BTSG vs ACHC

For growth investors, BrightSpring Health Services, Inc.

Common Stock (BTSG) is the stronger pick with 14. 6% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 5. 0% for Acadia Healthcare Company, Inc. (ACHC). BrightSpring Health Services, Inc. Common Stock (BTSG) offers the better valuation at 60. 9x trailing P/E (34. 0x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate BrightSpring Health Services, Inc. Common Stock (BTSG) a "Buy" — based on 9 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.

On forward P/E, Acadia Healthcare Company, Inc.

is actually cheaper at 16. 4x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, BrightSpring Health Services, Inc.

Common Stock (BTSG) delivered a total return of +381. 3%, compared to -61. 8% for Acadia Healthcare Company, Inc. (ACHC). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: BTSG returned +381. 3% versus ACHC's -58. 5%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Acadia Healthcare Company, Inc.

(ACHC) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 84β versus BrightSpring Health Services, Inc. Common Stock's 1. 46β — meaning BTSG is approximately 74% more volatile than ACHC relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Acadia Healthcare Company, Inc. (ACHC) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 124% versus 151% for BrightSpring Health Services, Inc. Common Stock — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), BrightSpring Health Services, Inc.

Common Stock (BTSG) is pulling ahead at 14. 6% versus 5. 0% for Acadia Healthcare Company, Inc. (ACHC). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: BrightSpring Health Services, Inc. Common Stock grew EPS 1029% year-over-year, compared to -537. 4% for Acadia Healthcare Company, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, BTSG leads at 18. 7% 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.

BrightSpring Health Services, Inc.

Common Stock (BTSG) is the more profitable company, earning 1. 5% net margin versus -33. 3% for Acadia Healthcare Company, Inc. — meaning it keeps 1. 5% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: ACHC leads at 11. 7% versus 3. 2% for BTSG. 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.

On forward earnings alone, Acadia Healthcare Company, Inc.

(ACHC) trades at 16. 4x forward P/E versus 34. 0x for BrightSpring Health Services, Inc. Common Stock — 17. 6x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for ACHC: -3. 9% to $23. 50.

None of the stocks in this comparison currently pay a material dividend.

All are effectively zero-yield and should be held for capital appreciation rather than income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Acadia Healthcare Company, Inc.

(ACHC) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 84)). Both have compounded well over 10 years (ACHC: -58. 5%, BTSG: +381. 3%), 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.

Both stocks operate in the Healthcare sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.

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.