Blue Bird Corp

Previous wording

The following discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations of Blue Bird Corporation (the "Company," "Blue Bird," "we," "our," or "us") should be read in conjunction with the Company’s unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements as of and for the three and nine months ended June 29, 2024 and July 1, 2023 and related notes appearing in Part I, Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q ("Report"). Our actual results may not be indicative of future performance. This discussion and analysis contains forward-looking statements and involves numerous risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, those discussed or incorporated by reference in the sections of this Report entitled “Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” and “Risk Factors.” Actual results may differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements. Certain monetary amounts, percentages and other figures included in this Report have been subject to rounding adjustments. Accordingly, figures shown as totals in certain tables may not be the arithmetic aggregation of the figures that precede them, and figures expressed as percentages in the text may not total 100% or, as applicable, when aggregated, may not be the arithmetic aggregation of the percentages that precede them.

Current wording

The following discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations of Blue Bird Corporation (the "Company," "Blue Bird," "we," "our," or "us") should be read in conjunction with the Company’s unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements as of and for the three months ended December 28, 2024 and December 30, 2023 and related notes appearing in Part I, Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q ("Report"). Our actual results may not be indicative of future performance. This discussion and analysis contains forward-looking statements and involves numerous risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, those discussed or incorporated by reference in the sections of this Report entitled “Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” and “Risk Factors.” Actual results may differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements. Certain monetary amounts, percentages and other figures included in this Report have been subject to rounding adjustments. Accordingly, figures shown as totals in certain tables may not be the arithmetic aggregation of the figures that precede them, and figures expressed as percentages in the text may not total 100% or, as applicable, when aggregated, may not be the arithmetic aggregation of the percentages that precede them.

Previous wording

•future impacts from the novel coronavirus pandemic known as "COVID-19," and any other pandemics, public health crises, or epidemics, on capital markets, manufacturing and supply chain abilities, consumer and customer demand, school system operations, workplace conditions, and any other unexpected impacts, which include or could include, among other effects:

Current wording

•future impacts from pandemics, epidemics or similar widespread disease or illness outbreaks (collectively, "public health crises") on capital markets, manufacturing and supply chain abilities, consumer and customer demand, school system operations, workplace conditions, and any other unexpected impacts, which include or could include, among other effects:

Previous wording

◦supply shortages and supplier financial risk, especially from our single-source suppliers impacted by the pandemic;

Current wording

◦supply shortages and supplier financial risk, especially from our single-source suppliers impacted by public health crises;

Previous wording

◦negative impacts on capacity and/or production in response to changes in demand due to the pandemic, including possible cost containment actions;

Current wording

◦negative impacts on capacity and/or production in response to changes in demand due to public health crises, including possible cost containment actions;

Previous wording

◦financial difficulties of our customers impacted by the pandemic;

Current wording

◦financial difficulties of our customers impacted by public health crises;

Previous wording

◦reductions in market demand for our products due to the pandemic; and

Current wording

◦reductions in market demand for our products due to public health crises; and

Previous wording

◦potential negative impacts of various actions taken by federal, state and/or local governments in response to the pandemic.

Current wording

◦potential negative impacts of various actions taken by federal, state and/or local governments in response to public health crises.

Previous wording

•future impacts resulting from Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which include or could include, among other effects:

Current wording

•future impacts resulting from current and/or future military conflicts, which include or could include, among other effects:

Previous wording

◦supply shortages and supplier financial risk, especially from suppliers providing inventory that is dependent on resources originating from either of these countries; and

Current wording

◦supply shortages and supplier financial risk, especially from suppliers providing inventory that is dependent on resources originating from countries impacted by military conflicts; and

Previous wording

Throughout this Report, we refer to the fiscal year ending September 28, 2024 as "fiscal 2024," the fiscal year ended September 30, 2023 as "fiscal 2023," the fiscal year ended October 1, 2022 as "fiscal 2022," the fiscal year ended October 2, 2021 as “fiscal 2021” and the fiscal year ended October 3, 2020 as "fiscal 2020." There will be or were 52 weeks in fiscal 2024, fiscal 2023 and fiscal 2022. The third quarters of fiscal 2024 and fiscal 2023 both included 13 weeks. The nine month periods in fiscal 2024 and 2023 both included 39 weeks.

Current wording

Throughout this Report, we refer to the fiscal year ending September 27, 2025 as "fiscal 2025," the fiscal year ended September 28, 2024 as "fiscal 2024," the fiscal year ended September 30, 2023 as "fiscal 2023," the fiscal year ended October 1, 2022 as “fiscal 2022” and the fiscal year ended October 2, 2021 as "fiscal 2021." There will be or were 52 weeks in fiscal 2025 and fiscal 2024. The first quarters of fiscal 2025 and fiscal 2024 both included 13 weeks.

Previous wording

Cash flows used in investing activities totaled $10.1 million for the nine months ended June 29, 2024 as compared to $6.4 million for the nine months ended July 1, 2023. The $3.7 million increase was primarily due to an increase in spending on fixed assets, as increased profitability in the first nine months of fiscal 2024 when compared with the same period in fiscal 2023 allowed for more capital spending. During the first half of fiscal 2023, capital spending was reduced to lower than normal amounts in an effort to mitigate the impact of supply chain constraints on our operations, financial results and cash flows.

Current wording

Impacts of Supply Chain Constraints on Our Business

Previous wording

As discussed in detail in the fiscal 2023 Form 10-K filed with the SEC on December 11, 2023, the novel coronavirus known as "COVID-19" materially affected demand for new buses and replacement/maintenance parts during the second half of fiscal 2020 and first half of fiscal 2021, significantly impacting our business and operations. Although demand for school buses strengthened substantially during the second half of fiscal 2021, the Company, and automotive industry as a whole, began experiencing significant supply chain constraints around this same period of time. Additionally, the already challenged global supply chain for automotive parts that began in fiscal 2021 was further impacted, including continuing escalating inventory purchase costs, by additional stress resulting from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 (see further discussion below). These supply chain disruptions had a significant adverse impact on our operations and results during the second half of fiscal 2021 and all of fiscal 2022 due to higher purchasing costs, including freight costs incurred to expedite receipt of critical components, increased manufacturing inefficiencies and our inability to complete the production of buses to fulfill sales orders.

Current wording

During the second half of fiscal 2021, the Company, and automotive industry as a whole, began experiencing significant supply chain constraints that arose subsequent to the novel coronavirus pandemic known as "COVID-19." Additionally, the already challenged global supply chain for automotive parts was further impacted, including continuing escalating inventory purchase costs, by additional stress resulting from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. These supply chain disruptions had a significant adverse impact on our operations and results during the second half of fiscal 2021 and all of fiscal 2022. Specifically, they resulted in higher purchasing costs, including freight costs incurred to expedite receipt of critical components, increased manufacturing inefficiencies and our inability to complete the production of buses to fulfill sales orders, that outpaced the sales prices that we charged for the buses we sold during these periods.

Previous wording

Towards the end of fiscal 2022 and continuing into fiscal 2023, there were slight improvements in the supply chain's ability to deliver the parts and components necessary to support our production operations, resulting in increased (i) manufacturing efficiencies and (ii) production of buses to fulfill sales orders during fiscal 2023. However, the higher costs charged by suppliers to procure inventory that continued into fiscal 2023 had a significant adverse impact on our operations and results. Specifically, such cost increases outpaced the increases in sales prices that we charged for the buses that were sold during the first quarter of fiscal 2023, many of which were included in the backlog of fixed price sales orders originating in fiscal 2021 and the early months of fiscal 2022 that carried forward into fiscal 2023. During the remainder of fiscal 2023, the buses that were sold were generally included in the backlog of fixed price sales orders originating more recently (i.e., the latter months of fiscal 2022 and in fiscal 2023), with the cumulative increases in sales prices we charged for those buses generally outpacing the higher costs we paid to procure inventory, resulting in gross profit during the quarters. While the gross margin on bus sales during the second quarter of fiscal 2023 lagged the historical gross margin reported prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, it returned to more normal historical levels during the latter half of fiscal 2023.

Current wording

During fiscal 2023 and fiscal 2024, there were slight improvements in the supply chain's ability to deliver the parts and components necessary to support our production operations, resulting in increased (i) manufacturing efficiencies and (ii) production of buses to fulfill sales orders. However, the higher costs charged by suppliers to procure inventory continued over these same periods and adversely impacted our operations and results. However, the cumulative increases in sales prices we charged for our buses outpaced the higher costs we paid to procure inventory, resulting in gross profit and gross margin in fiscal 2023 and fiscal 2024 that were consistent with, or better than, historic levels experienced prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Previous wording

Supply chain disruptions continued into the first nine months of fiscal 2024 as there were still occasional shortages of certain critical components as well as ongoing increases in raw materials costs, both of which impacted our business and operations by limiting the number of school buses that we could produce and sell as well as increasing the costs to manufacture buses. Nonetheless, the lessons learned, and resulting actions taken, by management over the past three fiscal years allowed the Company to better navigate these supply chain challenges and consistently produce buses to fulfill sales orders. Ongoing improvements in manufacturing operations, when coupled with periodic pricing actions taken by the Company to ensure that the increased sales prices charged for buses kept pace with increased costs to procure inventory to produce the buses, allowed the Company to report gross profit and gross margin during the first nine months of fiscal 2024 that were consistent with, or better than, historic levels experienced prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Current wording

Supply chain disruptions continued into the first quarter of fiscal 2025 as there were still occasional shortages of certain critical components as well as ongoing increases in raw materials costs, both of which impacted our business and operations by limiting the number and/or mix of school buses that we could produce and sell as well as increasing the costs to manufacture buses. Nonetheless, the lessons learned, and resulting actions taken, by management over the past three fiscal years allowed the Company to better navigate these supply chain challenges and consistently produce buses to fulfill sales orders. Ongoing improvements in manufacturing operations, when coupled with periodic pricing actions taken by the Company to ensure that the increased sales prices charged for buses keep pace with increased costs to procure inventory to produce the buses, allowed the Company to report gross profit and gross margin that are materially consistent with those reported in fiscal 2024.

Previous wording

New bus orders during fiscal 2023 and continuing into fiscal 2024 remained robust, primarily due to a combination of (i) pent-up demand resulting from the cumulative effect of the COVID-19 pandemic when many school systems conducted virtual learning and (ii) the challenged global supply chain for automotive parts that hindered the school bus industry's ability to produce and sell buses that began during the latter half of fiscal 2021 and continued through the third quarter of fiscal 2024. Accordingly, the Company's backlog remained strong at approximately 4,600 units and 5,200 units as of September 30, 2023 and June 29, 2024, respectively, despite it selling over 8,500 units during fiscal 2023, the majority of which were included in the backlog that existed as of October 1, 2022, and over 6,500 units in the first nine months of fiscal 2024.

Current wording

New bus orders during fiscal 2024 and continuing into fiscal 2025 remained robust, primarily due to a combination of (i) pent-up demand resulting from the cumulative effect of the COVID-19 pandemic when many school systems conducted virtual learning and (ii) the challenged global supply chain for automotive parts that hindered the school bus industry's ability to produce and sell buses as discussed previously above. Accordingly, the Company's backlog remained strong at approximately 4,800 units and 4,400 units as of September 28, 2024 and December 28, 2024, respectively, despite it selling 9,000 units in fiscal 2024 and over 2,100 units in the first quarter of fiscal 2025.

Previous wording

In general, management believes that supply chain disruptions could continue in future periods and could materially impact our results if we are unable to i) obtain parts and supplies in sufficient quantities to meet our production needs and/or ii) pass along rising costs to our customers. They have resulted, and could continue to result, in significant economic disruption and have adversely affected our business. They could adversely impact our business for the remainder of fiscal 2024 and perhaps beyond. Significant uncertainty exists concerning the magnitude of the impact and duration of ongoing supply chain constraints and their potential impact on the overall economy, both within the U.S and globally. Accordingly, the magnitude and duration of any production and supply chain disruptions and their related financial impacts on our business cannot be estimated at this time.

Current wording

In general, management believes that supply chain disruptions, including those resulting from current or future military conflicts, could continue in future periods and could materially impact our results if we are unable to i) obtain parts and supplies in sufficient quantities to meet our production needs and/or ii) pass along rising costs to our customers. They have resulted, and could continue to result, in significant economic disruption and have adversely affected our business. They could adversely impact our business for the remainder of fiscal 2025 and perhaps beyond. Significant uncertainty exists concerning the magnitude of the impact and duration of ongoing supply chain constraints and their potential impact on the overall economy, both within the U.S and globally. Accordingly, the magnitude and duration of any production and supply chain disruptions and their related financial impacts on our business cannot be estimated at this time.

Previous wording

The Company’s accounting policies that we believe are the most critical to aid in fully understanding and evaluating our reported financial results are described in the Company’s fiscal 2023 Form 10-K, filed with the SEC on December 11, 2023, under the caption “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates,” which description is incorporated herein by reference. Our senior management has reviewed these critical accounting policies and related disclosures and determined that there were no significant changes in our critical accounting policies during the nine months ended June 29, 2024.

Current wording

The Company’s accounting policies that we believe are the most critical to aid in fully understanding and evaluating our reported financial results are described in the Company’s fiscal 2024 Form 10-K, filed with the SEC on November 25, 2024, under the caption “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates,” which description is incorporated herein by reference. Our senior management has reviewed these critical accounting policies and related disclosures and determined that there were no significant changes in our critical accounting policies during the three months ended December 28, 2024.

Previous wording

•Seasonality. Historically, our sales have been subject to seasonal variation based on the school calendar with the peak season during our third and fourth fiscal quarters. Sales during the third and fourth fiscal quarters are typically greater than the first and second fiscal quarters due to the desire of municipalities to have any new buses that they order available to them at the beginning of the new school year. With the COVID-19 pandemic impacting the demand for Company products and the impact of the subsequent supply chain constraints hindering the Company's ability to produce and sell buses, seasonality has become unpredictable. Seasonality and variations from historical seasonality have impacted the comparison of results between fiscal periods.

Current wording

•Seasonality. In the fiscal years preceding the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, our sales were subject to seasonal variation based on the school calendar with the peak season during our third and fourth fiscal quarters. Sales during the third and fourth fiscal quarters were typically greater than the first and second fiscal quarters due to the desire of municipalities to have any new buses that they ordered available to them at the beginning of the new school year. Since 2020, with the COVID-19 pandemic impacting the demand for Company products and the impact of the subsequent supply chain constraints hindering the Company's ability to produce and sell buses as discussed previously above, seasonality has become unpredictable. Seasonality and variations from historical seasonality have impacted the comparison of results between fiscal periods.

Previous wording

•Inflation. As discussed previously above, supply chain disruptions developing subsequent to the COVID-19 pandemic and Russia's invasion of Ukraine have significantly increased our inventory purchase costs, including freight costs incurred to expedite receipt of critical components, reflected in cost of goods sold during the latter half of fiscal 2021, all of fiscal 2022 and continuing, to a lesser extent, into fiscal 2023 and fiscal 2024. In response, beginning in July 2021, the Company announced several sales price increases that applied to new sales orders and partially applied to backlog orders that were both intended to mitigate the impact of rising purchase costs on our operations and results. Most of these price increases only began to marginally impact sales and gross profit in the latter half of fiscal 2022. Specifically, they did not offset the significant continued increase in the Company's production costs, resulting in further deterioration of the Company's gross profit during the second half of fiscal 2022 and continuing into the first quarter of fiscal 2023 as it produced and sold the oldest units included in the backlog as of the end of fiscal 2022. However, they began to have a more significant, positive impact on sales and gross profit during the remainder of fiscal 2023, as the Company fulfilled sales orders (i) from the backlog existing as of the end of fiscal 2022 that originated more recently (i.e., during the latter months of fiscal 2022) and (ii) that were taken during fiscal 2023, both of which contained most or all of the cumulative sales prices increases that have been announced. These cumulative price increases also continued to have a significant, positive impact on sales and gross profit during the first nine months of fiscal 2024.

Current wording

•Inflation. As discussed previously above, supply chain disruptions developing subsequent to the COVID-19 pandemic and Russia's invasion of Ukraine have significantly increased our inventory purchase costs, including freight costs incurred to deliver critical components, reflected in cost of goods sold during all of fiscal 2022 and continuing, to a lesser extent, into fiscal 2023, fiscal 2024 and the first quarter of fiscal 2025. In response, the Company announced a number of sales price increases over this same period that applied to new sales orders and, in one limited circumstance, partially applied to backlog orders that were both intended to mitigate the impact of rising purchase costs on our operations and results. These cumulative price increases have had a significant, positive impact on sales and gross profit during fiscal 2023, fiscal 2024 and continuing into the first quarter of fiscal 2025.

Previous wording

Our expenses and other line items on our unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations are principally driven by the following factors:

Current wording

Our expenses and other line items on our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations are principally driven by the following factors:

Previous wording

•Cost of goods sold. The components of our cost of goods sold consist of material costs (principally powertrain components, steel and rubber, as well as aluminum and copper) including freight costs, labor expense, and overhead. Our cost of goods sold may vary from period to period due to changes in sales volume, efforts by certain suppliers to pass through the economics associated with key commodities, fluctuations in freight costs, design changes with respect to specific components, design changes with respect to specific bus models, wage increases for plant labor, productivity of plant labor, delays in receiving materials and other logistical problems, and the impact of overhead items such as utilities.

Current wording

•Cost of goods sold. The components of our cost of goods sold consist of material costs (principally powertrain components, steel and rubber, as well as aluminum and copper) including freight costs, labor expense, and overhead. Our cost of goods sold may vary from period to period due to changes in sales volume and/or mix, efforts by certain suppliers to pass through the economics associated with key commodities, fluctuations in freight costs, design changes with respect to specific components, design changes with respect to specific bus models, wage increases for plant labor, productivity of plant labor, delays in receiving materials and other logistical problems, and the impact of overhead items such as utilities.

Previous wording

•Income taxes. We make estimates of the amounts to recognize for income taxes in each tax jurisdiction in which we operate. In addition, provisions are established for withholding taxes related to the transfer of cash between jurisdictions and for uncertain tax positions taken.

Current wording

•Income taxes. We make estimates of the amounts to recognize for income taxes in each tax jurisdiction in which we operate. In addition, provisions are established for withholding taxes related to the transfer of cash between jurisdictions and for uncertain tax positions taken, if any.

Previous wording

•Equity in net income or loss of non-consolidated affiliate. We include in this line item our 50% share of net income or loss from our investment in Micro Bird Holdings, Inc., our unconsolidated Canadian joint venture.

Current wording

•Equity in net income or loss of non-consolidated affiliates. We include in this line item our 50% share of net income or loss from our investments in Micro Bird Holdings, Inc. and Clean Bus Solutions, LLC, our unconsolidated joint ventures.

Previous wording

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 in 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 in 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; net gains or losses on the disposal of assets as well as certain charges such as (i) significant product design changes; (ii) transaction related costs; or (iii) 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 operational transformation and major product redesign 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.

Current wording

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 in 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 in 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.

Previous wording

We define Free Cash Flow as total cash provided by/used in operating activities as adjusted for 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, Free Cash Flow will be less than operating cash flows.

Current wording

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.

Previous wording

We manage our business in two operating segments, which are also our reportable segments: (i) the Bus segment, which involves the design, engineering, manufacture and sales of school buses and extended warranties; and (ii) the Parts segment, which includes the sale of replacement bus parts. Financial information is reported on the basis that it is used internally by the chief operating decision maker (“CODM”) in evaluating segment performance and deciding how to allocate resources to segments. The Chief Executive Officer of the Company has been identified as the CODM. Management evaluates the segments based primarily upon revenues and gross profit.

Current wording

We manage our business in two operating segments, which are also our reportable segments: (i) the Bus segment, which involves the design, engineering, manufacture and sale of school buses and extended warranties; and (ii) the Parts segment, which includes the sale of replacement bus parts. Financial information is reported on the basis that it is used internally by the chief operating decision maker (“CODM”) in evaluating segment performance and deciding how to allocate resources to segments. The President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company has been identified as the CODM. Management evaluates the segments based primarily upon revenues and gross profit.

Previous wording

Net sales. Net sales were $333.4 million for the third quarter of fiscal 2024, an increase of $39.1 million, or 13.3%, compared to $294.3 million for the third quarter of fiscal 2023. The increase in net sales is primarily due to product and mix changes, pricing actions taken by management in response to increased inventory purchase costs and a small increase in unit bookings.

Current wording

Net sales. Net sales were $313.9 million for the first quarter of fiscal 2025, a decrease of $3.8 million, or 1.2%, compared to $317.7 million for the first quarter of fiscal 2024. The decrease in net sales is primarily due to Bus customer and product mix changes that were partially offset by a slight increase in Parts sales.

Previous wording

Bus sales increased $37.8 million, or 14.0%, reflecting an 13.2% increase in average sales price per unit and a 0.7% increase in units booked. In the third quarter of fiscal 2024, 2,151 units were booked compared to 2,137 units booked for the same period in fiscal 2023. The small increase in units sold was primarily due to customer and product mix changes, although both quarters were negatively impacted by supply chain constraints that limited the Company's ability to produce and deliver buses due to shortages of critical components. The increase in unit price for the third quarter of fiscal 2024 compared to the same period in fiscal 2023 reflects pricing actions taken by management as well as product and customer mix changes.

Current wording

Bus sales decreased $5.3 million, or 1.8%, reflecting a 1.9% decrease in average sales price per unit. In the first quarter of fiscal 2025, 2,130 units were booked compared to 2,129 units booked for the same period in fiscal 2024. The small decrease in unit price for the first quarter of fiscal 2025 compared to the same period in fiscal 2024 was primarily due to customer and product mix changes, although both quarters were negatively impacted by supply chain constraints that limited the Company's ability to produce and deliver buses due to shortages of critical components.

Previous wording

Parts sales increased $1.3 million, or 5.5%, for the third quarter of fiscal 2024 compared to the third quarter of fiscal 2023. This increase is primarily attributed to price increases, driven by ongoing inflationary pressures, as well as higher fulfillment volumes and slight variations due to product and channel mix.

Current wording

Parts sales increased $1.5 million, or 6.2%, for the first quarter of fiscal 2025 compared to the first quarter of fiscal 2024. This increase is primarily attributed to price increases, driven by ongoing inflationary pressures, as well as higher fulfillment volumes and slight variations due to product and channel mix.

Previous wording

Cost of goods sold. Total cost of goods sold was $264.0 million for the third quarter of fiscal 2024, an increase of $15.5 million, or 6.2%, compared to $248.5 million for the third quarter of fiscal 2023. As a percentage of net sales, total cost of goods sold improved from 84.5% to 79.2%, primarily due to the pricing actions discussed above.

Current wording

Cost of goods sold. Total cost of goods sold was $253.6 million for the first quarter of fiscal 2025, a decrease of $0.5 million, or 0.2%, compared to $254.1 million for the first quarter of fiscal 2024. As a percentage of net sales, total cost of goods sold increased from 80.0% to 80.8%, primarily due to the impact of ongoing inflationary pressures relating to the procurement of inventory as well as finalizing the union contract in May 2024, which increased the labor costs for our covered production and supply chain employees.

Previous wording

Bus segment cost of goods sold increased $15.4 million, or 6.5%, for the third quarter of fiscal 2024 compared to the same period in fiscal 2023. The increase was primarily driven by increased inventory costs, as the average cost of goods sold per unit for the third quarter of fiscal 2024 was 5.8% higher compared to the third quarter of fiscal 2023, primarily due to product and mix changes as well as increases in manufacturing costs attributable to a) increased raw materials costs resulting from ongoing inflationary pressures and b) ongoing supply chain disruptions that resulted in higher purchase costs for components. The increase also partially resulted from the 0.7% increase in units booked in the third quarter of fiscal 2024 compared to the same period in fiscal 2023.

Current wording

Bus segment cost of goods sold decreased $1.2 million, or 0.5%, for the first quarter of fiscal 2025 compared to the same period in fiscal 2024. The decrease was primarily driven by customer and product mix changes as the average cost of goods sold per unit for the first quarter of fiscal 2025 was 0.5% lower compared to the first quarter of fiscal 2024. However, such decrease was partially offset by increases in manufacturing costs attributable to a) increased raw materials costs resulting from ongoing inflationary pressures, b) ongoing supply chain disruptions that resulted in higher purchase costs for components and c) higher labor costs resulting from finalizing the union contract in May 2024.

Previous wording

The $0.1 million, or 0.8%, increase in parts segment cost of goods sold for the third quarter of fiscal 2024 compared to the third quarter of fiscal 2023 was primarily due to increased purchased parts costs, driven by ongoing inflationary pressures and supply chain disruptions, as well as slight variations due to product and channel mix.

Current wording

The $0.6 million, or 5.2%, increase in Parts segment cost of goods sold for the first quarter of fiscal 2025 compared to the first quarter of fiscal 2024 was primarily due to increased purchased parts costs, driven by ongoing inflationary pressures and supply chain disruptions, as well as slight variations due to product and channel mix.

Previous wording

Operating profit. Operating profit was $39.7 million for the third quarter of fiscal 2024, an increase of $20.3 million, compared to operating profit of $19.4 million for the third quarter of fiscal 2023. Profitability was primarily impacted by an increase of $23.6 million in gross profit as outlined in the revenue and cost of goods sold discussions above. The increase in gross profit was partially offset by an increase of $3.3 million in selling, general and administrative expenses, primarily due to an increase in labor costs.

Current wording

Operating profit. Operating profit was $33.0 million for the first quarter of fiscal 2025, a decrease of $4.9 million compared to operating profit of $38.0 million for the first quarter of fiscal 2024. Profitability was primarily impacted by a decrease of $3.2 million in gross profit as outlined in the revenue and cost of goods sold discussions above. It was also impacted by an increase of $1.7 million in selling, general and administrative expenses, primarily due to an increase in labor costs.

Previous wording

Interest expense. Interest expense was $2.1 million for the third quarter of fiscal 2024, a decrease of $2.4 million, or 53.3%, compared to $4.5 million for the third quarter of fiscal 2023. The decrease was primarily attributable to a decrease in the stated term loan interest rate from 11.1% at July 1, 2023 to 7.2% at June 29, 2024, as well as lower outstanding borrowings in the third quarter of fiscal 2024 compared to the third quarter of fiscal 2023.

Current wording

Interest expense. Interest expense was $1.9 million for the first quarter of fiscal 2025, a decrease of $1.7 million, or 47.3%, compared to $3.6 million for the first quarter of fiscal 2024. The decrease was primarily attributable to a decrease in the stated term loan interest rate from 8.5% at December 30, 2023 to 6.4% at December 28, 2024, as well as lower outstanding borrowings in the first quarter of fiscal 2025 compared to the first quarter of fiscal 2024.

Previous wording

Other expense, net. Other expense, net was $2.7 million for the third quarter of fiscal 2024, a decrease of $3.7 million, or 57.5%, compared to $6.4 million of other expense, net for the same period in fiscal 2023.

Current wording

Other income (expense), net. Other income, net was $2.9 million for the first quarter of fiscal 2025, an increase of $4.1 million, or 338.8%, compared to $1.2 million of other expense, net for the same period in fiscal 2024.

Previous wording

Additionally, on December 14, 2023, the Company entered into an underwriting agreement with BofA Securities, Inc. and Barclays Capital Inc., as representatives of the several underwriters and American Securities LLC ("Selling Stockholder"), pursuant to which the Selling Stockholder agreed to sell 2,500,000 shares of common stock at a purchase price of $25.10 per share ("December Offering").

Current wording

Finally, on December 14, 2023, the Company entered into an underwriting agreement with BofA Securities, Inc. and Barclays Capital Inc., as representatives of the several underwriters and American Securities LLC ("Selling Stockholder"), pursuant to which the Selling Stockholder agreed to sell 2,500,000 shares of common stock at a purchase price of $25.10 per share ("Offering"). The Offering was conducted pursuant to a prospectus supplement, dated December 14, 2023, to the prospectus, dated December 22, 2021, included in the Company’s registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-261858) that was initially filed with the SEC on December 23, 2021.

Previous wording

The 2023 Offering closed on June 12, 2023. Although the Company did not sell any shares or receive any proceeds from the 2023 Offering. it was required to pay certain expenses in connection with the 2023 Offering that totaled $6.3 million (approximately $0.7 million of which were expensed in the second quarter of fiscal 2023 within selling, general and administrative expenses and reclassified to other expense, net during the third quarter of fiscal 2023), with no similar expense recorded during the same period of fiscal 2024.

Current wording

The Offering closed on December 19, 2023. Although the Company did not sell any shares or receive any proceeds from the Offering, it was required to pay certain expenses in connection with the transaction that totaled approximately $1.2 million during the first quarter of fiscal 2024. There was no similar expense recorded during the first quarter of fiscal 2025,

Previous wording

Income taxes. Income tax expense was $9.9 million for the third quarter of fiscal 2024 compared to $1.9 million for the same period in fiscal 2023.

Current wording

Income taxes. Income tax expense was $8.7 million for the first quarter of fiscal 2025 compared to $8.4 million for the same period in fiscal 2024.

Previous wording

The effective tax rate for the three months ended June 29, 2024 was 27.7% and differed from the statutory federal income tax rate of 21%. The increase was primarily due to the impacts from state taxes and certain permanent items on the federal rate, which were partially offset by the impacts from federal and state tax credits (net of valuation allowances) and discrete period items during the quarter.

Current wording

The effective tax rate for the three months ended December 28, 2024 was 24.4% and differed from the statutory federal income tax rate of 21%. The increase was primarily due to the impacts from state taxes and certain permanent items on the federal rate, which were partially offset by the impacts from federal and state tax credits (net of valuation allowances) and discrete period items during the quarter.

Previous wording

The effective tax rate for the nine months ended June 29, 2024 was 26.4% and differed from the statutory federal income tax rate of 21%. The increase was primarily due to the impacts from state taxes and certain permanent items on the federal rate, which were partially offset by the impacts from federal and state tax credits (net of valuation allowances) and discrete period items during the period.

Current wording

The effective tax rate for the three months ended December 30, 2023 was 25.9% and differed from the statutory federal income tax rate of 21%. The increase was primarily due to the impacts from state taxes and certain permanent items on the federal rate, which were partially offset by the impacts from federal and state tax credits (net of valuation allowances) and discrete period items during the quarter.