CoreCivic is a diversified, government-solutions company with the scale and experience needed to solve tough government challenges in flexible, cost-effective ways. We provide a broad range of solutions to government partners that serve the public good through high-quality corrections and detention management, a network of residential and non-residential alternatives to incarceration to help address America’s recidivism crisis, and government real estate solutions. We are the nation’s largest owner of partnership correctional, detention and residential reentry facilities, and believe we are the largest private owner of real estate used by government agencies in the United States. We have been a flexible and dependable partner for government for nearly 40 years. Our employees are driven by a deep sense of service, high standards of professionalism and a responsibility to help government better the public good. Learn more at www.corecivic.com.
Joe Gomes, CFA, Managing Director, Equity Research Analyst, Generalist , Noble Capital Markets, Inc.
Refer to the full report for the price target, fundamental analysis, and rating.
A Transition. CoreCivic announced President and COO Patrick Swindle will succeed current CEO Damon Hininger effective January 1, 2026. As part of the transition, Mr. Hininger and the Company have entered into a transition agreement with an effective date of January 1, 2026. Under the transition agreement, Mr. Hininger will work closely with both Mr. Swindle and Mr. Emkes, as a Special Advisor to the CEO and Chairman, to ensure a smooth transition. Mr. Hininger will resign from CoreCivic’s Board effective January 1, 2026, with Mr. Swindle appointed to fill the vacancy.
Patrick Swindle. Mr. Swindle joined CoreCivic in 2007 as Managing Director, Treasury, and has held numerous positions, including Vice President, Strategic Development; Senior Vice President, Operations; Executive Vice President and Chief Corrections Officer; and Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, before being promoted to President and Chief Operating Officer in January 2025. Prior to joining CoreCivic, Mr. Swindle spent ten years in equity research in the equity capital markets divisions of SunTrust Equitable Securities, Raymond James Financial Services, Inc., and Avondale Partners, LLC.
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V2X builds innovative solutions that integrate physical and digital environments by aligning people, actions, and technology. V2X is embedded in all elements of a critical mission’s lifecycle to enhance readiness, optimize resource management, and boost security. The company provides innovation spanning national security, defense, civilian, and international markets. With a global team of approximately 16,000 professionals, V2X enables mission success by injecting AI and machine learning capabilities to meet today’s toughest challenges across all operational domains.
Joe Gomes, CFA, Managing Director, Equity Research Analyst, Generalist , Noble Capital Markets, Inc.
Refer to the full report for the price target, fundamental analysis, and rating.
Another Sale. AIP, through its Vertex Aerospace Holdco LLC sub, is selling another 2 million shares of VVX stock through an offering that is expected to close on August 11th. This will be the fourth such sale as the private equity firm continues to lighten its V2X holdings.
V2X to Buy. Subject to the closing of the offering, V2X has agreed to purchase 200,000 shares of V2X’s common stock that are subject to the offering at a price per share of common stock equal to the price to be paid to Vertex Aerospace by the underwriter. V2X intends to fund the repurchase of its common stock with cash on hand. This will cost approximately $10 million,
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V2X builds innovative solutions that integrate physical and digital environments by aligning people, actions, and technology. V2X is embedded in all elements of a critical mission’s lifecycle to enhance readiness, optimize resource management, and boost security. The company provides innovation spanning national security, defense, civilian, and international markets. With a global team of approximately 16,000 professionals, V2X enables mission success by injecting AI and machine learning capabilities to meet today’s toughest challenges across all operational domains.
Joe Gomes, CFA, Managing Director, Equity Research Analyst, Generalist , Noble Capital Markets, Inc.
Refer to the full report for the price target, fundamental analysis, and rating.
2Q25 Results. Revenue came in at $1.078 billion, essentially flat with last year’s $1.072 billion and was in-line with our $1.08 billion estimate. Helped by the pull forward of the conclusion of a non-recurring contractual commitment, adjusted EBITDA was $82.4 million, or a 7.6% margin, compared to $72.3 million, or a 6.7% margin, last year. V2X reported adjusted EPS of $1.33 for 2Q25, up from $0.83 in 2Q24.
Moving Up to Franchise Programs. Highlighted by last week’s T-6 services award, V2X’s pipeline is reflecting larger, franchise type programs. These programs typically leverage all of V2X’s mission critical capabilities. Management noted the 3-year qualified pipeline is now approximately $50 billion in size.
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V2X builds innovative solutions that integrate physical and digital environments by aligning people, actions, and technology. V2X is embedded in all elements of a critical mission’s lifecycle to enhance readiness, optimize resource management, and boost security. The company provides innovation spanning national security, defense, civilian, and international markets. With a global team of approximately 16,000 professionals, V2X enables mission success by injecting AI and machine learning capabilities to meet today’s toughest challenges across all operational domains.
Joe Gomes, CFA, Managing Director, Equity Research Analyst, Generalist , Noble Capital Markets, Inc.
Refer to the full report for the price target, fundamental analysis, and rating.
New Award. V2X, Inc. has been awarded a $4.3 billion indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract by the U.S. Air Force for Contractor Operated and Maintained Supply services in support of the T-6 aircraft. This is one of the largest contracts in V2X history and highlights the Company’s operating capabilities, in our view.
Details. This contract provides support for safe flyable aircraft to meet users’ daily flight schedule and depot requirements consistent with Department of Defense and commercial sector best practices in procuring, producing, and delivering products and services to customers. Work will be performed at a variety of military bases across the continental U.S. and is expected to be completed by July 31, 2034. This contract was a competitive source selection with three offers received.
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Graham Corporation designs, manufactures and sells critical equipment for the energy, defense and chemical/petrochemical industries. The Company designs and manufactures custom-engineered ejectors, vacuum pumping systems, surface condensers and vacuum systems. It is a nuclear code accredited fabrication and specialty machining company. It supplies components used inside reactor vessels and outside containment vessels of nuclear power facilities. Its equipment is found in applications, such as metal refining, pulp and paper processing, water heating, refrigeration, desalination, food processing, pharmaceutical, heating, ventilating and air conditioning. For the defense industry, its equipment is used in nuclear propulsion power systems for the United States Navy. The Company’s products are used in a range of industrial process applications in energy markets, including petroleum refining, defense, chemical and petrochemical processing, power generation/alternative energy and other.
Joe Gomes, CFA, Managing Director, Equity Research Analyst, Generalist , Noble Capital Markets, Inc.
Refer to the full report for the price target, fundamental analysis, and rating.
Follow-on Order. Yesterday, Graham Corporation announced the Company was awarded a follow-on order to produce critical hardware for the MK48 Mod 7 Heavyweight torpedo program. This was a sole sourced award. Graham typically receives an annual order for this program once funding is approved for the current year’s supply.
MK48 Program. The follow-on order is valued at approximately $25.5 million. Graham manufactures and tests the alternators and regulators for the MK48 Mod 7 Heavyweight torpedo through its Barber-Nichols subsidiary. We believe there are two more option years remaining under the current program in which 50-120 MK 48s are produced annually.
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Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. (NASDAQ:KTOS) develops and fields transformative, affordable technology, platforms, and systems for United States National Security related customers, allies, and commercial enterprises. Kratos is changing the way breakthrough technologies for these industries are rapidly brought to market through proven commercial and venture capital backed approaches, including proactive research, and streamlined development processes. At Kratos, affordability is a technology, and we specialize in unmanned systems, satellite communications, cyber security/warfare, microwave electronics, missile defense, hypersonic systems, training and combat systems and next generation turbo jet and turbo fan engine development. For more information go to www.kratosdefense.com.
Joe Gomes, CFA, Managing Director, Equity Research Analyst, Generalist , Noble Capital Markets, Inc.
Refer to the full report for the price target, fundamental analysis, and rating.
Directive. Building on President Trump’s June 6th Executive Order to Unleash American Drone Dominance, this past week Defense Secretary Hegseth signed a memo removing restrictive policies on drone innovation. By leveraging savings from DOGE, the DOD will help power a technological leapfrog and bolster the U.S. drone industry by approving hundreds of made-in-America drone products for purchase by the military. These goals play right into Kratos’ wheelhouse, in our view.
New Focus. The directive focuses on three key areas: strengthening the U.S. drone manufacturing base, arming combat units with a variety of low-cost drones, and ensuring those combat units are well-trained on how to use them. Kratos has been expanding its drone production capabilities, which the recent capital raise will turbocharge. Its drone technology is proven and available today, and the Company is the leader in providing target drones to the military.
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*Analyst certification and important disclosures included in the full report. NOTE: investment decisions should not be based upon the content of this research summary. Proper due diligence is required before making any investment decision.
Joe Gomes, Managing Director, Equity Research Analyst, Generalist , Noble Capital Markets, Inc.
Refer to the bottom of the report for important disclosures
Big Beautiful Bill. The Senate version of the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” aligns with or even improves upon the House version when it comes to spending on immigration. While it remains to be seen the exact version that will come out of the reconciliation process and be sent to President Trump for his signature, the proposed versions should prove to be beneficial to both CoreCivic and The GEO Group.
Detention Budget. Both the Senate and House proposals call for $45 billion of funding for detention capacity or an additional $10.6 billion annually through fiscal 2029. This would represent an over 300% increase over the current detention budget. This level of funding could support detention bed capacity in excess of 115,000 beds, up from a current 41,500.
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Senior Equity Analyst focusing on Basic Materials & Mining. 20 years of experience in equity research. BA in Business Administration from Westminster College. MBA with a Finance concentration from the University of Missouri. MA in International Affairs from Washington University in St. Louis. Named WSJ ‘Best on the Street’ Analyst and Forbes/StarMine’s “Best Brokerage Analyst.” FINRA licenses 7, 24, 63, 87
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Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. (NASDAQ:KTOS) develops and fields transformative, affordable technology, platforms, and systems for United States National Security related customers, allies, and commercial enterprises. Kratos is changing the way breakthrough technologies for these industries are rapidly brought to market through proven commercial and venture capital backed approaches, including proactive research, and streamlined development processes. At Kratos, affordability is a technology, and we specialize in unmanned systems, satellite communications, cyber security/warfare, microwave electronics, missile defense, hypersonic systems, training and combat systems and next generation turbo jet and turbo fan engine development. For more information go to www.kratosdefense.com.
Joe Gomes, CFA, Managing Director, Equity Research Analyst, Generalist , Noble Capital Markets, Inc.
Refer to the full report for the price target, fundamental analysis, and rating.
Capital Raise. Kratos completed its previously announced offering of Kratos common stock, raising $575 million in gross proceeds, at a public offering price of $38.50 per share, for a total of 14,935,065 shares of common stock, which includes the exercise of the underwriter’s option to purchase additional shares. Net proceeds from the offering were approximately $556 million. Noble Capital participated as a co-manager of the offering.
Use of Proceeds. Kratos expects to use the net proceeds of the offering to (i) fund investments and capital expenditures to scale and successfully execute on large, mission critical National Security priorities related to existing programs, recent program awards and significant high-probability pipeline opportunities; (ii) to finance important customer and program targeted acquisitions; (iii) and for general corporate purposes.
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*Analyst certification and important disclosures included in the full report. NOTE: investment decisions should not be based upon the content of this research summary. Proper due diligence is required before making any investment decision.
Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. (NASDAQ:KTOS) develops and fields transformative, affordable technology, platforms, and systems for United States National Security related customers, allies, and commercial enterprises. Kratos is changing the way breakthrough technologies for these industries are rapidly brought to market through proven commercial and venture capital backed approaches, including proactive research, and streamlined development processes. At Kratos, affordability is a technology, and we specialize in unmanned systems, satellite communications, cyber security/warfare, microwave electronics, missile defense, hypersonic systems, training and combat systems and next generation turbo jet and turbo fan engine development. For more information go to www.kratosdefense.com.
Joe Gomes, CFA, Managing Director, Equity Research Analyst, Generalist , Noble Capital Markets, Inc.
Hans Baldau, Associate Analyst, Noble Capital Markets, Inc.
Refer to the full report for the price target, fundamental analysis, and rating.
New Award. Kratos was awarded a $25 million task order under the Command and Control System-Consolidated Sustainment and Resiliency contract with the U.S. Space Force Space Systems Command to support ground system capabilities for Evolved Strategic Satellite Communications (ESS). The ESS system will provide the survivable and endurable satellite communications capability for the Nuclear Command, Control, and Communications mission in all operational environments.
Details. The task order has a 34-month period of performance, which began on March 14th and will conclude on November 30, 2027. This was accomplished under the C-SAR single-award indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract awarded to Kratos on November 15, 2023. The C-SAR IDIQ contract has a maximum value of $579 million to cover task/delivery orders to support operations, sustainment, enhancements, and constellation capacity.
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*Analyst certification and important disclosures included in the full report. NOTE: investment decisions should not be based upon the content of this research summary. Proper due diligence is required before making any investment decision.
Key Points: – Small-cap defense companies operate in specialized sectors with higher agility and acquisition potential compared to mega-cap contractors – Cybersecurity, drone systems, and advanced materials offer the strongest growth opportunities in current geopolitical climate – Market volatility creates entry opportunities before institutional recognition drives valuations higher
While major defense contractors like Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman capture headlines during geopolitical tensions, astute small-cap investors should turn their attention to the lesser-known defense players positioned to benefit from increased military spending and technological innovation. Small-cap defense companies often operate in specialized niches that make them indispensable to larger prime contractors and government agencies, and unlike their mega-cap counterparts, these firms can pivot quickly to emerging threats and technologies, making them attractive acquisition targets or compelling long-term growth stories.
The current geopolitical climate, highlighted by recent Middle East tensions and ongoing global conflicts, has created a sustained tailwind for defense spending. President Trump’s pledge of a $1 trillion defense budget, while potentially falling short in fiscal 2026, signals a multi-year commitment to military modernization that extends far beyond traditional weapons systems. This environment particularly benefits small-cap companies specializing in cybersecurity and electronic warfare, where firms focusing on cyber defense, electronic countermeasures, and signal intelligence are experiencing unprecedented demand. These companies often possess proprietary technologies that are difficult to replicate and command premium margins, creating substantial competitive advantages.
The drone revolution presents another compelling opportunity, extending beyond consumer applications into military reconnaissance, logistics, and combat operations. Small-cap manufacturers of specialized UAV components, software, and support systems are capturing market share from traditional aerospace giants, while companies developing next-generation materials for armor, stealth applications, and extreme environment operations often fly under the radar while generating substantial returns for early investors.
When evaluating small-cap defense opportunities, successful investors focus on companies with government contract diversification across multiple agencies and international allies to reduce single-customer risk. The most attractive investments typically feature proprietary technology through patents and specialized expertise that create competitive moats justifying premium valuations. Experienced management teams with deep defense industry connections and security clearances consistently accelerate contract wins, while financial discipline demonstrated through strong balance sheets and consistent cash flow generation proves crucial despite the lumpy nature of contract timing.
Small-cap defense investing requires careful risk assessment, as government budget cycles, security clearance requirements, and regulatory compliance create unique challenges. However, companies that successfully navigate these hurdles often enjoy sustained competitive advantages and multi-year revenue visibility that reward patient investors. The current environment of elevated geopolitical tensions, combined with technological disruption in warfare, creates an ideal backdrop for small-cap defense investments. While large-cap names grab immediate attention during crisis periods, the real long-term value creation often occurs in the innovative small companies that power the next generation of military capabilities. Smart investors should use market volatility as an opportunity to build positions in quality small-cap defense names before institutional recognition drives valuations higher.
CoreCivic is a diversified, government-solutions company with the scale and experience needed to solve tough government challenges in flexible, cost-effective ways. We provide a broad range of solutions to government partners that serve the public good through high-quality corrections and detention management, a network of residential and non-residential alternatives to incarceration to help address America’s recidivism crisis, and government real estate solutions. We are the nation’s largest owner of partnership correctional, detention and residential reentry facilities, and believe we are the largest private owner of real estate used by government agencies in the United States. We have been a flexible and dependable partner for government for nearly 40 years. Our employees are driven by a deep sense of service, high standards of professionalism and a responsibility to help government better the public good. Learn more at www.corecivic.com.
Joe Gomes, CFA, Managing Director, Equity Research Analyst, Generalist , Noble Capital Markets, Inc.
Refer to the full report for the price target, fundamental analysis, and rating.
Acquisition. CoreCivic is expanding its Safety Segment with the proposed acquisition of The Farmville Detention Center in Farmville, Virginia, about 60 miles west of Richmond. Constructed in 2010, Farmville is a 736-bed facility that provides transportation, care, and civil detention services to adult male noncitizens through an Intergovernmental Service Agreement between Prince Edward County, Virginia, and U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement (“ICE”), which expires in March 2029.
Details. CoreCivic is paying $67 million for Farmville, or about $91,000 per bed. The transaction is expected to be funded with cash on hand and borrowings under the Company’s revolving credit facility. The acquisition is expected to close effective July 1st and will add approximately $40 million of incremental revenue on an annual basis. Using the Safety segment’s average 2024 operating margin, Farmville could add nearly $10 million of segment operating income on an annual basis.
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The GEO Group, Inc. (NYSE: GEO) is a leading diversified government service provider, specializing in design, financing, development, and support services for secure facilities, processing centers, and community reentry centers in the United States, Australia, South Africa, and the United Kingdom. GEO’s diversified services include enhanced in-custody rehabilitation and post-release support through the award-winning GEO Continuum of Care®, secure transportation, electronic monitoring, community-based programs, and correctional health and mental health care. GEO’s worldwide operations include the ownership and/or delivery of support services for 103 facilities totaling approximately 83,000 beds, including idle facilities and projects under development, with a workforce of up to approximately 18,000 employees.
Joe Gomes, CFA, Managing Director, Equity Research Analyst, Generalist , Noble Capital Markets, Inc.
Refer to the full report for the price target, fundamental analysis, and rating.
Lawton Sale. The GEO Group announced it has entered into a purchase agreement to sell its Company-owned Lawton, OK, facility to the Oklahoma Department of Corrections for $312 million. This is one of two facilities GEO management had indicated were up for sale. The sale is expected to close by the end of July 2025.
Value Affirming. The Lawton sale re-affirms our belief in the value of GEO’s real estate assets, a value that significantly exceeds the current stock price. Based on the reported 2,682 beds, the purchase price is equivalent to $116,000/bd. With some 43,000 owned beds in the Safety segment alone, the potential value of the segment real estate would be $5 billion. We do not expect the sale to have a significant impact on reported EBITDA.
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*Analyst certification and important disclosures included in the full report. NOTE: investment decisions should not be based upon the content of this research summary. Proper due diligence is required before making any investment decision.
SAN DIEGO, June 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. (Nasdaq: KTOS), a Technology Company in the Defense, National Security and Global Markets, and GE Aerospace (NYSE: GE) today announced a formal teaming agreement to advance propulsion technologies for the next generation of affordable unmanned aerial systems and Collaborative Combat Aircraft-type (CCA-type) aircraft.
Eric DeMarco, President and CEO of Kratos, said, “Kratos’ strategically important Teaming Agreement with GE Aerospace continues to rapidly advance and expand, with the GEK family of engines targeting certain of the most important, mission critical and highest priority needs and requirements of United States National Security. At Kratos, affordability is a technology and delivering more capability for less cost as quickly as possible are key contributions we are bringing for truly industry leading GEK offerings with our partner and global leader GE Aerospace.”
“The formalization of this teaming agreement and initiation of development of these new engines mark another step forward in our dedication to providing affordable, adaptable, high-performance propulsion systems for the future force,” said Amy Gowder, President and CEO of Defense & Systems at GE Aerospace. “We’re thrilled to continue our collaboration with Kratos and accelerate development across various classes of unmanned systems.”
This collaboration strengthens Kratos’ ongoing partnership with GE Aerospace – building on last year’s Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to advance the development and production of small, cost-effective engines for unmanned platforms. The new teaming agreement expands on that MOU and provides the framework for the two companies to develop, manufacture, test, and field the GEK800 Engine, as well as collaborate on other low-cost expendable turbofan engines.
In addition to the joint work on the GEK800, the companies have commenced work on another new engine, the GEK1500. The engines under development support unmanned aerial systems (UAS), collaborative combat aircraft, and similar applications, positioning Kratos and GE Aerospace to offer affordable mass propulsion solutions across a range of next-generation defense applications for the Department of Defense.
Kratos brings more than 20 years of experience developing and producing small, affordable engines for UAS, drones, and missile platforms. GE Aerospace adds a century of expertise in propulsion technology and the ability to scale advanced designs into high-rate production —helping bridge the gap from prototype to deployment.
About Kratos Defense & Security Solutions Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. (NASDAQ: KTOS) is a technology, products, system and software company addressing the defense, national security, and commercial markets. Kratos makes true internally funded research, development, capital and other investments, to rapidly develop, produce and field solutions that address our customers’ mission critical needs and requirements. At Kratos, affordability is a technology, and we seek to utilize proven, leading edge approaches and technology, not unproven bleeding edge approaches or technology, with Kratos’ approach designed to reduce cost, schedule and risk, enabling us to be first to market with cost effective solutions. We believe that Kratos is known as an innovative disruptive change agent in the industry, a company that is an expert in designing products and systems up front for successful rapid, large quantity, low-cost future manufacturing which is a value add competitive differentiator for our large traditional prime system integrator partners and also to our government and commercial customers. Kratos intends to pursue program and contract opportunities as the prime or lead contractor when we believe that our probability of win (PWin) is high and any investment required by Kratos is within our capital resource comfort level. We intend to partner and team with a large, traditional system integrator when our assessment of PWin is greater or required investment is beyond Kratos’ comfort level. Kratos’ primary business areas include virtualized ground systems for satellites and space vehicles including software for command & control (C2) and telemetry, tracking and control (TT&C), jet powered unmanned aerial drone systems, advanced vehicles and rocket systems, propulsion systems for drones, missiles, loitering munitions, supersonic systems, space craft and launch systems, C5ISR and microwave electronic products for missile, radar, missile defense, space, satellite, counter UAS, directed energy, communication and other systems, and virtual & augmented reality training systems for the warfighter. For more information, visit www.KratosDefense.com.
About GE Aerospace GE Aerospace is a global aerospace propulsion, services, and systems leader with an installed base of approximately 45,000 commercial and 25,000 military aircraft engines. With a global team of approximately 53,000 employees building on more than a century of innovation and learning, GE Aerospace is committed to inventing the future of flight, lifting people up, and bringing them home safely. Learn more about how GE Aerospace and its partners are defining flight for today, tomorrow, and the future at www.geaerospace.com.
Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements in this press release may constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are made on the basis of the current beliefs, expectations and assumptions of the management of Kratos and are subject to significant risks and uncertainty. Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements. All such forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and Kratos undertakes no obligation to update or revise these statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Although Kratos believes that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, these statements involve many risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from what may be expressed or implied in these forward-looking statements. For a further discussion of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from those expressed in these forward-looking statements, as well as risks relating to the business of Kratos in general, see the risk disclosures in the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Kratos for the year ended December 29, 2024, and in subsequent reports on Forms 10-Q and 8-K and other filings made with the SEC by Kratos.
