Acadia Healthcare's stock surged 24.02% after crossing above the 5-day SMA, following the appointment of Debra K. Osteen as CEO.
The company announced the immediate appointment of Debra Osteen as CEO, succeeding Chris Hunter, which is expected to enhance operational efficiency and strategic direction. Additionally, Acadia reaffirmed its revenue guidance for 2025, projecting between $3.28 billion and $3.30 billion, indicating confidence in future performance despite cautious market sentiment. This leadership change has generated significant optimism among investors, contributing to the stock's impressive rise.
The implications of this leadership transition could be substantial, as Osteen's extensive experience in the healthcare sector may drive Acadia's growth and competitiveness in a challenging market environment.
Wall Street analysts forecast ACHC stock price to rise over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for ACHC is 19.55 USD with a low forecast of 13.00 USD and a high forecast of 27.00 USD. However, analyst price targets are subjective and often lag stock prices, so investors should focus on the objective reasons behind analyst rating changes, which better reflect the company's fundamentals.
11 Analyst Rating
Wall Street analysts forecast ACHC stock price to rise over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for ACHC is 19.55 USD with a low forecast of 13.00 USD and a high forecast of 27.00 USD. However, analyst price targets are subjective and often lag stock prices, so investors should focus on the objective reasons behind analyst rating changes, which better reflect the company's fundamentals.
6 Buy
4 Hold
1 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 13.440
Low
13.00
Averages
19.55
High
27.00
Current: 13.440
Low
13.00
Averages
19.55
High
27.00
Jefferies
Buy
to
Hold
downgrade
$34 -> $15
2026-01-22
Reason
Jefferies
Price Target
$34 -> $15
AI Analysis
2026-01-22
downgrade
Buy
to
Hold
Reason
Jefferies downgraded Acadia Healthcare to Hold from Buy with a price target of $15, down from $34. The company is facing a "broad set of operational and macro related headwinds," the analyst tells investors in a research note. Jefferies sees limited near-term catalysts for Acadia to drive meaningful improvement in investor sentiment or its fundamentals. While the stock's valuation "looks depressed," the shares will remain range-bound over the next 12 months pending evidence of sustained same facility performance improvement, margin expansion, and balance sheet strengthening, contends Jefferies.
TD Cowen
Buy
downgrade
$25 -> $22
2026-01-16
Reason
TD Cowen
Price Target
$25 -> $22
2026-01-16
downgrade
Buy
Reason
TD Cowen lowered the firm's price target on Acadia Healthcare to $22 from $25 and keeps a Buy rating on the shares. The firm updated its model and estimates to reflect its PLGL-related guidance cut.
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Mizuho
Neutral
downgrade
$22 -> $17
2025-12-18
Reason
Mizuho
Price Target
$22 -> $17
2025-12-18
downgrade
Neutral
Reason
Mizuho lowered the firm's price target on Acadia Healthcare to $17 from $22 and keeps a Neutral rating on the shares as part of its 2026 outlook for managed care and health facilities. The firm believes 2026 will be a "pivotal year" for managed care. The sector is at the end of a three-year negative underwriting cycle and margins should improve in commercial, Medicaid and Medicare over the next few years, the analyst tells investors in a research note. As a result, Mizuho is positive on managed care heading into 2026.
Barclays
Andrew Mok
Equal Weight
downgrade
$17 -> $14
2025-12-04
Reason
Barclays
Andrew Mok
Price Target
$17 -> $14
2025-12-04
downgrade
Equal Weight
Reason
Barclays analyst Andrew Mok lowered the firm's price target on Acadia Healthcare to $14 from $17 and keeps an Equal Weight rating on the shares. The company cut its guidance for the third time this year due to an unexpected $49M increase in legal expenses, the analyst tells investors in a research note.
About ACHC
Acadia Healthcare Company, Inc. is a provider of behavioral healthcare services across the United States. It provides behavioral healthcare services to its patients in a variety of settings, including inpatient psychiatric hospitals, specialty treatment facilities, residential treatment centers and outpatient clinics. Its acute inpatient psychiatric facilities provide a high level of care in order to stabilize patients that are either a threat to themselves or to others. Its specialty treatment facilities include residential recovery facilities and eating disorder facilities. Its comprehensive treatment centers specialize in providing medication-assisted treatment in an outpatient setting. Its residential treatment centers treat patients with behavioral disorders in a non-hospital setting. The facilities balance therapy activities with social, academic and other activities. It operates a network of 262 behavioral healthcare facilities with over 11,850 beds in 39 states and Puerto Rico.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
