The GEO Group (NYSE:GEO) Sets New 52-Week High - Should You Buy?

The GEO Group, Inc. (NYSE:GEO - Get Free Report) shares reached a new 52-week high on Wednesday . The stock traded as high as $30.38 and last traded at $30.19, with a volume of 1795727 shares. The stock had previously closed at $28.69.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities research analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. Northland Securities upped their target price on shares of The GEO Group from $16.00 to $37.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research note on Friday, November 8th. Noble Financial cut The GEO Group from an "outperform" rating to a "market perform" rating in a research note on Monday, November 11th. Finally, Wedbush reaffirmed an "outperform" rating on shares of The GEO Group in a report on Tuesday, December 17th.

The GEO Group Price Performance

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.25, a quick ratio of 1.10 and a current ratio of 1.10. The company's fifty day moving average price is $26.58 and its 200 day moving average price is $18.46. The firm has a market capitalization of $4.35 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 107.18, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.32 and a beta of 0.87.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On The GEO Group

Several large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Arizona State Retirement System grew its holdings in The GEO Group by 2.5% in the 2nd quarter. Arizona State Retirement System now owns 35,525 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock worth $510,000 after buying an additional 862 shares in the last quarter. Creative Planning grew its position in The GEO Group by 9.0% in the 3rd quarter. Creative Planning now owns 11,096 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock valued at $143,000 after buying an additional 919 shares in the last quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC lifted its stake in shares of The GEO Group by 18.6% in the 4th quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 8,155 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock worth $228,000 after acquiring an additional 1,281 shares during the period. Point72 Asia Singapore Pte. Ltd. bought a new position in shares of The GEO Group in the third quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Finally, Benjamin F. Edwards & Company Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of The GEO Group by 62.1% in the second quarter. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company Inc. now owns 6,245 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock valued at $90,000 after acquiring an additional 2,393 shares in the last quarter. 76.10% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

The GEO Group Company Profile

The GEO Group, Inc NYSE: GEO engages in ownership, leasing, and management of secure facilities, processing centers, and community-based reentry facilities in the United States, Australia, the United Kingdom, and South Africa. The company also provides secure facility management services, including the provision of security, administrative, rehabilitation, education, and food services; reentry services, such as temporary housing, programming, employment assistance, and other services; electronic monitoring and supervision services; and transportation services; as well as designs, constructs, and finances new facilities through projects.