Tearsheet

ACADIA Pharmaceuticals (ACAD)


Market Price (10/26/2025): $22.03 | Market Cap: $3.7 Bil
Sector: Health Care | Industry: Pharmaceuticals

ACADIA Pharmaceuticals (ACAD)


Market Price (10/26/2025): $22.03
Market Cap: $3.7 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 6.0%
Weak multi-year price returns
2Y Excs Rtn is -61%, 3Y Excs Rtn is -43%
Expensive valuation multiples
P/EBITPrice/EBIT or Price/(Operating Income) ratio is 41x
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 18%
  
0 Attractive yield
Total YieldTotal Yield = Earnings Yield + Dividend Yield, Earnings Yield = Net Income / Market Cap Dividend Yield = Total Dividends / Market Cap is 6.0%
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 18%
3 Weak multi-year price returns
2Y Excs Rtn is -61%, 3Y Excs Rtn is -43%
4 Expensive valuation multiples
P/EBITPrice/EBIT or Price/(Operating Income) ratio is 41x

Market Valuation & Key Metrics

ACAD Stock


Return vs. Risk


Price Returns Compared

 202020212022202320242025Total [1]
Returns
ACAD Return25%-56%-32%97%-41%20%-49%
Peers Return4%1%-1%-6%-2%19%13%
S&P 500 Return16%27%-19%24%23%15%110%

Monthly Win Rates [3]
ACAD Win Rate50%50%33%67%33%56% 
Peers Win Rate20%37%43%42%47%58% 
S&P 500 Win Rate58%75%42%67%75%67% 

Max Drawdowns [4]
ACAD Max Drawdown-26%-70%-44%0%-54%-23% 
Peers Max Drawdown-21%-7%-18%-25%-14%-24% 
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, BGM. 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 10/24/2025 (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, BGM


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.

Preserve Wealth

Limiting losses and compounding gains is essential to preserving wealth over time.

Asset Allocation

Actively managed asset allocation strategies protect wealth. Learn more.

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
ADMA_9302025_Dip_Buyer_ValueBuy09302025ADMAADMA BiologicsDip BuyDB | P/E OPMDip Buy with Low PE and High Margin
Buying dips for companies with tame PE and meaningfully high operating margin
3.5%3.5%-4.6%
REGN_9302025_Dip_Buyer_ValueBuy09302025REGNRegeneron PharmaceuticalsDip BuyDB | P/E OPMDip Buy with Low PE and High Margin
Buying dips for companies with tame PE and meaningfully high operating margin
2.8%2.8%-0.8%
HAE_9262025_Dip_Buyer_High_FCF_Yield_ExInd_DE_RevG09262025HAEHaemoneticsDip 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
6.4%6.4%-0.1%
WAT_9192025_Monopoly_xInd_xCD_Getting_Cheaper09192025WATWatersMonopolyMY | 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
19.5%19.5%-4.3%
ISRG_9052025_Monopoly_xInd_xCD_Getting_Cheaper09052025ISRGIntuitive SurgicalMonopolyMY | 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
17.1%17.1%-8.0%
Unique KeyDateTickerCompanyCategoryTrade Strategy6M Fwd Rtn12M Fwd Rtn12M Max DD
ADMA_9302025_Dip_Buyer_ValueBuy09302025ADMAADMA BiologicsDip BuyDB | P/E OPMDip Buy with Low PE and High Margin
Buying dips for companies with tame PE and meaningfully high operating margin
3.5%3.5%-4.6%
REGN_9302025_Dip_Buyer_ValueBuy09302025REGNRegeneron PharmaceuticalsDip BuyDB | P/E OPMDip Buy with Low PE and High Margin
Buying dips for companies with tame PE and meaningfully high operating margin
2.8%2.8%-0.8%
HAE_9262025_Dip_Buyer_High_FCF_Yield_ExInd_DE_RevG09262025HAEHaemoneticsDip 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
6.4%6.4%-0.1%
WAT_9192025_Monopoly_xInd_xCD_Getting_Cheaper09192025WATWatersMonopolyMY | 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
19.5%19.5%-4.3%
ISRG_9052025_Monopoly_xInd_xCD_Getting_Cheaper09052025ISRGIntuitive SurgicalMonopolyMY | 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
17.1%17.1%-8.0%

Recent Active Movers

Recent Active Movers

More From Trefis

Peer Comparisons for ACADIA Pharmaceuticals

Financials

ACADACTARWRALKSOGNBGMMedian
NameACADIA P.Enact Arrowhea.Alkermes Organon BGM  
Mkt Price22.0336.6638.5729.799.239.3425.91
Mkt Cap3.75.55.44.92.4-4.9
Rev LTM1,0191,2265731,5056,281-1,226
Op Inc LTM90--1083741,337-232
FCF LTM88701-18480482-480
FCF 3Y Avg45641-298322530-322
CFO LTM18870122521826-521
CFO 3Y Avg78641-175364872-364

Growth & Margins

ACADACTARWRALKSOGNBGMMedian
NameACADIA P.Enact Arrowhea.Alkermes Organon BGM  
Rev Chg LTM14.4%3.4%2,816.2%-0.2%-1.0%-3.4%
Rev Chg 3Y Avg27.9%3.7%908.8%9.2%-0.4%-9.2%
Rev Chg Q9.3%1.9%--2.1%-0.8%-0.6%
QoQ Delta Rev Chg LTM2.3%0.5%5.1%-0.6%-0.2%-0.5%
Op Mgn LTM8.9%--18.8%24.9%21.3%-15.1%
Op Mgn 3Y Avg-3.9%--958.1%22.3%22.2%-9.1%
QoQ Delta Op Mgn LTM-0.0%-2.9%-1.0%-0.9%--0.5%
CFO/Rev LTM18.4%57.1%3.8%34.6%13.2%-18.4%
CFO/Rev 3Y Avg7.1%54.5%-620.8%24.3%13.9%-13.9%
FCF/Rev LTM8.7%57.1%-3.1%31.9%7.7%-8.7%
FCF/Rev 3Y Avg3.8%54.5%-949.2%21.5%8.4%-8.4%

Valuation

ACADACTARWRALKSOGNBGMMedian
NameACADIA P.Enact Arrowhea.Alkermes Organon BGM  
Mkt Cap3.75.55.44.92.4-4.9
P/S3.64.59.43.30.4-3.6
P/EBIT40.96.0-71.411.72.0-6.0
P/E16.68.1-36.114.13.4-8.1
P/CFO19.77.8245.59.42.9-9.4
Total Yield6.0%14.4%-2.8%7.1%39.0%-7.1%
Dividend Yield0.0%2.1%0.0%0.0%9.6%-0.0%
FCF Yield 3Y Avg1.5%13.4%-8.8%7.1%13.3%-7.1%
D/E0.00.10.10.03.7-0.1
Net D/E-0.2-0.3-0.1-0.23.5--0.2

Returns

ACADACTARWRALKSOGNBGMMedian
NameACADIA P.Enact Arrowhea.Alkermes Organon BGM  
1M Rtn4.6%-6.2%15.9%6.8%-10.3%-8.1%-0.8%
3M Rtn-5.3%4.7%141.4%14.0%-10.1%-10.6%-0.3%
6M Rtn49.5%6.4%186.8%7.0%-24.6%-15.9%6.7%
12M Rtn53.6%8.2%89.1%14.2%-44.4%17.0%15.6%
3Y Rtn40.3%67.4%14.5%41.0%-58.3%-40.3%
1M Excs Rtn1.0%-8.1%17.2%7.0%-12.3%-11.1%-3.5%
3M Excs Rtn-8.9%-1.3%128.3%7.7%-14.2%-13.3%-5.1%
6M Excs Rtn26.6%-16.5%163.9%-15.9%-47.5%-38.8%-16.2%
12M Excs Rtn35.6%-12.0%70.4%-10.0%-61.1%5.2%-2.4%
3Y Excs Rtn-42.6%-7.6%-66.4%-40.6%-138.3%--42.6%

Financials

Segment Financials

Revenue by Segment

$ Mil20242023202220212020
NUPLAZID549517484  
DAYBUE17700  
Product sales, net   442339
Total726517484442339


Price Behavior

Short Interest

Short Interest: As Of Date10152025
Short Interest: Shares Quantity8,753,033
Short Interest: % Change Since 9302025-7.0%
Average Daily Volume2,170,142
Days-to-Cover Short Interest4.03
Basic Shares Quantity167,827,000
Short % of Basic Shares5.2%

Earnings Returns History

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 Forward Returns
Earnings Date1D Returns5D Returns21D Returns
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%
11/2/20234.7%-4.3%-0.6%
...
SUMMARY STATS   
# Positive1058
# Negative121714
Median Positive3.7%11.4%9.9%
Median Negative-5.1%-4.8%-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
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
93020211109202110-Q 9/30/2021

Insider Activity

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 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