Zacks Research Issues Pessimistic Forecast for ACHC Earnings

Key Points

• Zacks Research cut Acadia Healthcare’s Q3 2026 EPS forecast to $0.46 from $0.49, while its FY2026 estimate of $1.48 remains below the broader consensus of $1.54.
• Acadia recently exceeded quarterly expectations with EPS of $0.38 versus the $0.35 consensus and revenue of $865.8 million versus $844.2 million, but revenue declined 0.4% year over year and full-year guidance remains $1.45–$1.60 EPS.
• Legal and regulatory uncertainty remains a key risk after the company disclosed a U.S. Attorney’s Office information request and federal grand-jury subpoena; analysts’ overall rating is “Hold,” with a consensus price target of $29.85.

Acadia Healthcare Company, Inc. (NASDAQ:ACHC - Free Report) - Analysts at Zacks Research dropped their Q3 2026 earnings estimates for Acadia Healthcare in a report issued on Tuesday, August 11th. Zacks Research analyst Team now expects that the company will earn $0.46 per share for the quarter, down from their prior forecast of $0.49. The consensus estimate for Acadia Healthcare's current full-year earnings is $1.54 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for Acadia Healthcare's Q4 2026 earnings at $0.27 EPS, FY2026 earnings at $1.48 EPS, Q1 2027 earnings at $0.28 EPS, Q2 2027 earnings at $0.41 EPS, Q3 2027 earnings at $0.57 EPS, Q4 2027 earnings at $0.43 EPS, FY2027 earnings at $1.68 EPS, Q1 2028 earnings at $0.33 EPS, Q2 2028 earnings at $0.51 EPS and FY2028 earnings at $1.96 EPS.

Acadia Healthcare (NASDAQ:ACHC - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, July 28th. The company reported $0.38 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $0.35 by $0.03. The business had revenue of $865.84 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $844.19 million. Acadia Healthcare had a negative net margin of 33.44% and a positive return on equity of 6.19%. The firm's revenue was down .4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $0.83 EPS. Acadia Healthcare has set its FY 2026 guidance at 1.450-1.600 EPS.

ACHC has been the subject of a number of other research reports. TD Cowen upped their price objective on Acadia Healthcare from $30.00 to $36.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 14th. Weiss Ratings restated a "sell (d)" rating on shares of Acadia Healthcare in a research note on Friday, June 12th. UBS Group upped their price target on shares of Acadia Healthcare from $31.00 to $39.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Thursday, July 9th. Raymond James Financial upgraded shares of Acadia Healthcare from an "outperform" rating to a "strong-buy" rating and set a $39.00 price objective on the stock in a research note on Monday, May 4th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group upgraded shares of Acadia Healthcare from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and boosted their target price for the company from $24.50 to $30.00 in a research report on Wednesday, June 3rd. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seven have assigned a Buy rating, five have given a Hold rating and two have given a Sell rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $29.85.

Acadia Healthcare Price Performance

NASDAQ ACHC opened at $31.10 on Wednesday. The stock has a market capitalization of $2.90 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -2.50, a PEG ratio of 10.31 and a beta of 0.64. Acadia Healthcare has a 1-year low of $11.43 and a 1-year high of $35.83. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.20, a current ratio of 1.57 and a quick ratio of 1.57. The business's fifty day moving average price is $29.32 and its 200-day moving average price is $24.74.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC increased its holdings in Acadia Healthcare by 54.8% in the 2nd quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 1,404 shares of the company's stock worth $32,000 after acquiring an additional 497 shares in the last quarter. Wells Fargo & Company MN lifted its holdings in Acadia Healthcare by 208.9% during the fourth quarter. Wells Fargo & Company MN now owns 2,233 shares of the company's stock valued at $32,000 after purchasing an additional 1,510 shares in the last quarter. Allworth Financial LP bought a new position in shares of Acadia Healthcare in the second quarter worth approximately $45,000. Bayforest Capital Ltd bought a new position in shares of Acadia Healthcare in the fourth quarter worth approximately $52,000. Finally, Global Retirement Partners LLC bought a new stake in shares of Acadia Healthcare during the 2nd quarter valued at $68,000.

Key Headlines Impacting Acadia Healthcare

Here are the key news stories impacting Acadia Healthcare this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Zacks Research raised several EPS forecasts. Estimates increased for fiscal 2026 to $1.48 from $1.46, fiscal 2027 to $1.68 from $1.63, and fiscal 2028 to $1.96 from $1.76. Analysts also raised forecasts for Q4 2026, Q1 and Q3 2027, Q1 and Q2 2028, and Q4 2027. The revisions suggest improved longer-term earnings potential and may support investor sentiment.
• Neutral Sentiment: The outlook remains below some consensus expectations in the near term. Zacks’ $1.48 fiscal 2026 estimate is below the broader consensus of $1.54, although its fiscal 2027 and fiscal 2028 forecasts point to accelerating earnings growth. Acadia’s latest quarterly results showed revenue of $865.8 million and adjusted EPS of $0.38, exceeding analyst expectations, but revenue declined slightly year over year.
• Neutral Sentiment: The reported short-interest data appears unreliable. The filing lists short interest at zero shares, a zero-day short-interest ratio, and an undefined percentage change despite describing a “large increase.” As a result, it provides no meaningful indication of short-seller positioning.
• Negative Sentiment: Near-term estimates were also cut. Zacks reduced its Q3 2026 EPS forecast to $0.46 from $0.49 and its Q2 2027 estimate to $0.41 from $0.45. These reductions could temper enthusiasm about immediate earnings momentum.
• Negative Sentiment: Regulatory and legal uncertainty remains an overhang. Kahn Swick & Foti said it is continuing an investigation into Acadia’s officers and directors following the company’s disclosure of a voluntary information request from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York and a federal grand-jury subpoena. The investigation could increase legal costs and uncertainty around the company. Acadia Healthcare Investigation Continued

Acadia Healthcare Company Profile

Acadia Healthcare Company, Inc NASDAQ: ACHC is a publicly traded provider of behavioral healthcare services headquartered in Franklin, Tennessee. Founded in 2005, the company has grown through organic expansion and strategic acquisitions to establish itself as a leading specialist in mental health and addiction treatment across the United States.

Acadia operates a diversified network of inpatient psychiatric hospitals, residential treatment centers, outpatient clinics and intensive outpatient programs.

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