Acadia Healthcare Company, Inc. (ACHC) AI Stock Analysis

NASDAQ: ACHCAI research summary: business, growth, valuation, analysts, bull and bear case.

ACHC AI stock analysis summary

AI Research

Acadia Healthcare Company, Inc. (ACHC) is a behavioral healthcare provider operating across the United States and Puerto Rico. The company has grown revenue at a 5-year CAGR of 9.7% to $3.31B in FY2025, but reported a net income loss of -$1.10B that year. Its balance sheet shows $2.56B in total debt against $171.3M in cash as of June 30, 2026.

Market cap
$2.79B
Revenue (TTM)
$3.37B
P/E
—
fwd 15.2x
1Y return
21.2%
S&P 500 16.8%
Avg. target
$33.79
12.7% vs last close

Bull case

  • Revenue increased at a 5-year CAGR of 9.7% through FY2025, with analyst estimates projecting revenue to reach $3.63B next fiscal year.
  • The stock trades at a discount to US-listed Healthcare peers with an EV/EBITDA of 9.5x and forward P/E of 15.2x compared to peer medians of 12.0x and 17.3x.
  • Analysts maintain a positive outlook with 8 Buy or Strong Buy ratings and a mean price target of $33.79, reflecting 12.7% upside.

Bear case

  • Net income dropped to -$1.10B in FY2025, and trailing twelve months profit margin stood at -33.4%.
  • Free cash flow was negative at -$439.9M in FY2025 following -$560.7M in FY2024, weighed down by $571.8M in capital expenditures.
  • Short interest represents 37.6% of the float, reflecting significant negative positioning among market participants.

What Acadia Healthcare does

Acadia Healthcare Company, Inc. delivers comprehensive behavioral healthcare services across the United States and Puerto Rico. Specializing in a wide range of mental health treatments, Acadia operates through various settings such as inpatient psychiatric facilities, specialty treatment facilities, residential treatment centers, eating disorder facilities, and outpatient clinics. These diverse care environments allow Acadia to address the unique needs of each patient, providing personalized and effective treatment plans. Founded in 2005 and headquartered in Franklin, Tennessee, the company operates a network of facilities supported by a team of experienced professionals, including psychiatrists, psychologists, nurses, and therapists delivering evidence-based care.

Growth and profitability

Acadia Healthcare grew annual revenue from $2.31B in FY2021 to $3.31B in FY2025, reflecting a 5-year revenue CAGR of 9.7%. However, gross margin compressed from 96.1% in FY2021 to 17.6% in FY2025, while operating margin fell from 17.9% to 11.7%. Net income swung from $190.6M in FY2021 to -$1.10B in FY2025, resulting in a net margin of -33.3%. For the trailing twelve months, revenue reached $3.37B with an operating margin of 10.1% and diluted EPS of -$12.42. In the latest quarter ended June 30, 2026, quarterly revenue fell 0.4% year-over-year, while quarterly earnings dropped 63.6%.

ACHC income statement →

Balance sheet and cash flow

As of June 30, 2026, Acadia Healthcare held $171.3M in cash and short-term investments compared to $2.56B in total debt, bringing net debt to $2.39B. The company closed the quarter with a current ratio of 1.57 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.30 on shareholders' equity of $1.98B. In FY2025, operating cash flow stood at $131.9M while capital expenditures of $571.8M resulted in free cash flow of -$439.9M. During that fiscal year, Acadia spent $50.0M on share buybacks, and its share count rose 0.4% over 5 years.

ACHC balance sheet →

Valuation and performance

ACHC trades at a forward P/E of 15.2x, below the 17.3x forward P/E median of its US-listed Healthcare peers. Its enterprise value stands at $5.05B with an EV/EBITDA of 9.5x, compared to the peer median of 12.0x, and its price-to-sales multiple is 0.8x against the peer group median of 4.1x. Over the past year, the stock returned 21.2%, outperforming the S&P 500 (SPY) return of 16.8%. However, its 5-year return of -47.3% trails the S&P 500 return of 83.0%.

ACHC key metrics →

What analysts expect

Wall Street coverage includes 6 Strong Buy, 2 Buy, 5 Hold, 1 Sell, and 0 Strong Sell ratings. The mean price target of $33.79 represents a 12.7% upside over the October 16, 2026 closing price of $29.98. For the fiscal year ending December 31, 2026, consensus estimates project EPS of $1.55 on revenue of $3.43B. For the following fiscal year, 13 analysts project EPS of $1.85 on revenue of $3.63B. Acadia has beaten EPS estimates in 3 of the last 4 quarters, and its next earnings report is scheduled for November 4, 2026.

ACHC forecast and price target →

Key risks and what to watch

  • Total debt of $2.56B substantially exceeds cash of $171.3M, leaving net debt at $2.39B.
  • In the latest quarter ended June 30, 2026, quarterly earnings fell 63.6% and quarterly revenue declined 0.4% year-over-year.
  • Operating margin has contracted steadily from 17.9% in FY2021 to 11.7% in FY2025 and 10.1% over the trailing twelve months.
  • A high short interest of 37.6% of the float indicates elevated market skepticism.

AI-generated research summary. Written with AI from Quotelinks data as of October 16, 2026 and checked so every figure matches that data. For information only, not investment advice. Disclaimer

About this ACHC AI stock analysis

This page is an AI-written research summary of Acadia Healthcare Company, Inc. (ACHC). The text was generated on October 30, 2026 from Quotelinks data as of October 16, 2026 (company profile, annual results, latest balance sheet, valuation, price performance and analyst estimates). An automatic check rejects any draft that contains a figure not found in that data. It is not investment advice; verify figures on the linked tabs before making decisions.

Related: ACHC income statement, ACHC balance sheet, ACHC key metrics, ACHC analyst forecast, ACHC chart. See the ACHC stock overview for the latest quote and news.

ACHC AI stock analysis FAQ

What is Acadia Healthcare's current valuation compared to its peers?

ACHC trades at a forward P/E of 15.2x and an EV/EBITDA of 9.5x. Both figures are lower than the median of its US-listed Healthcare peers, which stand at 17.3x and 12.0x, respectively.

Does Acadia Healthcare pay a dividend?

Acadia Healthcare does not pay a dividend. Capital allocation in FY2025 was focused on $571.8M in capital expenditures and $50.0M in share buybacks.

How much debt does Acadia Healthcare carry?

As of June 30, 2026, Acadia had $2.56B in total debt and $171.3M in cash and short-term investments, resulting in net debt of $2.39B and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.30.

When is Acadia Healthcare's next earnings date?

The company's next earnings report is scheduled for November 4, 2026.

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