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 Brady (NYSE: BRC) 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 slower Q4. As a group, revenues were in line with analysts’ consensus estimates while next quarter’s revenue guidance was 1% above.
In light of this news, share prices of the companies have held steady as they are up 3.5% on average since the latest earnings results.
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 $356.7 million, up 10.6% year on year. This print fell short of analysts’ expectations by 0.7%. Overall, it was a softer quarter for the company with a miss of analysts’ EPS estimates.
Brady achieved the fastest revenue growth of the whole group. Still, the market seems discontent with the results. The stock is down 15.3% since reporting and currently trades at $69.47.
Read our full report on Brady here, it’s free.
Best Q4: 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 $479.3 million, down 2.4% year on year, outperforming analysts’ expectations by 2.8%. The business had a strong quarter with an impressive beat of analysts’ EPS estimates.
CoreCivic pulled off the biggest analyst estimates beat among its peers. The market seems happy with the results as the stock is up 15.3% since reporting. It currently trades at $21.74.
Is now the time to buy CoreCivic? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free.
Slowest Q4: 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 $607.7 million, flat year on year, exceeding analysts’ expectations by 0.6%. Still, it was a softer quarter as it posted a significant miss of analysts’ EPS estimates.
Interestingly, the stock is up 17.6% since the results and currently trades at $30.30.
Read our full analysis of GEO Group’s results here.
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 $499.7 million, flat year on year. This print lagged analysts' expectations by 3.7%. It was a softer quarter as it also logged EPS in line with analysts’ estimates.
MSA Safety had the weakest performance against analyst estimates among its peers. The stock is down 5.6% since reporting and currently trades at $153.80.
Read our full, actionable report on MSA Safety 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 $1.26 billion, up 1.4% year on year. This result beat analysts’ expectations by 0.9%. Zooming out, it was a satisfactory quarter as it also produced a solid beat of analysts’ EPS estimates.
The stock is down 2.8% since reporting and currently trades at $91.79.
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.
Want to invest in winners with rock-solid fundamentals? Check out our Top 5 Growth Stocks and add them to your watchlist. These companies are poised for growth regardless of the political or macroeconomic climate.
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