Acadia Healthcare (ACHC) AI Stock Analysis

• Market Cap: $1.58B
• Dividend Yield: N/A
• Average Volume (3M): 2.57M
• Price to Earnings (P/E): 14.5
• Beta (1Y): 0.94
• Revenue Growth: 4.58%
• EPS Growth: -61.50%
• Country: US
• Employees: 25,500
• Sector: Healthcare
• Sector Strength: 45
• Industry: Medical - Care Facilities
• EPS (TTM): 0.72
• Shares Outstanding: 92,258,160
• 10 Day Avg. Volume: 2,973,049
• 30 Day Avg. Volume: 2,569,499
• PEG Ratio: -0.01
• Price to Book (P/B): 1.18
• Price to Sales (P/S): 1.15
• P/FCF Ratio: -6.48
• Enterprise Value/Market Cap: 2.98
• Enterprise Value/Revenue: 1.45
• Enterprise Value/Gross Profit: 1.78
• Enterprise Value/Ebitda: 10.34
• 1Y Price Target: $25.56
• Price Target Upside: 49.04% Upside
• Rating Consensus: Moderate Buy
• Number of Analyst Covering: 10
• EPS Forecast (FY): 2.37
• Revenue Forecast (FY): $3.30B

• Rating: 62 Neutral
• Price Target: $18.00 ▲(4.96% Upside)

Acadia Healthcare's overall stock score reflects a balance of strong revenue growth and operational efficiency against challenges in profitability and leverage. The bearish technical indicators and mixed earnings call sentiment further temper the outlook. While valuation is reasonable, the lack of a dividend yield and strategic challenges in Medicaid volumes and expenses are concerns.

Positive Factors

Revenue Growth

Consistent revenue growth indicates strong demand for Acadia's services and effective market penetration, supporting long-term business expansion.

Bed Expansion

Expanding capacity with new beds positions Acadia to meet growing demand, enhancing its market presence and revenue potential.

Improvement in Employee Retention

Improved employee retention suggests a stable workforce, reducing costs associated with turnover and ensuring consistent service quality.

Negative Factors

Reduction in EBITDA Guidance

Lowered EBITDA guidance reflects financial pressures that could impact profitability, challenging Acadia's ability to meet investor expectations.

Softness in Medicaid Volumes

Declining Medicaid volumes suggest potential revenue headwinds, as government reimbursements are a significant part of Acadia's income.

Increased Expenses and Bad Debt

Rising expenses and bad debt can erode margins, reducing financial flexibility and impacting long-term profitability.

Acadia Healthcare Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company Description

Acadia Healthcare Company, Inc. provides behavioral healthcare services in the United States and Puerto Rico. The company offers behavioral healthcare services to its patients in various settings, including inpatient psychiatric hospitals, specialty treatment facilities, residential treatment centers, and outpatient clinics. As of March 31, 2022, it operated a network of 238 behavioral healthcare facilities with approximately 10,600 beds. The company was founded in 2005 and is headquartered in Franklin, Tennessee.

How the Company Makes Money

Acadia Healthcare generates revenue primarily through the provision of its healthcare services, which are reimbursed by a combination of private insurance, government programs such as Medicaid and Medicare, and out-of-pocket payments from patients. The company operates on a fee-for-service model, where it bills insurers and patients for the treatments and services provided. Key revenue streams include inpatient admissions, outpatient services, and residential treatment programs. Acadia also benefits from partnerships with hospitals and health systems that refer patients to its facilities. Additionally, the company may engage in strategic acquisitions of other healthcare facilities to expand its service offerings and increase its market presence, further contributing to its earnings.

Acadia Healthcare Financial Statement Overview

Summary

Acadia Healthcare demonstrates strong revenue growth and improved gross profit margins, reflecting operational efficiency. However, declining net profit margins and increased leverage pose potential risks. While cash flow management shows improvement, the alignment between cash generation and profitability needs attention. Overall, the company is on a positive growth trajectory but must address profitability and leverage concerns to sustain long-term financial health.

Income Statement

Acadia Healthcare shows strong revenue growth with a TTM increase of 11.3%, indicating a positive trajectory. The gross profit margin improved significantly to 81.2% in the TTM, suggesting enhanced operational efficiency. However, the net profit margin decreased to 4.3% from 8.1% in the previous year, reflecting challenges in controlling costs or other expenses. The EBIT and EBITDA margins also declined, indicating potential pressure on profitability.

Balance Sheet

The company's debt-to-equity ratio increased to 0.78 in the TTM, reflecting higher leverage, which could pose a risk if not managed carefully. Return on equity decreased to 4.6%, suggesting reduced efficiency in generating profits from shareholders' equity. However, the equity ratio remains stable, indicating a balanced asset structure.

Cash Flow

Acadia Healthcare's free cash flow growth rate improved dramatically to 322.8% in the TTM, indicating better cash management. However, the operating cash flow to net income ratio is 0.81, suggesting that cash generation is not fully aligned with reported profits. The free cash flow to net income ratio is low at 0.07, indicating limited cash conversion from profits.

Breakdown	TTM	Dec 2024	Dec 2023	Dec 2022	Dec 2021	Dec 2020
Income Statement
Total Revenue	3.27B	3.15B	2.93B	2.61B	2.31B	2.09B
Gross Profit	2.66B	711.98M	682.61M	2.51B	2.22B	2.00B
EBITDA	456.57M	607.84M	189.11M	561.67M	459.47M	437.16M
Net Income	107.36M	255.61M	-21.67M	273.14M	190.63M	-672.13M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets	6.41B	5.96B	5.36B	4.99B	4.77B	6.50B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments	118.69M	76.31M	100.07M	97.65M	133.81M	378.70M
Total Debt	2.43B	2.09B	1.51B	1.53B	1.64B	3.26B
Total Liabilities	3.12B	2.77B	2.47B	2.09B	2.19B	4.60B
Stockholders Equity	3.12B	3.07B	2.78B	2.81B	2.52B	1.90B
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow	-179.47M	-560.69M	38.21M	84.42M	129.67M	442.19M
Operating Cash Flow	334.89M	129.69M	462.34M	380.57M	374.48M	658.81M
Investing Cash Flow	-667.11M	-736.48M	-397.22M	-305.83M	1.02B	-281.84M
Financing Cash Flow	368.76M	583.02M	-62.70M	-110.90M	-1.64B	-51.50M

Acadia Healthcare Technical Analysis

• Technical Analysis Sentiment: Negative
• Last Price: 17.15
• 50DMA: Negative
• 100DMA: Negative
• 200DMA: Negative
• MACD: Negative
• RSI: Neutral
• STOCH: Neutral

Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For ACHC, the sentiment is Negative. The current price of 17.15 is below the 20-day moving average (MA) of 17.77, below the 50-day MA of 21.67, and below the 200-day MA of 24.34, indicating a bearish trend. The MACD of -1.82 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 40.55 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 64.68 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Negative sentiment for ACHC.

Acadia Healthcare Peers Comparison

Name	Overall Rating	Market Cap	P/E Ratio	ROE	Dividend Yield	Revenue Growth	EPS Growth
NHC	72 Outperform	$2.13B	21.16	9.94%	1.97%	23.74%	-18.99%
SEM	69 Neutral	$1.66B	15.35	5.57%	1.62%	-22.96%	-59.35%
LFST	63 Neutral	$2.55B	-275.63	-0.62%	―	13.39%	90.55%
ACHC	62 Neutral	$1.58B	14.55	3.49%	―	4.58%	-61.50%
BKD	57 Neutral	$2.64B	―	-214.33%	―	3.93%	-42.22%
SGRY	52 Neutral	$2.21B	―	-9.45%	―	10.14%	-182.12%
Sector *	51 Neutral	$7.86B	-0.30	-43.30%	2.27%	22.53%	-2.21%

Acadia Healthcare Corporate Events

Acadia Healthcare Settles $179M Securities Litigation

On November 7, 2025, Acadia Healthcare agreed to settle a securities litigation case in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee, involving the St. Clair County Employees’ Retirement System. The settlement, which amounts to $179 million, will be funded through insurance proceeds, cash on hand, and existing credit lines, and will not impact the company’s adjusted EBITDA or financial guidance. Acadia maintains a strong financial position with significant cash reserves and credit availability, ensuring its capacity for strategic investments.

The most recent analyst rating on (ACHC) stock is a Buy with a $28.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Acadia Healthcare stock, see the ACHC Stock Forecast page.

Acadia Healthcare’s Earnings Call: Mixed Sentiments and Strategic Moves

The recent earnings call for Acadia Healthcare Company, Inc. painted a mixed picture of the company’s current standing and future prospects. While there were positive notes regarding revenue growth and bed expansion, the sentiment was tempered by challenges such as reduced EBITDA guidance, softness in Medicaid volumes, increased expenses, and facility closures.

Acadia Healthcare Reports Q3 Revenue Growth Amid Challenges

Acadia Healthcare Company, Inc. operates as a leading provider of behavioral healthcare services, managing acute inpatient psychiatric facilities, specialty treatment centers, comprehensive treatment centers, and residential treatment centers across the United States and Puerto Rico.

Acadia Healthcare Appoints Todd Young as CFO

Acadia Healthcare Company, Inc. announced the appointment of Todd Young as Chief Financial Officer, effective October 27, 2025. Young, who has previously held CFO roles at Elanco Animal Health and ACADIA Pharmaceuticals, will replace interim CFO Timothy Sides, who will return to his role as Senior Vice President, Operations Finance. The appointment is accompanied by a comprehensive employment agreement detailing Young’s compensation and benefits, including a substantial base salary, potential bonuses, and stock awards, reflecting the company’s commitment to strengthening its financial leadership.

The most recent analyst rating on (ACHC) stock is a Hold with a $25.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Acadia Healthcare stock, see the ACHC Stock Forecast page.

Acadia Healthcare Unveils 2026 Guidance at Jefferies Conference

Acadia Healthcare announced its participation in the Jefferies 2025 Healthcare Services Conference on September 29, 2025, where it provided preliminary guidance for 2026. The company expects a significant reduction in total capital expenditures by at least $300 million compared to 2025 and plans to add 500 to 700 beds in 2026. Additionally, Acadia reported a 1.3% growth in same facility patient days for the third quarter of 2025, indicating a positive trend in patient engagement. These developments suggest a strategic shift towards optimizing operational efficiency and expanding capacity, which could enhance Acadia’s market position and stakeholder value.

The most recent analyst rating on (ACHC) stock is a Hold with a $25.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Acadia Healthcare stock, see the ACHC Stock Forecast page.