividend yielding 1.73%, 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 | BLBD | CMCO |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $55.84 | $16.16 |
| Market cap | $1.75B | $466.45M |
| 1-day change | -2.35% | -5.05% |
| YTD return | +18.81% | -6.32% |
| 1-year return | +4.65% | +9.71% |
| 5-year return | +182.45% | -67.85% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 6.61 | — |
| Forward P/E | 12.53 | 6.11 |
| EPS (TTM) | $8.45 | $-9.38 |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | 1.73% |
| Annual dividend | $0.00 | $0.28 |
| 52-week high | $83.39 | $24.40 |
| 52-week low | $46.14 | $11.99 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -33.04% | -33.77% |
| Analyst consensus | strong_buy | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +59.62% | +60.89% |
| Average volume | 533.95K | 543.72K |
| Shares outstanding | 31.35M | 28.86M |
| Employees | 2,008 | 7,300 |
| Sector | Consumer Discretionary | Industrials |
| Industry | Construction/Ag Equipment/Trucks | Farm & Heavy Construction Machinery |
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 3.8 times larger than Columbus McKinnon by market value ($1.75B vs $466.45M).
- Columbus McKinnon offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (1.73% vs 0.00%).
- The two companies sit in different sectors: Blue Bird in Consumer Discretionary and Columbus McKinnon in Industrials.
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
About Columbus McKinnon
CMCO stock →Columbus McKinnon Corporation designs, manufactures, and markets motion solutions for moving, lifting, positioning, and securing materials. It offers powered chain hoists, electric wire rope hoists, hand-operated hoists, winches, lever tools, and air-powered hoists, as well as explosion-protected and custom engineered hoists, such as wire rope and manual hoists; precision conveyer products which includes low profile, flexible chain, large scale, sanitary, and vertical elevation conveyor systems, as well as pallet system conveyors and accumulation systems; and power control and delivery systems and solutions.
Industrials · Farm & Heavy Construction Machinery · 7,300 employees
BLBD vs CMCO FAQ
Which is bigger, Blue Bird or Columbus McKinnon?
Blue Bird (BLBD) is larger, with a market capitalization of $1.75B compared with $466.45M for Columbus McKinnon (CMCO).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, BLBD or CMCO?
CMCO returned +9.71% over the past 12 months, compared with +4.65% for BLBD (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which pays a higher dividend, Blue Bird or Columbus McKinnon?
Columbus McKinnon pays a dividend yielding 1.73%, while Blue Bird does not currently pay a regular dividend.
Are Blue Bird and Columbus McKinnon in the same industry?
No. Blue Bird is in the Consumer Discretionary sector, while Columbus McKinnon is in Industrials.