greeksoup/ stock research

CoreCivic, Inc.: Q4 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q4 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 11 February 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 8 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Q4 net income and EPS rose: Fourth-quarter revenue was $604.0 million, up 26%. Net income was $26.5 million, and diluted EPS was $0.26 against $0.17 a year earlier. Source
  • Dilley reactivation and population growth drove results: The increase in EPS came from the Dilley reactivation in March 2025, higher federal and state populations, and the Farmville acquisition on July 1, 2025. Source
  • ICE revenue more than doubled: Revenue from ICE, the largest government partner, was $244.7 million in the fourth quarter against $120.3 million a year earlier, reflecting Dilley, California City, West Tennessee and Farmville. Source
  • Start-up losses at two new facilities: The company reported $3.6 million of facility net operating losses in the fourth quarter at California City and Diamondback, neither yet at stabilized occupancy. Source
  • Facility margin declined; 2026 improvement expected: The Safety and Community facility operating margin was 22.2% in the fourth quarter, against 23.6% a year earlier. Management expects margin improvement in 2026 as the newer facilities reach stabilized occupancy. Source
  • Five idle facilities remain available: After the four facilities contracted during 2025, the company has five remaining idle facilities positioned for possible reactivation. Source

“We anticipate 2026 will be a continued period of increased demand from our federal, state, and local government partners.”

Patrick Swindle, CoreCivic’s President and Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Net income Sourcefull year 2026$147.5 million to $157.5 millionNew
Diluted EPS Sourcefull year 2026$1.49 to $1.59New
FFO per diluted share Sourcefull year 2026$2.54 to $2.64New
EBITDA Sourcefull year 2026$437.0 million to $445.0 millionNew
Maintenance capital expenditures, real estate assets Source2026$30.0 million to $35.0 millionNew
Maintenance capital expenditures, other assets and information technology Source2026$30.0 million to $35.0 millionNew
Other capital investments Source2026$15.0 millionNew
Capital expenditures for idle facility activation Source2026$35.0 million to $40.0 millionNew

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: Company issued full-year 2026 financial guidance, with no prior 2026 figures in the documents. Source
  • New: Revolving credit facility capacity increased from $275.0 million to $575.0 million, with the accordion feature amended on December 1, 2025. Source
  • New: Share repurchase authorization raised to $700.0 million in aggregate, with $300.5 million remaining at December 31, 2025. The prior release showed a $500.0 million authorization and $197.9 million remaining at September 30, 2025. Source
  • New: Company filed an application for a Special Use Permit for the Midwest Regional Reception Center in December 2025, after its federal court lawsuit was unsuccessful. Source
  • New: Trousdale Turner Correctional Center mission transition aligns reentry services with changing population demographics, after temporarily lower populations and higher expenses in the quarter. Source
  • New: Patrick Swindle is named President and Chief Executive Officer in this release. The prior release named Damon T. Hininger as Chief Executive Officer and Swindle as President and Chief Operating Officer. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Q4 net income and EPS rose: Fourth-quarter revenue was $604.0 million, up 26%. Net income was $26.5 million, and diluted EPS was $0.26 against $0.17 a year earlier. Source
  • Dilley reactivation and population growth drove results: The increase in EPS came from the Dilley reactivation in March 2025, higher federal and state populations, and the Farmville acquisition on July 1, 2025. Source
  • Full-year net income up 69%: Full-year 2025 net income was $116.5 million, up 69%, on revenue of $2.2 billion, up 13%. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA rose 25% in Q4: Adjusted EBITDA was $92.5 million in the fourth quarter, up 25%, and $365.6 million for the full year, up 11%. Source

Government customers and segments

  • ICE revenue more than doubled: Revenue from ICE, the largest government partner, was $244.7 million in the fourth quarter against $120.3 million a year earlier, reflecting Dilley, California City, West Tennessee and Farmville. Source
  • State revenue rose 5.0%: Revenue from state customers rose 5.0% year over year, with growth in Georgia, Montana and Colorado. Source
  • Safety segment carries most revenue: Safety segment revenue was $566.9 million in the fourth quarter against $444.5 million, and Community segment revenue was $32.3 million against $30.3 million. Source

“enabling us to win new contract awards at four of the nine facilities that were idle at the beginning of the year”

Patrick Swindle, CoreCivic’s President and Chief Executive Officer

Facility activations and start-up

  • Start-up losses at two new facilities: The company reported $3.6 million of facility net operating losses in the fourth quarter at California City and Diamondback, neither yet at stabilized occupancy. Source
  • California City ramping after August start: Detainees began arriving at California City in August 2025. The company cared for 1,436 residents at year end, and it expects about $130 million of annual revenue once fully activated. Source
  • West Tennessee population building: The West Tennessee facility had 449 residents at year end. Total annual revenue is expected to be $30 million once it is fully activated. Source
  • Diamondback revenue expected at stabilization: Diamondback began receiving detainees in December 2025. Total annual revenue once it reaches stabilized occupancy is expected to be about $100 million. Source

Costs, staffing and margins

  • Facility margin declined; 2026 improvement expected: The Safety and Community facility operating margin was 22.2% in the fourth quarter, against 23.6% a year earlier. Management expects margin improvement in 2026 as the newer facilities reach stabilized occupancy. Source
  • Staffing investment made to meet demand: Fourth-quarter results included investments in staffing to support higher demand for bed capacity. Source
  • G&A and depreciation rose: General and administrative expense was $44.4 million in the fourth quarter, against $40.5 million, and depreciation and amortization was $33.9 million, against $31.9 million. Source

“we expect to remain active with our share repurchase program, as our stock price is trading below historical multiples.”

Patrick Swindle, CoreCivic’s President and Chief Executive Officer

Capital, repurchases and balance sheet

  • Repurchased 11.2 million shares in 2025: During 2025 the company bought back 11.2 million shares under the program at an aggregate purchase price of $218.4 million. Source
  • Cumulative repurchases since 2022: Since the program began in May 2022, the company has repurchased 25.7 million shares at $15.52 per share on average, excluding fees and costs. Source
  • Long-term debt increased to $1.2 billion: Long-term debt, net was $1,205.0 million at December 31, 2025, compared with $973.1 million a year earlier. Source
  • Weighted share count down 6.6%: Weighted average shares outstanding were 6.6% lower than in the prior-year quarter, reflecting repurchases. Source

Strategy, demand and idle capacity

  • Five idle facilities remain available: After the four facilities contracted during 2025, the company has five remaining idle facilities positioned for possible reactivation. Source
  • Activation timing assumption now three to six months: The company says an idle facility generally needs three to six months to hire, train and prepare, against four to six months in the prior release. Source
  • Management expects continued government demand in 2026: Management anticipates demand from federal, state and local government partners will keep increasing through 2026. Source

Coming up, as management said on 11 February 2026

  • West Tennessee activation completion: Activation of the West Tennessee facility is expected to be completed by the end of the first quarter of 2026. Source
  • California City activation completion: Activation of the California City facility is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2026. Source
  • Midwest facility depends on permit: Guidance excludes the Midwest Regional Reception Center, which could be activated promptly if the Special Use Permit delays are resolved satisfactorily. Source
  • Investor presentation materials posted: Written materials for investor presentations will be available on the company website on or about February 24, 2026. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Normalized FFO per diluted share Source$0.52 in Q4 2025 (vs $0.39); $2.05 full year 2025
FFO per diluted share Source$0.51 in Q4 2025 (vs $0.39); $2.02 full year 2025
Occupancy, Safety and Community segments Source78.1% in Q4 2025 (vs 75.5% in Q4 2024)
Acquisitions SourceFarmville Detention Center, acquired July 1, 2025
Dispositions, gain (loss) on sale of real estate assets Source$(1.5) million loss in Q4 2025
Leverage Source2.8x net debt to Adjusted EBITDA, trailing twelve months

Risks management discussed

  • Regulatory: Intake at the Midwest Regional Reception Center depends on a Special Use Permit and a state court appeal, and management cannot predict timing or outcome. Source
  • Operational: Management said activating idle facilities adds start-up expenses that would likely weigh on guidance until facility revenue offsets them. Source
  • Regulatory: Guidance does not assume changes in how ICE uses detention capacity or procures alternative capacity. Source
  • Operational: The Trousdale Turner mission transition reduced population levels temporarily and raised expenses. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: The prior release said the pace of repurchases would increase. The fourth quarter included 5.3 million shares bought for $97.3 million, against 1.9 million shares for $40.0 million in the third quarter.
  • Not stated: The prior release expected detainee intake in the first quarter of 2026. This release says the company began receiving detainees in December 2025.
  • Not stated: The company now expects California City to stabilize in the first quarter of 2026 and Diamondback in the second quarter. Source
  • Delayed: Intake at the Midwest facility continues to be delayed by the City of Leavenworth's Special Use Permit position. Source

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.