Acadia Healthcare Company Inc. (NASDAQ: ACHC) experienced a significant 24-hour plunge, with its stock falling 5.10%. The decline was most pronounced in the post-market session following the company's earnings release, continuing into the next trading day.
The behavioral healthcare provider reported first-quarter 2026 results that surpassed analyst expectations, with adjusted earnings per share of $0.37 beating the $0.27 estimate and revenue of $828.8 million exceeding forecasts. However, investor focus quickly shifted to the company's outlook for the coming periods.
Acadia Healthcare issued second-quarter 2026 adjusted EPS guidance in the range of $0.30 to $0.40, which fell short of the IBES estimate of $0.48. For the full fiscal year 2026, the company expects adjusted EPS between $1.35 and $1.60, compared to the analyst consensus of $1.49. This softer guidance for future profitability, despite the strong Q1 performance, triggered the sell-off as investors reassessed growth expectations.