Stockchase Opinions

John KimNew Flyer Industries Inc.NFI.TOWAITSep 25, 2019

He use to to own them but sold earlier this year. The bus segment is eroding and new competitor from Europe is entering. Bus service is shrinking regionally. Transit is their area of growth and it is declining there as well. He would wait.
$28.75

Stock price when the opinion was issued

$23.29

As of May 27, 2026. Market Open.

Automotive
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PAST TOP PICK
(A Top Pick May 06/25, Up 63%)

If you still like the company, rough times are a chance to accumulate shares. 

Long list of problems; hopefully now solutions being implemented. Some competitors have folded up their tents, so competition is less but pricing power is higher. Full order backlog. Supply chain is under control. Hope for dividend to be reinstated in a couple of years.

BUY ON WEAKNESS
Investor has been building a position over the past year on weakness.

Supply chain issues, on and off. It's a complex business with the 1000s of components required (if you're missing just one you can't ship the bus, inventory builds, and you have a working capital problem). These issues are transitory, though the current battery issue is more complicated.

Solid business, very difficult to displace, essential service. Investor's doing the right thing. Backlog is growing, and at some point that will mean much better profitability. You have to be patient.

RISKY
In the season of tax-loss selling, a high-conviction name that's been unfairly punished.

This name is cheaper than it ought to be. It's in a whole separate risk category, so only if you want to take some real risk. All things being equal, should be higher in January than it is now.

PAST TOP PICK
(A Top Pick Jan 02/25, Down 5%)

Demand is there, but had supply chain issues. Plus battery recall, which delayed production. Underlying fundamentals are still strong.

Unspecified

He owns it in the Canadian portfolio. There is a supply shortage of buses and it has a new big order from Toronto. There have been some liquidity challenges but they are abating. They make any kind of bus but the electric ones carry the biggest price premium so they can make more money on them.

TOP PICK

One of only 2 names she owns with no dividend. For her to do that, she really has to have conviction on the company and its stock price trajectory. Biggest segment is manufacturing transit buses, also does coach buses. Supply chain issue with seats is slowly getting alleviated. Backlog at record levels. Pricing environment is good. 

Very limited competition, as pandemic wiped out most of their peers. Public funding is still strong. One of the only companies that complies with buy-American-zero-emissions policy. No dividend.

(Analysts’ price target is $20.75)
TOP PICK

Competition has withered away. Pays no dividend. He's held this through some tough periods. The problem with a seat suppliers seems to be resolved. Huge backlog. They can withstand tariffs. If they deliver some buses in Q2, 3 and 4, the stock will look good in 12 months.

(Analysts’ price target is $20.50)
WATCH

Struggled over the years. Good exposure to EVs. Problem is lots of leverage. As well, a bus can't be shipped if it's missing even 1 component; it has to wait. Exposed to tariffs, as it relies on US for some of those parts. 

Management's done well refinancing debt and working through problems. If problems can be resolved, could have very high performance over next few years.

BUY

He's been adding. Their downturn lat year started with a seat supplier, then tariff worries hit. Eventually, shares will bounce. They have almost no competition in transit buses in the US. We'll see.

DON'T BUY

At the end of the day, being a manufacturer is quite tough. Plus, they're in Canada. Significant amount of debt. Counting on smaller levels of government making orders, but there's not a lot of $$ to go around. These buses are a big capital expenditure, and it's hard to justify that in a budget. No dividend.

Instead look for a company that produces component parts at low cost, but very important to the vehicle. That component would have an element of pricing power.

TOP PICK

One of the only players left for electric buses, which gives them more bargaining flexibility. Latest supply-chain issue on seats is a one-off. Backlog is bigger than ever. No dividend.

(Analysts’ price target is $20.80)
DON'T BUY

Concerns regarding tariffs on components and whether Trump will expand public transit. Making progress on debt, but it's still too high. Supply chain issues. Too many questions to step in:  growth, costs, debt.

DON'T BUY

He bought it below $10, but then took profits around $15. He watches it. Wants to see them deliver growth ahead.

PAST TOP PICK
(A Top Pick Jul 18/23, Up 49%)

The pandemic hurt them with supply chain troubles. It is well run and the balance sheet should get better. It is the only game in town for municipalities buying buses. He thinks the dividend gets re-instated in 2025 or 26.

DON'T BUY

Too volatile for her. Stay away. Ranks 1/10 on value. Upside to street's price target only 1.5%, so risk/reward is just not there.