CoreCivic (NYSE:CXW) Shares Gap Up on Strong Earnings

CoreCivic, Inc. (NYSE:CXW)’s stock price gapped up prior to trading on Thursday after the company announced better than expected quarterly earnings. The stock had previously closed at $18.50, but opened at $19.45. CoreCivic shares last traded at $16.3950, with a volume of 532,164 shares.

The real estate investment trust reported $0.52 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.43 by $0.09. The business had revenue of $603.95 million during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $585.12 million. CoreCivic had a return on equity of 8.17% and a net margin of 5.27%.The firm’s quarterly revenue was up 26.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $0.39 EPS.

CoreCivic announced that its Board of Directors has authorized a share repurchase program on Monday, November 10th that authorizes the company to repurchase $200.00 million in shares. This repurchase authorization authorizes the real estate investment trust to buy up to 10.7% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares repurchase programs are typically a sign that the company’s board of directors believes its shares are undervalued.

CoreCivic News Roundup

Here are the key news stories impacting CoreCivic this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Q4 results and management commentary showed a beat on revenue and EPS and a stronger outlook, supporting near-term earnings visibility. CoreCivic (CXW) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
• Positive Sentiment: Management raised FY‑2026 guidance materially (EPS guidance ~2.54–2.64 vs. consensus ~1.87), signaling stronger free cash flow and earnings power for the year ahead. CoreCivic Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2025 Financial Results
• Positive Sentiment: Company is guiding to higher 2026 scale (targeting ~$2.5B revenue and up to $445M EBITDA) driven by expanded federal contracts and facility activations — a clear growth thesis if contracts convert. CoreCivic targets $2.5B revenue and up to $445M EBITDA in 2026
• Positive Sentiment: An analyst (Jones Trading) reaffirmed a Buy rating with a $30 price target, adding third‑party support for upside vs. the current trading level. Benzinga coverage
• Neutral Sentiment: Company press/coverage emphasizes federal contract wins and facility activations but notes ongoing market skepticism—illustrates gap between operational progress and market trust. CXW Q4 Deep Dive
• Negative Sentiment: Political and policy risk: reporting highlights a “deportation backlash” that raises uncertainty for DHS contractors — could pressure contract renewals or new awards. Deportation backlash adds fresh uncertainty
• Negative Sentiment: Investor/ESG pressure: coverage highlights an example of a fund walking away despite a strong quarter, underscoring reputational and ESG-driven selling risk. $10 Million Exit article
• Negative Sentiment: Opinion pieces continue to question owning for‑profit prisons, a persistent reputational headwind that can affect long-term investor demand and governance scrutiny. For-profit prisons op-ed

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

CXW has been the subject of a number of recent analyst reports. Wall Street Zen cut CoreCivic from a “strong-buy” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Saturday, November 8th. Jones Trading restated a “buy” rating and issued a $30.00 price objective on shares of CoreCivic in a research note on Friday. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has given a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $34.00.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On CoreCivic

A number of institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in CXW. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC raised its holdings in CoreCivic by 33.0% in the 2nd quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC now owns 2,829 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock valued at $59,000 after acquiring an additional 702 shares in the last quarter. Texas Permanent School Fund Corp increased its position in shares of CoreCivic by 0.6% during the second quarter. Texas Permanent School Fund Corp now owns 121,147 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock valued at $2,553,000 after purchasing an additional 709 shares during the period. CWM LLC raised its stake in shares of CoreCivic by 80.1% in the second quarter. CWM LLC now owns 2,186 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock valued at $46,000 after purchasing an additional 972 shares in the last quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC raised its stake in shares of CoreCivic by 10.4% in the second quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC now owns 10,595 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock valued at $223,000 after purchasing an additional 1,002 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Police & Firemen s Retirement System of New Jersey lifted its position in CoreCivic by 4.8% in the second quarter. Police & Firemen s Retirement System of New Jersey now owns 24,679 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock worth $520,000 after purchasing an additional 1,121 shares during the period. 85.13% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

CoreCivic Price Performance

The stock has a market cap of $1.98 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.51 and a beta of 0.71. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.86, a current ratio of 1.66 and a quick ratio of 1.41. The stock’s 50 day simple moving average is $19.17 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $19.22.

CoreCivic Company Profile

CoreCivic, Inc (NYSE: CXW) is a real estate investment trust specializing in the ownership, management and operation of private correctional and detention facilities in the United States. The company enters into contracts with federal, state and local government agencies to house inmates and detainees in facilities that it owns or operates on a concession basis. In addition to traditional prison operations, CoreCivic provides specialized services such as community-based reentry programs, electronic monitoring and rehabilitation initiatives aimed at reducing recidivism.

CoreCivic’s portfolio encompasses a mix of adult correctional facilities, immigration detention centers, residential reentry centers and other community-based programs.