LifeStance Health Group, Inc. (LFST) AI Stock Analysis
LFST AI stock analysis summary
AI ResearchLifeStance Health Group, Inc. (LFST) is an outpatient mental health healthcare provider offering in-person and virtual clinical services across 32 states. The company achieved full-year profitability in FY2025 with net income of $9.7M on revenue of $1.42B. Over the trailing twelve months, revenue reached $1.58B with quarterly revenue rising 26.1% year-over-year.
- Market cap
- $4.46B
- Revenue (TTM)
- $1.58B
- P/E
- 90.3x fwd 52.6x
- 1Y return
- 132.9% S&P 500 16.8%
- Avg. target
- $14.40 22.7% vs last close
Bull case
- LifeStance turned profitable in FY2025 with net income of $9.7M and free cash flow of $110.0M.
- Top-line expansion remains solid, demonstrated by a 26.1% year-over-year revenue increase in the latest quarter and a 5-year revenue CAGR of 30.4%.
- Analyst sentiment is favorable with 9 Buy or Strong Buy ratings and a mean price target of $14.40, indicating 22.7% upside potential.
Bear case
- Valuation multiples are elevated, with a trailing P/E of 90.3x and an EV to EBITDA of 36.7x compared to US-listed Healthcare peer medians of 24.6x and 12.0x.
- Long-term performance has lagged the broader market, as LFST produced a 5-year return of 2.1% compared to 83.0% for the S&P 500.
- Shareholder dilution has occurred over time, with the 5-year share count increasing by 14.2%.
What LifeStance Health does
LifeStance Health Group, Inc., operating through its subsidiaries, specializes in providing comprehensive outpatient mental health services across 32 states. The company offers psychiatric evaluations, treatment options, psychological and neuropsychological testing, as well as individual, family, and group therapy sessions. Its holistic approach addresses conditions such as anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, eating disorders, psychotic disorders, and post-traumatic stress disorder. LifeStance provides care both virtually through an online delivery platform and in-person at its centers, serving children, adolescents, adults, and geriatric patients. Founded in 2017 and headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona, the company employs 8,542 people.
Growth and profitability
LifeStance delivered a 5-year revenue CAGR of 30.4% from FY2020 to FY2025. Annual revenue grew from $667.5M in FY2021 to $859.5M in FY2022, $1.06B in FY2023, $1.25B in FY2024, and $1.42B in FY2025. Operating margin improved from -42.9% in FY2021 to 1.7% in FY2025, while gross margin expanded from 30.2% to 32.4%. After reporting net losses of -$307.2M in FY2021, -$215.6M in FY2022, -$186.3M in FY2023, and -$57.4M in FY2024, net income turned positive at $9.7M with EPS of $0.14 in FY2025. For the trailing twelve months ended June 30, 2026, revenue totaled $1.58B with a 7.2% operating margin, supported by latest quarter revenue growth of 26.1% and quarterly earnings growth of 1927.5%.
Balance sheet and cash flow
As of June 30, 2026, LifeStance held $225.9M in cash and short-term investments alongside total debt of $200.7M, resulting in net cash of $25.3M. The company reported a current ratio of 1.38, total assets of $2.18B, shareholders' equity of $1.48B, and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.14. Operating cash flow grew to $146.2M in FY2025, generating free cash flow of $110.0M after capital expenditures of $36.1M. Over five years, the company's share count expanded by 14.2%.
Valuation and performance
At a market capitalization of $4.46B and an enterprise value of $4.83B, LifeStance trades at a trailing P/E of 90.3x and a forward P/E of 52.6x, compared to medians of 24.6x and 17.3x for its US-listed Healthcare peers. Its EV to EBITDA ratio is 36.7x versus the peer median of 12.0x, while its price-to-sales ratio of 2.8x sits below the peer median of 4.1x. Over the past year, LFST stock returned 132.9%, outperforming the S&P 500 return of 16.8%, though its 5-year return of 2.1% trails the index return of 83.0%.
What analysts expect
Wall Street coverage consists of 7 Strong Buy, 2 Buy, and 2 Hold recommendations, with zero Sell or Strong Sell ratings. The mean price target of $14.40 implies an upside of 22.7% relative to the last close of $11.74. For the current fiscal year ending December 31, 2026, analysts estimate EPS of $0.36 on revenue of $1.71B. For the next fiscal year, 5 analysts expect EPS of $0.43 on revenue of $1.96B. The company beat EPS estimates in 3 of the last 4 quarters, with the next earnings date scheduled for November 5, 2026.
Key risks and what to watch
- The company maintains high valuation multiples, including a forward P/E of 52.6x against a peer median of 17.3x, leaving little room for operational misses.
- With short interest at 8.5% of float, the stock remains vulnerable to short-selling pressures and sentiment shifts.
- Stock price volatility is heightened given a beta of 1.24 and a 52-week trading range spanning from $4.77 to $13.56.
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 LFST AI stock analysis
This page is an AI-written research summary of LifeStance Health Group, Inc. (LFST). 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: LFST income statement, LFST balance sheet, LFST key metrics, LFST analyst forecast, LFST chart. See the LFST stock overview for the latest quote and news.
LFST AI stock analysis FAQ
Does LifeStance Health Group pay a dividend?
No, LifeStance does not pay a dividend, reinvesting capital into operations and reporting capital expenditures of $36.1M in FY2025.
What is LifeStance's net cash position?
As of June 30, 2026, LifeStance held $225.9M in cash and short-term investments and $200.7M in total debt, yielding a net cash position of $25.3M.
How fast is LifeStance growing revenue?
LifeStance recorded a 5-year revenue CAGR of 30.4% through FY2025, and revenue grew 26.1% year-over-year in the quarter ended June 30, 2026.
What are analysts forecasting for LifeStance in FY2026?
Analysts forecast revenue of $1.71B and EPS of $0.36 for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2026, representing an estimated 97.1% EPS growth.