30,000 GEO Group (GEO) restricted shares granted to senior VP

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Laird Paul M. reported acquisition or exercise transactions in this Form 4 filing.

GEO Group Inc. reported that Senior VP, Secure Services Paul M. Laird received a grant of 30,000 shares of restricted stock. Half of this award is time-based restricted stock, and the other half is performance-based restricted stock.

The time-based portion vests in three equal installments on each anniversary of the grant date over three years. The performance-based portion depends on GEO achieving specified performance metrics from January 1, 2026 to December 31, 2028, tied 50% to return on capital employed and 50% to total shareholder return, with vesting scheduled through March 15, 2029 if goals are met.

SEC Form 4

FORM 4

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

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Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

Check this box to indicate that a transaction was made pursuant to a contract, instruction or written plan for the purchase or sale of equity securities of the issuer that is intended to satisfy the affirmative defense conditions of Rule 10b5-1(c). See Instruction 10.

1. Name and Address of Reporting Person^*

Laird Paul M.

(Last) (First) (Middle)

4955 TECHNOLOGY WAY

(Street)

BOCA RATON FL 33431

(City) (State) (Zip)

2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
GEO GROUP INC [ GEO ]

5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)

	Director		10% Owner
X	Officer (give title below)		Other (specify below)
	Senior VP, Secure Services

3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
02/24/2026

4. If Amendment, Date of Original Filed (Month/Day/Year)

6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line)

X	Form filed by One Reporting Person
	Form filed by More than One Reporting Person

Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1. Title of Security (Instr. 3)	2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)	2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)	3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)		4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed Of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5)			5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4)	6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
			Code	V	Amount	(A) or (D)	Price
RESTRICTED STOCK	02/24/2026		A		15,000(1)(2)	A	$0	63,403	D
RESTRICTED STOCK	02/24/2026		A		15,000(1)(3)	A	$0	78,403	D
COMMON STOCK								11,823	D

Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned (e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3)	2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security	3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)	3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)	4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)		5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5)		6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year)		7. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security (Instr. 3 and 4)		8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5)	9. Number of derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4)	10. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
				Code	V	(A)	(D)	Date Exercisable	Expiration Date	Title	Amount or Number of Shares

Explanation of Responses:

1. The reporting person received a grant of 30,000 shares of restricted stock. 50% of the award consists of time-based restricted stock and 50% of the award consists of performance-based restricted stock.

2. This reflects the time based restricted stock which one-third will vest each year on the anniversary grant date over a three-year period.

3. Vesting of the performance-based restricted stock of GEO is contingent upon the achievement by GEO of certain performance-based metrics during the period from January 1, 2026 to December 31, 2028 as certified by the compensation committee. Of the grant of performance-based restricted stock, 50% is subject to vesting based on certain return on capital employed performance goals being met and 50% is subject to vesting based on GEO's total shareholder return. The portion of the restricted stock award that vests based on certain return on capital employed performance goals being met will vest by March 15, 2029 to the extent the performance goals are achieved. The portion of the restricted stock award that vests based on GEO's total shareholder return will vest one-third each year over a three-year period to the extent the performance goals are achieved.

	/s/ Paul M. Laird	02/26/2026
	** Signature of Reporting Person	Date
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FAQ

What insider transaction did GEO (GEO) report for Paul M. Laird?

GEO reported that Senior VP Paul M. Laird received a grant of 30,000 restricted shares. Half are time-based and half are performance-based, aligning his compensation with both service tenure and GEO’s financial and stock performance over several years.

How is the 30,000-share restricted stock grant at GEO (GEO) structured?

The 30,000-share grant is split evenly between time-based and performance-based restricted stock. This structure rewards continued employment while tying a significant portion of potential value to GEO’s long-term return on capital employed and total shareholder return targets.

When do Paul M. Laird’s time-based restricted GEO (GEO) shares vest?

The time-based restricted shares vest one-third each year on the grant-date anniversary over three years. This schedule encourages multi‑year retention by delivering value gradually as Laird continues serving in his role at GEO Group.

What performance period applies to GEO (GEO) performance-based restricted stock?

The performance-based restricted stock uses a performance period from January 1, 2026 to December 31, 2028. Vesting depends on GEO meeting defined return on capital employed and total shareholder return metrics over that timeframe, as certified by the compensation committee.

Which metrics determine vesting of GEO (GEO) performance-based restricted stock?

Half of the performance-based shares depend on return on capital employed goals, and half on total shareholder return. If GEO meets these metrics for 2026–2028, shares can vest by March 15, 2029 or in annual thirds, as specified.

Is the GEO (GEO) restricted stock grant to Paul M. Laird immediately vested?

No, the restricted stock does not vest immediately. Time-based shares vest over three years, while performance-based shares vest only if GEO achieves specified performance goals between 2026 and 2028, with vesting extending through March 15, 2029.