Blue Bird (BLBD) vs Douglas Dynamics (PLOW)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.
Summary
Douglas Dynamics (PLOW) has outperformed Blue Bird (BLBD) over the past year, gaining 31.2% versus a gain of 4.6%. Over five years, BLBD leads with a +182.4% price change compared with +3.7% for PLOW. Blue Bird is the larger company by market cap ($1.75 billion vs $917.1 million), about 1.9 times the size.
On valuation, Douglas Dynamics trades at a lower forward P/E (12.3x vs 12.5x for Blue Bird). Douglas Dynamics pays a dividend yielding 2.97%, 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 | PLOW |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $55.84 | $39.74 |
| Market cap | $1.75B | $917.08M |
| 1-day change | -2.35% | -2.31% |
| YTD return | +18.81% | +21.72% |
| 1-year return | +4.65% | +31.16% |
| 5-year return | +182.45% | +3.65% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 6.77 | 18.48 |
| Forward P/E | 12.53 | 12.31 |
| EPS (TTM) | $8.25 | $2.15 |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | 2.97% |
| Annual dividend | $0.00 | $1.18 |
| 52-week high | $83.39 | $55.00 |
| 52-week low | $46.14 | $28.52 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -33.04% | -27.75% |
| Analyst consensus | strong_buy | none |
| Avg. price target upside | +59.62% | +35.88% |
| Average volume | 533.95K | 250.83K |
| Shares outstanding | 31.35M | 23.08M |
| Employees | 2,008 | 1,764 |
| Sector | Consumer Discretionary | Consumer Cyclical |
| Industry | Construction/Ag Equipment/Trucks | Auto Parts |
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
- PLOW has outperformed BLBD by 26.5 percentage points over the past year.
- Douglas Dynamics trades at a higher earnings multiple (18.5x vs 6.8x trailing P/E).
- Douglas Dynamics offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (2.97% vs 0.00%).
- The two companies sit in different sectors: Blue Bird in Consumer Discretionary and Douglas Dynamics in Consumer Cyclical.
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 Douglas Dynamics
PLOW stock →Douglas Dynamics, Inc. operates as a manufacturer and upfitter of commercial vehicle attachments and equipment in North America.
Consumer Cyclical · Auto Parts · 1,764 employees
BLBD vs PLOW FAQ
Which is bigger, Blue Bird or Douglas Dynamics?
Blue Bird (BLBD) is larger, with a market capitalization of $1.75B compared with $917.08M for Douglas Dynamics (PLOW).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, BLBD or PLOW?
PLOW returned +31.16% over the past 12 months, compared with +4.65% for BLBD (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, BLBD or PLOW?
BLBD has the lower trailing P/E at 6.8, versus 18.5 for PLOW. 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, Blue Bird or Douglas Dynamics?
Douglas Dynamics pays a dividend yielding 2.97%, while Blue Bird does not currently pay a regular dividend.
Are Blue Bird and Douglas Dynamics in the same industry?
No. Blue Bird is in the Consumer Discretionary sector, while Douglas Dynamics is in Consumer Cyclical.