CoreCivic (NYSE: CXW) sells four facilities for $2.2B, cuts debt
Rhea-AI Filing Summary
CoreCivic reported Q2 2026 revenue of $684.9 million, up 27.3% year over year, with net income of $37.1 million and diluted EPS of $0.37. Adjusted diluted EPS was $0.38, Normalized FFO per share $0.64 and Adjusted EBITDA $109.4 million, each higher than the prior-year quarter.
Occupancy in the Residential segment rose to 78.4%, while the segment operating margin declined to 22.4% from 26.1%, partly due to prior-year Employee Retention Credits. Federal customers generated about 53% of total revenue, and leverage stood at 2.9x net debt to Adjusted EBITDA for the trailing twelve months.
After quarter-end CoreCivic sold four detention facilities to the U.S. government for $2.2 billion, expecting approximately $1.6 billion in net proceeds and an aggregate gain of about $1.8 billion in Q3 2026. Roughly $608.5 million of debt, including the full $270.0 million revolver and $238.5 million of 4.75% notes due 2027, is being repaid, with total debt expected to be approximately $739.1 million.
The board increased the share repurchase authorization by $500.0 million to $1.2 billion; $444.2 million has been used to buy 28.1 million shares, leaving $755.8 million available. Updated 2026 guidance calls for net income of $1.497–$1.516 billion and diluted EPS of $15.00–$15.20, largely reflecting the facility-sale gain and lower interest expense.
Positive
- Sold four facilities for $2.2 billion, expecting about $1.6 billion in net proceeds and an estimated $1.8 billion gain, materially increasing cash available for balance-sheet actions.
- Plans to repay $608.5 million of debt, including the entire $270.0 million revolver and $238.5 million of 4.75% notes, leaving total debt around $739.1 million and lowering interest expense.
- Expanded share repurchase authorization by $500.0 million to $1.2 billion, with $755.8 million of remaining capacity after buying 28.1 million shares for $444.2 million at an average price of $15.82.
- Q2 2026 revenue rose 27.3% to $684.9 million, with Adjusted EBITDA up 5.9% to $109.4 million and Normalized FFO per diluted share up 8.5% to $0.64, reflecting facility activations and higher federal and state populations.
- Updated 2026 net income guidance increased sharply to $1.497–$1.516 billion from $147.8–$157.8 million, and diluted EPS to $15.00–$15.20, driven mainly by the facility-sale gain and reduced interest.
Negative
- Q2 2026 net income declined 3.6% to $37.1 million even as revenue grew, partly because the prior-year quarter included $11.6 million of Employee Retention Credits and associated interest.
- CoreCivic Residential segment operating margin fell to 22.4% from 26.1%, reflecting the absence of prior-year Employee Retention Credits and lower ICE populations at certain facilities.
- Full-year 2026 Adjusted EBITDA guidance was reduced to $440.5–$445.5 million from prior guidance of $453.8–$461.8 million, indicating lower underlying EBITDA after the large facility sales.
Filing Explained
The sold facilities remain tied to terminable ICE contracts, while the enlarged buyback authorization is capacity rather than a purchase obligation.
The August 5 filing makes the enlarged share-repurchase program a ceiling of up to
The four facility sales are completed, but the company’s expected continued management of them remains conditional because ICE contracts permit termination for non-appropriation or convenience.
The disclosed management contracts expire in August 2027 for California City, September 2027 for Midwest, December 2029 for Otay Mesa—with a five-year extension option—and August 2031 for Prairie.
8-K Event Classification
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Adjusted EBITDA financial
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Earnings Snapshot
Updated 2026 guidance: net income $1.497–$1.516 billion; Adjusted Net Income $161.5–$169.5 million; diluted EPS $15.00–$15.20; Adjusted Diluted EPS $1.62–$1.70; FFO per diluted share $2.59–$2.68; Normalized FFO per diluted share $2.61–$2.70; Adjusted EBITDA $440.5–$445.5 million.
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