Contrasting CoreCivic (NYSE:CXW) and Ryman Hospitality Properties (NYSE:RHP)

CoreCivic (NYSE:CXW) and Ryman Hospitality Properties (NYSE:RHP) are both mid-cap finance companies, but which is the better stock? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their valuation, risk, earnings, institutional ownership, analyst recommendations, profitability and dividends.

Volatility and Risk

CoreCivic has a beta of 0.68, suggesting that its stock price is 32% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Ryman Hospitality Properties has a beta of 1.22, suggesting that its stock price is 22% more volatile than the S&P 500.

Profitability

This table compares CoreCivic and Ryman Hospitality Properties’ net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
CoreCivic	5.53%	9.29%	4.17%
Ryman Hospitality Properties	9.45%	31.36%	4.07%

Earnings and Valuation

This table compares CoreCivic and Ryman Hospitality Properties”s top-line revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
CoreCivic	$2.21 billion	0.93	$116.50 million	$1.23	16.86
Ryman Hospitality Properties	$2.58 billion	2.56	$243.43 million	$3.79	27.58

Ryman Hospitality Properties has higher revenue and earnings than CoreCivic. CoreCivic is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Ryman Hospitality Properties, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Institutional and Insider Ownership

85.1% of CoreCivic shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 94.5% of Ryman Hospitality Properties shares are owned by institutional investors. 1.8% of CoreCivic shares are owned by insiders. Comparatively, 3.2% of Ryman Hospitality Properties shares are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, large money managers and endowments believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.

Analyst Ratings

This is a summary of current recommendations and price targets for CoreCivic and Ryman Hospitality Properties, as provided by MarketBeat.com.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
CoreCivic	0	1	3	0	2.75
Ryman Hospitality Properties	0	1	9	0	2.90

CoreCivic currently has a consensus target price of $32.00, suggesting a potential upside of 54.34%. Ryman Hospitality Properties has a consensus target price of $117.56, suggesting a potential upside of 12.46%. Given CoreCivic’s higher probable upside, equities analysts plainly believe CoreCivic is more favorable than Ryman Hospitality Properties.

Summary

Ryman Hospitality Properties beats CoreCivic on 12 of the 14 factors compared between the two stocks.

About CoreCivic

CoreCivic, Inc. owns and operates partnership correctional, detention, and residential reentry facilities in the United States. It operates through three segments: CoreCivic Safety, CoreCivic Community, and CoreCivic Properties. The company provides a range of solutions to government partners that serve the public good through corrections and detention management, a network of residential reentry centers to help address America’s recidivism crisis, and government real estate solutions. Its correctional, detention, and residential reentry facilities offer rehabilitation and educational programs, including basic education, faith-based services, life skills and employment training, and substance abuse treatment. The company owns and operates correctional and detention facilities, residential reentry centers, and properties for lease. CoreCivic, Inc. was founded in 1983 and is based in Brentwood, Tennessee.

About Ryman Hospitality Properties

Ryman Hospitality Properties, Inc. (NYSE: RHP) is a leading lodging and hospitality real estate investment trust that specializes in upscale convention center resorts and entertainment experiences. The Company's holdings include Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center; Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center; Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center; Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center; and Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center, five of the top seven largest non-gaming convention center hotels in the United States based on total indoor meeting space. The Company also owns the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa as well as two ancillary hotels adjacent to our Gaylord Hotels properties. The Company's hotel portfolio is managed by Marriott International and includes a combined total of 11,414 rooms as well as more than 3 million square feet of total indoor and outdoor meeting space in top convention and leisure destinations across the country. RHP also owns a 70% controlling ownership interest in Opry Entertainment Group (OEG), which is composed of entities owning a growing collection of iconic and emerging country music brands, including the Grand Ole Opry, Ryman Auditorium, WSM 650 AM, Ole Red, Nashville-area attractions, and Block 21, a mixed-use entertainment, lodging, office and retail complex, including the W Austin Hotel and the ACL Live at the Moody Theater, located in downtown Austin, Texas. RHP operates OEG as its Entertainment segment in a taxable REIT subsidiary, and its results are consolidated in the Company's financial results.