Acadia Healthcare (NASDAQ:ACHC) Trading 12.9% Higher – Still a Buy?

Acadia Healthcare Company, Inc. (NASDAQ:ACHC) shares were up 12.9% during trading on Wednesday . The stock traded as high as $15.60 and last traded at $15.4210. Approximately 4,484,262 shares changed hands during trading, an increase of 27% from the average daily volume of 3,539,394 shares. The stock had previously closed at $13.66.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research analysts have issued reports on ACHC shares. Cantor Fitzgerald set a $17.00 price objective on shares of Acadia Healthcare in a research report on Wednesday, December 3rd. TD Cowen reissued a “reduce” rating on shares of Acadia Healthcare in a report on Friday, January 16th. Leerink Partners cut Acadia Healthcare from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 3rd. Barclays dropped their target price on Acadia Healthcare from $17.00 to $14.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, December 4th. Finally, Guggenheim cut their price target on Acadia Healthcare from $29.00 to $27.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Monday, November 10th. Six analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, six have assigned a Hold rating and three have given a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Acadia Healthcare presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $18.62.

Acadia Healthcare Stock Performance

The stock’s 50-day moving average price is $13.90 and its 200-day moving average price is $18.80. The company has a market capitalization of $1.43 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.27, a P/E/G ratio of 3.84 and a beta of 0.89. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.73, a quick ratio of 1.44 and a current ratio of 1.44.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Acadia Healthcare

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the business. GW&K Investment Management LLC increased its holdings in Acadia Healthcare by 8.9% during the 4th quarter. GW&K Investment Management LLC now owns 250,358 shares of the company’s stock valued at $3,552,000 after acquiring an additional 20,376 shares in the last quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. lifted its stake in Acadia Healthcare by 28.4% in the 4th quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 82,561 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,172,000 after buying an additional 18,283 shares in the last quarter. State of Wyoming grew its holdings in Acadia Healthcare by 50.1% during the 4th quarter. State of Wyoming now owns 46,170 shares of the company’s stock valued at $655,000 after buying an additional 15,410 shares during the last quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. increased its position in Acadia Healthcare by 417.8% during the fourth quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 4,728,613 shares of the company’s stock worth $67,099,000 after buying an additional 3,815,471 shares in the last quarter. Finally, AXQ Capital LP raised its holdings in shares of Acadia Healthcare by 437.2% in the fourth quarter. AXQ Capital LP now owns 113,543 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,611,000 after acquiring an additional 92,408 shares during the last quarter.

About Acadia Healthcare

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.