Acadia Healthcare Stock Down 60% as One Investor Slashes Stake to Less Than 1% of Assets

Source The Motley Fool

Key Points

  • Engine Capital sold 2,256,741 shares of Acadia Healthcare, with an estimated transaction value of $42.70 million based on quarterly average prices.

  • The quarter-end value of the ACHC stake decreased by $59.35 million, reflecting both trading and stock price movement.

  • The post-trade holding stood at 328,833 shares valued at $4.67 million.

  • 10 stocks we like better than Acadia Healthcare ›

On February 17, 2026, Engine Capital Management reported selling 2,256,741 shares of Acadia Healthcare (NASDAQ:ACHC), an estimated $42.70 million trade based on quarterly average pricing.

What happened

According to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission dated February 17, 2026, Engine Capital Management reduced its position in Acadia Healthcare by 2,256,741 shares. The estimated transaction value was $42.70 million, calculated using the average closing price during the fourth quarter of 2025. The quarter-end value of the ACHC stake dropped by $59.35 million, a figure reflecting both trading activity and price changes.

What else to know

  • The sell action leaves the ACHC stake at just 0.64% of 13F AUM.
  • Top holdings after the filing:
    • NYSE:AVTR: $136.69 million (21% of AUM)
    • NYSE:NATL: $98.38 million (15% of AUM)
    • NYSE: UNF: $88.71 million (12% of AUM)
    • NASDAQ:OFIX: $64.47 million (10% of AUM)
    • NASDAQ:NXST: $40.46 million (6% of AUM)
  • As of February 17, 2026, ACHC shares were priced at $16.42, down 60.0% over the past year and badly trailing the S&P 500’s roughly 13% gain in the same period.

Company overview

MetricValue
Revenue (TTM)$3.27 billion
Net Income (TTM)$107.36 million
Price (as of market close 2026-02-17)$16.42
One-Year Price Change(60.04%)

Company snapshot

  • Acadia Healthcare provides behavioral healthcare services through inpatient psychiatric hospitals, specialty treatment facilities, residential treatment centers, and outpatient clinics.
  • The firm serves individuals in need of behavioral health treatment in the United States and Puerto Rico, targeting both adults and adolescents.

Acadia Healthcare runs a broad network of behavioral health facilities, serving patients across the U.S. and Puerto Rico. It is a leading provider of behavioral healthcare services, operating a large network of facilities focused on mental health and addiction treatment. The company leverages its scale and specialized care delivery to address a broad spectrum of behavioral health needs across diverse patient populations.

What this transaction means for investors

Capital tends to flee when confidence erodes faster than fundamentals can stabilize. A 60% one-year drop will do that, especially in healthcare, where reimbursement risk and regulatory scrutiny never really go away.

Acadia is not a shrinking business on paper. Late last month, the company reaffirmed 2025 guidance calling for revenue between $3.28 billion and $3.30 billion, adjusted EBITDA of $601 million to $611 million, and adjusted EPS of $1.94 to $2.04. It operates 278 facilities with roughly 12,500 beds across 40 states and Puerto Rico—scale that matters in behavioral health, where demand remains structurally strong.

But leadership turnover adds another layer of uncertainty. Debbie Osteen has stepped back in as CEO as the board evaluates paths to enhance shareholder value. At the same time, Medicaid financing changes under the OBBBA and broader macro pressures hang over providers. Within the broader portfolio, the remaining 0.6% weight is small compared with larger allocations to diversified industrial and services names. That shift suggests capital is rotating toward steadier cash generators.

Should you buy stock in Acadia Healthcare right now?

Before you buy stock in Acadia Healthcare, consider this:

The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Acadia Healthcare wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.

Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $424,262!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,163,635!*

Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 904% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 194% for the S&P 500. Don't miss the latest top 10 list, available with Stock Advisor, and join an investing community built by individual investors for individual investors.

See the 10 stocks »

*Stock Advisor returns as of February 23, 2026.

Jonathan Ponciano has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Disclaimer: For information purposes only. Past performance is not indicative of future results.
placeholder
Bitcoin CME gaps at $35,000, $27,000 and $21,000, which one gets filled first?Prioritize filling the $27,000 gap and even try higher.
Author  FXStreet
Aug 22, 2023
Prioritize filling the $27,000 gap and even try higher.
placeholder
Pinduoduo Earnings Incoming: Morgan Stanley Sees Long-Term Profit Potential​Insights – On November 21, Chinese e-commerce giant Pinduoduo (PDD) will release its Q3 2024 earnings.
Author  Mitrade
Nov 20, 2024
​Insights – On November 21, Chinese e-commerce giant Pinduoduo (PDD) will release its Q3 2024 earnings.
placeholder
Elon Musk’s xAI and Neuralink Launch New Funding Rounds​Billionaire Elon Musk recently raised funds for his two high-profile tech companies, xAI and Neuralink.
Author  Insights
Jun 03, 2025
​Billionaire Elon Musk recently raised funds for his two high-profile tech companies, xAI and Neuralink.
placeholder
Bitcoin briefly loses 2025 gains as crypto plunges over the weekend.Bitcoin experienced a sharp decline this weekend, briefly erasing its 2025 gains and dipping below its year-opening value of $93,507. The cryptocurrency fell to a low of $93,029 on Sunday, representing a 25% drop from its all-time high in October. Although it has rebounded slightly to around $94,209, the pressures on the market remain significant. The downturn occurred despite the reopening of the U.S. government on Thursday, which many had hoped would provide essential support for crypto markets. This year initially appeared promising for cryptocurrencies, particularly after the inauguration of President Donald Trump, who has established the most pro-crypto administration thus far. However, ongoing political tensions—including Trump's tariff strategies and the recent government shutdown, lasting a historic 43 days—have contributed to several rapid price pullbacks for Bitcoin throughout the year. Market dynamics are also being influenced by Bitcoin whales—investors holding large amounts of Bitcoin—who have been offloading portions of their assets, consequently stalling price rallies even as positive regulatory developments emerge. Despite these sell-offs, analysts from Glassnode argue that this behavior aligns with typical patterns seen among long-term investors during the concluding stages of bull markets, suggesting it is not indicative of a mass exodus. Notably, Bitcoin is not alone in its struggles, as Ethereum and Solana have also recorded declines of 7.95% and 28.3%, respectively, since the start of the year, while numerous altcoins have faced even steeper losses. Looking ahead, questions linger regarding the viability of the four-year cycle thesis, particularly given the increasing institutional support and regulatory frameworks now in place in the crypto landscape. Matt Hougan, chief investment officer at Bitwise, remains optimistic, suggesting a potential Bitcoin resurgence in 2026 driven by the “debasement trade” thesis and a broader trend toward increased adoption of stablecoins, tokenization, and decentralized finance. Hougan emphasized the soundness of the underlying fundamentals, pointing to a positive outlook for the sector in the longer term.
Author  Mitrade
Nov 17, 2025
Bitcoin experienced a sharp decline this weekend, briefly erasing its 2025 gains and dipping below its year-opening value of $93,507. The cryptocurrency fell to a low of $93,029 on Sunday, representing a 25% drop from its all-time high in October. Although it has rebounded slightly to around $94,209, the pressures on the market remain significant. The downturn occurred despite the reopening of the U.S. government on Thursday, which many had hoped would provide essential support for crypto markets. This year initially appeared promising for cryptocurrencies, particularly after the inauguration of President Donald Trump, who has established the most pro-crypto administration thus far. However, ongoing political tensions—including Trump's tariff strategies and the recent government shutdown, lasting a historic 43 days—have contributed to several rapid price pullbacks for Bitcoin throughout the year. Market dynamics are also being influenced by Bitcoin whales—investors holding large amounts of Bitcoin—who have been offloading portions of their assets, consequently stalling price rallies even as positive regulatory developments emerge. Despite these sell-offs, analysts from Glassnode argue that this behavior aligns with typical patterns seen among long-term investors during the concluding stages of bull markets, suggesting it is not indicative of a mass exodus. Notably, Bitcoin is not alone in its struggles, as Ethereum and Solana have also recorded declines of 7.95% and 28.3%, respectively, since the start of the year, while numerous altcoins have faced even steeper losses. Looking ahead, questions linger regarding the viability of the four-year cycle thesis, particularly given the increasing institutional support and regulatory frameworks now in place in the crypto landscape. Matt Hougan, chief investment officer at Bitwise, remains optimistic, suggesting a potential Bitcoin resurgence in 2026 driven by the “debasement trade” thesis and a broader trend toward increased adoption of stablecoins, tokenization, and decentralized finance. Hougan emphasized the soundness of the underlying fundamentals, pointing to a positive outlook for the sector in the longer term.
placeholder
Silver Price Forecast: XAG/USD falls to near $72.00 amid fading safe-haven demandSilver price (XAG/USD) continues to lose ground after registering tiny losses in the previous day, trading around $72.90 during the Asian hours on Thursday. The safe-haven demand for the precious metal fades amid rising optimism over Middle East peace.
Author  FXStreet
Apr 02, Thu
Silver price (XAG/USD) continues to lose ground after registering tiny losses in the previous day, trading around $72.90 during the Asian hours on Thursday. The safe-haven demand for the precious metal fades amid rising optimism over Middle East peace.
goTop
quote