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ACADIA Pharmaceuticals (ACAD)


Market Price (11/27/2025): $25.12 | Market Cap: $4.2 Bil
Sector: Health Care | Industry: Pharmaceuticals

ACADIA Pharmaceuticals (ACAD)


Market Price (11/27/2025): $25.12
Market Cap: $4.2 Bil
Sector: Health Care
Industry: Pharmaceuticals

Investment Highlights Why It Matters Which of these 2 stories sounds closer for this stock?

1. Generates cash flow

The stock generated 4% or more of the share price (called cash flow yield), and shows moderate 10-15% or more growth.

2. Riding a trend

Think Tesla during the pandemic of 2020 when EVs were riding a cultural high, or Nvidia in the current AI boom, or even Figma. These companies don’t have enough yield, or, enough growth, or both - however - they are riding a trend. They have momentum. These can be more volatile - they don’t have the floor of strong cash flow


0 Attractive yield
Total YieldTotal Yield = Earnings Yield + Dividend Yield, Earnings Yield = Net Income / Market Cap Dividend Yield = Total Dividends / Market Cap is 6.2%
Weak multi-year price returns
2Y Excs Rtn is -37%, 3Y Excs Rtn is -4.6%
Expensive valuation multiples
P/EBITPrice/EBIT or Price/(Operating Income) ratio is 44x
1 Cash is significant % of market cap
Net D/ENet Debt/Equity. Debt net of cash. Negative indicates net cash. Equity is taken as the Market Capitalization is -19%
  
2 Attractive cash flow generation
CFO/Rev LTMCash Flow from Operations / Revenue (Sales), Last Twelve Months (LTM) is 19%
  
3 Low stock price volatility
Vol 12M is 50%
  
4 Megatrend and thematic drivers
Megatrends include Precision Medicine. Themes include Biopharmaceutical R&D, and Targeted Therapies.
  
0 Attractive yield
Total YieldTotal Yield = Earnings Yield + Dividend Yield, Earnings Yield = Net Income / Market Cap Dividend Yield = Total Dividends / Market Cap is 6.2%
1 Cash is significant % of market cap
Net D/ENet Debt/Equity. Debt net of cash. Negative indicates net cash. Equity is taken as the Market Capitalization is -19%
2 Attractive cash flow generation
CFO/Rev LTMCash Flow from Operations / Revenue (Sales), Last Twelve Months (LTM) is 19%
3 Low stock price volatility
Vol 12M is 50%
4 Megatrend and thematic drivers
Megatrends include Precision Medicine. Themes include Biopharmaceutical R&D, and Targeted Therapies.
5 Weak multi-year price returns
2Y Excs Rtn is -37%, 3Y Excs Rtn is -4.6%
6 Expensive valuation multiples
P/EBITPrice/EBIT or Price/(Operating Income) ratio is 44x

Valuation, Metrics & Events

ACAD Stock


Why The Stock Moved


Qualitative Assessment

AI Generated Analysis | Feedback

ACADIA Pharmaceuticals (ACAD) experienced notable stock movements between July 31, 2025, and November 27, 2025, influenced by a mix of positive financial results, clinical trial outcomes, and updated guidance. While the exact closing price for July 31, 2025, is not available, several key events explain significant shifts in the company's stock value during this period, contributing to the approximate 4.1% movement.

1. Positive First Half 2025 Financial Performance and Increased NUPLAZID Guidance: ACADIA Pharmaceuticals demonstrated robust financial performance in the first half of 2025, reporting a notable increase in revenue to $508.88 million, up from $447.79 million in the prior year. This positive trajectory was accompanied by an upward revision of revenue forecasts, with NUPLAZID sales specifically projected to reach between $665 million and $690 million for the full year 2025. These strong initial results and optimistic outlook likely provided an early positive impetus for the stock.

2. Phase 3 Prader-Willi Syndrome Trial Failure: On September 24, 2025, ACADIA announced that its Phase 3 Compass Prader-Willi syndrome trial, evaluating intranasal carbetocin (ACP-101) for hyperphagia, failed to meet its primary endpoints. This significant clinical setback led to a sharp decline in the stock price, with shares falling by approximately 10% on September 25, 2025, as it ended the development of ACP-101 for this indication.

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Stock Movement Drivers

Return vs. Risk


Price Returns Compared

 202020212022202320242025Total [1]
Returns
ACAD Return25%-56%-32%97%-41%33%-43%
Peers Return5%1%-2%-7%-3%31%23%
S&P 500 Return16%27%-19%24%23%15%109%

Monthly Win Rates [3]
ACAD Win Rate50%50%33%67%33%60% 
Peers Win Rate25%46%54%52%46%57% 
S&P 500 Win Rate58%75%42%67%75%70% 

Max Drawdowns [4]
ACAD Max Drawdown-26%-70%-44%0%-54%-23% 
Peers Max Drawdown-26%-8%-23%-32%-18%-29% 
S&P 500 Max Drawdown-31%-1%-25%-1%-2%-15% 


[1] Cumulative total returns since the beginning of 2020
[2] Peers: ACT, ARWR, ALKS, OGN, LHI. See ACAD Returns vs. Peers.
[3] Win Rate = % of calendar months in which monthly returns were positive
[4] Max drawdown represents maximum peak-to-trough decline within a year
[5] 2025 data is for the year up to 11/26/2025 (YTD)

How Low Can It Go

Unique KeyEventACADS&P 500
2022 Inflation Shock2022 Inflation Shock  
2022 Inflation Shock% Loss% Loss-76.3%-25.4%
2022 Inflation Shock% Gain to Breakeven% Gain to Breakeven322.7%34.1%
2022 Inflation ShockTime to BreakevenTime to BreakevenNot Fully Recovered days464 days
2020 Covid Pandemic2020 Covid Pandemic  
2020 Covid Pandemic% Loss% Loss-36.1%-33.9%
2020 Covid Pandemic% Gain to Breakeven% Gain to Breakeven56.5%51.3%
2020 Covid PandemicTime to BreakevenTime to BreakevenNot Fully Recovered days148 days
2018 Correction2018 Correction  
2018 Correction% Loss% Loss-67.3%-19.8%
2018 Correction% Gain to Breakeven% Gain to Breakeven205.8%24.7%
2018 CorrectionTime to BreakevenTime to Breakeven389 days120 days
2008 Global Financial Crisis2008 Global Financial Crisis  
2008 Global Financial Crisis% Loss% Loss-95.4%-56.8%
2008 Global Financial Crisis% Gain to Breakeven% Gain to Breakeven2080.5%131.3%
2008 Global Financial CrisisTime to BreakevenTime to Breakeven1558 days1480 days

Compare to ACT, ARWR, ALKS, OGN, LHI


In The Past

ACADIA Pharmaceuticals's stock fell -76.3% during the 2022 Inflation Shock from a high on 1/7/2021. A -76.3% loss requires a 322.7% gain to breakeven.

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About ACADIA Pharmaceuticals (ACAD)

Better Bets than ACADIA Pharmaceuticals (ACAD)

Latest Trefis Analyses

Trade Ideas

Select past ideas related to ACAD. For more, see Trefis Trade Ideas.

Unique KeyDateTickerCompanyCategoryTrade Strategy6M Fwd Rtn12M Fwd Rtn12M Max DD
GDRX_10312025_Dip_Buyer_High_FCF_Yield_ExInd_DE_RevG10312025GDRXGoodRxDip BuyDB | FCF Yield | Low D/EDip Buy with High Free Cash Flow Yield
Buying dips for companies with significant free cash flow yield (FCF / Market Cap) and reasonable debt / market cap
-16.6%-16.6%-22.3%
DXCM_10312025_Monopoly_xInd_xCD_Getting_Cheaper10312025DXCMDexComMonopolyMY | Getting CheaperMonopoly-Like with P/S Decline
Large cap with monopoly-like margins or cash flow generation and getting cheaper based on P/S multiple
6.0%6.0%-5.8%
ACHC_10242025_Dip_Buyer_ValueBuy10242025ACHCAcadia HealthcareDip BuyDB | P/E OPMDip Buy with Low PE and High Margin
Buying dips for companies with tame PE and meaningfully high operating margin
-29.1%-29.1%-38.7%
PBH_10102025_Dip_Buyer_ValueBuy10102025PBHPrestige Consumer HealthcareDip BuyDB | P/E OPMDip Buy with Low PE and High Margin
Buying dips for companies with tame PE and meaningfully high operating margin
-3.3%-3.3%-5.8%
REGN_10032025_Dip_Buyer_ValueBuy10032025REGNRegeneron PharmaceuticalsDip BuyDB | P/E OPMDip Buy with Low PE and High Margin
Buying dips for companies with tame PE and meaningfully high operating margin
31.4%31.4%-7.0%
Unique KeyDateTickerCompanyCategoryTrade Strategy6M Fwd Rtn12M Fwd Rtn12M Max DD
GDRX_10312025_Dip_Buyer_High_FCF_Yield_ExInd_DE_RevG10312025GDRXGoodRxDip BuyDB | FCF Yield | Low D/EDip Buy with High Free Cash Flow Yield
Buying dips for companies with significant free cash flow yield (FCF / Market Cap) and reasonable debt / market cap
-16.6%-16.6%-22.3%
DXCM_10312025_Monopoly_xInd_xCD_Getting_Cheaper10312025DXCMDexComMonopolyMY | Getting CheaperMonopoly-Like with P/S Decline
Large cap with monopoly-like margins or cash flow generation and getting cheaper based on P/S multiple
6.0%6.0%-5.8%
ACHC_10242025_Dip_Buyer_ValueBuy10242025ACHCAcadia HealthcareDip BuyDB | P/E OPMDip Buy with Low PE and High Margin
Buying dips for companies with tame PE and meaningfully high operating margin
-29.1%-29.1%-38.7%
PBH_10102025_Dip_Buyer_ValueBuy10102025PBHPrestige Consumer HealthcareDip BuyDB | P/E OPMDip Buy with Low PE and High Margin
Buying dips for companies with tame PE and meaningfully high operating margin
-3.3%-3.3%-5.8%
REGN_10032025_Dip_Buyer_ValueBuy10032025REGNRegeneron PharmaceuticalsDip BuyDB | P/E OPMDip Buy with Low PE and High Margin
Buying dips for companies with tame PE and meaningfully high operating margin
31.4%31.4%-7.0%

Recent Active Movers

Recent Active Movers

More From Trefis

Peer Comparisons for ACADIA Pharmaceuticals

Peers to compare with:

Financials

ACADACTARWRALKSOGNLHIMedian
NameACADIA P.Enact Arrowhea.Alkermes Organon Living H. 
Mkt Price24.8138.9057.7129.727.74-29.72
Mkt Cap4.25.78.04.92.0-4.9
Rev LTM1,0471,2255731,5216,281-1,225
Op Inc LTM94--1083591,337-226
FCF LTM99704-18491482-482
FCF 3Y Avg70672-298353530-353
CFO LTM19970422541826-541
CFO 3Y Avg103672-175397872-397

Growth & Margins

ACADACTARWRALKSOGNLHIMedian
NameACADIA P.Enact Arrowhea.Alkermes Organon Living H. 
Rev Chg LTM12.7%2.4%2,816.2%1.1%-1.0%-2.4%
Rev Chg 3Y Avg27.8%3.9%908.8%12.1%-0.4%-12.1%
Rev Chg Q11.3%0.6%-4.2%-0.8%-2.4%
QoQ Delta Rev Chg LTM2.8%0.2%5.1%1.1%-0.2%-1.1%
Op Mgn LTM9.0%--18.8%23.6%21.3%-15.2%
Op Mgn 3Y Avg-1.1%--958.1%24.7%22.2%-10.5%
QoQ Delta Op Mgn LTM0.2%-2.9%-1.3%-0.9%--0.4%
CFO/Rev LTM19.0%57.5%3.8%35.6%13.2%-19.0%
CFO/Rev 3Y Avg8.7%56.6%-620.8%25.9%13.9%-13.9%
FCF/Rev LTM9.5%57.5%-3.1%32.3%7.7%-9.5%
FCF/Rev 3Y Avg5.5%56.6%-949.2%23.1%8.4%-8.4%

Valuation

ACADACTARWRALKSOGNLHIMedian
NameACADIA P.Enact Arrowhea.Alkermes Organon Living H. 
Mkt Cap4.25.78.04.92.0-4.9
P/S4.04.714.03.20.3-4.0
P/EBIT44.46.4-106.912.11.7-6.4
P/E16.08.7-54.114.52.9-8.7
P/CFO21.18.1367.39.12.4-9.1
Total Yield6.2%13.6%-1.8%6.9%46.2%-6.9%
Dividend Yield0.0%2.1%0.0%0.0%11.4%-0.0%
FCF Yield 3Y Avg2.7%12.9%-8.8%7.4%13.3%-7.4%
D/E0.00.10.00.04.4-0.0
Net D/E-0.2-0.3-0.1-0.24.1--0.2

Returns

ACADACTARWRALKSOGNLHIMedian
NameACADIA P.Enact Arrowhea.Alkermes Organon Living H. 
1M Rtn7.9%9.4%46.2%0.0%9.9%-9.4%
3M Rtn-6.6%2.6%164.8%1.6%-15.6%-1.6%
6M Rtn12.7%10.9%270.9%-0.6%-15.0%-10.9%
12M Rtn53.1%12.9%174.2%1.6%-49.7%-12.9%
3Y Rtn64.2%74.3%95.6%32.1%-64.3%-64.2%
1M Excs Rtn10.8%11.6%47.1%-3.0%17.7%-11.6%
3M Excs Rtn-10.2%-0.7%153.5%-2.0%-20.2%--2.0%
6M Excs Rtn-3.9%-4.9%227.9%-17.0%-33.7%--4.9%
12M Excs Rtn37.4%0.3%197.1%-10.9%-62.2%-0.3%
3Y Excs Rtn-4.6%2.7%20.9%-37.8%-136.2%--4.6%

Financials

Segment Financials

Revenue by Segment

$ Mil20242023202220212020
NUPLAZID549517   
DAYBUE1770   
Product sales, net  484442339
Total726517484442339


Price Behavior

Short Interest

Short Interest: As Of Date11142025
Short Interest: Shares Quantity9,453,950
Short Interest: % Change Since 1031202511.0%
Average Daily Volume1,795,206
Days-to-Cover Short Interest5.27
Basic Shares Quantity168,836,000
Short % of Basic Shares5.6%

Earnings Returns History

Expand for More

 Forward Returns
Earnings Date1D Returns5D Returns21D Returns
11/5/2025-3.0%8.1% 
8/6/20252.5%5.6%6.1%
5/7/202514.3%15.9%48.4%
2/26/20251.8%-4.8%-9.5%
11/6/20248.9%11.4%9.4%
8/6/2024-19.5%-16.6%-14.0%
5/8/2024-11.2%-11.7%-13.1%
2/27/2024-9.9%-9.7%-31.0%
...
SUMMARY STATS   
# Positive1067
# Negative121615
Median Positive3.7%9.7%10.4%
Median Negative-5.1%-4.6%-10.0%
Max Positive14.3%15.9%48.4%
Max Negative-19.5%-16.6%-46.6%

SEC Filings

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Report DateFiling DateFiling
93020251106202510-Q 9/30/2025
6302025807202510-Q 6/30/2025
3312025508202510-Q 3/31/2025
12312024227202510-K 12/31/2024
93020241107202410-Q 9/30/2024
6302024807202410-Q 6/30/2024
3312024509202410-Q 3/31/2024
12312023228202410-K 12/31/2023
93020231103202310-Q 9/30/2023
6302023803202310-Q 6/30/2023
3312023508202310-Q 3/31/2023
12312022228202310-K 12/31/2022
93020221103202210-Q 9/30/2022
6302022809202210-Q 6/30/2022
3312022505202210-Q 3/31/2022
12312021301202210-K 12/31/2021

Insider Activity

Expand for More

 OwnerTitleFiling DateActionPriceSharesTransacted
Value
Value of
Held Shares
Form
0GAROFALO ELIZABETH A.9032025Sell25.981,60041,560659,305Form
1Schneyer Mark C.EVP, CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER8192025Sell25.1822,000554,0241,010,590Form
2Brege Laura6052025Sell21.7814,446314,634328,769Form
3Kihara JamesPRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING OFFICER5192025Sell25.002,00050,000559,875Form
4Schneyer Mark C.EVP, CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER5192025Sell25.002,00050,0001,553,250Form