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GEO Group Inc.: Q3 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 5 November 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 9 raised, 1 lowered. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue up 12% in quarter: Third quarter revenue was $761.1 million, up 12% from $682.3 million a year earlier. Management described the quarter as the highest in company history for revenue and adjusted EBITDA. Source
  • Net income fell on prior-year gain: Net income attributable to GEO Operations was $49.2 million, or $0.37 per diluted share, against $173.9 million a year earlier, which included a gain on asset divestitures. Adjusted net income rose 48% to $51.8 million. Source
  • Big Spring Complex agreement signed: The City of Big Spring signed a 10-year agreement with ICE for the 2,329-bed Big Spring Complex. GEO is expected to earn about $200 million a year from it in the first full year of operations. Source
  • Adelanto complex sold for $950 million: The Adelanto complex was sold to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on October 2, 2026, for $950 million gross, with about $705 million net. GEO continues to provide support services under a contract through December 2034. Source
  • 2029 notes redeemed with proceeds: The $650 million 8.625% Senior Secured Notes due 2029 were redeemed on October 15, 2026, using Adelanto sale proceeds. Remaining corporate debt is $625 million of 10.250% notes due 2031. Source
  • Repurchase authorization raised to $1.25 billion: The Board raised the repurchase program by $750 million to $1.25 billion, effective through December 31, 2029. About $1.07 billion of the authorization remains. Source

“our third quarter 2026 results marked a record-breaking quarter for GEO, with the highest level of quarterly revenues and adjusted EBITDA ever reported in our company’s history.”

George C. Zoley, GEO’s Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Founder

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Revenues SourceFY 2026$2.975 billion to $3.025 billion
Net income attributable to GEO Operations SourceFY 2026$726.3 million to $730.5 millionRaised from $168 million to $175 million
Adjusted net income SourceFY 2026$185 million to $190 millionRaised
Adjusted net income per diluted share SourceFY 2026$1.40 to $1.44Raised
Adjusted EBITDA SourceFY 2026$568 million to $573 millionRaised from $550 million to $560 million
Effective tax rate SourceFY 2026approximately 28 percentLowered from approximately 30 percent
Unreimbursed capital expenditures SourceFY 2026$140 million to $150 millionRaised from $135 million to $145 million
Net income attributable to GEO Operations SourceQ4 2026$591 million to $595.5 millionRaised from $37 million to $41 million
Adjusted net income SourceQ4 2026$46 million to $51 million, or $0.35 to $0.39 per diluted shareRaised
Revenues SourceQ4 2026$777 million to $827 millionRaised from $758 million to $808 million
Adjusted EBITDA SourceQ4 2026$149 million to $154 millionRaised from $137 million to $142 million

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Full-year Adjusted EBITDA range raised to $568 million to $573 million from $550 million to $560 million. Source
  • Guidance raised: Full-year net income attributable to GEO Operations range raised to $726.3 million to $730.5 million, including the Adelanto gain. Source
  • Guidance raised: Full-year adjusted net income guidance increased to $185 million to $190 million. Source
  • Guidance raised: Fourth-quarter net income attributable to GEO Operations range raised to $591 million to $595.5 million. Source
  • Guidance raised: Fourth-quarter adjusted net income guidance increased to $46 million to $51 million. Source
  • Guidance raised: Fourth-quarter Adjusted EBITDA guidance increased to $149 million to $154 million. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Full-year effective tax rate assumption is approximately 28 percent, down from approximately 30 percent. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Full-year diluted weighted average share assumption is 132,200 thousand, down from 132,600 thousand. Source
  • New: Adelanto complex sale to the U.S. completed on October 2, 2026, for a gross price of $950 million. Source
  • New: Big Spring Complex agreement with ICE effective November 1, 2026, expected to generate about $200 million in annual revenue in its first full year. Source
  • New: New 10-year management contract for the Northwest ICE Processing Center in Tacoma, Washington, effective October 28, 2026. Source
  • New: Management said it remains engaged in an active process for the sale of further company-owned facilities to ICE. Source
  • New: Credit agreement amended on October 5, 2026, extending the $550 million revolver to July 14, 2031 and raising restricted payments capacity. Source
  • Ended: The $650 million 8.625% Senior Secured Notes due 2029 were redeemed on October 15, 2026. Source
  • New: Share repurchase authorization increased by $750 million to $1.25 billion, effective through December 31, 2029. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue up 12% in quarter: Third quarter revenue was $761.1 million, up 12% from $682.3 million a year earlier. Management described the quarter as the highest in company history for revenue and adjusted EBITDA. Source
  • Net income fell on prior-year gain: Net income attributable to GEO Operations was $49.2 million, or $0.37 per diluted share, against $173.9 million a year earlier, which included a gain on asset divestitures. Adjusted net income rose 48% to $51.8 million. Source
  • Nine-month EBITDA up 24%: Nine-month adjusted EBITDA was $418.7 million, up 24% from $338.5 million. Third quarter adjusted EBITDA was $145.3 million, up 21%. Source
  • Small set of excluded items: Third quarter results include $3.5 million, pre-tax, of items excluded from adjusted figures: contingent liability and litigation costs, start-up, transaction, restructuring and close-out expenses. Source

Costs and per-share figures

  • Operating costs rose with revenue: Operating expenses rose to $552.4 million from $508.9 million. General and administrative expenses rose to $72.1 million from $62.1 million. Source
  • 2025 litigation reserve absent: Third quarter 2025 included a $37.6 million contingent litigation reserve, and no such reserve appears in the 2026 periods. Nine-month interest expense was $115.0 million, down from $122.6 million. Source
  • Diluted share count lower: Diluted weighted average shares were 132.0 million in the third quarter, against 140.0 million in the third quarter 2025. Source

“So far in 2026, we have had an even more successful year, entering into new or expanded contracts with an overall value of approximately $500 million in incremental annual revenues.”

George C. Zoley, GEO’s Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Founder

Contracts and facility activations

  • Big Horn and Rivers contracts: Big Horn (1,188 beds, Hudson, Colorado) and Rivers (1,320 beds, Winton, North Carolina) carry five-year ICE support contracts. Big Horn is expected to generate about $85 million a year and Rivers about $80 million in the first full year. Source
  • Big Spring Complex agreement signed: The City of Big Spring signed a 10-year agreement with ICE for the 2,329-bed Big Spring Complex. GEO is expected to earn about $200 million a year from it in the first full year of operations. Source
  • Tacoma contract continues to 2036: A new 10-year management contract for the GEO-owned 1,635-bed Northwest ICE Processing Center in Tacoma, Washington runs through October 27, 2036, and is expected to generate about $140 million a year. Source
  • ICE reimburses reactivation costs: Under the three contracts, ICE will reimburse GEO for capital expenditures to reactivate four facilities and will fund start-up expenses during activation. Source

Facility sales to ICE

  • Adelanto complex sold for $950 million: The Adelanto complex was sold to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on October 2, 2026, for $950 million gross, with about $705 million net. GEO continues to provide support services under a contract through December 2034. Source
  • Further sales not agreed: Management said there is no definitive agreement or timeline for further sales. Any sale would depend on agreed price and GEO continuing to manage the facilities under long-term support contracts. Source

Balance sheet and debt

  • 2029 notes redeemed with proceeds: The $650 million 8.625% Senior Secured Notes due 2029 were redeemed on October 15, 2026, using Adelanto sale proceeds. Remaining corporate debt is $625 million of 10.250% notes due 2031. Source
  • Liquidity about $600 million: Available liquidity is about $600 million, including cash on hand and revolver availability. At June 30, 2026 it was about $300 million. Source
  • Revolver maturity extended: The October 5, 2026 credit agreement amendment extends the $550 million revolver to July 14, 2031 and raises restricted payments capacity, including share repurchases. Source
  • Cash on hand rose: Cash and cash equivalents were $216.0 million at September 30, 2026, compared with $55.0 million at June 30, 2026 and $69.0 million at December 31, 2025. Source

Share repurchases

  • Repurchase authorization raised to $1.25 billion: The Board raised the repurchase program by $750 million to $1.25 billion, effective through December 31, 2029. About $1.07 billion of the authorization remains. Source
  • Repurchases to date: Cumulative repurchases are about 10.1 million shares for about $177 million. Outstanding shares are about 132 million as of November 5, 2026. Source
  • Repurchase timing and form: Timing depends on market conditions, regulatory requirements, existing obligations including the Credit Agreement, and other liquidity priorities. The program does not oblige GEO to buy any set amount. Source

Coming up, as management said on 5 November 2026

  • Big Horn and Rivers activation: Activation of Big Horn and Rivers is expected to be completed by end of 2026, with normalized operations and earnings contribution in early 2027. Source
  • Big Spring activation timing: Big Spring Complex activation is expected to finish by the end of the first quarter of 2027, with normalized operations and earnings expected in the second quarter of 2027. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Owned beds Source48,000
Facilities and beds (ownership and/or support services, including idle facilities and projects under development) Source97 facilities, approximately 76,000 beds

Risks management discussed

  • Financial: Management said no assurance can be given that further facility sales to ICE will occur. Source
  • Financial: Share repurchases are permitted without limit only while total leverage stays at or below 2.25 to 1.00 on a pro forma basis under the Credit Agreement. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Ahead: Management said 2026 performance has been better than expected, driven by revenue from contracts entered into in 2025. 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.