Stacking Up LFST Against Its Peers – Is It Still a Buy?
Here is how LifeStance Health (LFST) stacks up against its peers in size, valuation, growth and margin.
- LFST’s operating margin of -0.0% is negative, and lowest among peers; THC has 15.6%.
- LFST’s revenue growth of 13.9% in the last 12 months is strong, outpacing FMS, ACHC, HCA, UHS, THC.
- LFST’s stock is down 4.2% in last 1 year, and trades at a PE of -129.5; it underperformed FMS, HCA, THC.
As a quick background, LifeStance Health provides outpatient mental health services for all ages, treating conditions such as anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, eating disorders, psychotic disorders, and PTSD.
| LFST | FMS | ACHC | HCA | UHS | THC | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Market Cap ($ Bil) | 2.1 | 14.7 | 1.9 | 94.1 | 11.5 | 15.7 |
| Revenue ($ Bil) | 1.3 | 19.5 | 3.2 | 72.7 | 16.5 | 20.7 |
| PE Ratio | -129.5 | 22.4 | 13.7 | 15.8 | 9.1 | 10.6 |
| LTM Revenue Growth | 13.9% | 0.5% | 5.6% | 6.4% | 9.6% | -1.1% |
| LTM Operating Margin | -0.0% | 8.4% | 14.6% | 15.2% | 11.0% | 15.6% |
| LTM FCF Margin | 9.1% | 10.8% | -9.6% | 10.0% | 5.5% | 7.5% |
| 12M Market Return | -4.2% | 34.6% | -71.6% | 6.2% | -21.2% | 9.4% |
Why does this matter? LFST just went up 28.2% in a month – peer comparison puts stock performance, valuation, and financials in context – highlighting whether it is truly outperforming, lagging behind, and above all – can this continue? Read Buy or Sell LFST Stock to see if LifeStance Health holds up as a quality investment. Furthermore, there is always a risk of fall after a strong rally – see how the stock has dipped and recovered in the past through LFST Dip Buyer Analysis lens.
While peer comparison is critical Trefis High Quality Portfolio evaluates much more, and is designed to reduce stock-specific risks while giving upside exposure.
Revenue Growth Comparison
| LTM | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LFST | 13.9% | 18.5% | 22.8% | 28.8% |
| FMS | 0.5% | -0.6% | 0.3% | 10.1% |
| ACHC | 5.6% | 7.7% | 12.2% | 12.8% |
| HCA | 6.4% | 8.7% | 7.9% | 2.5% |
| UHS | 9.6% | 10.8% | 6.6% | 6.0% |
| THC | -1.1% | 0.6% | 7.2% | -1.6% |
Operating Margin Comparison
| LTM | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LFST | -0.0% | -2.5% | -17.9% | -24.5% |
| FMS | 8.4% | 7.6% | 7.6% | 7.5% |
| ACHC | 14.6% | 16.6% | 17.5% | 17.9% |
| HCA | 15.2% | 14.9% | 14.8% | 15.0% |
| UHS | 11.0% | 10.6% | 8.2% | 7.5% |
| THC | 15.6% | 14.1% | 11.9% | 12.6% |
PE Ratio Comparison
| LTM | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LFST | -123.8 | -48.6 | -15.4 | -8.1 |
| FMS | 25.5 | 24.7 | 24.5 | 14.2 |
| ACHC | 14.7 | 14.2 | -326.4 | 27.0 |
| HCA | 15.3 | 13.5 | 14.1 | 12.3 |
| UHS | 9.2 | 10.5 | 14.7 | 15.2 |
| THC | 10.8 | 3.8 | 12.6 | 12.7 |
The Trefis High Quality (HQ) Portfolio, with a collection of 30 stocks, has a track record of comfortably outperforming its benchmark that includes all 3 – the S&P 500, S&P mid-cap, and Russell 2000 indices. Why is that? As a group, HQ Portfolio stocks provided better returns with less risk versus the benchmark index; less of a roller-coaster ride, as evident in HQ Portfolio performance metrics.