As the craze of earnings season draws to a close, here’s a look back at some of the most exciting (and some less so) results from Q1. Today, we are looking at safety & security services stocks, starting with CoreCivic (NYSE: CXW).
Rising concerns over physical security, cybersecurity threats, and workplace safety regulations will present opportunities for companies in this sector. AI and digitization will enhance surveillance, access control, and threat detection, which could benefit key players in Safety & Security Services. These trends could also introduce ethical and regulatory concerns over data privacy and automated decision-making in security operations, giving rise to headline risks. Finally, increasing scrutiny on private security practices and evolving criminal justice policies again mean that companies in the space need to operate with the utmost care or risk being the poster child of abuse of power.
The 5 safety & security services stocks we track reported a satisfactory Q1. As a group, revenues beat analysts’ consensus estimates by 1.5% while next quarter’s revenue guidance was in line.
Amidst this news, share prices of the companies have had a rough stretch. On average, they are down 5.8% since the latest earnings results.
Best Q1: CoreCivic (NYSE: CXW)
Originally founded in 1983 as the first private prison company in the United States, CoreCivic (NYSE: CXW) operates correctional facilities, detention centers, and residential reentry programs for government agencies across the United States.
CoreCivic reported revenues of $488.6 million, down 2.4% year on year. This print exceeded analysts’ expectations by 2.5%. Overall, it was an exceptional quarter for the company with a solid beat of analysts’ EPS estimates.
Damon T. Hininger, CoreCivic's Chief Executive Officer, commented, "2025 is off to a strong start for CoreCivic. First quarter occupancy in CoreCivic facilities reached 77.0% of available capacity, an increase from 75.2% in the first quarter of last year. Based on cost management and increased bed utilization, particularly from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), we exceeded our internal expectations for the first quarter. Additionally, we have begun to re-activate three previously idle facilities under multiple agreements with ICE. Based on the first quarter's results and activation activity, we are increasing our annual financial guidance."
CoreCivic delivered the slowest revenue growth of the whole group. The stock is down 3.1% since reporting and currently trades at $21.92.
Is now the time to buy CoreCivic? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free.
MSA Safety (NYSE: MSA)
Founded in 1914 as Mine Safety Appliances to protect coal miners from dangerous gases, MSA Safety (NYSE: MSA) designs and manufactures advanced safety products that protect workers and facilities across industries including fire service, energy, construction, and manufacturing.
MSA Safety reported revenues of $421.3 million, up 1.9% year on year, outperforming analysts’ expectations by 5%. The business had an exceptional quarter with a solid beat of analysts’ EPS estimates.
MSA Safety delivered the biggest analyst estimates beat among its peers. The market seems happy with the results as the stock is up 5.2% since reporting. It currently trades at $161.84.
Is now the time to buy MSA Safety? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free.
Weakest Q1: GEO Group (NYSE: GEO)
With a global footprint spanning three continents and approximately 81,000 beds across 100 facilities, GEO Group (NYSE: GEO) operates secure facilities, processing centers, and reentry services for government agencies in the United States, Australia, and South Africa.
GEO Group reported revenues of $604.6 million, flat year on year, falling short of analysts’ expectations by 2%. It was a disappointing quarter as it posted a significant miss of analysts’ EPS estimates.
GEO Group delivered the weakest performance against analyst estimates in the group. As expected, the stock is down 9.6% since the results and currently trades at $27.40.
Read our full analysis of GEO Group’s results here.
Brady (NYSE: BRC)
Founded in 1914 and evolving through more than a century of industrial innovation, Brady (NYSE: BRC) manufactures and supplies identification solutions and workplace safety products that help companies identify and protect their premises, products, and people.
Brady reported revenues of $382.6 million, up 11.4% year on year. This print lagged analysts' expectations by 1%. It was a slower quarter as it also logged a slight miss of analysts’ full-year EPS guidance estimates.
Brady achieved the fastest revenue growth among its peers. The stock is down 8.9% since reporting and currently trades at $69.47.
Read our full, actionable report on Brady here, it’s free.
Brink's (NYSE: BCO)
Known for its iconic armored trucks that have been a fixture in American cities since 1859, Brink's (NYSE: BCO) provides secure transportation and management of cash and valuables for banks, retailers, and other businesses worldwide.
Brink's reported revenues of $1.25 billion, flat year on year. This number beat analysts’ expectations by 2.8%. More broadly, it was a satisfactory quarter as it also produced a solid beat of analysts’ EPS estimates but a significant miss of analysts’ EPS guidance for next quarter estimates.
The stock is down 12.9% since reporting and currently trades at $82.14.
Read our full, actionable report on Brink's here, it’s free.
Market Update
Thanks to the Fed’s series of rate hikes in 2022 and 2023, inflation has cooled significantly from its post-pandemic highs, drawing closer to the 2% goal. This disinflation has occurred without severely impacting economic growth, suggesting the success of a soft landing. The stock market thrived in 2024, spurred by recent rate cuts (0.5% in September and 0.25% in November), and a notable surge followed Donald Trump’s presidential election win in November, propelling indices to historic highs. Nonetheless, the outlook for 2025 remains clouded by potential trade policy changes and corporate tax discussions, which could impact business confidence and growth. The path forward holds both optimism and caution as new policies take shape.
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