CoreCivic, Inc. (CXW) experienced a significant after-hours surge, with its stock price climbing 5.14% in post-market trading on Wednesday.

The sharp increase follows the company's release of its fourth quarter and full year 2025 financial results, which exceeded analyst expectations. CoreCivic reported Q4 funds from operations (FFO) of $0.52 per diluted share, beating the FactSet consensus estimate of $0.45. Revenue for the quarter reached $604 million, also surpassing the estimated $577.8 million. The company highlighted strong year-over-year growth, with full-year net income rising 69% to $116.5 million.

Investor sentiment was further bolstered by management's positive outlook for 2026. CoreCivic issued earnings per share (EPS) guidance in the range of $1.49 to $1.59 and FFO guidance of $2.54 to $2.64 per diluted share for the coming year. The company anticipates continued increased demand from government partners and expects several previously idle facilities to receive additional populations during 2026, signaling sustained operational growth.