Quarterly earnings results are a good time to check in on a company’s progress, especially compared to its peers in the same sector. Today we are looking at GEO Group (NYSE: GEO) and the best and worst performers in the safety & security services industry.

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 very strong Q2. As a group, revenues beat analysts’ consensus estimates by 4.3% while next quarter’s revenue guidance was 0.9% below.

In light of this news, share prices of the companies have held steady as they are up 4.8% on average since the latest earnings results.

Weakest Q2: 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 $636.2 million, up 4.8% year on year. This print exceeded analysts’ expectations by 2%. Despite the top-line beat, it was still a slower quarter for the company with a significant miss of analysts’ full-year EPS guidance estimates and revenue guidance for next quarter missing analysts’ expectations.

George C. Zoley, Executive Chairman of GEO, said, “We are very pleased with our strong second quarter results, and the significant progress we have made towards meeting our growth and strategic objectives. All our efforts are aimed at placing GEO in the best competitive position possible to pursue what we believe to be unprecedented growth opportunities. Given the intrinsic value of our owned real estate assets, as evidenced by the recent $312 million sale of our Lawon, Oklahoma Facility, and the unprecedented growth opportunities in front of us, we believe strongly that our current equity valuation offers an attractive opportunity for investors. To capitalize on this unique opportunity to enhance long-term shareholder value, our Board of Directors has authorized a $300 million share repurchase program. Our focus as a management team remains on enhancing value for our shareholders through the disciplined allocation of capital.”

GEO Group delivered the weakest performance against analyst estimates of the whole group. Unsurprisingly, the stock is down 14.5% since reporting and currently trades at $22.09.

Read our full report on GEO Group here, it’s free.

Best Q2: 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 $538.2 million, up 9.8% year on year, outperforming analysts’ expectations by 8.6%. The business had an incredible quarter with a beat of analysts’ EPS estimates and a solid beat of analysts’ full-year EPS guidance estimates.

CoreCivic scored the biggest analyst estimates beat among its peers. The market seems happy with the results as the stock is up 7.8% since reporting. It currently trades at $21.13.

Is now the time to buy CoreCivic? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free.

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 $397.3 million, up 15.7% year on year, exceeding analysts’ expectations by 2.7%. It may have had the worst quarter among its peers, but its results were still good as it also locked in a decent beat of analysts’ full-year EPS guidance estimates.

Interestingly, the stock is up 5% since the results and currently trades at $81.74.

Read our full analysis of Brady’s results here.

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 $1.30 billion, up 3.8% year on year. This print surpassed analysts’ expectations by 2.1%. Overall, it was a very strong quarter as it also put up a beat of analysts’ EPS estimates and a decent beat of analysts’ EPS guidance for next quarter estimates.

The stock is up 29.6% since reporting and currently trades at $114.96.

Read our full, actionable report on Brink's 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 $474.1 million, up 2.5% year on year. This result topped analysts’ expectations by 5.9%. Overall, it was a stunning quarter as it also recorded a beat of analysts’ EPS estimates.

MSA Safety had the slowest revenue growth among its peers. The stock is down 3.8% since reporting and currently trades at $170.58.

Read our full, actionable report on MSA Safety 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.

Want to invest in winners with rock-solid fundamentals? Check out our 9 Best Market-Beating Stocks and add them to your watchlist. These companies are poised for growth regardless of the political or macroeconomic climate.

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