CXW vs ABM

For growth investors, CoreCivic, Inc.

(CXW) is the stronger pick with 12. 7% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 4. 6% for ABM Industries Incorporated (ABM). ABM Industries Incorporated (ABM) offers the better valuation at 15. 5x trailing P/E (10. 2x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate CoreCivic, Inc. (CXW) a "Buy" — based on 12 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.

On trailing P/E, ABM Industries Incorporated (ABM) is the cheapest at 15.

5x versus CoreCivic, Inc. at 18. 8x. On forward P/E, ABM Industries Incorporated is actually cheaper at 10. 2x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: ABM Industries Incorporated wins at 0. 04x versus CoreCivic, Inc. 's 0. 68x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, CoreCivic, Inc.

(CXW) delivered a total return of +151. 9%, compared to -14. 5% for ABM Industries Incorporated (ABM). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: ABM returned +47. 0% versus CXW's -17. 8%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), CoreCivic, Inc.

(CXW) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 65β versus ABM Industries Incorporated's 0. 71β — meaning ABM is approximately 10% more volatile than CXW relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, CoreCivic, Inc. (CXW) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 87% versus 95% for ABM Industries Incorporated — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), CoreCivic, Inc.

(CXW) is pulling ahead at 12. 7% versus 4. 6% for ABM Industries Incorporated (ABM). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: ABM Industries Incorporated grew EPS 102. 3% year-over-year, compared to 74. 2% for CoreCivic, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, CXW leads at 6. 2% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.

CoreCivic, Inc.

(CXW) is the more profitable company, earning 5. 3% net margin versus 1. 9% for ABM Industries Incorporated — meaning it keeps 5. 3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: CXW leads at 15. 8% versus 3. 7% for ABM. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — CXW leads at 23. 5%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.

The PEG ratio (forward P/E divided by expected earnings growth rate) is the most precise measure of undervaluation relative to growth potential.

By this metric, ABM Industries Incorporated (ABM) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 04x versus CoreCivic, Inc. 's 0. 68x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, ABM Industries Incorporated (ABM) trades at 10. 2x forward P/E versus 13. 0x for CoreCivic, Inc. — 2. 9x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for ABM: 24. 4% to $50. 00.

In this comparison, ABM (2.

6% yield) pays a dividend. CXW does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, ABM Industries Incorporated (ABM) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.

71), 2. 6% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (ABM: +47. 0%, CXW: -17. 8%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.

These companies operate in different sectors (CXW (Real Estate) and ABM (Industrials)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: CXW is a small-cap quality compounder stock; ABM is a small-cap deep-value stock. ABM pays a dividend while CXW does not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.