Raymond James Upholds Outperform Rating for Acadia Healthcare (ACHC)
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Oct 04 2025
0mins
Source: NASDAQ.COM
Analyst Recommendation: Raymond James has maintained an "Outperform" rating for Acadia Healthcare (NasdaqGS:ACHC) with a projected one-year price target of $30.89/share, indicating a potential upside of 13.78% from its current price of $27.15/share.
Fund Sentiment and Ownership Changes: There are 676 funds reporting positions in Acadia Healthcare, with a slight decrease in the number of owners. Notable changes include Wellington Management reducing its stake by 28.97%, while UBS Group increased its holdings by 70.65%.
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Analyst Views on ACHC
Wall Street analysts forecast ACHC stock price to fall
11 Analyst Rating
5 Buy
5 Hold
1 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 23.760
Low
13.00
Averages
18.10
High
25.00
Current: 23.760
Low
13.00
Averages
18.10
High
25.00
About ACHC
Acadia Healthcare Company, Inc. is a provider of behavioral healthcare services. The Company owns and operates acute inpatient psychiatric facilities, specialty treatment facilities, comprehensive treatment centers (CTCs), residential treatment centers and facilities providing outpatient behavioral healthcare services to serve the behavioral healthcare and recovery needs of communities throughout the United States and Puerto Rico. 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 CTCs specialize in providing medication-assisted treatment in an outpatient setting. Its specialty treatment facilities primarily consist of residential recovery facilities. It provides a comprehensive continuum of care for adults with addictive disorders and co-occurring mental disorders. Its residential treatment centers treat patients with behavioral disorders in a non-hospital setting.
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.
13D Management Fully Exits WEX Stake Worth $4.59 Million
- Share Sale Overview: On May 15, 2026, 13D Management disclosed the sale of 29,350 shares of WEX, valued at approximately $4.59 million, indicating a cautious outlook on WEX's future prospects.
- Market Performance Analysis: As of May 14, 2026, WEX shares were priced at $134.02, remaining flat over the past year and significantly underperforming the S&P 500, which rose 25% in the same period, reflecting market concerns about its growth potential.
- Financial Performance Highlights: Despite the poor stock performance, WEX reported a nearly 6% year-over-year revenue increase in Q1, reaching $673.8 million, while adjusted earnings per share rose 18% to $4.15, indicating robust fundamentals.
- Future Outlook and Market Reaction: WEX raised its full-year revenue guidance to up to $2.88 billion, yet the market reacted negatively to its earnings report with a 16% drop in stock price; however, if management can continue to enhance margins and cash flow, stock recovery may be on the horizon.
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13D Management Acquires Significant Stake in Acadia Healthcare
- New Investment Disclosure: On May 15, 2026, 13D Management disclosed a new position in Acadia Healthcare by acquiring 294,000 shares valued at approximately $5.32 million, indicating confidence in the company's future prospects.
- Holding Value Increase: As of the end of Q1 2026, the value of Acadia Healthcare's position reached $6.88 million, representing 10.7% of 13F reportable assets, highlighting its significance within the investment portfolio.
- Performance Improvement: Acadia Healthcare reported a 7.6% year-over-year revenue increase to $828.8 million in Q1, driven by higher patient volumes and improved pricing, prompting management to raise full-year adjusted EBITDA and earnings guidance.
- Expansion Capacity: The company added 82 newly licensed beds during the quarter, now operating approximately 275 facilities with around 12,400 beds; if management maintains this growth momentum, the recent stock underperformance could present a buying opportunity.
See More
David Einhorn Recommends Five Transitioning Companies
- Acadia's Recovery Potential: Einhorn highlighted Acadia Healthcare (ACHC), which has seen its stock plummet from nearly $90 to around $25, arguing that the market's reaction is excessive; if occupancy rates of new facilities rebound, EBITDA could increase by $200 million annually, potentially doubling the stock price.
- Centene's Profit Normalization: Einhorn believes Centene (CNC) will recover from rising healthcare costs and Medicaid pricing pressures, with margins expected to normalize in the coming years, projecting a stock price increase from $56 to between $85 and $102, indicating significant undervaluation.
- Fluor's Survival and Transformation: After nearly collapsing, Fluor (FLR) is positioned at the center of several infrastructure supercycles; Einhorn noted that the company has initiated a $1.4 billion buyback program, which could retire about 20% of outstanding shares, reflecting its recovery and future demand.
- Victoria's Secret Comeback: Einhorn discussed Victoria's Secret (VSCO), which is redefining its identity after cultural backlash, with new leadership aiming for a 10% operating margin, suggesting strong recovery potential as the brand stabilizes and grows under renewed management strategies.
See More
David Einhorn Bullish on Overlooked Companies
- Acadia Healthcare: Einhorn highlighted that Acadia's newer facilities are underutilized, needing occupancy rates raised to 70-80% and improved reimbursement negotiations, with a potential share price of $56, doubling the current value.
- Centene's AI Potential: He argued that Centene could significantly benefit from AI in automating claims processing, with a projected stock value between $85 and $102, indicating substantial upside from the current $56 if margins normalize.
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- Versant Media's Cash Flow Advantage: He mentioned that Versant Media remains insulated from streaming competition due to its focus on news and live sports, estimating it could generate free cash flow exceeding 60% of its market cap over the next four years for share buybacks or acquisitions.
See More
Einhorn Recommends Acadia and Centene Stocks at Sohn Conference
- Investment Recommendations: At the Sohn Investment Conference in New York, Greenlight's David Einhorn pitched Acadia Healthcare (ACHC) and Centene (CNC) as long-term investment ideas, indicating confidence in the healthcare sector and potentially attracting more investor interest in these stocks.
- Stock Performance: Centene (CNC) shares rose by 5% and Acadia Healthcare (ACHC) advanced by 3.2%, reflecting a positive market reaction to Einhorn's recommendations, which may drive short-term price increases for these companies.
- New Position Established: Greenlight initiated a new medium-sized position in Versant Media (VSNT), which was recently spun off from Comcast (CMCSA) and owns channels like MS Now, CNBC, and USA Network, demonstrating optimism about its future growth potential.
- Industry Analysis: Despite ongoing cord-cutting in the legacy cable business, Greenlight believes that over 60% of Versant's programming is tied to live news and events, making it more resilient to subscriber losses, which could provide stable returns for investors.
See More
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- Disappointing Forecast: Acadia Healthcare projected Q2 revenue at approximately $842.5 million, 2.7% below analyst expectations, leading to a 9% drop in stock price during afternoon trading.
- Q1 Performance: Although Q1 revenue grew 7.6% year-over-year to $828.8 million and adjusted EPS of $0.37 beat estimates, these results failed to alleviate market concerns about future performance.
- Stock Volatility: Acadia's shares have experienced 33 moves greater than 5% in the past year, indicating market sensitivity to current news, yet not fundamentally altering perceptions of the company's business.
- Leadership Change Impact: The reappointment of former CEO Debra K. Osteen has generated optimism in the market, but the actual impact on future performance remains to be seen.
See More
13D Management Fully Exits WEX Stake Worth $4.59 Million
- Share Sale Overview: On May 15, 2026, 13D Management disclosed the sale of 29,350 shares of WEX, valued at approximately $4.59 million, indicating a cautious outlook on WEX's future prospects.
- Market Performance Analysis: As of May 14, 2026, WEX shares were priced at $134.02, remaining flat over the past year and significantly underperforming the S&P 500, which rose 25% in the same period, reflecting market concerns about its growth potential.
- Financial Performance Highlights: Despite the poor stock performance, WEX reported a nearly 6% year-over-year revenue increase in Q1, reaching $673.8 million, while adjusted earnings per share rose 18% to $4.15, indicating robust fundamentals.
- Future Outlook and Market Reaction: WEX raised its full-year revenue guidance to up to $2.88 billion, yet the market reacted negatively to its earnings report with a 16% drop in stock price; however, if management can continue to enhance margins and cash flow, stock recovery may be on the horizon.
See More
13D Management Acquires Significant Stake in Acadia Healthcare
- New Investment Disclosure: On May 15, 2026, 13D Management disclosed a new position in Acadia Healthcare by acquiring 294,000 shares valued at approximately $5.32 million, indicating confidence in the company's future prospects.
- Holding Value Increase: As of the end of Q1 2026, the value of Acadia Healthcare's position reached $6.88 million, representing 10.7% of 13F reportable assets, highlighting its significance within the investment portfolio.
- Performance Improvement: Acadia Healthcare reported a 7.6% year-over-year revenue increase to $828.8 million in Q1, driven by higher patient volumes and improved pricing, prompting management to raise full-year adjusted EBITDA and earnings guidance.
- Expansion Capacity: The company added 82 newly licensed beds during the quarter, now operating approximately 275 facilities with around 12,400 beds; if management maintains this growth momentum, the recent stock underperformance could present a buying opportunity.
See More
David Einhorn Recommends Five Transitioning Companies
- Acadia's Recovery Potential: Einhorn highlighted Acadia Healthcare (ACHC), which has seen its stock plummet from nearly $90 to around $25, arguing that the market's reaction is excessive; if occupancy rates of new facilities rebound, EBITDA could increase by $200 million annually, potentially doubling the stock price.
- Centene's Profit Normalization: Einhorn believes Centene (CNC) will recover from rising healthcare costs and Medicaid pricing pressures, with margins expected to normalize in the coming years, projecting a stock price increase from $56 to between $85 and $102, indicating significant undervaluation.
- Fluor's Survival and Transformation: After nearly collapsing, Fluor (FLR) is positioned at the center of several infrastructure supercycles; Einhorn noted that the company has initiated a $1.4 billion buyback program, which could retire about 20% of outstanding shares, reflecting its recovery and future demand.
- Victoria's Secret Comeback: Einhorn discussed Victoria's Secret (VSCO), which is redefining its identity after cultural backlash, with new leadership aiming for a 10% operating margin, suggesting strong recovery potential as the brand stabilizes and grows under renewed management strategies.
See More
David Einhorn Bullish on Overlooked Companies
- Acadia Healthcare: Einhorn highlighted that Acadia's newer facilities are underutilized, needing occupancy rates raised to 70-80% and improved reimbursement negotiations, with a potential share price of $56, doubling the current value.
- Centene's AI Potential: He argued that Centene could significantly benefit from AI in automating claims processing, with a projected stock value between $85 and $102, indicating substantial upside from the current $56 if margins normalize.
- Fluor's Capital Spending Opportunities: Einhorn noted that Fluor is well-positioned to capitalize on a U.S. capital spending boom across various sectors, suggesting shares could reach $115 in a few years, as the market underestimates its exposure to potential super cycles.
- Versant Media's Cash Flow Advantage: He mentioned that Versant Media remains insulated from streaming competition due to its focus on news and live sports, estimating it could generate free cash flow exceeding 60% of its market cap over the next four years for share buybacks or acquisitions.
See More
Einhorn Recommends Acadia and Centene Stocks at Sohn Conference
- Investment Recommendations: At the Sohn Investment Conference in New York, Greenlight's David Einhorn pitched Acadia Healthcare (ACHC) and Centene (CNC) as long-term investment ideas, indicating confidence in the healthcare sector and potentially attracting more investor interest in these stocks.
- Stock Performance: Centene (CNC) shares rose by 5% and Acadia Healthcare (ACHC) advanced by 3.2%, reflecting a positive market reaction to Einhorn's recommendations, which may drive short-term price increases for these companies.
- New Position Established: Greenlight initiated a new medium-sized position in Versant Media (VSNT), which was recently spun off from Comcast (CMCSA) and owns channels like MS Now, CNBC, and USA Network, demonstrating optimism about its future growth potential.
- Industry Analysis: Despite ongoing cord-cutting in the legacy cable business, Greenlight believes that over 60% of Versant's programming is tied to live news and events, making it more resilient to subscriber losses, which could provide stable returns for investors.
See More
Acadia Healthcare Shares Drop 9% on Disappointing Q2 Forecast
- Disappointing Forecast: Acadia Healthcare projected Q2 revenue at approximately $842.5 million, 2.7% below analyst expectations, leading to a 9% drop in stock price during afternoon trading.
- Q1 Performance: Although Q1 revenue grew 7.6% year-over-year to $828.8 million and adjusted EPS of $0.37 beat estimates, these results failed to alleviate market concerns about future performance.
- Stock Volatility: Acadia's shares have experienced 33 moves greater than 5% in the past year, indicating market sensitivity to current news, yet not fundamentally altering perceptions of the company's business.
- Leadership Change Impact: The reappointment of former CEO Debra K. Osteen has generated optimism in the market, but the actual impact on future performance remains to be seen.
See More
