How Does Acadia Healthcare Stock Compare With Peers?
Acadia Healthcare’s stock plunged over 70% last year, but how does it truly measure up against peers in the rapidly evolving behavioral health sector? As of January 20, 2026, a closer look reveals solid operating margins [cite: data] and moderate valuation, yet slower revenue growth [cite: data] and negative free cash flow [cite: data] present significant concerns. While a recent CEO reappointment sparked a 24% stock jump and analysts maintain a consensus “Buy” rating, ongoing legal issues and payer reimbursement pressures suggest limited sustained upside amidst an industry shifting to value-based care and cost containment.
- ACHC’s operating margin of 13.6%, while strong, trails EHC’s 17.3% due to higher expansion startup costs and a different service mix.
- ACHC’s 4.6% revenue growth lags peers, reflecting uneven segment performance, Medicaid volume softness, and startup losses from new facilities.
- ACHC’s stock is down 67.5% in 1 year, trading at 12.0 PE, signaling investor concern about profitability, Medicaid mix, and expansion costs.
Here’s how Acadia Healthcare stacks up across size, valuation, and profitability versus key peers.
| ACHC | UHS | LFST | SEM | EHC | ENSG | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Market Cap ($ Bil) | 1.3 | 12.6 | 2.8 | 1.8 | 9.9 | 10.2 |
| Revenue ($ Bil) | 3.3 | 17.0 | 1.4 | 5.4 | 5.8 | 4.8 |
| PE Ratio | 12.0 | 9.2 | -304.7 | 16.6 | 18.4 | 31.0 |
| LTM Revenue Growth | 4.6% | 10.2% | 13.4% | 45.3% | 11.1% | 17.5% |
| LTM Operating Margin | 13.6% | 11.5% | 0.5% | 5.5% | 17.3% | 8.3% |
| LTM FCF Margin | -10.6% | 5.6% | 8.7% | 3.2% | 6.9% | 1.0% |
| 12M Market Return | -67.5% | 8.6% | -10.1% | -18.9% | 5.0% | 29.9% |
For more details on Acadia Healthcare, read Buy or Sell ACHC Stock. Below we compare ACHC’s growth, margin, and valuation with peers across years
Revenue Growth Comparison
| LTM | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ACHC | 4.6% | 7.7% | 12.2% | 12.8% |
| UHS | 10.2% | 10.8% | 6.6% | 6.0% |
| LFST | 13.4% | 18.5% | 22.8% | 28.8% |
| SEM | 45.3% | 7.5% | 4.7% | -25.7% |
| EHC | 11.1% | 11.9% | 10.4% | 8.3% |
| ENSG | 17.5% | 14.2% | 23.3% | 15.1% |
Operating Margin Comparison
| LTM | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ACHC | 13.6% | 16.6% | 17.5% | 17.9% |
| UHS | 11.5% | 10.6% | 8.2% | 7.5% |
| LFST | 0.5% | -2.5% | -17.9% | -24.5% |
| SEM | 5.5% | 5.2% | 5.5% | 3.1% |
| EHC | 17.3% | 16.1% | 15.2% | 14.5% |
| ENSG | 8.3% | 8.4% | 6.8% | 9.8% |
PE Ratio Comparison
| LTM | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ACHC | 12.0 | 5.1 | -166.4 | 25.5 |
| UHS | 9.2 | 12.7 | 17.3 | 16.5 |
| LFST | -304.7 | -46.5 | -14.5 | -12.9 |
| SEM | 16.6 | 8.6 | 9.5 | 18.4 |
| EHC | 18.4 | 23.3 | 26.1 | 24.4 |
| ENSG | 31.0 | 33.1 | 35.3 | 27.4 |
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