The GEO Group (NYSE:GEO) Shares Gap Down - Should You Sell?

The GEO Group, Inc. (NYSE:GEO - Get Free Report)'s share price gapped down before the market opened on Tuesday . The stock had previously closed at $27.73, but opened at $26.93. The GEO Group shares last traded at $27.87, with a volume of 485,694 shares traded.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities research analysts have commented on GEO shares. Wedbush reiterated an "outperform" rating on shares of The GEO Group in a research note on Tuesday. Northland Securities lifted their price target on The GEO Group from $16.00 to $37.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a report on Friday, November 8th. Finally, Noble Financial downgraded The GEO Group from an "outperform" rating to a "market perform" rating in a research note on Monday, November 11th.

The GEO Group Stock Performance

The company has a market cap of $3.85 billion, a PE ratio of 94.93, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.32 and a beta of 0.88. The company's 50 day moving average price is $22.37 and its 200-day moving average price is $16.83. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.25, a quick ratio of 1.10 and a current ratio of 1.10.

Institutional Trading of The GEO Group

A number of institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. State Street Corp grew its stake in The GEO Group by 1.4% during the third quarter. State Street Corp now owns 4,919,298 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock valued at $63,213,000 after acquiring an additional 66,658 shares in the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC increased its position in shares of The GEO Group by 3.3% in the third quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 3,016,103 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock worth $38,765,000 after purchasing an additional 97,452 shares during the last quarter. Philosophy Capital Management LLC grew its stake in The GEO Group by 17.1% in the 3rd quarter. Philosophy Capital Management LLC now owns 1,644,005 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock worth $21,125,000 after buying an additional 240,251 shares in the last quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp lifted its holdings in shares of The GEO Group by 4.6% during the 2nd quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 1,114,771 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock worth $16,008,000 after acquiring an additional 49,134 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Hodges Capital Management Inc. lifted its stake in The GEO Group by 1,501.6% during the third quarter. Hodges Capital Management Inc. now owns 788,800 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock worth $10,136,000 after purchasing an additional 739,550 shares during the last quarter. 76.10% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About The GEO Group

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.