CXW vs CTAS

For growth investors, CoreCivic, Inc.

(CXW) is the stronger pick with 12. 7% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 7. 7% for Cintas Corporation (CTAS). CoreCivic, Inc. (CXW) offers the better valuation at 19. 6x trailing P/E (14. 0x 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, CoreCivic, Inc.

(CXW) is the cheapest at 19. 6x versus Cintas Corporation at 38. 5x. On forward P/E, CoreCivic, Inc. is actually cheaper at 14. 0x.

Over the past 5 years, CoreCivic, Inc.

(CXW) delivered a total return of +167. 6%, compared to +100. 9% for Cintas Corporation (CTAS). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CTAS returned +686. 2% versus CXW's -15. 3%. 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), Cintas Corporation (CTAS) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

51β versus CoreCivic, Inc. 's 0. 61β — meaning CXW is approximately 20% more volatile than CTAS relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Cintas Corporation (CTAS) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 57% versus 87% for CoreCivic, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

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

(CXW) is pulling ahead at 12. 7% versus 7. 7% for Cintas Corporation (CTAS). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: CoreCivic, Inc. grew EPS 74. 2% year-over-year, compared to 16. 1% for Cintas Corporation. Over a 3-year CAGR, CTAS leads at 9. 6% 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.

Cintas Corporation (CTAS) is the more profitable company, earning 17.

5% net margin versus 5. 3% for CoreCivic, Inc. — meaning it keeps 17. 5% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: CTAS leads at 22. 8% versus 15. 8% for CXW. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — CTAS leads at 50. 0%, 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.

On forward earnings alone, CoreCivic, Inc.

(CXW) trades at 14. 0x forward P/E versus 34. 6x for Cintas Corporation — 20. 6x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for CTAS: 31. 9% to $223. 40.

In this comparison, CTAS (0.

9% yield) pays a dividend. CXW does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

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

51), 0. 9% yield, +686. 2% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (CTAS: +686. 2%, CXW: -15. 3%), 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 CTAS (Industrials)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

CTAS 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.