Acadia Healthcare (NASDAQ: ACHC) announced an increase in its earnings guidance for the first quarter of 2026 on Wednesday, signaling a positive outlook for the company. The updated earnings per share (EPS) guidance ranges from $0.250 to $0.300, significantly surpassing the consensus estimate of $0.110. Additionally, Acadia provided revenue guidance of $820.0 million to $830.0 million, exceeding the consensus revenue estimate of $799.5 million. The company also revised its full-year 2026 guidance, projecting an EPS of $1.300 to $1.550.
Analysts Adjust Price Targets
Recent reports from research firms indicate a mixed outlook for Acadia Healthcare. Barclays reduced its target price from $17.00 to $14.00, maintaining an “equal weight” rating. Mizuho similarly lowered its price objective from $22.00 to $17.00 and assigned a “neutral” rating. In contrast, Raymond James Financial reaffirmed an “outperform” rating, establishing a price target of $25.00. Overall, seven analysts have issued a Buy rating for the stock, while six analysts suggest a Hold rating, and two have assigned a Sell rating. According to MarketBeat, Acadia Healthcare currently holds an average rating of “Hold” with a target price of $20.69.
Acadia Healthcare’s stock price recently surged by 2.3%, following the release of its quarterly earnings report on February 25. The company reported earnings of $0.07 per share for the quarter, exceeding analysts’ expectations of $0.03 by $0.04. Revenue for the quarter reached $821.46 million, also surpassing the consensus estimate of $800.10 million. This revenue marked a 6.1% increase compared to the same quarter last year.
Institutional Trading Activity
In recent trading activity, several institutional investors have adjusted their holdings in Acadia Healthcare. Wellington Management Group LLP increased its stake by 24.9% during the fourth quarter, now owning 11,774,308 shares valued at approximately $167.1 million. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. saw a significant increase of 417.8% in its holdings, acquiring an additional 3,815,471 shares, bringing its total to 4,728,613 shares worth around $67.1 million.
UBS Group AG raised its position by 8.8% in the third quarter, now holding 4,336,698 shares valued at $107.4 million. State Street Corp and Geode Capital Management LLC also made adjustments, with State Street boosting its stake by 3.3% and Geode Capital increasing its holdings by 0.5%.
Acadia Healthcare, based in Franklin, Tennessee, has established itself as a leading provider of behavioral healthcare services since its founding in 2005. The company operates a diverse network of inpatient psychiatric hospitals, residential treatment centers, outpatient clinics, and intensive outpatient programs, contributing to its growth through both organic expansion and strategic acquisitions.
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