We recently compiled a list of the 7 Worst Beaten Down Stocks to Invest In. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Acadia Healthcare Company, Inc. (NASDAQ:ACHC) stands against the other the Carl Icahn Stock Portfolio.
The US stock market remains resilient, with the upward momentum intact at the start of the year’s final quarter. The rally to record highs has come against the backdrop of investors betting on themes like artificial intelligence and interest rate cuts on the back of impressive earnings results.
Nevertheless, the recent market boom has raised concerns regarding possible market overvaluation. The market has seen substantial gains, with the S&P 500 up by more than 20% and flirting with record highs. Overvaluation bells are increasingly ringing, given that the Bull Run persisted despite interest rates at record highs.
READ ALSO: 8 Best Warren Buffett Stocks to Buy According to Analysts and 8 Best Value Stocks to Invest In According To Warren Buffett.
The US Federal Reserve cutting interest rates by 50 basis points has since acted as the latest catalyst sustaining the upward trajectory in the market. The spike results from several things, such as rising investor confidence and optimism regarding the economy’s future as the Fed moves to bring interest rates down.
The Federal Reserve’s move to reduce interest rates by half a percentage point in September had a significant effect on the market. The move, driven by worries about the condition of the job market and slowing manufacturing, also raised serious doubts about the health of the US economy. Although some experts think a reduction of half a percentage point is too extreme, others believe it could be the much-needed boost for some of the worst beaten-down stocks to invest in.
Given that the market always tends to rise with a perfect record of 7 out of the 7 times such cuts have occurred, it underscores why investors should be bullish about some of the worst-beaten stocks to invest in. According to Vance Howard of Howard Capital Management, there is an 83% chance of upward movement as the Fed continues to trim interest rates.
Some of the sectors Vance Howard believes are well poised to benefit from the low interest rate environment include real estate and utilities under pressure before the Fed cut. Regarding particular industries to watch, Howard pointed out that financials would probably get stronger after rate cuts. He clarified that although financial stocks usually bounce back and keep rising following a rate cut, they may initially decline. He also advised sticking with technology stock investments.
While a lower interest rate environment could be a boon for some beaten-down stocks, investors should be extremely cautious given the prevailing economic conditions. It’s essential to look at the overall market movements and possible dangers.
Looking forward to the final three months of the year, veteran investor and the CEO of Wise Private Singapore, Kevin Tang, has warned about the potential impact of multiple uncertainties on the horizon. The forthcoming U.S. elections, increasing geopolitical tensions, and worries about an economic downturn are headwinds investors believe could weigh heavily on the market, even on the interest rate cuts that provide support.
Moreover, the forthcoming US elections are making analysts and economists jittery as the market becomes more unstable, given the two candidates’ economic policies. Tom Lee, the managing partner and chief research officer at Fundstrat Global Advisors, recently shared his views on CNBC, suggesting that investing in small-cap stocks and equities is preferable to bonds for their higher growth potential, provided the election uncertainty continues.
Meanwhile, analysts at Morgan Stanley believe that Chinese stocks could experience a more sustained rally following the recent wave of stimulus measures. They anticipate a rally of at least 10% in the near future and possibly even more. If there is further clarity on earnings improvements, the stocks could rally even further, with valuations reaching levels last seen during the economy’s reopening from November 2022 to March 2023.
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Our Methodology
To make our list of the best beaten-down stocks, we first made a list of all stocks that have set a new 52-week low and have a market capitalization of more than $300 million. Then, we also considered their year-to-date share price performance. Finally, this list of beaten-down stocks was ranked in descending order of the number of hedge funds that had bought the shares in Q2 2024, and the least popular stocks according to hedge funds were chosen.
Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter’s strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 275% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 150 percentage points (see more details here).
Acadia Healthcare Company, Inc. (NASDAQ:ACHC)
Current share price: $63.41
52 Week Range: $53.22 – $87.77
Year to date Gain as of October 1: -18.94%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 35
Acadia Healthcare Company, Inc. (NASDAQ:ACHC) is a healthcare company that provides behavioural healthcare services. It also develops and operates acute inpatient psychiatric facilities, speciality treatment facilities comprising residential recovery facilities and eating disorder facilities.
The stock has been under pressure, plunging close to its 52-week lows following reports Federal authorities were investigating it over its admissions, length of stay and billing practices. Acadia Healthcare Company, Inc. (NASDAQ:ACHC) has already refuted any wrongdoing, insisting that decisions on patient care are not business decisions and are not influenced by insurance coverage or patients’ ability to pay.
The company fires from all angles amid the federal probe, delivering solid second-quarter results. Revenue increased by 8.8% to $796 million in the company’s Q2 2024 earnings, while adjusted EBITDA increased by 7.6% year over year. Acadia Healthcare Company, Inc. (NASDAQ:ACHC) plans to add about 1,200 beds and expects strong volume growth and mid-single-digit same-store patient day growth in the year’s second half despite the closure of two underperforming facilities.
To improve safety and care coordination, the company has also standardized clinical protocols, launched new training initiatives, and spent about $100 million on technology. Acadia Healthcare Company, Inc. (NASDAQ:ACHC) claims that these efforts are yielding encouraging outcomes, as evidenced by rises in patient satisfaction ratings and excellent evaluations for their opioid treatment programs. These are a few of Acadia Healthcare’s latest innovations.
Acadia Healthcare Company, Inc. (NASDAQ:ACHC) is one of the worst-beaten stocks to invest in as its business model has proved resilient, as evidenced by 10% revenue growth over the past 12 months. Alongside this growth, EBITDA grew strongly over the same time period by 12.69%, indicating increased operational efficiency. Additionally, 35 hedge funds held stakes in the company at the end of the second quarter of 2024.
Overall ACHC ranks 5th on our list of 7 Worst Beaten Down Stocks to Invest In. While we acknowledge the potential of ACHC as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns, and doing so within a shorter timeframe. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than ACHC, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.
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Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.