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The excitement of investing in a company that can reverse its fortunes is a big draw for some speculators, so even companies that have no revenue, no profit, and a record of falling short, can manage to find investors. But the reality is that when a company loses money each year, for long enough, its investors will usually take their share of those losses. Loss-making companies are always racing against time to reach financial sustainability, so investors in these companies may be taking on more risk than they should.
In contrast to all that, many investors prefer to focus on companies like Acadia Healthcare Company (NASDAQ:ACHC), which has not only revenues, but also profits. Now this is not to say that the company presents the best investment opportunity around, but profitability is a key component to success in business.
See our latest analysis for Acadia Healthcare Company
Acadia Healthcare Company's Improving Profits
Acadia Healthcare Company has undergone a massive growth in earnings per share over the last three years. So much so that this three year growth rate wouldn't be a fair assessment of the company's future. Thus, it makes sense to focus on more recent growth rates, instead. Acadia Healthcare Company's EPS skyrocketed from US$1.83 to US$3.05, in just one year; a result that's bound to bring a smile to shareholders. That's a commendable gain of 67%.
It's often helpful to take a look at earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) margins, as well as revenue growth, to get another take on the quality of the company's growth. Acadia Healthcare Company maintained stable EBIT margins over the last year, all while growing revenue 10% to US$2.4b. That's progress.
In the chart below, you can see how the company has grown earnings and revenue, over time. Click on the chart to see the exact numbers.
In investing, as in life, the future matters more than the past. So why not check out this free interactive visualization of Acadia Healthcare Company's forecast profits?
Are Acadia Healthcare Company Insiders Aligned With All Shareholders?
We would not expect to see insiders owning a large percentage of a US$7.5b company like Acadia Healthcare Company. But we do take comfort from the fact that they are investors in the company. Indeed, they have a considerable amount of wealth invested in it, currently valued at US$134m. Investors will appreciate management having this amount of skin in the game as it shows their commitment to the company's future.
Is Acadia Healthcare Company Worth Keeping An Eye On?
For growth investors, Acadia Healthcare Company's raw rate of earnings growth is a beacon in the night. Further, the high level of insider ownership is impressive and suggests that the management appreciates the EPS growth and has faith in Acadia Healthcare Company's continuing strength. The growth and insider confidence is looked upon well and so it's worthwhile to investigate further with a view to discern the stock's true value. We should say that we've discovered 2 warning signs for Acadia Healthcare Company that you should be aware of before investing here.