Acadia Healthcare ACHC Shares Down 9 Despite Q1 Earnings Beat

pn n n concatei18ntsearchvoicerecognitionretryn ppShares of Acadia Healthcare Company Inc ACHC declined 94 since it reported firstquarter 2024 earnings on May 1 The results were hurt by a decline in admissions which remain the most significant contributor to a healthcare facility operators top line Additionally an elevated expense level resulting from higher salaries wages and benefits led to the downside as well Nevertheless improved patient days provided some respite to its revenues while sustained demand for behavioral health services and impressive growthrelated initiatives remained other tailwinds for the companyppACHC reported adjusted firstquarter earnings of 84 cents per share which surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 5 The bottom line rose 12 year over yearppTotal revenues of 7681 million improved 91 year over year Yet the top line fell short of the consensus mark by 12pp ppAcadia Healthcare Company Inc priceconsensusepssurprisechart Acadia Healthcare Company Inc QuoteppSamefacility revenues amounted to 7563 million which advanced 92 year over year but missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate and our estimate of 766 million The yearoveryear growth resulted from a 69 improvement in revenue per patient day and a 22 rise in patient days However admissions slid 17 year over year The average length of stay rose 4 year over year higher than our growth estimate of 26ppIn the overall facility patient days grew 18 while admissions decreased 17 year over year Revenue per patient day advanced 71 year over year which beat our growth estimate of 46 The average length of stay grew 36 year over year higher than our growth estimate of 23ppAdjusted EBITDA of 1739 million rose 149 year over year and outpaced our estimate of 171 million Adjusted EBITDA margin improved 110 basis points year over year to 226ppTotal expenses of 6692 million increased 82 year over year due to higher salaries wages and benefits professional fees other operating costs and interest expenses However the metric fell short of our estimate of 6741 millionppAcadia Healthcare exited the first quarter with cash and cash equivalents of 773 million which dropped 228 from the 2023end level It had a leftover capacity of 3715 million under its 600 million revolving credit facility at the quarter endppTotal assets of 55 billion increased 3 from the figure at 2023 endppLongterm debt amounted to 18 billion which climbed 336 from the figure as of Dec 31 2023 The current portion of longterm debt was 615 millionppTotal equity of 29 billion rose 3 from the 2023end level The net leverage ratio was around 26X at the quarter endppNet cash used in operations totaled 3213 million against net cash generated from operating activities of 444 million in the prioryear quarterppAcadia Healthcare added 27 beds to its existing facilities in the first quarter It also inaugurated one specialty de novo facility named Sabal Palms Recovery Center in Florida The company added 15 outpatient programs Additionally it completed the Turning Point Centers buyout in February 2024 It also purchased three comprehensive treatment centers in North Carolina in March 2024ACHC also initiated construction work on two joint venture hospitals one in partnership with Orlando Health in Florida and the other one in alliance with Tufts Medicine across MassachusettsppRevenues are anticipated to lie between 318 billion and 325 billion Adjusted EBITDA is estimated to be in the range of 730770 millionppAdjusted earnings per share EPS are forecast between 340 and 370 in 2024 the midpoint of which implies a rise of 32 from the 2023 figureppInterest expenses are estimated within 110120 million Depreciation and amortization expenses are anticipated in the 150160 million band The tax rate is expected within 245255 Stock compensation expenses are projected to lie between 40 million and 45 millionppOperating cash flows are forecasted within 525575 million for 2024 Expansion capital expenditure is anticipated between 425 million and 475 million Maintenance and IT capital expenditures are expected to be in the range of 90110 millionppManagement estimates to add more than 400 beds to existing facilities in 2024 It targets to inaugurate a maximum of 14 CTCs this yearppAcadia Healthcare currently has a Zacks Rank 4 SellppYou can see the complete list of todays Zacks 1 Rank Strong Buy stocks hereppOf the Medical sector players that have reported firstquarter 2024 results so far the bottomline results of The Cigna Group CI Centene Corporation CNC and Molina Healthcare Inc MOH beat the respective Zacks Consensus EstimateppCigna reported firstquarter 2024 adjusted EPS of 647 which outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 49 The bottom line advanced 196 year over year Adjusted revenues advanced 23 year over year to 572 billion The top line beat the consensus mark by 11 The medical customer base was 192 million as of Mar 31 2024 which slid 15 year over year Adjusted selling general and administrative SGA expense ratio of 64 improved 120 basis points bps year over yearppCI reported adjusted income from operations of 19 billion which rose 16 year over year Adjusted revenues in the Evernorth Health Services segment climbed 28 year over year to 462 billion Adjusted operating income on a pretax basis amounted to 136 billion The Cigna Healthcare segment recorded adjusted revenues of 1328 billion which advanced 4 year over year The units pretax adjusted operating income rose 20 year over year to 13 billion Medical care ratio improved 140 bps year over year to 799 at the firstquarter endppCentene recorded firstquarter 2024 adjusted EPS of 226 which outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 81 The bottom line improved 71 year over year Revenues advanced 39 year over year to 404 billion The top line beat the consensus mark by 11 Revenues from Medicaid amounted to 215 billion which slipped 3 year over year while Medicare revenues inched up 1 year over year to 59 billionppAdditionally commercial revenues of 78 billion climbed 48 year over year Premiums of CNC rose 5 year over year to 355 billion Service revenues of 808 million declined 283 year over year As of Mar 31 2024 total membership was 284 million which dipped marginally year over year Adjusted net earnings grew 41 year over year to 122 billionppMolina Healthcare reported firstquarter 2024 adjusted EPS of 573 which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 5 However the bottom line dipped 14 year over year Total revenues amounted to 99 billion which improved 219 year over year Also the top line outpaced the consensus mark by 43 Premium revenues of 95 billion climbed 21 year over yearppInvestment income soared 521 year over year to 108 million Adjusted general and administrative expense ratio deteriorated 10 bps year over year to 71 MOHs adjusted net income dipped 09 year over year to 334 million The consolidated MCR medical costs as a percentage of premium revenues was 885 The metric deteriorated 140 bps year over year As of Mar 31 2024 total membership advanced 9 year over year to around 57 millionppWant the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research Today you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days Click to get this free reportppMolina Healthcare Inc MOH Free Stock Analysis ReportppCigna Group CI Free Stock Analysis ReportppCentene Corporation CNC Free Stock Analysis ReportppAcadia Healthcare Company Inc ACHC Free Stock Analysis ReportppTo read this article on Zackscom click hereppZacks Investment ResearchppSign in to access your portfoliop