ACHC
Acadia Healthcare Company, Inc.
Medical - Care Facilities
Market Cap$2.33B
5Y Perf.-11.6%
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Stock Comparison
ACHC vs SEM
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
SEM
Select Medical Holdings Corporation
Medical - Care Facilities
Market Cap$2.04B
5Y Perf.+89.1%
ACHC vs SEM — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ACHC | SEM |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Medical - Care Facilities | Medical - Care Facilities |
| Market Cap | $2.33B | $2.04B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $3.37B | $5.52B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $-1.11B | $134M |
| Gross Margin | 56.2% | 10.6% |
| Operating Margin | 11.7% | 5.8% |
| Forward P/E | 17.0x | 13.1x |
| Total Debt | $2.65B | $3.70B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $133M | $27M |
ACHC vs SEM — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
ACHC
SEM
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acadia Healthcare C… (ACHC) | 100 | 88.4 | -11.6% |
| Select Medical Hold… (SEM) | 100 | 189.1 | +89.1% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: ACHC vs SEM
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: SEM leads in 7 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and valuation and capital efficiency. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
ACHC
Acadia Healthcare Company, Inc.
The Income Pick
ACHC is the clearest fit if your priority is income & stability and sleep-well-at-night.
- Dividend streak 1 yrs, beta 0.84
- Lower volatility, beta 0.84, current ratio 1.55x
Best for: income & stability and sleep-well-at-night
SEM
Select Medical Holdings Corporation
The Growth Play
SEM carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for growth exposure and long-term compounding.
- Rev growth 5.1%, EPS growth -28.9%, 3Y rev CAGR -4.9%
- 163.0% 10Y total return vs ACHC's -56.7%
- Beta 0.46, yield 1.5%, current ratio 1.04x
Best for: growth exposure and long-term compounding
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | SEM | 5.1% revenue growth vs ACHC's 5.0% |
| Value | SEM | Lower P/E (13.1x vs 17.0x) |
| Quality / Margins | SEM | 2.4% margin vs ACHC's -32.8% |
| Stability / Safety | SEM | Beta 0.46 vs ACHC's 0.84 |
| Dividends | SEM | 1.5% yield; the other pay no meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | SEM | +15.4% vs ACHC's +6.3% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | SEM | 2.3% ROA vs ACHC's -18.6%, ROIC 4.8% vs 5.9% |
ACHC vs SEM — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2025
FY 2025
ACHC vs SEM — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLSEMLAGGINGACHC
ACHCAcadia Healthcare Com…
2leads
SEMSelect Medical Holdin…
3leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs ACHCMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
Tied
—
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
SEM3/5
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
ACHC5/8
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
SEM5/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
SEM2/2
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
ACHC1/1
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
Evenly matched — ACHC and SEM each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
SEM is the larger business by revenue, generating $5.5B annually — 1.6x ACHC's $3.4B. SEM is the more profitable business, keeping 2.4% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to ACHC's -32.8%.
| Metric | ACHCAcadia Healthcare… | SEMSelect Medical Ho… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $3.4B | $5.5B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $588M | $465M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$1.1B | $134M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | -$215M | $117M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +56.2% | +10.6% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +11.7% | +5.8% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | -32.8% | +2.4% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | -6.4% | +2.1% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +7.6% | +5.0% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -49.8% | -18.2% |
Evenly matched — ACHC and SEM each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
SEM leads this category, winning 3 of 5 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
On an enterprise value basis, ACHC's 8.4x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than SEM's 12.0x.
| Metric | ACHCAcadia Healthcare… | SEMSelect Medical Ho… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $2.3B | $2.0B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $4.9B | $5.7B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -2.08x | 13.92x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 16.98x | 13.06x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 8.40x | 12.04x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 0.70x | 0.37x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.07x | 1.00x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | 5.32x |
SEM leads this category, winning 3 of 5 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
ACHC leads this category, winning 5 of 8 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
SEM delivers a 6.6% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $7 in annual profit, vs $-41 for ACHC. ACHC carries lower financial leverage with a 1.24x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to SEM's 1.82x.
| Metric | ACHCAcadia Healthcare… | SEMSelect Medical Ho… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | -40.9% | +6.6% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -18.6% | +2.3% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +5.9% | +4.8% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +7.5% | +7.0% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 1.24x | 1.82x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $2.5B | $3.7B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $133M | $27M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $2.7B | $3.7B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | -5.99x | 4.41x |
ACHC leads this category, winning 5 of 8 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
SEM leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in SEM five years ago would be worth $8,490 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $3,964 for ACHC. Over the past 12 months, SEM leads with a +15.4% total return vs ACHC's +6.3%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors SEM at 2.4% vs ACHC's -28.4% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ACHCAcadia Healthcare… | SEMSelect Medical Ho… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +77.0% | +11.3% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +6.3% | +15.4% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -63.3% | +7.3% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -60.4% | -15.1% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -56.7% | +163.0% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -28.4% | +2.4% |
SEM leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
SEM leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
SEM is the less volatile stock with a 0.46 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than ACHC's 0.84 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. SEM currently trades 96.7% from its 52-week high vs ACHC's 83.8% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ACHCAcadia Healthcare… | SEMSelect Medical Ho… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.84x | 0.46x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $30.20 | $16.99 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $11.43 | $11.65 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +83.8% | +96.7% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 46.1 | 62.9 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 3.3M | 2.1M |
SEM leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
ACHC leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates ACHC as "Buy" and SEM as "Hold". Consensus price targets imply 9.6% upside for SEM (target: $18) vs -7.1% for ACHC (target: $24). SEM is the only dividend payer here at 1.55% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | ACHCAcadia Healthcare… | SEMSelect Medical Ho… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $23.50 | $18.00 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 25 | 13 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | +1.5% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 1 | 0 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | $0.25 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +2.1% | +4.9% |
ACHC leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Key Takeaway
SEM leads in 3 of 6 categories (Valuation Metrics, Total Returns). ACHC leads in 2 (Profitability & Efficiency, Analyst Outlook). 1 tied.
Best OverallSelect Medical Holdings Cor… (SEM)Leads 3 of 6 categories
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ACHC vs SEM: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is ACHC or SEM a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Select Medical Holdings Corporation (SEM) is the stronger pick with 5.
1% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 5. 0% for Acadia Healthcare Company, Inc. (ACHC). Select Medical Holdings Corporation (SEM) offers the better valuation at 13. 9x trailing P/E (13. 1x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Acadia Healthcare Company, Inc. (ACHC) a "Buy" — based on 25 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.
02Which has the better valuation — ACHC or SEM?
On forward P/E, Select Medical Holdings Corporation is actually cheaper at 13.
1x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — ACHC or SEM?
Over the past 5 years, Select Medical Holdings Corporation (SEM) delivered a total return of -15.
1%, compared to -60. 4% for Acadia Healthcare Company, Inc. (ACHC). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: SEM returned +163. 0% versus ACHC's -56. 7%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — ACHC or SEM?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Select Medical Holdings Corporation (SEM) is the lower-risk stock at 0.
46β versus Acadia Healthcare Company, Inc. 's 0. 84β — meaning ACHC is approximately 83% more volatile than SEM relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Acadia Healthcare Company, Inc. (ACHC) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 124% versus 182% for Select Medical Holdings Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — ACHC or SEM?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Select Medical Holdings Corporation (SEM) is pulling ahead at 5.
1% versus 5. 0% for Acadia Healthcare Company, Inc. (ACHC). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Select Medical Holdings Corporation grew EPS -28. 9% year-over-year, compared to -537. 4% for Acadia Healthcare Company, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, ACHC leads at 8. 3% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.
06Which has better profit margins — ACHC or SEM?
Select Medical Holdings Corporation (SEM) is the more profitable company, earning 2.
7% net margin versus -33. 3% for Acadia Healthcare Company, Inc. — meaning it keeps 2. 7% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: ACHC leads at 11. 7% versus 6. 1% for SEM. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — ACHC leads at 17. 6%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.
07Is ACHC or SEM more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Select Medical Holdings Corporation (SEM) trades at 13.
1x forward P/E versus 17. 0x for Acadia Healthcare Company, Inc. — 3. 9x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for SEM: 9. 6% to $18. 00.
08Which pays a better dividend — ACHC or SEM?
In this comparison, SEM (1.
5% yield) pays a dividend. ACHC does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
09Is ACHC or SEM better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Select Medical Holdings Corporation (SEM) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.
46), 1. 5% yield, +163. 0% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (SEM: +163. 0%, ACHC: -56. 7%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.
10What are the main differences between ACHC and SEM?
Both stocks operate in the Healthcare sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.
In terms of investment character: ACHC is a small-cap quality compounder stock; SEM is a small-cap deep-value stock. SEM pays a dividend while ACHC does not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.
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