GEO Group Option Alert: Jan, 2027 $50 Calls at the Bid: 1200 vs 14 OI; Earnings 2/27 Before Open 

GEO Group Option Alert: Jan, 2027 $50 Calls at the Bid: 1200 @ $4.85 vs 14 OI; Earnings 2/27 Before Open Ref=$27.165

GEO Group Option Alert: Jan, 2027 $50 Calls at the Ask: 1200 vs 14 OI; Earnings 2/27 Before Open 

GEO Group Option Alert: Jan, 2027 $50 Calls at the Ask: 1200 @ $4.7 vs 14 OI; Earnings 2/27 Before Open Ref=$26.92

GEO Group Option Alert: Mar 21 $35 Calls at the Bid: 9684 vs 3213 OI; Earnings 2/27 Before Open 

GEO Group Option Alert: Mar 21 $35 Calls at the Bid: 9684 @ $0.6 vs 3213 OI; Earnings 2/27 Before Open Ref=$27.155

GEO Group Option Alert: Mar 21 $35 Calls at the Ask: 9717 vs 3213 OI; Earnings 2/27 Before Open 

GEO Group Option Alert: Mar 21 $35 Calls at the Ask: 9717 @ $0.6 vs 3213 OI; Earnings 2/27 Before Open Ref=$26.775

GEO Group (NYSE:GEO) 株価情報

GEO Group

The GEO Group Inc specializes in detention facilities and community reentry centers. It operates in four segments: U.S. Secure Services, which mainly encompasses U.S.-based secure services business; Electronic Monitoring and Supervision Services, which conducts its services in the United States, represents services provided to adults for monitoring services and evidence-based supervision and treatment programs for community-based parolees, probationers, and pretrial defendants; Reentry Services conducts its services in the United States represents services provided to adults for residential and non-residential treatment, educational and community-based programs, pre-release and half-way house programs; and International Services.

GEO Gr

The GEO Group Inc

Geodrill Ltd

Geo Holdings Corp

Geospace Technologies Corporation - Common Stock

Geospace Technologies Corp

Golden Energy Offshore Services ASA

GOLDEN ENRGY OFFSHORE SVC by Golden Energy Offshore Services ASA

<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2025/02/21/senate-budget-border-trump-immigration/" title="https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2025/02/21/senate-budget-border-trump-immigration/">https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2025/02/21/senate-budget-border-trump-immigration/</a>

Macro Economic Events

News

Economics

'Senate Approves $350B Plan For Trump Border And Defense Spending' - Washington Post

In the current market session, GEO Group Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GEO#NYSE">GEO</a>) share price is at $27.44, after a 0.18% spike. Moreover, over the past month, the stock fell by 20.12%, but in the past year, went up by 131.76%. Shareholders might be interested in knowing whether the stock is overvalued, even if the company is performing up to par in the current session. 

<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1739984422_0.png" alt="Past Year Chart" />

<h3>How Does GEO Group P/E Compare to Other Companies?</h3>
The P/E ratio is used by long-term shareholders to assess the company's market performance against aggregate market data, historical earnings, and the industry at large. A lower P/E could indicate that shareholders do not expect the stock to perform better in the future or it could mean that the company is undervalued. 
GEO Group has a better P/E ratio of 97.82 than the aggregate P/E ratio of 64.85 of the Commercial Services &amp; Supplies industry. Ideally, one might believe that GEO Group Inc. might perform better in the future than it's industry group, but it's probable that the stock is overvalued. 

<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1739984422_1.png" alt="Guage" />

In conclusion, the price-to-earnings ratio is a useful metric for analyzing a company's market performance, but it has its limitations. While a lower P/E can indicate that a company is undervalued, it can also suggest that shareholders do not expect future growth. Additionally, the P/E ratio should not be used in isolation, as other factors such as industry trends and business cycles can also impact a company's stock price. Therefore, investors should use the P/E ratio in conjunction with other financial metrics and qualitative analysis to make informed investment decisions.

Intraday Update

Markets

Price Over Earnings Overview: GEO Group

High-rolling investors have positioned themselves bullish on GEO Group (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GEO#NYSE">GEO</a>), and it's important for retail traders to take note. 
\This activity came to our attention today through Benzinga's tracking of publicly available options data. The identities of these investors are uncertain, but such a significant move in GEO often signals that someone has privileged information.
Today, Benzinga's options scanner spotted 15 options trades for GEO Group. This is not a typical pattern.
The sentiment among these major traders is split, with 46% bullish and 26% bearish. Among all the options we identified, there was one put, amounting to $28,200, and 14 calls, totaling $860,227.
<h3>What's The Price Target?</h3>
Analyzing the Volume and Open Interest in these contracts, it seems that the big players have been eyeing a price window from $21.0 to $35.0 for GEO Group during the past quarter. 
<h3>Volume &amp; Open Interest Trends</h3>
Looking at the volume and open interest is a powerful move while trading options. This data can help you track the liquidity and interest for GEO Group's options for a given strike price. Below, we can observe the evolution of the volume and open interest of calls and puts, respectively, for all of GEO Group's whale trades within a strike price range from $21.0 to $35.0 in the last 30 days. 
<h3>GEO Group Option Activity Analysis: Last 30 Days</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1739215819_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Biggest Options Spotted:</h3>

<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Ask</th>
<th>Bid</th>
<th>Price</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th>Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>GEO</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>04/17/25</td>
<td>$3.2</td>
<td>$3.1</td>
<td>$3.2</td>
<td>$29.00</td>
<td>$206.7K</td>
<td>5.4K</td>
<td>1.0K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>GEO</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>04/17/25</td>
<td>$3.6</td>
<td>$3.3</td>
<td>$3.6</td>
<td>$29.00</td>
<td>$122.4K</td>
<td>5.4K</td>
<td>1.5K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>GEO</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$9.9</td>
<td>$9.8</td>
<td>$9.9</td>
<td>$22.00</td>
<td>$59.4K</td>
<td>7.7K</td>
<td>584</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>GEO</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>04/17/25</td>
<td>$3.2</td>
<td>$2.95</td>
<td>$3.2</td>
<td>$29.00</td>
<td>$58.5K</td>
<td>5.4K</td>
<td>212</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>GEO</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>04/17/25</td>
<td>$3.6</td>
<td>$3.5</td>
<td>$3.5</td>
<td>$29.00</td>
<td>$56.0K</td>
<td>5.4K</td>
<td>1.2K</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About GEO Group</h3>
The GEO Group Inc specializes in detention facilities and community reentry centers. It operates in four segments: U.S. Secure Services, which mainly encompasses U.S.-based secure services business; Electronic Monitoring and Supervision Services, which conducts its services in the United States, represents services provided to adults for monitoring services and evidence-based supervision and treatment programs for community-based parolees, probationers, and pretrial defendants; Reentry Services conducts its services in the United States represents services provided to adults for residential and non-residential treatment, educational and community-based programs, pre-release and half-way house programs; and International Services.
After a thorough review of the options trading surrounding GEO Group, we move to examine the company in more detail. This includes an assessment of its current market status and performance.
<h3>Present Market Standing of GEO Group</h3>
<ul>
<li>Currently trading with a volume of 1,095,181, the GEO's price is up by 0.45%, now at $27.05. </li>
<li>RSI readings suggest the stock is currently may be approaching oversold.</li>
<li>Anticipated earnings release is in 17 days.</li>
</ul>
<h3>What The Experts Say On GEO Group</h3>
Over the past month, 1 industry analysts have shared their insights on this stock, proposing an average target price of $55.0.
Turn $1000 into $1270 in just 20 days?
20-year pro options trader reveals his one-line chart technique that shows when to buy and sell. Copy his trades, which have had averaged a 27% profit every 20 days. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/options-moneyline-2/?t=Moop1arja3be22op14&amp;utm_source=benzinga-insights">Click here for access</a>. 
&#x2A; Consistent in their evaluation, an analyst from Jones Trading keeps a Buy rating on GEO Group with a target price of $55. 
Options are a riskier asset compared to just trading the stock, but they have higher profit potential. Serious options traders manage this risk by educating themselves daily, scaling in and out of trades, following more than one indicator, and following the markets closely.
If you want to stay updated on the latest options trades for GEO Group, <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a> gives you real-time options trades alerts.

Options

Smart Money Is Betting Big In GEO Options

El Salvador's President <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/nayib-bukele">Nayib Bukele</a> says he will incarcerate convicted criminals from the U.S. in his country, a macabre offer that is being praised as an "unprecedented" by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Bukele made the proposal while hosting Rubio at his residence near San Salvador on Monday. He said El Salvador is prepared to imprison convicted Americans, for a small fee of course, in an infamous mega-prison opened a year ago, the largest in Latin America.
"We have offered the United States of America the opportunity to outsource part of its prison system," Bukele <a href="https://x.com/nayibbukele/status/1886606794614587573">wrote</a> on X. "The fee would be relatively low for the U.S. but significant for us, making our entire prison system sustainable."
<h1 class="wp-block-heading">Such A Good Friend</h1>
"In an act of extraordinary friendship to our country … [El Salvador] has agreed to the most unprecedented and extraordinary migratory agreement anywhere in the world," Rubio told reporters Monday.
In addition to loving the U.S., Bukele also loves Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>), making El Salvador the first country to adopt it as its legal tender in 2021.
"He has offered to house in his jails dangerous American criminals in custody in our country, including those with U.S. citizenship and legal residency. No country's ever made an offer of friendship such as this. We are profoundly grateful," gushed Rubio.
<h1 class="wp-block-heading">Is That Even Legal?</h1>
Not at all.
"The U.S. is absolutely prohibited from deporting U.S. citizens, whether they are incarcerated or not," Leti Volpp, a law professor at the University of California/Berkeley who specializes in immigration law, <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/03/americas/el-salvador-migrant-deal-marco-rubio-intl-hnk/index.html">told CNN</a> in an email.
It is unclear whether the U.S. government will take up Bukele's offer though Elon Musk seemed to quite like it. He took to X <a href="https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1886622263690072526">where he called</a> it a "great idea," so one can assume the plan has a pretty good chance being accepted by President Donald Trump. &nbsp;
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Great idea!! <a href="https://t.co/7924xQYiun">https://t.co/7924xQYiun</a>
&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1886622263690072526?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 4, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
Bukele has made El Salvador's prison system — known for rampant human rights violations, violence and overcrowding — part of his anti-crime and anti-gang program. Since March 2022, more than 84,000 people have been arrested, most with no due process, <a href="https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2023/12/el-salvador-policies-practices-legislation-violate-human-rights/">according</a> to Amnesty International.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Why Can't U.S. Prisons House U.S. Citizens?</h2>
Apparently, there are too many criminals. Since returning to the White House in January, Trump has prioritized arresting and deporting millions of undocumented individuals. His administration also plans to detain 30,000 migrants at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
CoreCivic, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CXW#NYSE">CXW</a>) and the GEO Group, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GEO#NYSE">GEO</a>) have historically secured substantial contracts with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). 
American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) <a href="https://www.aclu.org/news/immigrants-rights/more-of-the-same-private-prison-corporations-and-immigration-detention-under-the-biden-administration">data</a> found that private prison corporations have pocketed billions from ICE detention contracts in the past two decades. But even they are filling to capacity it seems.
Now Read:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43455529/el-salvador-buys-the-dipnayib-bukele-led-nation-purchases-bitcoin-worth-over-a-million-after-market-crash">El Salvador Goes Bigger on Bitcoin: Daily Purchase Jumps 10x Amid Market Slump</a></li>
</ul>
Photo: Shutterstock

Government

Latin America

Politics

Global

$BTC

Bukele's Big House: El Salvador Offers US A Prison Deal Like No Other, Musk Says 'Great Idea'

President Donald Trump&#8217;s pledge to launch America&#8217;s largest deportation operation could face hurdles and could cost nearly $1 trillion over a decade, immigration experts and former officials warn.
The American Immigration Council estimates that deporting 11 million unauthorized immigrants would require building 216 new detention facilities yearly for more than a decade, each costing $36 million to build and $48 million annually to operate.
&#8220;It&#8217;s going to be impossible for them to achieve the goal that they set out — which is really getting rid of all the illegal immigrants in the United States,&#8221; David Bier, director of immigration studies at the Cato Institute, said to the Financial Times.
Don't Miss:
<ul>
<li>The average American couple has saved this much money for retirement —<a href="http://www.benzinga.com/money/smartasset"> How do you compare</a>?</li>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/qnetic-2">This 12,000 RPM Spinning Battery With Over $100 Million In LOIs Could Be The Missing Link For Green Energy — Here&#8217;s Why Early Investors Are Flocking To Invest Before Funding Closes</a></li>
</ul>
Early enforcement actions show the scale of the challenge. ICE <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/01/43219483/trumps-immigration-enforcement-raids-begin-in-chicago-gov-pritzker-concerned-innocent-could-be-targeted">arrested 956 people Sunday</a>, the largest single-day total under the new administration. Yet even at the heightened pace, deportations would fall far short of Trump&#8217;s targets.
Immigration facilities already strain under current operations. ICE can detain 41,500 people at once, while border czar Tom Homan says he needs &#8220;at least 100,000 beds&#8221; to meet the administration&#8217;s goals.
&#8220;It&#8217;s not like you just flip a switch and immediately start rounding people up and sending them to the border,&#8221; John Torres, former ICE acting director during the George W. Bush and Obama administrations, said to the Financial Times.&nbsp;
Trending: Nancy Pelosi Invested $5 Million In An AI Company Last Year — <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/elf-labs-nancy-pelosi">Here's How You Can Invest In Multiple Pre-IPO AI Startups With Just $1,000</a>
Current deportation numbers—271,484 in fiscal 2024—pale against Trump&#8217;s million-plus annual target.
The court system presents another bottleneck. Immigration courts face a 3.6-million-case backlog, up from 656,000 in 2017. Most deportations require court proceedings unless immigrants have existing removal orders.
Private prison companies like GEO Group (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GEO#NYSE">GEO</a>) and CoreCivic Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CXW#NYSE">CXW</a>) have seen their stock prices surge since the election. CoreCivic CEO Damon Hininger said his company could quadruple its current 10,000-bed capacity within six months, but building and staffing new facilities would strain federal resources.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/mark-cubans-advice-for-lotto-winners">Many are surprised by Mark Cuban's advice for lotto winners: Cash or annuity?</a>
Republicans promise $100 billion for border security and enforcement, but experts say it falls far short. Former ICE Chief of Staff Jason Houser said, &#8220;There is no way they have the staff, the money and the resources and the legal authority&#8221; for mass deportations. The plan faces additional resistance from &#8220;sanctuary&#8221; jurisdictions that refuse to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement. While <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/01/43216758/well-go-as-far-as-im-allowed-trumps-plan-with-immigrants-starts-with-1-million-deportations">Trump threatens to withhold federal funding from those areas</a>, similar attempts during his first term were blocked by courts.
Constitutional hurdles also loom. The administration&#8217;s expanded &#8220;expedited removal&#8221; policy, allowing deportations without court review for those who can&#8217;t prove two years of U.S. residency, already faces legal challenges.&nbsp;
The American Civil Liberties Union calls it a &#8220;cheat code to circumvent due process and the constitution.&#8221;
Read Next:
<ul>
<li>Can you guess how many retire with a $5,000,000 nest egg? <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/5mil-nest-egg-adv">The percentage may shock you</a>.</li>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/62-years-old-with-1-mil-saved">I&#8217;m 62 Years Old And Have $1.2 Million Saved. Is This Enough to Retire Stress-Free?</a> </li>
</ul>

'It's Going To Be Impossible': Experts Doubt Feasibility Of Trump's Deportation Plan — Experts Estimate Nearly $1 Trillion Spend In 10 Years

President Donald Trump said Wednesday he will deport up to 30,000 migrant detainees to a detention facility at the Guantanamo Bay<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/01/43220754/trump-withdraws-50-tariff-threat-on-colombian-imports-after-reaching-deportation-agreement"> Naval Base in Cuba. </a>
The Details: Trump signed a presidential memorandum that ordered the Department of Homeland Security and Department of Defense to expand the migrant detention facility at Guantanamo Bay to "full capacity" as his administration<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/01/43137164/trumps-immigration-raids-will-disrupt-chicagos-economy-pritzker-says"> ramps up</a> deportations.
"We have 30,000 beds in Guantanamo to detain the worst criminal illegal aliens threatening the American people," Trump said during the signing of the Laken Riley Act at the White House.&nbsp;
"Some of them are so bad, we don't even trust other countries to hold them, and we don't want them coming back, so we're going to send them out to Guantanamo. This will double our capacity immediately," Trump added. 
Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/travel/25/01/43343648/all-60-passengers-4-crew-members-onboard-american-airlines-jet-feared-dead-after-midair-collision-official-says">64 Killed In American Airlines Midair Collision Near D.C., Worst US Air Disaster Since 2001&nbsp;</a>
History Of Guantanamo Bay: &nbsp;A small portion of the Guantanamo Bay Naval Base has periodically been used to house migrant detainees for decades by several presidential administrations.
The designated area, known as the Guantanamo Migrant Operations Center, held an average monthly population of 14 migrants and 20 refugees from December 2021 to December 2022, according to <a href="https://www.dropsitenews.com/p/trump-guantanamo-immigration-cuba-detention">a report </a>from Drop Site News. 
"The idea that the Trump administration is going to send 30,000 migrants to Guantánamo is one of the dumbest ideas I've heard all week. It's utterly absurd," J. Wells Dixon, a senior staff attorney at the Center for Constitutional Rights who represents detainees at the Guantanamo military prison, told Drop Site News.&nbsp;
"The MOC is a dilapidated dormitory," added Dixon, who has seen the facility during visits to Guantanamo.&nbsp;
A U.S. official<a href="https://www.cnn.com/2025/01/29/politics/guantanamo-bay-trump-migrants/index.html"> told </a>CNN on Wednesday the facility was not prepared to hold 30,000 migrants and would also need additional staff to function at that capacity.&nbsp;
"There's no way there's 30,000 beds anymore," the US official said.&nbsp;
Adding Capacity: It is not immediately clear how much construction may be necessary to expand the Guantanamo MOC facility or even if 30,000 is the goal for capacity. Government contractors who run some of the country's private prison systems may be called on for assistance in the event of expansion.&nbsp;
Geo Group Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GEO#NYSE">GEO</a>) previously held a government contract to operate the MOC at Guantanamo and could be selected again as plans to expand the facility develop. CoreCivic, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CXW#NYSE">CXW</a>), another private prison and detention center operator, could also potentially provide services if needed. 
Read Next:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/large-cap/25/01/43106379/trump-reverses-bidens-ai-policies-on-day-1-what-it-means-for-tech-giants-nvidia-amd-alphabet">Trump Reverses Biden&#8217;s AI Policies On Day 1: What It Means For Tech Giants Nvidia, AMD, Alphabet&nbsp;</a></li>
</ul>
Photo: Shutterstock.

Legal

Real Estate

Trump Pledges To Send Up To 30,000 Migrants To Guantanamo Bay Detention Facility

GEO Group's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GEO#NYSE">GEO</a>) short percent of float has fallen 7.0% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 9.97 million shares sold short, which is 9.96% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 3.98 days to cover their short positions on average.
<h3>Why Short Interest Matters</h3>
Short interest is the number of shares that have been sold short but have not yet been covered or closed out. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-short-a-stock/">Short selling</a> is when a trader sells shares of a company they do not own, with the hope that the price will fall. Traders make money from short selling if the price of the stock falls and they lose if it rises.
Short interest is important to track because it can act as an indicator of market sentiment towards a particular stock. An increase in short interest can signal that investors have become more bearish, while a decrease in short interest can signal they have become more bullish.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/short-interest">List of the most shorted stocks</a>
<h3>GEO Group Short Interest Graph (3 Months)</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1737657023_0.png" alt="short_fig" />
As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for GEO Group has declined since its last report. This does not mean that the stock is going to rise in the near-term but traders should be aware that less shares are being shorted.
<h3>Comparing GEO Group's Short Interest Against Its Peers</h3>
Peer comparison is a popular technique amongst analysts and investors for gauging how well a company is performing. A company's peer is another company that has similar characteristics to it, such as industry, size, age, and financial structure. You can find a company's peer group by reading its 10-K, proxy filing, or by doing your own similarity analysis.
According to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/">Benzinga Pro</a>, GEO Group's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 4.02%, which means the company has more short interest than most of its peers.
Did you know that increasing short interest can actually be bullish for a stock? <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-make-money-on-a-short-squeeze/">This post by Benzinga Money explains how you can profit from it.</a>
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and was reviewed by an editor.

Short Sellers

Short Ideas

Trading Ideas

How Is The Market Feeling About GEO Group?

<a href="https://x.com/AOC/status/1882158448244330832" title="https://x.com/AOC/status/1882158448244330832">https://x.com/AOC/status/1882158448244330832</a>

General

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Posts On X "GEO Group is the nation's largest private prison company. Look for the members of Congress who either buy their stock or take their money and vote YES on this bill. They are not voting for you - they're voting to enrich themselves. It's corruption in plain sight."

Illinois Gov.<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/jb-pritzker"> J.B. Pritzker</a> reaffirmed his commitment to protecting immigrant residents lacking permanent legal status in response to President Donald Trump's <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/25/01/43084601/trump-day-1-executive-order-tsunami-incoming-energy-inflation-immigration-in-focus-but-what-about-tariffs">promised crackdown</a>, which was expected to get underway in Chicago.
Pritzker says he supports deporting individuals convicted of violent crimes but not law-abiding workers who are living in the country without permission. 
"I want criminals off the streets, and law enforcement officers to do their jobs," the Democratic governor <a href="https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/chicago-politics/pritzker-promises-to-uphold-states-immigration-laws-amid-possible-ice-raids/3652713/">said</a> in an interview with NBC Chicago published Tuesday. "Undocumented people who are law-abiding and holding down jobs shouldn't be arrested just because they're undocumented."
Pritzker's remarks counter plans by Tom Homan, Trump's proposed border czar, who has pledged to dismantle state and local policies limiting federal enforcement. While fears of Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids have intensified, no verified reports of immediate actions had surfaced as of Wednesday, <a href="https://www.wbez.org/immigration/2025/01/21/despite-reports-of-tuesday-immigration-raid-chicago-was-quiet-on-trumps-first-full-day-in-office">according</a> to WBEZ Chicago.
Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/startups/25/01/42881696/trumps-immigration-plan-faces-multi-billion-dollar-hurdles-and-delays-according-to-wsj">Trump&#8217;s Immigration Plan Faces Multi-Billion-Dollar Hurdles And Delays According To WSJ</a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Negative Impact On Chicago&#8217;s Economy Could &#8216;Last For Years&#8217; </h2>
Trump's deportation policies are expected to disrupt key sectors of Chicago&#8217;s economy, heavily reliant on immigrant labor. The hospitality and restaurant industry is preparing for potential ICE raids, though fears and misinformation have already reduced business activity and patronage. 
Bloomberg <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-01-21/threat-of-immigration-raids-turns-chicago-hub-into-ghost-town?sref=TBDibEcD">reported</a> the second busiest retail corridor in Chicago, normally a bustling area with taco shops and Mexican grocery stores, is like a ghost town.
"It's going to be disastrous," said Jennifer Aguilar, who heads the local chamber of commerce and spoke with a number of the 400 or so businesses in the area. "If raids happen and people are too afraid to go out, it's going to be an impact that's going to last for years." 
McDonald&#8217;s Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MCD#NYSE">MCD</a>), which is headquartered in Chicago, could face operational challenges and decreased consumer spending as the result of fear within immigrant communities.
Beyond Chicago, Illinois' agricultural and food processing industries could also experience supply chain disruptions.
Companies like Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CAT#NYSE">CAT</a>) and Archer-Daniels-Midland Company (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ADM#NYSE">ADM</a>), which rely on global as well migrant workforces in their supply chains, could be affected by Trump&#8217;s threatened deportations.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Private Prisons Continue To Fare Well</h2>
Private prison operators like GEO Group (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GEO#NYSE">GEO</a>) and CoreCivic (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CXW#NYSE">CXW</a>), the two largest in the U.S., both have contracts with ICE to house detained undocumented individuals. According to a 2023 ACLU <a href="https://wp.api.aclu.org/news/immigrants-rights/unchecked-growth-private-prison-corporations-and-immigration-detention-three-years-into-the-biden-administration" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">report</a>, over 90% of migrants detained by ICE are held in privately owned facilities. As such, both companies&#8217; <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42692787/private-prisons-poised-to-prosper-in-second-trump-term">stocks are on the rise</a> over the last year. Geo and CoreCivic were trading lower Wednesday.
Now Read:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/43125408/trump-signs-order-to-withdraw-us-from-who-again-cites-funding-governance-concerns">World Health Organization Responds to Trump&#8217;s Order, Reminds Decades of Successful Health Achievements</a></li>
</ul>
Photo:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.shutterstock.com/es/g/AndreasStroh" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Andreas Stroh</a>&nbsp;on Shutterstock.

Trump's Immigration Raids Could Disrupt Key Sectors Of Chicago's Economy: Pritzker Says To Focus On Criminals, Not Law-Abiding Workers

This whale alert can help traders discover the next big trading opportunities.
Whales are entities with large sums of money and we track their transactions here at Benzinga on our options activity scanner.
Traders often look for circumstances when the market estimation of an option diverges away from its normal worth. Abnormal amounts of trading activity could push option prices to hyperbolic or underperforming levels. 
Here's the list of options activity happening in today's session: 
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th>Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>HON</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>03/21/25</td>
<td>$210.00</td>
<td>$2.3 million</td>
<td>1.8K</td>
<td>10.0K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>TXT</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>02/21/25</td>
<td>$82.50</td>
<td>$43.8K</td>
<td>202</td>
<td>1.2K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>LUNR</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/24/25</td>
<td>$25.50</td>
<td>$29.0K</td>
<td>34</td>
<td>1.0K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>UAL</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/24/25</td>
<td>$116.00</td>
<td>$137.4K</td>
<td>138</td>
<td>969</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>GEO</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/24/25</td>
<td>$34.00</td>
<td>$48.5K</td>
<td>2.1K</td>
<td>941</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ERJ</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>02/21/25</td>
<td>$40.00</td>
<td>$102.3K</td>
<td>216</td>
<td>933</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AAL</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>02/21/25</td>
<td>$18.50</td>
<td>$39.6K</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>849</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>RKLB</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>02/28/25</td>
<td>$28.00</td>
<td>$57.4K</td>
<td>112</td>
<td>680</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>EMR</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$165.00</td>
<td>$54.2K</td>
<td>33</td>
<td>558</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>FVRR</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>02/21/25</td>
<td>$30.00</td>
<td>$34.3K</td>
<td>171</td>
<td>523</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h2>Explanation</h2>
These itemized elaborations have been created using the accompanying table. 
• Regarding HON (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HON#NASDAQ">HON</a>), we observe a put option trade with bullish sentiment. It expires in 59 day(s) on March 21, 2025. Parties traded 8775 contract(s) at a $210.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $2.3 million, with a price of $265.0 per contract. There were 1816 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 10072 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For TXT (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TXT#NYSE">TXT</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bearish, expiring in 31 day(s) on February 21, 2025. This event was a transfer of 258 contract(s) at a $82.50 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 32 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $43.8K, with a price of $170.0 per contract. There were 202 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 1258 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding LUNR (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LUNR#NASDAQ">LUNR</a>), we observe a call option trade with bullish sentiment. It expires in 3 day(s) on January 24, 2025. Parties traded 1000 contract(s) at a $25.50 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $29.0K, with a price of $29.0 per contract. There were 34 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 1083 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For UAL (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UAL#NASDAQ">UAL</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bearish, expiring in 3 day(s) on January 24, 2025. This event was a transfer of 540 contract(s) at a $116.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 24 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $137.4K, with a price of $256.0 per contract. There were 138 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 969 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For GEO (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GEO#NYSE">GEO</a>), we notice a put option sweep that happens to be bullish, expiring in 3 day(s) on January 24, 2025. This event was a transfer of 441 contract(s) at a $34.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 5 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $48.5K, with a price of $110.0 per contract. There were 2140 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 941 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding ERJ (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ERJ#NYSE">ERJ</a>), we observe a put option sweep with bullish sentiment. It expires in 31 day(s) on February 21, 2025. Parties traded 930 contract(s) at a $40.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 40 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $102.3K, with a price of $110.0 per contract. There were 216 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 933 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For AAL (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAL#NASDAQ">AAL</a>), we notice a put option sweep that happens to be bullish, expiring in 31 day(s) on February 21, 2025. This event was a transfer of 400 contract(s) at a $18.50 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 9 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $39.6K, with a price of $99.0 per contract. There were 0 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 849 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For RKLB (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RKLB#NASDAQ">RKLB</a>), we notice a put option sweep that happens to be bearish, expiring in 38 day(s) on February 28, 2025. This event was a transfer of 200 contract(s) at a $28.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 4 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $57.4K, with a price of $287.0 per contract. There were 112 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 680 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For EMR (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EMR#NYSE">EMR</a>), we notice a call option trade that happens to be bearish, expiring in 360 day(s) on January 16, 2026. This event was a transfer of 231 contract(s) at a $165.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $54.2K, with a price of $235.0 per contract. There were 33 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 558 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For FVRR (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FVRR#NYSE">FVRR</a>), we notice a put option sweep that happens to be bullish, expiring in 31 day(s) on February 21, 2025. This event was a transfer of 490 contract(s) at a $30.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 47 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $34.3K, with a price of $70.0 per contract. There were 171 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 523 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
Options Alert Terminology 
 - Call Contracts: The right to buy shares as indicated in the contract. 
 - Put Contracts: The right to sell shares as indicated in the contract. 
 - Expiration Date: When the contract expires. One must act on the contract by this date if one wants to use it. 
 - Premium/Option Price: The price of the contract. 
For more information, visit our <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/blog/how-to-understand-option-alerts/">Guide to Understanding Options Alerts</a> or read <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/options">more about unusual options activity</a>. 
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

Embraer-Empresa Brasileira De Aeronautica

FVRR

LUNR

RKLB

10 Industrials Stocks With Whale Alerts In Today's Session

Shares of prison stocks are trading higher after President Trump reversed an executive order eliminating DOJ contracts with private prisons.

GEO Group Comments On Ninth Circuit Court Ruling In Nwauzor Case, Maintains VWP Participants Are Not Employees; Plans To Appeal Ruling

GEO Group (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GEO#NYSE">GEO</a>) underwent analysis by 4 analysts in the last quarter, revealing a spectrum of viewpoints from bullish to bearish.
The table below summarizes their recent ratings, showcasing the evolving sentiments within the past 30 days and comparing them to the preceding months.
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th></th>
<th align="right">Bullish</th>
<th align="right">Somewhat Bullish</th>
<th align="right">Indifferent</th>
<th align="right">Somewhat Bearish</th>
<th align="right">Bearish</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Total Ratings</td>
<td align="right">2</td>
<td align="right">2</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Last 30D</td>
<td align="right">1</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1M Ago</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2M Ago</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3M Ago</td>
<td align="right">1</td>
<td align="right">2</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
Analysts provide deeper insights through their assessments of 12-month price targets, revealing an average target of $38.5, a high estimate of $55.00, and a low estimate of $30.00. This upward trend is evident, with the current average reflecting a 67.83% increase from the previous average price target of $22.94.
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1736964050_0.png" alt="price target chart" />
<h2>Diving into Analyst Ratings: An In-Depth Exploration</h2>
A clear picture of GEO Group's perception among financial experts is painted with a thorough analysis of recent analyst actions. The summary below outlines key analysts, their recent evaluations, and adjustments to ratings and price targets.
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Analyst</th>
<th>Analyst Firm</th>
<th>Action Taken</th>
<th>Rating</th>
<th>Current Price Target</th>
<th>Prior Price Target</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Jason Weaver</td>
<td>Jones Trading</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$55.00</td>
<td>$32.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Jason Weaver</td>
<td>Jones Trading</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$32.00</td>
<td>$18.75</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Greg Gibas</td>
<td>Northland Capital Markets</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Outperform</td>
<td>$37.00</td>
<td>$16.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Jay McCanless</td>
<td>Wedbush</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Outperform</td>
<td>$30.00</td>
<td>$25.00</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h3>Key Insights:</h3>
<ul>
<li>Action Taken: Responding to changing market dynamics and company performance, analysts update their recommendations. Whether they 'Maintain', 'Raise', or 'Lower' their stance, it signifies their response to recent developments related to GEO Group. This offers insight into analysts' perspectives on the current state of the company.</li>
<li>Rating: Delving into assessments, analysts assign qualitative values, from 'Outperform' to 'Underperform'. These ratings communicate expectations for the relative performance of GEO Group compared to the broader market.</li>
<li>Price Targets: Analysts explore the dynamics of price targets, providing estimates for the future value of GEO Group's stock. This examination reveals shifts in analysts' expectations over time.</li>
</ul>
Analyzing these analyst evaluations alongside relevant financial metrics can provide a comprehensive view of GEO Group's market position. Stay informed and make data-driven decisions with the assistance of our Ratings Table.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/GEO/analyst-ratings?utm_source=Benzinga Insights">Stay up to date on GEO Group analyst ratings.</a>
<h2>Unveiling the Story Behind GEO Group</h2>
The GEO Group Inc specializes in detention facilities and community reentry centers. It operates in four segments: U.S. Secure Services, which mainly encompasses U.S.-based secure services business; Electronic Monitoring and Supervision Services, which conducts its services in the United States, represents services provided to adults for monitoring services and evidence-based supervision and treatment programs for community-based parolees, probationers, and pretrial defendants; Reentry Services conducts its services in the United States represents services provided to adults for residential and non-residential treatment, educational and community-based programs, pre-release and half-way house programs; and International Services.
<h3>Financial Insights: GEO Group</h3>
Market Capitalization Analysis: Reflecting a smaller scale, the company's market capitalization is positioned below industry averages. This could be attributed to factors such as growth expectations or operational capacity.
Revenue Growth: GEO Group displayed positive results in 3 months. As of 30 September, 2024, the company achieved a solid revenue growth rate of approximately 0.06%. This indicates a notable increase in the company's top-line earnings. In comparison to its industry peers, the company trails behind with a growth rate lower than the average among peers in the Industrials sector.
Net Margin: GEO Group's net margin lags behind industry averages, suggesting challenges in maintaining strong profitability. With a net margin of 4.36%, the company may face hurdles in effective cost management.
Return on Equity (ROE): GEO Group's ROE falls below industry averages, indicating challenges in efficiently using equity capital. With an ROE of 2.03%, the company may face hurdles in generating optimal returns for shareholders.
Return on Assets (ROA): The company's ROA is below industry benchmarks, signaling potential difficulties in efficiently utilizing assets. With an ROA of 0.72%, the company may need to address challenges in generating satisfactory returns from its assets.
Debt Management: GEO Group's debt-to-equity ratio is below the industry average at 1.36, reflecting a lower dependency on debt financing and a more conservative financial approach.
<h2>The Core of Analyst Ratings: What Every Investor Should Know</h2>
Analysts work in banking and financial systems and typically specialize in reporting for stocks or defined sectors. Analysts may attend company conference calls and meetings, research company financial statements, and communicate with insiders to publish "analyst ratings" for stocks. Analysts typically rate each stock once per quarter.
In addition to their assessments, some analysts extend their insights by offering predictions for key metrics such as earnings, revenue, and growth estimates. This supplementary information provides further guidance for traders. It is crucial to recognize that, despite their specialization, analysts are human and can only provide forecasts based on their beliefs.
Breaking: Wall Street's Next Big Mover
Benzinga's #1 analyst just identified a stock poised for explosive growth. This under-the-radar company could surge 200%+ as major market shifts unfold. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/turning-point-trader-checkout-2/?t=Tu1tu3arja3be22tu36&amp;utm_source=benzinga-insights">Click here for urgent details</a>.
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

Analyst Ratings

Assessing GEO Group: Insights From 4 Financial Analysts

WIIM

GEO Group shares are trading higher after Jones Trading maintained a Buy rating on the stock and raised its price target from $32 to $55.

Jones Trading analyst Jason Weaver maintains GEO Group (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GEO#NYSE">GEO</a>) with a Buy and raises the price target from $32 to $55.

Price Target

Jones Trading Maintains Buy on GEO Group, Raises Price Target to $55

Shares of prison stocks are trading higher after Mike Johnson was elected House Speaker.

President-elect Donald Trump&#8216;s second term could provide for-profit prisons an economic and regulatory boon amid Trump&#8217;s plans to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40744471/trumps-plan-to-ban-mortgages-for-undocumented-immigrants-sparks-debate-what-do-the-numbers-say">deport people living in the country illegally</a>.
Private Prisons: Corecivic Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CXW#NYSE">CXW</a>) and Geo Group Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GEO#NYSE">GEO</a>) are the two largest private prison operators in the United States.
Geo Group owns 50 facilities and 64,502 beds across the U.S. concentrated in the South and Southwest. In 2023, CoreCivic operated 43 facilities with approximately 65,000 beds, according to company filings. The facilities include migrant detention centers and minimum-to-medium security prisons.
Private prisons are a topic of debate given their for-profit nature and alleged human rights abuses. <a href="https://news.uchicago.edu/story/us-prison-labor-programs-violate-fundamental-human-rights-new-report-finds">According</a> to the University of Chicago Law School, labor conditions in private prisons are poor. The majority of prisoners are forced to work, often for wages under a dollar per hour, or face solitary confinement or loss of visitation rights. The report found that prisoners produce at least $2 billion annually in goods and over $9 billion in maintenance services.
In August 2016, then-President Barack Obama announced a plan to reduce and eliminate the use of private prisons in the U.S. Following Trump&#8217;s inauguration for his first term in 2017, Attorney General Jeff Sessions rescinded Obama&#8217;s memorandum, <a href="https://www.bop.gov/resources/news/pdfs/20170224_doj_memo.pdf">saying</a> the decision &#8220;impaired the Bureau&#8217;s ability to meet the future needs of the federal correctional system.&#8221; The stock prices of Geo and CoreCivic subsequently rallied over 30%.
As of July 2024, there <a href="https://homeland.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/24-01143-ICEs-Signed-Response-to-Representative-Tony-Gonzales.pdf">were</a> 662,566 &#8220;noncitizens&#8221; with criminal histories on ICE's national docket, which includes those detained by ICE and on the agency's non-detained docket. Of those, 435,719 are convicted criminals and 226,847 have pending criminal charges.
Trump&#8217;s Immigration Plan: Future immigration enforcement, an issue Trump made central to his 2016, 2020, and 2024 campaigns, would require detention centers, perhaps operated by Geo and CoreCivic.
The ACLU <a href="https://wp.api.aclu.org/news/immigrants-rights/unchecked-growth-private-prison-corporations-and-immigration-detention-three-years-into-the-biden-administration">found</a> in 2023 that over 90% of migrants detained by ICE were held in privately owned facilities.
In a CNN <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2024/12/18/politics/border-czar-homan-trump-deportation-plans/index.html">interview</a>, Tom Homan, Trump&#8217;s incoming border czar, said the government needs a minimum of 100,000 beds to carry out Trump&#8217;s immigration plan. This represents a more than 100% increase over current capacity. He also elaborated on the extent to which Trump will carry out deportation.
"I don't have a number. We want to arrest as many people as we can that are in the country illegally," Homan said. "If you're here illegally, you're not off the table. It's a violation of the law; it's a crime to enter this country illegally."
The American Immigration Council, a pro-immigration advocacy group, <a href="https://www.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/research/mass-deportation">says</a> there were around 11 million people living in the U.S. illegally in 2022, roughly 3% of the country&#8217;s population. The council estimates that a deportation plan would cost at least $315 billion.
Why it Matters: Geo Group and CoreCivic also appear to be preparing for the future demand for detention centers. On Dec. 16, Geo Group announced a $70 million capital expenditure plan to expand ICE service capabilities.
In September, short-seller Andrew Left <a href="https://citronresearch.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Geo-Group-093024.pdf">called</a> Geo Group the &#8220;default play&#8221; for a Trump presidency given his positions on immigration enforcement.
The market at large also seems convinced. Geo Group&#8217;s stock has risen over 86% since election day, while CoreCivic&#8217;s stock has risen over 58%.
Also Read:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42679657/el-erian-explains-why-us-economy-is-likely-to-continue-outperforming-other-major-economies-in-2025">El Erian Explains Why US Economy Is &#8216;Likely To Continue Outperforming Other Major Economies In 2025&#8217;</a></li>
</ul>
Photo via Shutterstock.

Equities

CoreCivic, Geo Group Rally By Double Digits Since Election Day: Why Trump Boosts Private Prison Stocks

This whale alert can help traders discover the next big trading opportunities.
Whales are entities with large sums of money and we track their transactions here at Benzinga on our options activity scanner.
Traders often look for circumstances when the market estimation of an option diverges away from its normal worth. Abnormal amounts of trading activity could push option prices to hyperbolic or underperforming levels. 
Below are some instances of options activity happening in the Industrials sector: 
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th>Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>RKLB</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$20.00</td>
<td>$298.6K</td>
<td>5.8K</td>
<td>1.3K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ARRY</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>12/20/24</td>
<td>$5.00</td>
<td>$27.5K</td>
<td>807</td>
<td>526</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>EOSE</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$2.50</td>
<td>$33.1K</td>
<td>16.2K</td>
<td>474</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>IESC</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>12/20/24</td>
<td>$240.00</td>
<td>$25.0K</td>
<td>450</td>
<td>321</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>UPS</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$140.00</td>
<td>$32.6K</td>
<td>686</td>
<td>285</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>GEO</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>03/21/25</td>
<td>$30.00</td>
<td>$81.2K</td>
<td>16.6K</td>
<td>279</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>NOC</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$500.00</td>
<td>$30.0K</td>
<td>704</td>
<td>110</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>VRT</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>07/18/25</td>
<td>$105.00</td>
<td>$32.7K</td>
<td>233</td>
<td>110</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>HON</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>02/21/25</td>
<td>$230.00</td>
<td>$44.6K</td>
<td>645</td>
<td>56</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ALK</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>06/20/25</td>
<td>$70.00</td>
<td>$37.8K</td>
<td>35</td>
<td>44</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h2>Explanation</h2>
These bullet-by-bullet explanations have been constructed using the accompanying table. 
• Regarding RKLB (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RKLB#NASDAQ">RKLB</a>), we observe a call option trade with neutral sentiment. It expires in 28 day(s) on January 17, 2025. Parties traded 553 contract(s) at a $20.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $298.6K, with a price of $540.0 per contract. There were 5820 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 1360 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For ARRY (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARRY#NASDAQ">ARRY</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bullish, is expiring today. Parties traded 500 contract(s) at a $5.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 35 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $27.5K, with a price of $55.0 per contract. There were 807 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 526 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For EOSE (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EOSE#NASDAQ">EOSE</a>), we notice a call option trade that happens to be bearish, expiring in 28 day(s) on January 17, 2025. This event was a transfer of 160 contract(s) at a $2.50 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $33.1K, with a price of $207.0 per contract. There were 16270 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 474 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For IESC (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IESC#NASDAQ">IESC</a>), we notice a put option trade that happens to be neutral, is expiring today. Parties traded 10 contract(s) at a $240.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $25.0K, with a price of $2500.0 per contract. There were 450 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 321 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding UPS (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UPS#NYSE">UPS</a>), we observe a call option trade with bullish sentiment. It expires in 392 day(s) on January 16, 2026. Parties traded 40 contract(s) at a $140.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $32.6K, with a price of $815.0 per contract. There were 686 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 285 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For GEO (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GEO#NYSE">GEO</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bullish, expiring in 91 day(s) on March 21, 2025. This event was a transfer of 250 contract(s) at a $30.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 5 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $81.2K, with a price of $325.0 per contract. There were 16645 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 279 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding NOC (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NOC#NYSE">NOC</a>), we observe a call option sweep with bullish sentiment. It expires in 28 day(s) on January 17, 2025. Parties traded 100 contract(s) at a $500.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 22 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $30.0K, with a price of $300.0 per contract. There were 704 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 110 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding VRT (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VRT#NYSE">VRT</a>), we observe a call option trade with bullish sentiment. It expires in 210 day(s) on July 18, 2025. Parties traded 11 contract(s) at a $105.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $32.7K, with a price of $2975.0 per contract. There were 233 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 110 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding HON (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HON#NASDAQ">HON</a>), we observe a put option trade with bearish sentiment. It expires in 63 day(s) on February 21, 2025. Parties traded 48 contract(s) at a $230.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $44.6K, with a price of $930.0 per contract. There were 645 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 56 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding ALK (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ALK#NYSE">ALK</a>), we observe a put option trade with bullish sentiment. It expires in 182 day(s) on June 20, 2025. Parties traded 44 contract(s) at a $70.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $37.8K, with a price of $860.0 per contract. There were 35 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 44 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
Options Alert Terminology 
 - Call Contracts: The right to buy shares as indicated in the contract. 
 - Put Contracts: The right to sell shares as indicated in the contract. 
 - Expiration Date: When the contract expires. One must act on the contract by this date if one wants to use it. 
 - Premium/Option Price: The price of the contract. 
For more information, visit our <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/blog/how-to-understand-option-alerts/">Guide to Understanding Options Alerts</a> or read <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/options">more about unusual options activity</a>. 
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

ARRY

EOSE

IESC

10 Industrials Stocks Whale Activity In Today's Session

During the last three months, 4 analysts shared their evaluations of GEO Group (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GEO#NYSE">GEO</a>), revealing diverse outlooks from bullish to bearish.
The table below offers a condensed view of their recent ratings, showcasing the changing sentiments over the past 30 days and comparing them to the preceding months.
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th></th>
<th align="right">Bullish</th>
<th align="right">Somewhat Bullish</th>
<th align="right">Indifferent</th>
<th align="right">Somewhat Bearish</th>
<th align="right">Bearish</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Total Ratings</td>
<td align="right">1</td>
<td align="right">3</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Last 30D</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1M Ago</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2M Ago</td>
<td align="right">1</td>
<td align="right">2</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3M Ago</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">1</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
The 12-month price targets, analyzed by analysts, offer insights with an average target of $29.0, a high estimate of $37.00, and a low estimate of $17.00. This upward trend is apparent, with the current average reflecting a 51.12% increase from the previous average price target of $19.19.
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1734444042_0.png" alt="price target chart" />
<h2>Interpreting Analyst Ratings: A Closer Look</h2>
The perception of GEO Group by financial experts is analyzed through recent analyst actions. The following summary presents key analysts, their recent evaluations, and adjustments to ratings and price targets.
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Analyst</th>
<th>Analyst Firm</th>
<th>Action Taken</th>
<th>Rating</th>
<th>Current Price Target</th>
<th>Prior Price Target</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Jason Weaver</td>
<td>Jones Trading</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$32.00</td>
<td>$18.75</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Greg Gibas</td>
<td>Northland Capital Markets</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Outperform</td>
<td>$37.00</td>
<td>$16.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Jay McCanless</td>
<td>Wedbush</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Outperform</td>
<td>$30.00</td>
<td>$25.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Jay McCanless</td>
<td>Wedbush</td>
<td>Maintains</td>
<td>Outperform</td>
<td>$17.00</td>
<td>$17.00</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h3>Key Insights:</h3>
<ul>
<li>Action Taken: Analysts adapt their recommendations to changing market conditions and company performance. Whether they 'Maintain', 'Raise' or 'Lower' their stance, it reflects their response to recent developments related to GEO Group. This information provides a snapshot of how analysts perceive the current state of the company.</li>
<li>Rating: Gaining insights, analysts provide qualitative assessments, ranging from 'Outperform' to 'Underperform'. These ratings reflect expectations for the relative performance of GEO Group compared to the broader market.</li>
<li>Price Targets: Analysts navigate through adjustments in price targets, providing estimates for GEO Group's future value. Comparing current and prior targets offers insights into analysts' evolving expectations.</li>
</ul>
Assessing these analyst evaluations alongside crucial financial indicators can provide a comprehensive overview of GEO Group's market position. Stay informed and make well-judged decisions with the assistance of our Ratings Table.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/GEO/analyst-ratings?utm_source=Benzinga Insights">Stay up to date on GEO Group analyst ratings.</a>
<h2>Unveiling the Story Behind GEO Group</h2>
The GEO Group Inc specializes in detention facilities and community reentry centers. It operates in four segments: U.S. Secure Services, which mainly encompasses U.S.-based secure services business; Electronic Monitoring and Supervision Services, which conducts its services in the United States, represents services provided to adults for monitoring services and evidence-based supervision and treatment programs for community-based parolees, probationers, and pretrial defendants; Reentry Services conducts its services in the United States represents services provided to adults for residential and non-residential treatment, educational and community-based programs, pre-release and half-way house programs; and International Services.
<h3>GEO Group: A Financial Overview</h3>
Market Capitalization Analysis: Falling below industry benchmarks, the company's market capitalization reflects a reduced size compared to peers. This positioning may be influenced by factors such as growth expectations or operational capacity.
Revenue Growth: GEO Group displayed positive results in 3 months. As of 30 September, 2024, the company achieved a solid revenue growth rate of approximately 0.06%. This indicates a notable increase in the company's top-line earnings. As compared to its peers, the revenue growth lags behind its industry peers. The company achieved a growth rate lower than the average among peers in Industrials sector.
Net Margin: The company's net margin is below industry benchmarks, signaling potential difficulties in achieving strong profitability. With a net margin of 4.36%, the company may need to address challenges in effective cost control.
Return on Equity (ROE): GEO Group's ROE is below industry standards, pointing towards difficulties in efficiently utilizing equity capital. With an ROE of 2.03%, the company may encounter challenges in delivering satisfactory returns for shareholders.
Return on Assets (ROA): The company's ROA is below industry benchmarks, signaling potential difficulties in efficiently utilizing assets. With an ROA of 0.72%, the company may need to address challenges in generating satisfactory returns from its assets.
Debt Management: The company maintains a balanced debt approach with a debt-to-equity ratio below industry norms, standing at 1.36.
<h2>Analyst Ratings: Simplified</h2>
Analysts work in banking and financial systems and typically specialize in reporting for stocks or defined sectors. Analysts may attend company conference calls and meetings, research company financial statements, and communicate with insiders to publish "analyst ratings" for stocks. Analysts typically rate each stock once per quarter.
In addition to their assessments, some analysts extend their insights by offering predictions for key metrics such as earnings, revenue, and growth estimates. This supplementary information provides further guidance for traders. It is crucial to recognize that, despite their specialization, analysts are human and can only provide forecasts based on their beliefs.
Which Stocks Are Analysts Recommending Now?
Benzinga Edge gives you instant access to all major analyst upgrades, downgrades, and price targets. Sort by accuracy, upside potential, and more. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-checkout/?t=be8be9arja3be22bz21&amp;utm_source=benzinga-insights">Click here to stay ahead of the market</a>.
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

A Glimpse Into The Expert Outlook On GEO Group Through 4 Analysts

Wedbush analyst Jay McCanless reiterates GEO Group (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GEO#NYSE">GEO</a>) from Outperform to Outperform.

Reiteration

Wedbush Reiterates Outperform on GEO Groupto Outperform

Press Releases

The GEO Group Announces Date for Second Quarter 2024 Earnings Release and Conference Call

The GEO Group Announces Extension of Exchange Offer

The GEO Group Reports Second Quarter 2024 Results

The GEO Group Announces Date for Third Quarter 2024 Earnings Release and Conference Call

The GEO Group Announces Exercise of Five-Year Option Period for Adelanto ICE Processing Center Contract

The GEO Group Publishes Sixth Annual Human Rights and ESG Report

The GEO Group Reports Third Quarter 2024 Results

The GEO Group Announces $70 Million Investment in Expanding ICE Services Capabilities and New Corporate Reorganization

The GEO Group Comments on Ruling by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in the Nwauzor Case

The GEO Group Announces Date for Fourth Quarter 2024 Earnings Release and Conference Call

ABM Indus

ACV Auctions

Brink's

Brady

Clean Harbors

Copart

Cintas

Casella Waste Systems, Inc. - Class A Common Stock

Casella Waste Systems

CoreCivic

Driven Brands Holdings Inc. - Common Stock

Driven Brands Hldgs

Openlane

MillerKnoll

MSA Safety

Pitney Bowes

RB Global

Rollins

Republic Servs

Rentokil Initial plc American Depositary Shares (each representing five (5) Ordinary Shares)

Comments

GEO Group

Unusual Options Activity for

ニュース

パートナーシップ

ベンジンガ・グローバル

Date	Put/Call	Strike Price	Exp Date	DTE	Trade Vol	Day Vol	Vol / OI	OI	Trade Type	Sentiment
10:25 AMFeb 19, 2025	CALL	$50.00	Jan 15, 2027	689	1210	1200	8643	14	TRADE	BEARISH
09:59 AMFeb 19, 2025	CALL	$50.00	Jan 15, 2027	689	0	1200	0	14	TRADE	BULLISH
03:29 PMFeb 18, 2025	CALL	$35.00	Mar 21, 2025	24	11928	9684	371	3213	TRADE	BEARISH
02:59 PMFeb 18, 2025	CALL	$35.00	Mar 21, 2025	24	10033	9717	312	3213	TRADE	BULLISH