As the Q3 earnings season wraps, let’s dig into this quarter’s best and worst performers in the safety & security services industry, including GEO Group (NYSE: GEO) and its peers.

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 mixed Q3. As a group, revenues beat analysts’ consensus estimates by 2.7% while next quarter’s revenue guidance was in line.

In light of this news, share prices of the companies have held steady. On average, they are relatively unchanged since the latest earnings results.

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 $682.3 million, up 13.1% year on year. This print exceeded analysts’ expectations by 2.5%. Despite the top-line beat, it was still a slower quarter for the company with revenue guidance for next quarter missing analysts’ expectations significantly and a significant miss of analysts’ EPS guidance for next quarter estimates.

George C. Zoley, Executive Chairman of GEO, said, “During the first three quarters of 2025, we believe we have made significant progress towards meeting our growth and strategic objectives. Since the beginning of the year, we have entered into new or expanded contracts that represent over $460 million in new incremental annualized revenues that are already under contract and are expected to normalize in 2026. This represents the largest amount of new business we have won in a single year in our Company’s history.

Unsurprisingly, the stock is down 6.3% since reporting and currently trades at $15.75.

Read our full report on GEO Group here, it’s free for active Edge members.

Best Q3: 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 $468.4 million, up 8.3% year on year, outperforming analysts’ expectations by 1.1%. The business had a strong quarter with a beat of analysts’ EPS estimates and a narrow beat of analysts’ revenue estimates.

Although it had a fine quarter compared its peers, the market seems unhappy with the results as the stock is down 1% since reporting. It currently trades at $161.04.

Is now the time to buy MSA Safety? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free for active Edge members.

Weakest Q3: 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 $580.4 million, up 18.1% year on year, exceeding analysts’ expectations by 7.3%. Still, it was a softer quarter as it posted a significant miss of analysts’ full-year EPS guidance estimates.

As expected, the stock is down 5.6% since the results and currently trades at $17.61.

Read our full analysis of CoreCivic’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 $405.3 million, up 7.5% year on year. This print topped analysts’ expectations by 2.6%. It was a strong quarter as it also produced a solid beat of analysts’ revenue estimates and a beat of analysts’ EPS estimates.

The stock is up 7.9% since reporting and currently trades at $80.80.

Read our full, actionable report on Brady here, it’s free for active Edge members.

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 $1.34 billion, up 6.1% year on year. This number was in line with analysts’ expectations. Taking a step back, it was a mixed quarter as it also recorded revenue guidance for next quarter slightly topping analysts’ expectations but EPS in line with analysts’ estimates.

Brink's had the weakest performance against analyst estimates and slowest revenue growth among its peers. The stock is up 6.3% since reporting and currently trades at $112.60.

Read our full, actionable report on Brink's here, it’s free for active Edge members.

Market Update

Thanks to the Fed’s rate hikes in 2022 and 2023, inflation has been on a steady path downward, easing back toward that 2% sweet spot. Fortunately (miraculously to some), all this tightening didn’t send the economy tumbling into a recession, so here we are, cautiously celebrating a soft landing. The cherry on top? Recent rate cuts (half a point in September 2024, a quarter in November) have propped up markets, especially after Trump’s November win lit a fire under major indices and sent them to all-time highs. However, there’s still plenty to ponder — tariffs, corporate tax cuts, and what 2025 might hold for the economy.

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