The end of the earnings season is always a good time to take a step back and see who shined (and who didn’t). Let’s take a look at how safety & security services stocks fared in Q1, starting with Motorola Solutions (NYSE: MSI).

Rising concerns over physical security, cybersecurity threats, and workplace safety regulations will present opportunities for companies in this sector. AI and digitization will enhance surveillance, access control, and threat detection, which could benefit key players in Safety & Security Services. These trends could also introduce ethical and regulatory concerns over data privacy and automated decision-making in security operations, giving rise to headline risks. Finally, increasing scrutiny on private security practices and evolving criminal justice policies again mean that companies in the space need to operate with the utmost care or risk being the poster child of abuse of power.

The 6 safety & security services stocks we track reported a very strong Q1. As a group, revenues beat analysts’ consensus estimates by 2.5% while next quarter’s revenue guidance was in line.

Luckily, safety & security services stocks have performed well with share prices up 12.3% on average since the latest earnings results.

Weakest Q1: Motorola Solutions (NYSE: MSI)

Born from the company that invented the first portable handheld police radio in 1940, Motorola Solutions (NYSE: MSI) provides mission-critical communications, video security, and command center software solutions for public safety agencies and enterprise customers.

Motorola Solutions reported revenues of $2.71 billion, up 7.4% year on year. This print exceeded analysts’ expectations by 0.6%. Overall, it was a satisfactory quarter for the company with a beat of analysts’ EPS estimates but EPS guidance for next quarter in line with analysts’ estimates.

Motorola Solutions delivered the weakest performance against analyst estimates, slowest revenue growth, and weakest full-year guidance update of the whole group. Even though it had a relatively good quarter, the market seems discontent with the results. The stock is down 5.3% since reporting and currently trades at $410.35.

Is now the time to buy Motorola Solutions? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free.

Best Q1: Brady (NYSE: BRC)

Founded in 1914 and evolving through more than a century of industrial innovation, Brady (NYSE: BRC) manufactures and supplies identification solutions and workplace safety products that help companies identify and protect their premises, products, and people.

Brady reported revenues of $435.2 million, up 13.8% year on year, outperforming analysts’ expectations by 7.2%. The business had a stunning quarter with an impressive beat of analysts’ revenue estimates and a solid beat of analysts’ full-year EPS guidance estimates.

Brady delivered the biggest analyst estimate beat among its peers. The market seems happy with the results as the stock is up 9.5% since reporting. It currently trades at $77.74.

Is now the time to buy Brady? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free.

CoreCivic (NYSE: CXW)

Originally founded in 1983 as the first private prison company in the United States, CoreCivic (NYSE: CXW) operates correctional facilities, detention centers, and residential reentry programs for government agencies across the United States.

CoreCivic reported revenues of $614.7 million, up 25.8% year on year, exceeding analysts’ expectations by 1.9%. It may have had the worst quarter among its peers, but its results were still good as it also locked in a beat of analysts’ EPS estimates and a decent beat of analysts’ revenue estimates.

Interestingly, the stock is up 24.8% since the results and currently trades at $26.43.

Read our full analysis of CoreCivic’s results here.

MSA Safety (NYSE: MSA)

Founded in 1914 as Mine Safety Appliances to protect coal miners from dangerous gases, MSA Safety (NYSE: MSA) designs and manufactures advanced safety products that protect workers and facilities across industries including fire service, energy, construction, and manufacturing.

MSA Safety reported revenues of $463.6 million, up 10% year on year. This print beat analysts’ expectations by 2.7%. It was a very strong quarter as it also recorded a beat of analysts’ EPS and revenue estimates.

The stock is down 5.4% since reporting and currently trades at $156.33.

Read our full, actionable report on MSA Safety here, it’s free.

GEO Group (NYSE: GEO)

With a global footprint spanning three continents and approximately 81,000 beds across 100 facilities, GEO Group (NYSE: GEO) operates secure facilities, processing centers, and reentry services for government agencies in the United States, Australia, and South Africa.

GEO Group reported revenues of $705.2 million, up 16.6% year on year. This result surpassed analysts’ expectations by 1.8%. Overall, it was a strong quarter as it also produced a beat of analysts’ EPS estimates.

GEO Group achieved the highest full-year guidance raise among its peers. The stock is up 53.1% since reporting and currently trades at $28.10.

Read our full, actionable report on GEO Group here, it’s free.

Market Update

Late in 2025 into early 2026, there was hand-wringing around artificial intelligence. For software companies, the fear was that AI would erode pricing power and compress margins as new tools made it easier to replicate what once required expensive enterprise platforms. Crypto investors had their own version of the same anxiety: if AI agents could trade, allocate capital, and manage wallets autonomously, what exactly was the long-term value of today’s crypto infrastructure?

These concerns triggered a noticeable rotation away from these sectors and into safer havens. But markets rarely dwell on one narrative for long. Spring 2026 came, and the focus shifted abruptly from technological disruption to geopolitical risk. The US’ conflict with Iran became the dominant driver of market psychology, and when geopolitics takes center stage, the script changes quickly. Investors stop debating growth rates and start worrying about oil supply, inflation, and global stability.

Want to invest in winners with rock-solid fundamentals? Check out our Top 6 Stocks and add them to your watchlist. These companies are poised for growth regardless of the political or macroeconomic climate.