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 CoreCivic (NYSE: CXW) 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 6 safety & security services stocks we track reported a very strong Q1. As a group, revenues beat analysts’ consensus estimates by 2.5% while next quarter’s revenue guidance was in line.

Luckily, safety & security services stocks have performed well with share prices up 16.1% on average since the latest earnings results.

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 $614.7 million, up 25.8% year on year. This print exceeded analysts’ expectations by 1.9%. Overall, it was a strong quarter for the company with a beat of analysts’ EPS estimates.

CoreCivic pulled off the fastest revenue growth of the whole group. Unsurprisingly, the stock is up 33.2% since reporting and currently trades at $28.21.

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

Best Q1: 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 $435.2 million, up 13.8% year on year, outperforming analysts’ expectations by 7.2%. The business had a stunning quarter with an impressive beat of analysts’ full-year EPS guidance estimates and a beat of analysts’ EPS estimates.

Brady pulled off the biggest analyst estimate beat among its peers. The market seems happy with the results as the stock is up 17.6% since reporting. It currently trades at $83.45.

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

Weakest Q1: Motorola Solutions (NYSE: MSI)

Born from the company that invented the first portable handheld police radio in 1940, Motorola Solutions (NYSE: MSI) provides mission-critical communications, video security, and command center software solutions for public safety agencies and enterprise customers.

Motorola Solutions reported revenues of $2.71 billion, up 7.4% year on year, exceeding analysts’ expectations by 0.6%. It was a satisfactory quarter as it also posted a beat of analysts’ EPS estimates.

Motorola Solutions delivered the highest guidance raise but had the weakest performance against analyst estimates in the group. As expected, the stock is down 7.3% since the results and currently trades at $401.59.

Read our full analysis of Motorola Solutions’s results here.

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 $705.2 million, up 16.6% year on year. This print topped analysts’ expectations by 1.8%. Overall, it was a strong quarter as it also recorded a beat of analysts’ EPS estimates and a solid beat of analysts’ full-year EPS guidance estimates.

GEO Group scored the highest full-year guidance raise among its peers. The stock is up 58.2% since reporting and currently trades at $29.05.

Read our full, actionable report on GEO Group 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 $1.38 billion, up 10.3% year on year. This number beat analysts’ expectations by 0.9%. It was a strong quarter as it also produced a beat of analysts’ EPS estimates and EPS guidance for next quarter in line with analysts’ estimates.

Brink's had the weakest guidance update among its peers. The stock is down 2.1% since reporting and currently trades at $102.13.

Read our full, actionable report on Brink's here, it’s free.

Market Update

Late in 2025 into early 2026, there was hand-wringing around artificial intelligence. For software companies, the fear was that AI would erode pricing power and compress margins as new tools made it easier to replicate what once required expensive enterprise platforms. Crypto investors had their own version of the same anxiety: if AI agents could trade, allocate capital, and manage wallets autonomously, what exactly was the long-term value of today’s crypto infrastructure?

These concerns triggered a noticeable rotation away from these sectors and into safer havens. But markets rarely dwell on one narrative for long. Spring 2026 came, and the focus shifted abruptly from technological disruption to geopolitical risk. The US’ conflict with Iran became the dominant driver of market psychology, and when geopolitics takes center stage, the script changes quickly. Investors stop debating growth rates and start worrying about oil supply, inflation, and global stability.

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