Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Universal Health Services, Inc. (UHS) vs Acadia Healthcare Company, Inc. (ACHC) Stock
Analyze side-by-side fundamentals, valuation, growth, and profitability to decide which stock is the better buy.
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Quick Verdict
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | UHS | 9.7% revenue growth vs ACHC's 5.0% |
| Value | UHS | Lower P/E (8.8x vs 15.7x) |
| Quality / Margins | UHS | 8.6% net margin vs ACHC's -33.3% |
| Stability / Safety | UHS | Beta 0.69 vs ACHC's 0.75, lower leverage |
| Dividends | UHS | 0.4% yield; 1-year raise streak; ACHC pays no meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | UHS | +18.1% vs ACHC's -21.8% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | UHS | 9.6% ROA vs ACHC's -20.0%, ROIC 12.4% vs 5.9% |
Who Each Stock Is For
Income & stability
Growth exposure
Long-term compounding (10Y)
Sleep-well-at-night portfolio
Defensive / Recession hedge
Business Model
What each company does and how it makes money
Universal Health Services is a major hospital operator that owns and runs acute care hospitals alongside behavioral health facilities across the U.S. and internationally. It generates revenue primarily from patient services—split roughly 60% from acute care and 40% from behavioral health—with payments coming from government programs, private insurers, and self-pay patients. The company's scale and geographic diversification across hundreds of facilities create operational efficiencies and a stable revenue base that smaller regional operators cannot match.
Acadia Healthcare operates a network of behavioral healthcare facilities — including psychiatric hospitals, residential treatment centers, and outpatient clinics — across the United States and Puerto Rico. It generates revenue primarily from patient services reimbursed by government payers like Medicaid and Medicare (roughly 50-60%) and commercial insurance (roughly 30-40%). The company's competitive advantage lies in its scale as one of the largest pure-play behavioral health providers, creating operational efficiencies and a broad geographic footprint that supports patient access and referral networks.
Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Financial Metrics Comparison
Side-by-side fundamentals across 2 stocks. BestLagging
Financial Scorecard
UHS leads in 5 of 6 categories — strongest in Financial Metrics and Valuation Metrics.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
UHS is the larger business by revenue, generating $17.4B annually — 5.2x ACHC's $3.3B. UHS is the more profitable business, keeping 8.6% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to ACHC's -33.3%.
| Metric | UHSUniversal Health … | ACHCAcadia Healthcare… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $17.4B | $3.3B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $2.6B | $513M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $1.5B | -$1.1B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $831M | -$440M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +67.0% | +60.6% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +11.5% | +9.7% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +8.6% | -33.3% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +4.8% | -13.3% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +9.1% | +6.1% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +41.3% | -38.2% |
Valuation Metrics
On an enterprise value basis, UHS's 1.9x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than ACHC's 8.0x.
| Metric | UHSUniversal Health … | ACHCAcadia Healthcare… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $3M | $2.1B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $5.0B | $4.6B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 8.92x | -1.93x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 8.80x | 15.68x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 0.56x | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 1.93x | 8.02x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 0.00x | 0.64x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.79x | 0.99x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 0.00x | — |
Profitability & Efficiency
UHS delivers a 20.1% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $20 in annual profit, vs $-52 for ACHC. UHS carries lower financial leverage with a 0.70x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to ACHC's 1.23x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), UHS scores 7/9 vs ACHC's 5/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | UHSUniversal Health … | ACHCAcadia Healthcare… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +20.1% | -51.5% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +9.6% | -20.0% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +12.4% | +5.9% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +16.2% | +7.5% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 7 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.70x | 1.23x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $5.0B | $2.5B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $138M | $133M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $5.2B | $2.6B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 9.66x | 1.82x |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in UHS five years ago would be worth $16,427 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $4,183 for ACHC. Over the past 12 months, UHS leads with a +18.1% total return vs ACHC's -21.8%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors UHS at 16.0% vs ACHC's -31.4% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | UHSUniversal Health … | ACHCAcadia Healthcare… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -6.3% | +64.0% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +18.1% | -21.8% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +56.1% | -67.7% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +64.3% | -58.2% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +92.1% | -57.7% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +16.0% | -31.4% |
Risk & Volatility
UHS is the less volatile stock with a 0.69 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than ACHC's 0.75 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. UHS currently trades 83.7% from its 52-week high vs ACHC's 69.8% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | UHSUniversal Health … | ACHCAcadia Healthcare… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.69x | 0.75x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $246.33 | $33.58 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $152.33 | $11.43 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +83.7% | +69.8% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 36.4 | 84.4 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 578K | 3.0M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates UHS as "Hold" and ACHC as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 19.2% upside for UHS (target: $246) vs -15.4% for ACHC (target: $20). UHS is the only dividend payer here at 0.39% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | UHSUniversal Health … | ACHCAcadia Healthcare… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $245.67 | $19.82 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 43 | 25 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +0.4% | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 1 | 1 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.80 | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +100.0% | +2.4% |
Historical Charts
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Chart 1Total Return — 5 Years (Rebased to 100)
| Stock | Mar 20 | Feb 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Universal Health Se… (UHS) | 100 | 153.13 | +53.1% |
| Acadia Healthcare C… (ACHC) | 100 | 44.14 | -55.9% |
Universal Health Se… (UHS) returned +64% over 5 years vs Acadia Healthcare C… (ACHC)'s -58%. A $10,000 investment in UHS 5 years ago would be worth $16,427 today (including dividends reinvested).
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Universal Health Se… (UHS) | $9.8B | $17.4B | +77.8% |
| Acadia Healthcare C… (ACHC) | $2.8B | $3.3B | +17.9% |
Universal Health Services, Inc.'s revenue grew from $9.8B (2016) to $17.4B (2025) — a 6.6% CAGR. Acadia Healthcare Company, Inc.'s revenue grew from $2.8B (2016) to $3.3B (2025) — a 1.8% CAGR.
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Universal Health Se… (UHS) | 7.2% | 8.6% | +19.2% |
| Acadia Healthcare C… (ACHC) | 0.2% | -33.3% | -15335.0% |
Universal Health Services, Inc.'s net margin went from 7% (2016) to 9% (2025). Acadia Healthcare Company, Inc.'s net margin went from 0% (2016) to -33% (2025).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 9 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Universal Health Se… (UHS) | 14.5 | 9.4 | -35.2% |
| Acadia Healthcare C… (ACHC) | 14.2 | 14.3 | +0.7% |
Universal Health Services, Inc. has traded in a 9x–16x P/E range over 9 years; current trailing P/E is ~9x. Acadia Healthcare Company, Inc. has traded in a 14x–29x P/E range over 5 years; current trailing P/E is ~-2x.
Chart 5EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Universal Health Se… (UHS) | 7.14 | 23.1 | +223.5% |
| Acadia Healthcare C… (ACHC) | 0.07 | -12.16 | -17471.4% |
Universal Health Services, Inc.'s EPS grew from $7.14 (2016) to $23.10 (2025) — a 14% CAGR. Acadia Healthcare Company, Inc.'s EPS grew from $0.07 (2016) to $-12.16 (2025) — a NaN% CAGR.
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
Universal Health Services, Inc. generated $849M FCF in 2025 (+2929% vs 2021). Acadia Healthcare Company, Inc. generated $-440M FCF in 2025 (-439% vs 2021).
UHS vs ACHC: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is UHS or ACHC a better buy right now?
Universal Health Services, Inc. (UHS) offers the better valuation at 8.9x trailing P/E (8.8x 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 — UHS or ACHC?
On forward P/E, Universal Health Services, Inc. is actually cheaper at 8.8x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — UHS or ACHC?
Over the past 5 years, Universal Health Services, Inc. (UHS) delivered a total return of +64.3%, compared to -58.2% for Acadia Healthcare Company, Inc. (ACHC). A $10,000 investment in UHS five years ago would be worth approximately $16K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: UHS returned +92.1% versus ACHC's -57.7%. 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 — UHS or ACHC?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Universal Health Services, Inc. (UHS) is the lower-risk stock at 0.69β versus Acadia Healthcare Company, Inc.'s 0.75β — meaning ACHC is approximately 9% more volatile than UHS relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Universal Health Services, Inc. (UHS) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 70% versus 123% for Acadia Healthcare Company, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — UHS or ACHC?
Universal Health Services, Inc. (UHS) is the more profitable company, earning 8.6% net margin versus -33.3% for Acadia Healthcare Company, Inc. — meaning it keeps 8.6% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: ACHC leads at 11.7% versus 11.5% for UHS. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — UHS leads at 67.0%, 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.
06Is UHS or ACHC more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Universal Health Services, Inc. (UHS) trades at 8.8x forward P/E versus 15.7x for Acadia Healthcare Company, Inc. — 6.9x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for UHS: 19.2% to $245.67.
07Which pays a better dividend — UHS or ACHC?
In this comparison, UHS (0.4% yield) pays a dividend. ACHC does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
08Is UHS or ACHC better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Universal Health Services, Inc. (UHS) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.69)). Both have compounded well over 10 years (UHS: +92.1%, ACHC: -57.7%), 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.
09What are the main differences between UHS 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: UHS is a small-cap deep-value stock; ACHC is a small-cap quality compounder stock. 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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