SEM
Select Medical Holdings Corporation
Medical - Care Facilities
Market Cap$2.04B
5Y Perf.+89.1%
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Stock Comparison
SEM vs ACHC
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
ACHC
Acadia Healthcare Company, Inc.
Medical - Care Facilities
Market Cap$2.33B
5Y Perf.-11.6%
SEM vs ACHC — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | SEM | ACHC |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Medical - Care Facilities | Medical - Care Facilities |
| Market Cap | $2.04B | $2.33B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $5.52B | $3.37B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $134M | $-1.11B |
| Gross Margin | 10.6% | 56.2% |
| Operating Margin | 5.8% | 11.7% |
| Forward P/E | 13.1x | 17.0x |
| Total Debt | $3.70B | $2.65B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $27M | $133M |
SEM vs ACHC — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
SEM
ACHC
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Select Medical Hold… (SEM) | 100 | 189.1 | +89.1% |
| Acadia Healthcare C… (ACHC) | 100 | 88.4 | -11.6% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: SEM vs ACHC
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.
SEM
Select Medical Holdings Corporation
The Income Pick
SEM carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and growth exposure.
- Dividend streak 0 yrs, beta 0.46, yield 1.5%
- Rev growth 5.1%, EPS growth -28.9%, 3Y rev CAGR -4.9%
- 163.0% 10Y total return vs ACHC's -56.7%
Best for: income & stability and growth exposure
ACHC
Acadia Healthcare Company, Inc.
The Specific-Use Pick
In this particular matchup, ACHC is outpaced on most metrics by others in the set.
Best for: healthcare exposure
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% |
SEM vs ACHC — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2025
FY 2025
SEM vs ACHC — 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 — SEM and ACHC 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 | SEMSelect Medical Ho… | ACHCAcadia Healthcare… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $5.5B | $3.4B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $465M | $588M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $134M | -$1.1B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $117M | -$215M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +10.6% | +56.2% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +5.8% | +11.7% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +2.4% | -32.8% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +2.1% | -6.4% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +5.0% | +7.6% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -18.2% | -49.8% |
Evenly matched — SEM and ACHC 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 | SEMSelect Medical Ho… | ACHCAcadia Healthcare… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $2.0B | $2.3B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $5.7B | $4.9B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 13.92x | -2.08x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 13.06x | 16.98x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 12.04x | 8.40x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 0.37x | 0.70x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.00x | 1.07x |
| 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 | SEMSelect Medical Ho… | ACHCAcadia Healthcare… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +6.6% | -40.9% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +2.3% | -18.6% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +4.8% | +5.9% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +7.0% | +7.5% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 1.82x | 1.24x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $3.7B | $2.5B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $27M | $133M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $3.7B | $2.7B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 4.41x | -5.99x |
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 | SEMSelect Medical Ho… | ACHCAcadia Healthcare… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +11.3% | +77.0% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +15.4% | +6.3% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +7.3% | -63.3% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -15.1% | -60.4% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +163.0% | -56.7% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +2.4% | -28.4% |
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 | SEMSelect Medical Ho… | ACHCAcadia Healthcare… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.46x | 0.84x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $16.99 | $30.20 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $11.65 | $11.43 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +96.7% | +83.8% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 62.9 | 46.1 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 2.1M | 3.3M |
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 SEM as "Hold" and ACHC as "Buy". 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 | SEMSelect Medical Ho… | ACHCAcadia Healthcare… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $18.00 | $23.50 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 13 | 25 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +1.5% | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 0 | 1 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.25 | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +4.9% | +2.1% |
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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SEM vs ACHC: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is SEM or ACHC 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 — SEM or ACHC?
On forward P/E, Select Medical Holdings Corporation is actually cheaper at 13.
1x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — SEM or ACHC?
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 — SEM or ACHC?
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 — SEM or ACHC?
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 — SEM or ACHC?
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 SEM or ACHC 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 — SEM or ACHC?
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 SEM or ACHC 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 SEM and ACHC?
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: SEM is a small-cap deep-value stock; ACHC is a small-cap quality compounder 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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