Acadia Healthcare Company Inc. (NASDAQ:ACHC) is one of the promising stocks to buy under $50. On December 18, Mizuho lowered the firm’s price target on Acadia Healthcare to $17 from $22 and kept a Neutral rating on the shares. In its 2026 outlook for managed care and health facilities, Mizuho identified the coming year as pivotal for the industry. Mizuho suggested that the sector is emerging from a 3-year downturn in underwriting, with margins across Commercial, Medicaid, and Medicare expected to recover o ...

FRANKLIN, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Acadia Healthcare Company, Inc. (NASDAQ: ACHC) today announced that the Company will participate in the 44Annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference, January 12- 15, 2026, in San Francisco, California. In connection with the conference, there will be an online webcast of the Company's presentation available on the Company's website starting at 5:15 p.m. Pacific Time/ 7:15 p.m. Central Time on Tuesday, January 13, 2026. The live webcast of the presentation will be available on ...

Core Insights - Engine Capital Management has initiated a new position in Acadia Healthcare, acquiring 2.6 million shares valued at $64 million, indicating a strategic investment in the behavioral health sector during a period of transition for the company [1][2]. Company Overview - Acadia Healthcare is a leading provider of behavioral healthcare services, operating hundreds of facilities across the U.S. and Puerto Rico, focusing on inpatient psychiatric hospitals, specialty treatment facilities, residential treatment centers, and outpatient clinics [5][7]. - The company reported a total revenue of $3.3 billion and a net income of $107.4 million, with a market capitalization of $1.4 billion [4]. Financial Performance - Acadia Healthcare experienced a year-over-year revenue growth of 4.4%, reaching $851.6 million, alongside a 3.3% increase in same-facility admissions [9]. - However, the company has lowered its full-year revenue, EBITDA, and EPS guidance due to payor scrutiny, Medicaid softness, and increased liability costs, with adjusted EBITDA falling to $173 million from $194 million a year earlier [9]. Investment Rationale - The new position by Engine Capital represents 7.6% of its reportable assets under management as of September 30, suggesting a significant commitment to Acadia Healthcare [3]. - The stock price of Acadia Healthcare has decreased by 63% over the past year, underperforming the S&P 500, which has increased by 13% during the same period [3]. - Management is taking steps to improve financial performance by cutting 2026 capital expenditures by at least $300 million and aiming for positive free cash flow, which could enhance returns as new bed additions contribute to revenue [10].

Core Insights - Ethema Health Corporation will present at the Small Cap Growth Virtual Investor Conference on December 9th, 2025, with CEO Shawn Leon leading the presentation [1][2] - The company has entered into a Letter of Intent to acquire assets from Addiction Recovery Care LLC, which includes in-patient and out-patient facilities in Kentucky, with a total capacity of approximately 940 patients [4] - Ethema reported record revenue of $5.5 million for the third quarter, reflecting strong performance in its Florida and Kentucky operations [5] Company Developments - The acquisition of ARC assets includes a Mental Health Hospital, a Pharmacy, a Medical Laboratory, and a Rural Health Clinic, indicating a strategic expansion in the behavioral healthcare sector [4] - The company aims to develop world-class treatment programs for substance use disorders, leveraging its unique treatment style established over the past decade [6] Event Details - The virtual conference will allow real-time interaction between investors and the company, with opportunities for one-on-one meetings scheduled from December 9th to 14th [2][3] - An archived webcast will be available for those unable to attend the live event, ensuring broader access to the company's presentation [2]

Group 1 - Acadia Healthcare Company Inc. is considered a cheap stock to buy according to analysts, with KeyBanc lowering its price target to $30 from $35 while maintaining an Overweight rating [1][3] - In Q3 2025, Acadia Healthcare reported a revenue increase of 4.4%, totaling $851.6 million, supported by a 3% growth in same facility admissions [2][3] - The company's adjusted EBITDA for Q3 decreased to $173 million from $194.3 million in the prior year, leading to a reduction in Adjusted EBITDA guidance for 2025 to a range of $650 to $660 million [3]

Core Insights - Activist investors are focusing on Acadia Healthcare (ACHC), which has faced challenges such as federal investigations and operational issues, leading to a decline in stock performance [1][6] - Engine Capital acquired approximately 3% of Acadia, resulting in a nearly 12% increase in stock price on the same day, and has called for significant changes in the company's strategy and board composition [2][3] - Acadia Healthcare is one of the largest behavioral healthcare providers in the U.S., operating over 260 facilities and employing around 25,000 staff [4][5] Company Overview - Acadia Healthcare is valued at approximately $2.5 billion, but its stock has decreased nearly 52% over the past year, contrasting with a 17% gain in the S&P 500 Index [6] - The company operates a diverse range of behavioral healthcare facilities, including inpatient psychiatric hospitals and outpatient clinics, with around 11,800 beds available [4][5] - Recent activist involvement has led to a 10% rebound in stock price over five trading days, indicating a potential shift in market sentiment [6]

Core Insights - Acadia Healthcare is a leading provider in the behavioral healthcare sector, offering a range of services including psychiatric and addiction treatment [1] - The company is facing challenges related to governance and performance, as highlighted by a major shareholder's call for a strategic review [3] Stock Performance - On October 3, 2025, Raymond James upgraded Acadia Healthcare to "Outperform" with a new price target of $30, up from $26, indicating a positive outlook for the stock [2][5] - ACHC's stock price increased by 8.43%, or $2.07, reflecting strong investor interest, with a trading range of $24.57 to $26.72 for the day [4][5] - Over the past year, ACHC has experienced significant volatility, with a high of $60.52 and a low of $17.13 [4] Market Position - Acadia Healthcare's market capitalization is approximately $2.46 billion, indicating its substantial presence in the market [4] - The trading volume for ACHC today was 3,511,931 shares on the NASDAQ exchange, demonstrating active investor engagement [4]

NFL Television Rights - NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell indicated that the league could renegotiate its television rights with media partners as early as 2026, four years ahead of the current agreement's opt-out clause [2][3] - Goodell emphasized that the NFL is "leaving money on the table" compared to other recent sports media deals, suggesting potential for increased revenue [3][4] - The current $111 billion, 11-year rights deal includes an opt-out clause after the 2029-30 season, with Disney having an additional year of rights [4] Financial Implications - A new deal could lead to an increase in the salary cap for NFL teams, providing them with more financial flexibility to spend on players and expand rosters [5] Stock Market Reactions - Micron Technology (MU) experienced a decline following a sell-the-news reaction despite better-than-expected quarterly results [6] - Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) is facing a slump after guiding for lower Q3 consolidated sales for copper and gold compared to previous forecasts [7][8] - Acadia Healthcare (ACHC) saw a rally after Engine Capital reported a 3% stake and pushed for board changes [9][10] Housing Market - New home sales in August surged by 20.5% to an annual rate of 800,000, significantly exceeding the consensus estimate of 650,000 and marking a 15.4% increase from the previous year [11] Autonomous Trucking Industry - Gatik, an autonomous trucking startup, announced a significant expansion of its partnership with Loblaw Companies, deploying 20 autonomous trucks by the end of 2025 and an additional 30 by the end of 2026 [12][14] - This initiative aims to create one of the largest autonomous commercial truck fleets in North America, initially operating with safety drivers before transitioning to driverless operations [14] Economic Growth Projections - Goldman Sachs analysts project potential GDP growth to accelerate above 2% in the coming years, driven by advancements in AI [15] - AI is estimated to boost productivity growth to 1.7% through 2029 and 1.9% in the early 2030s, potentially leading to GDP growth in the range of 2.1-2.3% [15][16] - Earlier estimates suggested that generative AI could increase global GDP by approximately $7 trillion over the next decade [16][17]

Core Viewpoint - Acadia Healthcare Company, Inc. emphasizes its commitment to enhancing long-term shareholder value and maintaining open communication with shareholders regarding its value creation plan [1] Group 1 - The Board of Directors and management team are dedicated to creating a world-class organization in the treatment of behavioral health [1] - Acadia Healthcare welcomes constructive input from shareholders as it progresses with its initiatives [1]

Core Viewpoint - Acadia Healthcare (NASDAQ: ACHC) experienced a 4% increase in premarket trading following the announcement that activist investor Engine Capital acquired a 3% stake and is advocating for changes in the board and other strategic moves [2] Company Summary - Engine Capital has reported a 3% stake in Acadia Healthcare, indicating a significant interest in influencing the company's governance and strategic direction [2] - The activist investor is pushing for board changes and other initiatives to enhance the company's performance and shareholder value [2]