Harley Lappin Sells 3,000 Shares of CoreCivic (NYSE:CXW) Stock

CoreCivic, Inc. (NYSE:CXW) Director Harley Lappin sold 3,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, August 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $32.69, for a total transaction of $98,070.00. Following the sale, the director directly owned 50,328 shares in the company, valued at $1,645,222.32. This trade represents a 5.63% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website.

CoreCivic Stock Up 3.5%

CoreCivic stock traded up $1.11 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $32.71. The stock had a trading volume of 1,803,428 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,197,325. The company has a quick ratio of 1.32, a current ratio of 1.32 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.86. The stock has a market capitalization of $3.23 billion, a P/E ratio of 26.17 and a beta of 0.58. CoreCivic, Inc. has a 12-month low of $15.73 and a 12-month high of $34.86. The stock’s 50-day moving average price is $30.12 and its 200-day moving average price is $23.30.

CoreCivic announced that its Board of Directors has authorized a stock buyback plan on Monday, August 10th that permits the company to buyback $500.00 million in shares. This buyback authorization permits the real estate investment trust to reacquire up to 15.7% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares buyback plans are usually a sign that the company’s leadership believes its shares are undervalued.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several analysts have commented on the company. Weiss Ratings upgraded CoreCivic from a “hold (c+)” rating to a “buy (b-)” rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 1st. Wall Street Zen upgraded CoreCivic from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Monday. Benchmark upped their price target on CoreCivic from $41.00 to $45.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, August 7th. Northland Securities set a $40.00 price objective on CoreCivic in a research report on Friday, June 26th. Finally, Noble Financial reiterated an “outperform” rating on shares of CoreCivic in a report on Monday. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of “Buy” and an average price target of $37.00.

CoreCivic News Roundup

Here are the key news stories impacting CoreCivic this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Noble Financial raised earnings forecasts: The firm lifted its Q3 2026 EPS estimate to $0.64 from $0.62, Q4 to $0.78 from $0.71, FY2026 to $2.70 from $2.61, and FY2027 to $3.62 from $3.19. Noble maintained an “Outperform” rating, indicating increased confidence in CoreCivic’s earnings outlook. Noble Financial increases CoreCivic earnings estimates
• Positive Sentiment: $500 million buyback supports the stock: CoreCivic’s board authorized repurchases of up to approximately 15.7% of outstanding shares. The plan could boost future earnings per share, provide buying support and signal that management believes the stock is undervalued.
• Positive Sentiment: Analyst sentiment remains favorable: CoreCivic has a reported consensus “Buy” rating and an average price target of $37. Benchmark recently raised its target to $45, reinforcing the potential for additional upside if the improved earnings outlook is delivered.
• Neutral Sentiment: Valuation leaves less room for disappointment: The shares are trading near their 52-week high and above both their 50-day and 200-day moving averages. Investors may expect upcoming quarterly results to validate Noble’s higher forecasts, increasing the risk of volatility if results fall short.
• Negative Sentiment: Multiple insiders sold shares: EVP Lucibeth Mayberry sold 120,000 shares for about $4.0 million, reducing her holdings by 44.56%. Director Devin Ignatius Murphy sold 8,098 shares worth roughly $274,000, while CFO David Garfinkle sold a combined 3,661 shares for approximately $125,000. The CFO retained a substantial position, but the cluster of sales may weigh on sentiment. CoreCivic insider sales

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. NBC Securities Inc. boosted its holdings in CoreCivic by 533.9% in the fourth quarter. NBC Securities Inc. now owns 1,458 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock worth $28,000 after purchasing an additional 1,228 shares during the last quarter. Persistent Asset Partners Ltd bought a new stake in CoreCivic in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $52,000. Leonteq Securities AG purchased a new stake in CoreCivic during the 4th quarter valued at $57,000. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC raised its stake in CoreCivic by 33.0% during 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 buying an additional 702 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Fifth Third Bancorp lifted its holdings in shares of CoreCivic by 320.7% during the 4th quarter. Fifth Third Bancorp now owns 3,340 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock valued at $64,000 after buying an additional 2,546 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 85.13% of the company’s stock.

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.