LifeStance Health Group (NASDAQ:LFST – Get Free Report) and Mangoceuticals (NASDAQ:MGRX – Get Free Report) are both healthcare companies, but which is the better investment? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their dividends, risk, analyst recommendations, institutional ownership, profitability, valuation and earnings.
Insider & Institutional Ownership 85.5% of LifeStance Health Group shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 56.7% of Mangoceuticals shares are held by institutional investors. 3.5% of LifeStance Health Group shares are held by company insiders. Comparatively, 16.0% of Mangoceuticals shares are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, hedge funds and endowments believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.
Earnings & Valuation This table compares LifeStance Health Group and Mangoceuticals”s top-line revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.
Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio LifeStance Health Group $1.42 billion 3.54 $9.66 million $0.13 100.00 Mangoceuticals $460,000.00 18.05 -$20.64 million ($1.01) -0.38 LifeStance Health Group has higher revenue and earnings than Mangoceuticals. Mangoceuticals is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than LifeStance Health Group, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.
Profitability This table compares LifeStance Health Group and Mangoceuticals’ net margins, return on equity and return on assets.
Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets LifeStance Health Group 3.19% 3.39% 2.33% Mangoceuticals -4,794.60% -96.39% -89.60% Analyst Recommendations This is a breakdown of current recommendations for LifeStance Health Group and Mangoceuticals, as reported by MarketBeat.com.
Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score LifeStance Health Group 0 4 6 1 2.73 Mangoceuticals 1 0 0 0 1.00 LifeStance Health Group currently has a consensus target price of $12.88, indicating a potential downside of 0.96%. Given LifeStance Health Group’s stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, analysts plainly believe LifeStance Health Group is more favorable than Mangoceuticals.
Volatility & Risk LifeStance Health Group has a beta of 1.22, suggesting that its share price is 22% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Mangoceuticals has a beta of 2.04, suggesting that its share price is 104% more volatile than the S&P 500.
Summary LifeStance Health Group beats Mangoceuticals on 12 of the 15 factors compared between the two stocks.
(Get Free Report)
LifeStance Health Group, Inc., through its subsidiaries, provides outpatient mental health services to children, adolescents, adults, and geriatrics in the United States. The company offers patients a suite of mental health services, including psychiatric evaluations and treatment, psychological, and neuropsychological testing, as well as individual, family, and group therapy. It treats a range of mental health conditions, including anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, eating disorders, psychotic disorders, and post-traumatic stress disorder. In addition, the company operates an outpatient mental health platform, as well as offers patient care virtually through its online delivery platform or in-person at its centers. LifeStance Health Group, Inc. was founded in 2017 and is headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona.
About Mangoceuticals (Get Free Report)
Mangoceuticals, Inc. develops, markets, and sells various men's wellness products and services through a telemedicine platform in the United States. It offers erectile dysfunction (ED) products under the Mango brand and hair loss products under the Grow brand name. The company markets and sells these branded ED and hair loss products online through its website at MangoRx.com. Mangoceuticals, Inc. has a marketing agreement with Marius Pharmaceuticals, LLC to market and sell KYZATREX, an oral testosterone replacement therapy product under the PRIME program. The company was incorporated in 2021 and is headquartered in Dallas, Texas. Mangoceuticals, Inc. is a subsidiary of Cohen Enterprises, Inc.
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Momentum investing revolves around the idea of following a stock's recent trend in either direction. In "long context," investors will be essentially be "buying high, but hoping to sell even higher." With this methodology, taking advantage of trends in a stock's price is key; once a stock establishes a course, it is more than likely to continue moving that way. The goal is that once a stock heads down a fixed path, it will lead to timely and profitable trades.
Even though momentum is a popular stock characteristic, it can be tough to define. Debate surrounding which are the best and worst metrics to focus on is lengthy, but the Zacks Momentum Style Score, part of the Zacks Style Scores, helps address this issue for us.
Below, we take a look at LifeStance Health Group (LFST - Free Report) , a company that currently holds a Momentum Style Score of B. We also talk about price change and earnings estimate revisions, two of the main aspects of the Momentum Style Score.
It's also important to note that Style Scores work as a complement to the Zacks Rank, our stock rating system that has an impressive track record of outperformance. LifeStance Health Group currently has a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy). Our research shows that stocks rated Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) and #2 (Buy) and Style Scores of "A or B" outperform the market over the following one-month period.
You can see the current list of Zacks #1 Rank Stocks here >>>
Set to Beat the Market?Let's discuss some of the components of the Momentum Style Score for LFST that show why this outpatient mental health services provider shows promise as a solid momentum pick.
A good momentum benchmark for a stock is to look at its short-term price activity, as this can reflect both current interest and if buyers or sellers currently have the upper hand. It is also useful to compare a security to its industry, as this can help investors pinpoint the top companies in a particular area.
For LFST, shares are up 3.41% over the past week while the Zacks Medical - Outpatient and Home Healthcare industry is up 0.78% over the same time period. Shares are looking quite well from a longer time frame too, as the monthly price change of 3.19% compares favorably with the industry's 0.99% performance as well.
While any stock can see its price increase, it takes a real winner to consistently beat the market. That is why looking at longer term price metrics -- such as performance over the past three months or year -- can be useful as well. Shares of LifeStance Health Group have increased 46.57% over the past quarter, and have gained 144.1% in the last year. On the other hand, the S&P 500 has only moved 3.69% and 18.46%, respectively.
Investors should also take note of LFST's average 20-day trading volume. Volume is a useful item in many ways, and the 20-day average establishes a good price-to-volume baseline; a rising stock with above average volume is generally a bullish sign, whereas a declining stock on above average volume is typically bearish. Right now LFST is averaging 3,760,865 shares for the last 20 days..
Earnings OutlookThe Zacks Momentum Style Score encompasses many things, including estimate revisions and a stock's price movement. Investors should note that earnings estimates are also significant to the Zacks Rank, and a nice path here can be promising. We have recently been noticing this with LFST.
Over the past two months, 3 earnings estimates moved higher compared to none lower for the full year. These revisions helped boost LFST's consensus estimate, increasing from $0.12 to $0.16 in the past 60 days. Looking at the next fiscal year, 3 estimates have moved upwards while there have been no downward revisions in the same time period.
Bottom LineTaking into account all of these elements, it should come as no surprise that LFST is a #2 (Buy) stock with a Momentum Score of B. If you've been searching for a fresh pick that's set to rise in the near-term, make sure to keep LifeStance Health Group on your short list.
Key Takeaways LifeStance Health posted 26% revenue growth as visit volumes rose 19% to 2.6 million. Everus Construction completed a $295M acquisition expected to expand its modular construction capabilities.HF Sinclair expects 2026 earnings to surge 134.2% as it advances the Western Gateway Pipeline. Major U.S. stock indices ended Sept. 9, 2026, on a dismal note as rising oil prices and inflation worries kept the bourses under pressure for the third consecutive day. Meanwhile, bond yields climbed higher, with the 10-year yield hitting 4.836%, further hurting investor optimism in the stock market.
Amid this backdrop, investors must be increasingly forced to recalibrate their equity risk as macro headwinds converge on multiple fronts. Notably, a sharp resurgence in energy costs—driven by Middle East supply disruptions that pushed Brent crude past $100 a barrel—has amplified anxieties over persistent consumer and wholesale inflation.
With money markets now pricing in a heightened probability of further Federal Reserve rate hikes to combat sticky input costs, investors might want to pivot toward financially resilient, low-leverage stocks.
Backed by strong balance sheets, high coverage ratios, and robust free cash flow, low-leverage stocks emerge as a prudent defensive strategy to survive an increasingly restrictive monetary and economic environment.
To this end, we recommend low-leverage stocks, such as LifeStance Health Group (LFST - Free Report) , Tutor Perini (TPC - Free Report) , News Corporation (NWS - Free Report) , Everus Construction Group (ECG - Free Report) and HF Sinclair (DINO - Free Report) . Before selecting low-leverage stocks, it is important to understand what leverage is and how investing in low-leverage companies can benefit investors.
What’s the Significance of Low-Leverage Stocks?In finance, leverage refers to the use of borrowed capital to support business operations and drive expansion. Companies typically raise such funds through debt financing, although equity financing remains an alternative. However, firms often prefer debt due to its relatively lower cost and easier availability compared to issuing equity.
Debt financing comes with inherent risks and is beneficial only when it generates returns that exceed the cost of borrowing. To limit downside risk, investors should be cautious of companies that rely excessively on debt. Prudent investing involves selecting businesses with manageable leverage, as completely debt-free companies are rare.
The equity market can be volatile at times. As an investor, if you want to avoid significant losses, we suggest focusing on stocks with low leverage, which are generally deemed less risky.
To identify such stocks, several leverage ratios have historically been developed to measure the amount of debt a company carries. The debt-to-equity ratio is among the most widely used financial ratios.
Analyzing Debt/EquityDebt-to-Equity Ratio = Total Liabilities/Shareholders’ Equity
This metric is a liquidity ratio that indicates the amount of financial risk a company bears. A lower debt-to-equity ratio suggests improved solvency for a company.
With the second-quarter 2026 earnings season almost behind us, investors should focus on stocks that have demonstrated solid earnings growth in recent periods.
If a stock carries a high debt-to-equity ratio during an economic downturn, its seemingly strong earnings could quickly turn into a nightmare.
The Winning StrategyConsidering the aforementioned factors, it would be prudent to choose stocks with a low debt-to-equity ratio to ensure steady returns.
Yet, an investment strategy based solely on the debt-to-equity ratio might not fetch the desired outcome. To select stocks with the potential to provide steady returns, we have expanded our screening criteria to include additional factors.
Other Parameters:
Debt/Equity Less Than X-Industry Median: Stocks that are less leveraged than their industry peers.
Current Price Greater Than or Equal to 10: The stocks must be trading at $10 or higher.
Average 20-day Volume Greater Than or Equal to 50000: A substantial trading volume ensures that the stock is easily tradable.
Percentage Change in EPS F(0)/F(-1) Greater Than X-Industry Median: Earnings growth adds to optimism, leading to a stock’s price appreciation.
VGM Score of A or B: Our research shows that stocks with a VGM Score of A or B, when combined with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy), offer the best upside potential.
Estimated One-Year EPS Growth F (1)/F(0) Greater Than 5: This shows earnings growth expectations.
Zacks Rank #1 or 2: Irrespective of market conditions, stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 or 2 have a proven history of success.
Excluding stocks with a negative or zero debt-to-equity ratio, we present our five picks out of the 17 that made it through the screen.
LifeStance Health: It is a provider of virtual and in-person outpatient mental health care for children, adolescents and adults with mental health conditions. On Aug. 6, 2026, the company announced its second-quarter 2026 results. Its revenues increased 26% year over year, while its visit volumes improved 19% to 2.6 million.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for LFST’s 2026 revenues implies an improvement of 19.7% from the prior-year reported level. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for LFST’s 2026 earnings indicates a massive surge of 700% from the prior-year reported level. It currently carries a Zacks Rank #2. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Tutor Perini: It provides diversified general contracting, construction management, and design-build services to private clients and public agencies worldwide. On Aug. 13, 2026, the company announced that its subsidiary, Perini Management Services, Inc. (“PMSI”), has been awarded a contract valued at approximately $42 million by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Middle East District, Southwestern Division, to complete the construction of facilities at Tabuk Air Base in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for TPC’s 2026 revenues suggests an improvement of 14% from the prior-year reported numbers. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for TPC’s 2026 earnings indicates growth of 27.7% from the prior-year reported level. TPC currently carries a Zacks Rank #2.
News Corporation: It provides media and information services. On Aug. 5, 2026, the company reported its fourth-quarter fiscal 2026 results. Its quarterly revenues improved 11% year over year, driven by growth in the Digital Real Estate Services, Book Publishing, and Dow Jones segments. Its adjusted earnings per share of 35 cents also surged 84.2% year over year.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for NWS’ fiscal 2027 revenues indicates an improvement of 5.7% from the prior-year reported number. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for NWS’ fiscal 2027 earnings suggests an improvement of 11% from the prior-year reported number. It currently holds a Zacks Rank #2.
Everus Construction Group: It provides construction services through its electrical, mechanical and transmission and distribution specialty contracting services principally in the United States. On Sept. 1, 2026, the company revealed that it has completed its acquisition of Epsilon Industries, a premier designer and manufacturer of complex, modular mechanical and electrical building infrastructure systems, for $295 million in cash. This buyout should expand ECG’s off-site modular construction capabilities.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for ECG’s 2026 revenues indicates an improvement of 23.4% from the year-ago reported level. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for ECG’s 2026 earnings suggests an improvement of 32.9% from the year-ago reported level. It currently sports a Zacks Rank #1.
HF Sinclair: It is an independent energy company producing and marketing gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, renewable diesel, lubricants, and specialty products. On Aug. 11, 2026, the company announced that it has finalized a joint venture agreement with Phillips 66 and Kinder Morgan, and has made a final investment decision to move forward with the proposed Western Gateway Pipeline system. Western Gateway is expected to strengthen fuel supply reliability and deliver a more cost-effective, resilient path for growing markets across the West.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for DINO’s 2026 revenues indicates an improvement of 21% from the prior-year reported actuals. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for DINO’s 2026 earnings implies an improvement of 134.2% from the prior-year reported actuals. It currently sports a Zacks Rank #1.
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Sept. 09, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- LifeStance Health Group, Inc. (“LifeStance” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: LFST), one of the nation’s largest providers of virtual and in-person outpatient mental health care, today announced that pursuant to a shelf registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), certain stockholders of the Company (the “Selling Stockholders”) intend to offer 22,250,000 shares of LifeStance’s common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Common Stock”). The Selling Stockholders will receive all of the proceeds from the offering. The Company is not selling any shares of Common Stock in the offering and will not receive any proceeds from the offering.
In addition, the Company has authorized the concurrent purchase from the underwriter of 2,000,000 shares of Common Stock (the “Repurchase”), subject to the completion of the offering. The price per share for the shares to be repurchased by the Company will be the same as the price per share payable by the underwriter to the Selling Stockholders. The underwriter will not receive any underwriting fees for the shares being repurchased by the Company. The Repurchase will be subject to completion of the offering and the satisfaction of other customary conditions. The offering is not conditioned upon the completion of the Repurchase.
Barclays is acting as the underwriter for the offering.
An automatic shelf registration statement (including a prospectus) relating to the offering of Common Stock was filed by LifeStance with the SEC on May 21, 2024 and became effective upon filing. Before you invest, you should read the prospectus in the shelf registration statement and the documents incorporated by reference therein and the prospectus supplement that the Company has filed with the SEC for more complete information about the Company and the offering. The offering will be made only by means of a prospectus and a related prospectus supplement relating to the offering, copies of which may be obtained by contacting Barclays Capital Inc., c/o Broadridge Financial Solutions, 1155 Long Island Avenue, Edgewood, NY 11717, by telephone at 1-888-603-5847, or by email at [email protected]. A copy of the prospectus and the related prospectus supplement relating to the offering may also be obtained free of charge by visiting EDGAR on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy these securities, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction. Nothing herein should be construed as an offer to sell, or the solicitation of an offer to buy, any shares of Common Stock subject to the Repurchase.
About LifeStance
Founded in 2017, LifeStance (Nasdaq: LFST) is reimagining mental health. We are one of the nation’s largest providers of virtual and in-person outpatient mental health care for children, adolescents and adults experiencing a variety of mental health conditions. Our mission is to help people lead healthier, more fulfilling lives by improving access to trusted, affordable and personalized mental healthcare. LifeStance and its supported practices employ over 8,500 psychiatrists, advanced practice nurses, psychologists and therapists and operates across 33 states and more than 550 centers.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release may contain “forward-looking” statements based on the Company’s beliefs and assumptions and on information currently available to the Company.
Forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “envision,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “predict,” “project,” “target,” “potential,” “will,” “would,” “could,” “should,” “continue,” “contemplate” and other similar expressions, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. For example, all statements we make regarding the terms of the proposed public offering and the Repurchase are forward-looking statements.
Forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations and assumptions regarding our business, the economy and other future conditions. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, by their nature, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict. As a result, our actual results may differ materially from those contemplated by any forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: if reimbursement rates paid by third-party payors are reduced or if third-party payors otherwise restrain our ability to obtain or deliver care to patients, our business could be harmed; we may not grow at the rates we historically have achieved or at all, even if our key metrics may imply future growth, including if we are unable to successfully execute on our growth initiatives and business strategies; if we fail to manage our growth effectively, our expenses could increase more than expected, our revenue may not increase proportionally or at all, and we may be unable to execute on our business strategy; our growth depends on our ability to recruit, acquire and retain clinicians; we operate in a competitive industry, and if we are not able to compete effectively, our business, results of operations and financial condition would be harmed; our business depends on our ability to effectively invest in, implement improvements to and properly maintain the uninterrupted operation and data integrity of our information technology and other business systems; we conduct business in a heavily regulated industry and if we fail to comply with these laws and government regulations, we could incur penalties or be required to make significant changes to our operations or experience adverse publicity, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition; we are dependent on our relationships with supported practices, which we do not own, to provide health care services, and our business would be harmed if those relationships were disrupted or if our arrangements with these entities became subject to legal challenges; if we are unable to adapt to healthcare reform legislation and other changes in the healthcare industry and in healthcare spending, our business could be harmed; if our or our vendors’ security measures fail or are breached and unauthorized access to our employees’, patients’ or partners’ data is obtained, our systems may be perceived as insecure, we may incur significant liabilities, including through private litigation or regulatory action, our reputation may be harmed, and we could lose patients and partners; our existing indebtedness could adversely affect our business and growth prospects; and other risks and uncertainties set forth under “Risk Factors” included in the reports we have filed or will file with the SEC, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025, Quarterly Reports on 10-Q for the quarterly periods ended March 31, 2026 and June 30, 2026 and subsequent filings made with the SEC.
For the reasons described above, we caution you against relying on any forward-looking statements, which should be read in conjunction with the other cautionary statements included elsewhere in this press release and risk factors discussed from time to time in the Company’s filings with the SEC, which can be found at the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov. Any forward-looking statement in this presentation speaks only as of the date of this press release. Factors or events that could cause our actual results to differ may emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict all of them. We undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement after the date of this press release, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as may be required by law. No recipient should, therefore, rely on these forward-looking statements as representing the views of the Company or its management as of any date subsequent to the date of the press release.
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Sept. 09, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- LifeStance Health Group, Inc. (“LifeStance” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: LFST), one of the nation’s largest providers of virtual and in-person outpatient mental health care, today announced the pricing of a secondary underwritten public offering of 22,250,000 shares of LifeStance’s common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Common Stock”) at a public offering price of $12.35 per share, pursuant to a shelf registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) from certain stockholders of the Company (the “Selling Stockholders”). The Selling Stockholders will receive all of the proceeds from the offering. The Company is not selling any shares of Common Stock in the offering and will not receive any proceeds from the offering.
In addition, the Company has agreed to purchase from the underwriter 2,000,000 shares of Common Stock to be sold by the Selling Stockholders in the offering, at a price per share equal to the price per share to be paid by the underwriter to the Selling Stockholders (the “Repurchase”). The Repurchase is conditioned upon the completion of the offering and the satisfaction of other customary conditions. The offering is not conditioned upon the completion of the Repurchase. The underwriter will not receive any compensation for the shares of Common Stock being purchased by the Company.
Subject to customary closing conditions, the offering and the Repurchase are expected to settle and close on or about September 11, 2026.
Barclays is acting as the underwriter for the offering.
An automatic shelf registration statement (including a prospectus) relating to the offering of Common Stock was filed by LifeStance with the SEC on May 21, 2024 and became effective upon filing. Before you invest, you should read the prospectus in the shelf registration statement and the documents incorporated by reference therein and the prospectus supplement that the Company has filed with the SEC for more complete information about the Company and the offering. The offering is being made only by means of a prospectus and a related prospectus supplement relating to the offering, copies of which may be obtained by contacting Barclays Capital Inc., c/o Broadridge Financial Solutions, 1155 Long Island Avenue, Edgewood, NY 11717, by telephone at 1-888-603-5847, or by email at [email protected]. A copy of the prospectus and the related prospectus supplement relating to the offering may also be obtained free of charge by visiting EDGAR on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy these securities, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction. Nothing herein should be construed as an offer to
sell, or the solicitation of an offer to buy, any shares of Common Stock subject to the
Repurchase.
About LifeStance
Founded in 2017, LifeStance (Nasdaq: LFST) is reimagining mental health. We are one of the nation’s largest providers of virtual and in-person outpatient mental health care for children, adolescents and adults experiencing a variety of mental health conditions. Our mission is to help people lead healthier, more fulfilling lives by improving access to trusted, affordable and personalized mental healthcare. LifeStance and its supported practices employ over 8,500 psychiatrists, advanced practice nurses, psychologists and therapists and operates across 33 states and more than 550 centers.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release may contain “forward-looking” statements based on the Company’s beliefs and assumptions and on information currently available to the Company. Forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “envision,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “predict,” “project,” “target,” “potential,” “will,” “would,” “could,” “should,” “continue,” “contemplate” and other similar expressions, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. For example, all statements we make regarding the terms of the proposed public offering and the Repurchase are forward-looking statements.
Forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations and assumptions regarding our business, the economy and other future conditions. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, by their nature, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict. As a result, our actual results may differ materially from those contemplated by any forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: if reimbursement rates paid by third-party payors are reduced or if third-party payors otherwise restrain our ability to obtain or deliver care to patients, our business could be harmed; we may not grow at the rates we historically have achieved or at all, even if our key metrics may imply future growth, including if we are unable to successfully execute on our growth initiatives and business strategies; if we fail to manage our growth effectively, our expenses could increase more than expected, our revenue may not increase proportionally or at all, and we may be unable to execute on our business strategy; our growth depends on our ability to recruit, acquire and retain clinicians; we operate in a competitive industry, and if we are not able to compete effectively, our business, results of operations and financial condition would be harmed; our business depends on our ability to effectively invest in, implement improvements to and properly maintain the uninterrupted operation and data integrity of our information technology and other business systems; we conduct business in a heavily regulated industry and if we fail to comply with these laws and government regulations, we could incur penalties or be required to make significant changes to our operations or experience adverse publicity, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition; we are dependent on our relationships with supported practices, which we do not own, to provide health care services, and our business would be harmed if those relationships were disrupted or if our arrangements with these entities became subject to legal challenges; if we are unable to adapt to healthcare reform legislation and other changes in the healthcare industry and in healthcare spending, our business could be harmed; if our or our vendors’ security measures fail or are breached and unauthorized access to our employees’, patients’ or partners’ data is obtained, our systems may be perceived as insecure, we may incur significant liabilities, including through private litigation or regulatory action, our reputation may be harmed, and we could lose patients and partners; our existing indebtedness could adversely affect our business and growth prospects; and other risks and uncertainties set forth under “Risk Factors” included in the reports we have filed or will file with the SEC, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025 Quarterly Reports on 10-Q for the quarterly periods ended March 31, 2026 and June 30, 2026 and subsequent filings made with the SEC.
For the reasons described above, we caution you against relying on any forward-looking statements, which should be read in conjunction with the other cautionary statements included elsewhere in this press release and risk factors discussed from time to time in the Company’s filings with the SEC, which can be found at the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov. Any forward-looking statement in this presentation speaks only as of the date of this press release. Factors or events that could cause our actual results to differ may emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict all of them. We undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement after the date of this press release, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as may be required by law. No recipient should, therefore, rely on these forward-looking statements as representing the views of the Company or its management as of any date subsequent to the date of the press release.
A strong stock as of late has been LifeStance Health Group (LFST - Free Report) . Shares have been marching higher, with the stock up 24.3% over the past month. The stock hit a new 52-week high of $13.15 in the previous session. LifeStance Health has gained 83.1% since the start of the year compared to the 5.1% gain for the Zacks Medical sector and the 23.6% return for the Zacks Medical - Outpatient and Home Healthcare industry.
What's Driving the Outperformance?The stock has a great record of positive earnings surprises, having beaten the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the last four quarters. In its last earnings report on August 6, 2026, LifeStance Health reported EPS of $0.06 versus consensus estimate of $0.03 while it beat the consensus revenue estimate by 5.08%.
For the current fiscal year, LifeStance Health is expected to post earnings of $0.16 per share on $1.7 in revenues. This represents a 700% change in EPS on a 19.68% change in revenues. For the next fiscal year, the company is expected to earn $0.23 per share on $1.94 in revenues. This represents a year-over-year change of 41.67% and 13.98%, respectively.
Valuation MetricsLifeStance Health may be at a 52-week high right now, but what might the future hold for the stock? A key aspect of this question is taking a look at valuation metrics in order to determine if the company is due for a pullback from this level.
On this front, we can look at the Zacks Style Scores, as these give investors a variety of ways to comb through stocks (beyond looking at the Zacks Rank of a security). The individual style scores for Value, Growth, Momentum and the combined VGM Score run from A through F. Investors should consider the style scores a valuable tool that can help you to pick the most appropriate Zacks Rank stocks based on their individual investment style.
LifeStance Health has a Value Score of D. The stock's Growth and Momentum Scores are A and C, respectively, giving the company a VGM Score of B.
In terms of its value breakdown, the stock currently trades at 80.6X current fiscal year EPS estimates, which is a premium to the peer industry average of 21.3X. On a trailing cash flow basis, the stock currently trades at 76.6X versus its peer group's average of 17X. This isn't enough to put the company in the top echelon of all stocks we cover from a value perspective.
Zacks RankWe also need to look at the Zacks Rank for the stock, as this supersedes any trend on the style score front. Fortunately, LifeStance Health currently has a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy) thanks to favorable earnings estimate revisions from covering analysts.
Since we recommend that investors select stocks carrying Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy) and Style Scores of A or B, it looks as if LifeStance Health passes the test. Thus, it seems as though LifeStance Health shares could still be poised for more gains ahead.
How Does LFST Stack Up to the Competition?Shares of LFST have been soaring, and the company still appears to be a decent choice, but what about the rest of the industry? One industry peer that looks good is Aveanna Healthcare Holdings Inc. (AVAH - Free Report) . AVAH has a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy) and a Value Score of A, a Growth Score of A, and a Momentum Score of A.
Earnings were strong last quarter. Aveanna Healthcare Holdings Inc. beat our consensus estimate by 29.41%, and for the current fiscal year, AVAH is expected to post earnings of $0.80 per share on revenue of $2.69 billion.
Shares of Aveanna Healthcare Holdings Inc. have gained 41.5% over the past month, and currently trade at a forward P/E of 16.45X and a P/CF of 19.14X.
The Medical - Outpatient and Home Healthcare industry is in the top 21% of all the industries we have in our universe, so it looks like there are some nice tailwinds for LFST and AVAH, even beyond their own solid fundamental situation.
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Sept. 01, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- LifeStance Health Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: LFST), one of the nation’s largest providers of outpatient mental healthcare, today announced that management will present at the following upcoming investor conferences.
2026 Jefferies Healthcare Services and Technology Conference
Presenter: Ryan McGroarty, CFO
Date: Monday, September 14, 2026
Location: 1 Hotel Nashville, Nashville, TN
Time: 10:20 a.m. (Central Time)
Moderated by: Jack Slevin
24th Annual Morgan Stanley Healthcare Conference
Presenter: Dave Bourdon, CEO
Date: Tuesday, September 15, 2026
Location: New York Marriott Marquis, NYC, NY
Time: 10:00 a.m. (Eastern Time)
Moderated by: Craig Hettenbach
The presentations will be webcast live and will be available on the Events and Presentations section of the LifeStance Health Investor Relations website (https://investor.lifestance.com).
A replay of the webcast will be available after the conclusion of the event and can be accessed on the LifeStance Health Investor Relations website.
About LifeStance Health
Founded in 2017, LifeStance (NASDAQ: LFST) is reimagining mental health. We are one of the nation’s largest providers of virtual and in-person outpatient mental healthcare for children, adolescents and adults experiencing a variety of mental health conditions. Our mission is to help people lead healthier, more fulfilling lives by improving access to trusted, affordable and personalized mental healthcare. LifeStance and its supported practices employ over 8,500 psychiatrists, advanced practice nurses, psychologists and therapists and operate across 33 states and more than 550 centers. To learn more, please visit www.LifeStance.com.
Canada Pension Plan Investment Board acquired a new stake in shares of LifeStance Health Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:LFST – Free Report) in the second quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor acquired 149,000 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,596,000.
Other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Assetmark Inc. lifted its position in shares of LifeStance Health Group by 17.0% in the 1st quarter. Assetmark Inc. now owns 9,419 shares of the company’s stock valued at $60,000 after acquiring an additional 1,367 shares in the last quarter. California State Teachers Retirement System raised its stake in LifeStance Health Group by 1.6% during the 4th quarter. California State Teachers Retirement System now owns 125,682 shares of the company’s stock valued at $885,000 after purchasing an additional 1,966 shares during the period. Vident Advisory LLC raised its stake in LifeStance Health Group by 12.7% during the 2nd quarter. Vident Advisory LLC now owns 21,732 shares of the company’s stock valued at $112,000 after purchasing an additional 2,447 shares during the period. Xponance LLC lifted its holdings in shares of LifeStance Health Group by 26.4% in the fourth quarter. Xponance LLC now owns 13,144 shares of the company’s stock valued at $93,000 after purchasing an additional 2,745 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Diversified Trust Co boosted its position in shares of LifeStance Health Group by 14.8% in the first quarter. Diversified Trust Co now owns 21,532 shares of the company’s stock worth $137,000 after buying an additional 2,770 shares during the period. 85.50% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.
LifeStance Health Group Stock Up 0.4% LifeStance Health Group stock opened at $12.36 on Tuesday. The company has a current ratio of 1.38, a quick ratio of 1.38 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.18. LifeStance Health Group, Inc. has a 1-year low of $4.77 and a 1-year high of $12.97. The firm’s fifty day simple moving average is $11.25 and its 200-day simple moving average is $8.65. The company has a market capitalization of $4.79 billion, a P/E ratio of 95.08 and a beta of 1.14.
LifeStance Health Group (NASDAQ:LFST – Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, August 6th. The company reported $0.06 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.03 by $0.03. LifeStance Health Group had a return on equity of 3.39% and a net margin of 3.19%.The company had revenue of $435.35 million during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $414.58 million. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned ($0.01) earnings per share. The business’s quarterly revenue was up 26.1% compared to the same quarter last year. Sell-side analysts forecast that LifeStance Health Group, Inc. will post 0.16 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Insider Buying and Selling In other news, major shareholder Tpg Gp A, Llc sold 13,643,207 shares of LifeStance Health Group stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, August 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $10.62, for a total value of $144,890,858.34. Following the transaction, the insider owned 98,101,407 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,041,836,942.34. This trade represents a 12.21% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, Director Robert Bessler sold 894,337 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Friday, June 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $10.13, for a total transaction of $9,059,633.81. Following the completion of the sale, the director owned 539,763 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $5,467,799.19. The trade was a 62.36% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. In the last three months, insiders have sold 14,629,850 shares of company stock worth $154,952,012. 3.50% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.
Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several research analysts recently weighed in on the company. Barclays upped their price target on LifeStance Health Group from $9.00 to $13.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 14th. The Goldman Sachs Group assumed coverage on LifeStance Health Group in a research report on Friday, June 5th. They set a “neutral” rating and a $9.00 price objective for the company. KeyCorp lifted their target price on LifeStance Health Group from $11.00 to $13.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Monday, July 13th. BTIG Research upped their target price on LifeStance Health Group from $16.00 to $18.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, August 19th. Finally, Zacks Research lowered shares of LifeStance Health Group from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Monday, July 13th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, six have given a Buy rating and four have issued a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $12.38.
Get Our Latest Research Report on LFST
(Free Report)
LifeStance Health Group (NASDAQ:LFST) is a leading provider of outpatient mental health services in the United States. Headquartered in New York City, the company operates a growing network of clinics that deliver integrated, patient-centered psychological and psychiatric care. LifeStance’s mission is to expand access to high-quality mental health treatment by combining evidence-based therapy modalities with personalized treatment plans.
The company’s service offerings include individual, family, and group psychotherapy, psychiatric medication management, psychological assessment, and telehealth services.
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Key Takeaways LifeStance Health's revenues rose 26%, while visit volumes improved 19% to 2.6 million in Q2 2026.Valero Energy's Q2 adjusted EPS surged to $12.54 from $2.28, while revenues jumped 49% year over year. Comfort Systems' Q2 revenues rose 50.7%, with backlog reaching $14.06 billion as of June 30, 2026. Wall Street ended Aug. 25, 2026, on a higher note as mega-cap technology and semiconductor stocks rebounded from the previous session’s selloff, led by gains in companies such as Nvidia ahead of major corporate earnings reports. A drop in oil prices and bond yields also likely boosted investor optimism in the stock market.
While a tech rebound might bring temporary relief for investors, the ongoing U.S.-Canada trade tensions remain a concern and are yet to have a substantial impact on the market. Amid this backdrop, investors might want to pivot toward financially resilient companies — specifically low-leverage stocks backed by strong balance sheets — as a prudent defensive strategy.
These fiscally conservative companies are better positioned to navigate interest rate fluctuations and geopolitical uncertainty. By providing a stable foundation in a shifting market, they can serve as a strategic hedge against a potential energy-driven economic slowdown.
We recommend low-leverage stocks, such as LifeStance Health Group (LFST - Free Report) , NVIDIA (NVDA - Free Report) , Valero Energy (VLO - Free Report) , Comfort Systems (FIX - Free Report) and National Vision (EYE - Free Report) . Before selecting low-leverage stocks, it is important to understand what leverage is and how investing in low-leverage companies can benefit investors.
What’s the Significance of Low-Leverage Stocks?In finance, leverage refers to the use of borrowed capital to support business operations and drive expansion. Companies typically raise such funds through debt financing, although equity financing remains an alternative. However, firms often prefer debt due to its relatively lower cost and easier availability compared to issuing equity.
Debt financing comes with inherent risks and is beneficial only when it generates returns that exceed the cost of borrowing. To limit downside risk, investors should be cautious of companies that rely excessively on debt. Prudent investing involves selecting businesses with manageable leverage, as completely debt-free companies are rare.
The equity market can be volatile at times. As an investor, if you want to avoid significant losses, we suggest focusing on stocks with low leverage, which are generally deemed less risky.
To identify such stocks, several leverage ratios have historically been developed to measure the amount of debt a company carries. The debt-to-equity ratio is among the most widely used financial ratios.
Analyzing Debt/EquityDebt-to-Equity Ratio = Total Liabilities/Shareholders’ Equity
This metric is a liquidity ratio that indicates the amount of financial risk a company bears. A lower debt-to-equity ratio suggests improved solvency for a company.
With the second-quarter 2026 earnings season almost behind us, investors should focus on stocks that have demonstrated solid earnings growth in recent periods.
If a stock carries a high debt-to-equity ratio during an economic downturn, its seemingly strong earnings could quickly turn into a nightmare.
The Winning StrategyConsidering the aforementioned factors, it would be prudent to choose stocks with a low debt-to-equity ratio to ensure steady returns.
Yet, an investment strategy based solely on the debt-to-equity ratio might not fetch the desired outcome. To select stocks with the potential to provide steady returns, we have expanded our screening criteria to include additional factors.
Other Parameters:
Debt/Equity Less Than X-Industry Median: Stocks that are less leveraged than their industry peers.
Current Price Greater Than or Equal to 10: The stocks must be trading at $10 or higher.
Average 20-day Volume Greater Than or Equal to 50000: A substantial trading volume ensures that the stock is easily tradable.
Percentage Change in EPS F(0)/F(-1) Greater Than X-Industry Median: Earnings growth adds to optimism, leading to a stock’s price appreciation.
VGM Score of A or B: Our research shows that stocks with a VGM Score of A or B, when combined with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy), offer the best upside potential.
Estimated One-Year EPS Growth F (1)/F(0) Greater Than 5: This shows earnings growth expectations.
Zacks Rank #1 or 2: Irrespective of market conditions, stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 or 2 have a proven history of success.
Excluding stocks with a negative or zero debt-to-equity ratio, we present our five picks out of the 16 that made it through the screen.
LifeStance Health: It is a provider of virtual and in-person outpatient mental health care for children, adolescents and adults of mental health conditions. On Aug. 6, 2026, the company announced its second-quarter 2026 results. Its revenues increased 26% year over year, while its visit volumes improved 19% to 2.6 million.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for LFST’s 2026 revenues indicates an improvement of 19.7% from the prior-year reported level. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for LFST’s 2026 earnings indicates a massive surge of 700% from the prior-year reported level. It currently carries a Zacks Rank #2. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
NVIDIA: It is the worldwide leader in visual computing technologies and the inventor of the graphics processing unit (GPU). On Aug. 24, 2026, the company announced that its Vera Rubin rack-scale system NVIDIA Groq 3 LPX is in full production.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for NVDA’s fiscal 2027 revenues indicates an improvement of 79.9% from the prior-year reported numbers. The stock boasts a long-term (three-to-five years) earnings growth rate of 58.30%. NVDA currently carries a Zacks Rank #2.
Valero Energy: It is a multinational manufacturer and marketer of petroleum-based and low-carbon liquid transportation fuels and petrochemical products. On July 30, 2026, the company announced its second-quarter 2026 results.
VLO’s second-quarter adjusted earnings per share were $12.54, which marked a massive improvement from the year-ago quarter’s reported level of $2.28. Its revenues soared 49% year over year to $44.5 billion.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for VLO’s 2026 revenues indicates an improvement of 19.5% from the prior-year reported number. The stock boasts a long-term (three-to-five years) earnings growth rate of 37.30%. It currently sports a Zacks Rank #1.
Comfort Systems: It is a national provider of comprehensive mechanical and electrical contracting services, serving commercial, industrial and institutional end markets across the United States. On July 23, 2026, the company announced its second-quarter 2026 results. Its second-quarter revenues improved 50.7% year over year, while backlog as of June 30, 2026 was $14.06 billion compared with $8.12 billion as of June 30, 2025.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for FIX’s 2026 revenues suggests an improvement of 38.3% from the year-ago reported level. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for FIX’s 2026 earnings suggests an improvement of 58.8% from the year-ago reported level. It currently sports a Zacks Rank #1.
National Vision: It is a value-focused optical retailer in the United States, offering eye exams, eyeglasses and contact lenses through a portfolio of owned and host brands, supported by omnichannel websites and a dedicated e-commerce offering. On Aug 12, 2026, the company reported second-quarter 2026 results. EYE’s revenues rose 2.5% year over year to $499 million, while its adjusted earnings per share improved 39% to 25 cents.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for EYE’s 2026 revenues indicates an improvement of 3.8% from the prior-year reported actuals. The stock boasts a long-term earnings growth rate of 19.50%. It currently holds a Zacks Rank #2.
Momentum investing is all about the idea of following a stock's recent trend, which can be in either direction. In the "long context," investors will essentially be "buying high, but hoping to sell even higher." And for investors following this methodology, taking advantage of trends in a stock's price is key; once a stock establishes a course, it is more than likely to continue moving in that direction. The goal is that once a stock heads down a fixed path, it will lead to timely and profitable trades.
Even though momentum is a popular stock characteristic, it can be tough to define. Debate surrounding which are the best and worst metrics to focus on is lengthy, but the Zacks Momentum Style Score, part of the Zacks Style Scores, helps address this issue for us.
Below, we take a look at LifeStance Health Group (LFST - Free Report) , a company that currently holds a Momentum Style Score of A. We also talk about price change and earnings estimate revisions, two of the main aspects of the Momentum Style Score.
It's also important to note that Style Scores work as a complement to the Zacks Rank, our stock rating system that has an impressive track record of outperformance. LifeStance Health Group currently has a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy). Our research shows that stocks rated Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) and #2 (Buy) and Style Scores of "A or B" outperform the market over the following one-month period.
You can see the current list of Zacks #1 Rank Stocks here >>>
Set to Beat the Market? In order to see if LFST is a promising momentum pick, let's examine some Momentum Style elements to see if this outpatient mental health services provider holds up.
A good momentum benchmark for a stock is to look at its short-term price activity, as this can reflect both current interest and if buyers or sellers currently have the upper hand. It is also useful to compare a security to its industry, as this can help investors pinpoint the top companies in a particular area.
For LFST, shares are up 3.44% over the past week while the Zacks Medical - Outpatient and Home Healthcare industry is up 1.25% over the same time period. Shares are looking quite well from a longer time frame too, as the monthly price change of 11.49% compares favorably with the industry's 0.99% performance as well.
While any stock can see a spike in price, it takes a real winner to consistently outperform the market. Shares of LifeStance Health Group have increased 59.24% over the past quarter, and have gained 136.56% in the last year. On the other hand, the S&P 500 has only moved 4.93% and 21.47%, respectively.
Investors should also pay attention to LFST's average 20-day trading volume. Volume is a useful item in many ways, and the 20-day average establishes a good price-to-volume baseline; a rising stock with above average volume is generally a bullish sign, whereas a declining stock on above average volume is typically bearish. LFST is currently averaging 4,039,473 shares for the last 20 days.
Earnings OutlookThe Zacks Momentum Style Score encompasses many things, including estimate revisions and a stock's price movement. Investors should note that earnings estimates are also significant to the Zacks Rank, and a nice path here can be promising. We have recently been noticing this with LFST.
Over the past two months, 2 earnings estimates moved higher compared to none lower for the full year. These revisions helped boost LFST's consensus estimate, increasing from $0.12 to $0.15 in the past 60 days. Looking at the next fiscal year, 2 estimates have moved upwards while there have been no downward revisions in the same time period.
Bottom LineGiven these factors, it shouldn't be surprising that LFST is a #2 (Buy) stock and boasts a Momentum Score of A. If you're looking for a fresh pick that's set to soar in the near-term, make sure to keep LifeStance Health Group on your short list.
LifeStance Health Group (LFST - Free Report) appears an attractive pick, as it has been recently upgraded to a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). This upgrade is essentially a reflection of an upward trend in earnings estimates -- one of the most powerful forces impacting stock prices.
A company's changing earnings picture is at the core of the Zacks rating. The system tracks the Zacks Consensus Estimate -- the consensus measure of EPS estimates from the sell-side analysts covering the stock -- for the current and following years.
Since a changing earnings picture is a powerful factor influencing near-term stock price movements, the Zacks rating system is very useful for individual investors. They may find it difficult to make decisions based on rating upgrades by Wall Street analysts, as these are mostly driven by subjective factors that are hard to see and measure in real time.
Therefore, the Zacks rating upgrade for LifeStance Health basically reflects positivity about its earnings outlook that could translate into buying pressure and an increase in its stock price.
Most Powerful Force Impacting Stock PricesThe change in a company's future earnings potential, as reflected in earnings estimate revisions, has proven to be strongly correlated with the near-term price movement of its stock. The influence of institutional investors has a partial contribution to this relationship, as these big professionals use earnings and earnings estimates to calculate the fair value of a company's shares. An increase or decrease in earnings estimates in their valuation models simply results in higher or lower fair value for a stock, and institutional investors typically buy or sell it. Their bulk investment action then leads to price movement for the stock.
For LifeStance Health, rising earnings estimates and the consequent rating upgrade fundamentally mean an improvement in the company's underlying business. And investors' appreciation of this improving business trend should push the stock higher.
Harnessing the Power of Earnings Estimate RevisionsEmpirical research shows a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock movements, so it could be truly rewarding if such revisions are tracked for making an investment decision. Here is where the tried-and-tested Zacks Rank stock-rating system plays an important role, as it effectively harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions.
The Zacks Rank stock-rating system, which uses four factors related to earnings estimates to classify stocks into five groups, ranging from Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) to Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell), has an impressive externally-audited track record, with Zacks Rank #1 stocks generating an average annual return of +25% since 1988. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>> .
Earnings Estimate Revisions for LifeStance HealthThis outpatient mental health services provider is expected to earn $0.14 per share for the fiscal year ending December 2026, which represents no year-over-year change.
Analysts have been steadily raising their estimates for LifeStance Health. Over the past three months, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the company has increased 24.2%.
Bottom LineUnlike the overly optimistic Wall Street analysts whose rating systems tend to be weighted toward favorable recommendations, the Zacks rating system maintains an equal proportion of "buy" and "sell" ratings for its entire universe of more than 4,000 stocks at any point in time. Irrespective of market conditions, only the top 5% of the Zacks-covered stocks get a "Strong Buy" rating and the next 15% get a "Buy" rating. So, the placement of a stock in the top 20% of the Zacks-covered stocks indicates its superior earnings estimate revision feature, making it a solid candidate for producing market-beating returns in the near term.
You can learn more about the Zacks Rank here >>>
The upgrade of LifeStance Health to a Zacks Rank #2 positions it in the top 20% of the Zacks-covered stocks in terms of estimate revisions, implying that the stock might move higher in the near term.
One in Three Women Don't Know Perimenopause Can Cause Anxiety, Depression and Mood Changes; Majority Who Seek Mental Healthcare Find It Helpful
, /PRNewswire/ -- A LifeStance Health survey of 1,000 women experiencing perimenopause or menopause released today reveals this life stage carries an unexpected mental health toll, as one in three women (33%) report being unaware that perimenopause can cause mental health-related symptoms.
While respondents describe their anxiety (66%) and depression (54%) as somewhat or extremely severe, most women (83%) who seek mental healthcare like therapy find it helpful.
Additionally, 59% of women say they would be more likely to seek mental healthcare if they knew it could significantly improve their symptoms, and nearly half (47%) agree mental healthcare should be a standard part of perimenopause care.
Left unaddressed, perimenopause and menopause symptoms carry consequences not just for the women who are experiencing them, but for employers and health systems. A 2023 Mayo Clinic study found menopause symptoms cost the U.S. economy an estimated $1.8 billion annually in lost work productivity and $26.6 billion when healthcare costs are factored in, reinforcing the need for accessible, integrated mental healthcare throughout these life transitions.
Dr. Stephanie Eken, Chief Medical Officer, LifeStance Health, said: "Women's mental health needs change across their life stages, and perimenopause and menopause are among the biggest transitions of all. Specialized, life-stage-specific care should be standard practice, and I believe the organizations that build care around this reality, rather than taking a one-size-fits-all approach, will define the next era of women's health."
LifeStance delivers mental healthcare tailored to women's needs across the lifespan, with clinicians trained in perimenopausal, menopausal, perinatal and reproductive mental health. LifeStance also partners with primary and women's health providers to deliver integrated care and offers in-person and virtual visits to meet women where they are. To learn more or schedule an appointment, visit LifeStance.com.
Key findings:
Women see value in mental healthcare as a standard part of perimenopause and menopause care.
The vast majority (83%) of respondents who tried therapy to address their mental health symptoms related to perimenopause or menopause found it helpful. Nearly half (47%) believe therapy or mental healthcare should be a standard part of perimenopause care. Fifty-nine percent said they would be more likely to seek mental healthcare if they knew it could significantly improve their symptoms. Of women who tried prescribed medications like antidepressants and estrogen, 82% found them helpful. Awareness gaps remain around the connection between perimenopause, menopause and mental health.
One in three (33%) respondents did not know perimenopause can cause mental health symptoms. Nearly half (49%) were surprised to learn mental health symptoms associated with perimenopause and menopause can last several years. Twenty-two percent were surprised to learn perimenopause can occur shortly after childbirth. Perimenopause and menopause symptoms could be misattributed to other conditions.
Nearly three-quarters (74%) had symptoms for six months or longer before suspecting they were experiencing perimenopause or menopause, while just over one-quarter (27%) recognized it within six months. Prior to realizing they were experiencing perimenopause or menopause, respondents thought they were experiencing anxiety (49%) or depression (39%) as a standalone health condition. More than one-third (36%) of respondents were surprised to learn perimenopause and menopause symptoms can mask as a standalone mental health condition. Mental health symptoms during perimenopause and menopause can significantly affect daily life.
Two-thirds of women experiencing perimenopause or menopause described their anxiety (66%) and irritability (66%) as somewhat or extremely severe, while nearly one-quarter (24%) described these symptoms as not very severe. More than half of respondents described their mood swings (62%) and depression (54%) as somewhat or extremely severe, while about one-quarter described their mood swings (26%) and depression (30%) as not very severe. More than one in three respondents (35%) said perimenopause or menopause had a slight to significant negative impact on their overall mental health, and 42% reported it had a negative impact on their mood. Conversely, nearly one-third (32%) reported no impact on their overall mental health, and 22% reported no impact on their mood. Methodology
The data is based on a survey conducted by Dynata on behalf of LifeStance Health in late June 2026. The survey analyzed responses from 1,000 women born between 1960-1990 who confirmed they currently have, or suspect they have, perimenopause or menopause to better understand the connection and impact to mental health.
ABOUT LIFESTANCE HEALTH
Founded in 2017, LifeStance (NASDAQ: LFST) is reimagining mental health. We are one of the nation's largest providers of virtual and in-person outpatient mental healthcare for children, adolescents and adults experiencing a variety of mental health conditions. Our mission is to help people lead healthier, more fulfilling lives by improving access to trusted, affordable and personalized mental healthcare. LifeStance and its supported practices employ more than 8,500 psychiatrists, advanced practice nurses, psychologists and therapists and operate across 33 states and more than 550 centers. To learn more, please visit www.LifeStance.com.
A strong stock as of late has been LifeStance Health Group (LFST - Free Report) . Shares have been marching higher, with the stock up 9.4% over the past month. The stock hit a new 52-week high of $12.43 in the previous session. LifeStance Health has gained 69% since the start of the year compared to the 3.5% move for the Zacks Medical sector and the 21.8% return for the Zacks Medical - Outpatient and Home Healthcare industry.
What's Driving the Outperformance?The stock has an impressive record of positive earnings surprises, having beaten the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the last four quarters. In its last earnings report on August 6, 2026, LifeStance Health reported EPS of $0.06 versus consensus estimate of $0.03 while it beat the consensus revenue estimate by 5.08%.
For the current fiscal year, LifeStance Health is expected to post earnings of $0.14 per share on $1.66 in revenues. This represents a 600% change in EPS on a 16.56% change in revenues. For the next fiscal year, the company is expected to earn $0.21 per share on $1.88 in revenues. This represents a year-over-year change of 52.38% and 13.17%, respectively.
Valuation MetricsThough LifeStance Health has recently hit a 52-week high, what is next for LifeStance Health? A key aspect of this question is taking a look at valuation metrics in order to determine if the company has run ahead of itself.
On this front, we can look at the Zacks Style Scores, as they provide investors with an additional way to sort through stocks (beyond looking at the Zacks Rank of a security). The individual style scores for Value, Growth, Momentum and the combined VGM Score run from A through F. The idea behind the style scores is to help investors pick the most appropriate Zacks Rank stocks based on their individual investment style.
LifeStance Health has a Value Score of D. The stock's Growth and Momentum Scores are A and A, respectively, giving the company a VGM Score of A.
In terms of its value breakdown, the stock currently trades at 87.1X current fiscal year EPS estimates, which is a premium to the peer industry average of 21.1X. On a trailing cash flow basis, the stock currently trades at 70.7X versus its peer group's average of 14.9X. This isn't enough to put the company in the top echelon of all stocks we cover from a value perspective.
Zacks RankWe also need to look at the Zacks Rank for the stock, as this supersedes any trend on the style score front. Fortunately, LifeStance Health currently has a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy) thanks to favorable earnings estimate revisions from covering analysts.
Since we recommend that investors select stocks carrying Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy) and Style Scores of A or B, it looks as if LifeStance Health meets the list of requirements. Thus, it seems as though LifeStance Health shares could have a bit more room to run in the near term.
How Does LFST Stack Up to the Competition?Shares of LFST have been soaring, and the company still appears to be a decent choice, but what about the rest of the industry? One industry peer that looks good is Encompass Health Corporation (EHC - Free Report) . EHC has a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy) and a Value Score of B, a Growth Score of B, and a Momentum Score of D.
Earnings were strong last quarter. Encompass Health Corporation beat our consensus estimate by 4.73%, and for the current fiscal year, EHC is expected to post earnings of $6.04 per share on revenue of $6.46 billion.
Shares of Encompass Health Corporation have gained 14.3% over the past month, and currently trade at a forward P/E of 20.82X and a P/CF of 14.15X.
The Medical - Outpatient and Home Healthcare industry is in the top 30% of all the industries we have in our universe, so it looks like there are some nice tailwinds for LFST and EHC, even beyond their own solid fundamental situation.
LifeStance Health Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:LFST – Get Free Report)’s stock price reached a new 52-week high during trading on Monday after BTIG Research raised their price target on the stock from $15.00 to $16.00. BTIG Research currently has a buy rating on the stock. LifeStance Health Group traded as high as $12.06 and last traded at $12.0580, with a volume of 1944465 shares. The stock had previously closed at $10.84.
A number of other analysts have also issued reports on the company. Barclays lifted their price target on LifeStance Health Group from $9.00 to $13.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 14th. The Goldman Sachs Group started coverage on LifeStance Health Group in a research note on Friday, June 5th. They issued a “neutral” rating and a $9.00 price objective for the company. Wall Street Zen lowered LifeStance Health Group from a “strong-buy” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Saturday, July 25th. Zacks Research cut shares of LifeStance Health Group from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Monday, July 13th. Finally, Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a “hold (c-)” rating on shares of LifeStance Health Group in a report on Wednesday, May 27th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, six have given a Buy rating and four have assigned a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $11.62.
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Insider Activity In other news, Director Robert Bessler sold 894,337 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, June 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $10.13, for a total value of $9,059,633.81. Following the completion of the sale, the director directly owned 539,763 shares in the company, valued at $5,467,799.19. This represents a 62.36% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. 3.50% of the stock is owned by company insiders.
Institutional Trading of LifeStance Health Group Large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. BlackRock Inc. purchased a new position in shares of LifeStance Health Group during the 2nd quarter worth $389,293,000. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its position in LifeStance Health Group by 21.1% during the fourth quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 17,700,041 shares of the company’s stock worth $124,608,000 after purchasing an additional 3,086,506 shares during the last quarter. Silversmith Partners I GP LLC acquired a new stake in LifeStance Health Group during the fourth quarter worth about $100,842,000. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP raised its stake in LifeStance Health Group by 16.4% during the first quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 10,367,680 shares of the company’s stock worth $66,038,000 after purchasing an additional 1,461,215 shares during the period. Finally, Jennison Associates LLC raised its stake in LifeStance Health Group by 38.5% during the first quarter. Jennison Associates LLC now owns 10,228,801 shares of the company’s stock worth $65,157,000 after purchasing an additional 2,843,388 shares during the period. 85.50% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.
LifeStance Health Group Stock Up 9.8% The company has a current ratio of 1.38, a quick ratio of 1.38 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.18. The company has a market capitalization of $4.62 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 91.55 and a beta of 1.14. The firm’s fifty day simple moving average is $10.02 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $8.09.
LifeStance Health Group (NASDAQ:LFST – Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, August 6th. The company reported $0.06 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.03 by $0.03. The business had revenue of $435.35 million during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $414.58 million. LifeStance Health Group had a net margin of 3.19% and a return on equity of 3.39%. The business’s revenue for the quarter was up 26.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted ($0.01) EPS. Sell-side analysts anticipate that LifeStance Health Group, Inc. will post 0.12 EPS for the current year.
LifeStance Health Group Company Profile (Get Free Report)
LifeStance Health Group (NASDAQ:LFST) is a leading provider of outpatient mental health services in the United States. Headquartered in New York City, the company operates a growing network of clinics that deliver integrated, patient-centered psychological and psychiatric care. LifeStance’s mission is to expand access to high-quality mental health treatment by combining evidence-based therapy modalities with personalized treatment plans.
The company’s service offerings include individual, family, and group psychotherapy, psychiatric medication management, psychological assessment, and telehealth services.
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LifeStance Health Group NASDAQ: LFST reported second-quarter results that exceeded its prior expectations, driven by higher visit volumes, increased revenue per visit and continued clinician productivity gains. The outpatient mental health provider raised its full-year revenue, Center Margin and adjusted EBITDA guidance.
Revenue rose 26% year over year to $435 million, while visit volume increased 19% to 2.6 million. Total revenue per visit increased 6% to $167. Chief Financial Officer Ryan McGroarty said the revenue outperformance reflected both stronger-than-expected visit volumes and revenue per visit.
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“Our visits per average clinician were very strong once again, increasing 7% year-over-year for the third consecutive quarter,” McGroarty said. The company added 193 clinicians during the quarter, ending the period with 8,542 clinicians, up 11% from a year earlier.
Profitability and Cash Flow Improve Center Margin increased 41% to $153 million, representing 35.2% of revenue. Adjusted EBITDA rose 94% to $66 million, or 15.2% of revenue, an improvement of more than 500 basis points from the second quarter of 2025.
LifeStance also posted net income of $24 million, compared with a loss in the prior-year period, representing a $27 million year-over-year improvement, according to McGroarty.
Free cash flow totaled $88 million, up from $57 million a year earlier. McGroarty said cash flow benefited from operating performance, collections and favorable payroll timing. He noted that payroll-related payments and the company’s annual 401(k) match, totaling roughly $60 million, are expected to affect third-quarter free cash flow.
The company ended the quarter with $226 million in cash and $259 million in net long-term debt. It reported net leverage of 0.2 times and gross leverage of 1.3 times. During the quarter, LifeStance spent $49 million on share repurchases. Its board authorized an additional $100 million repurchase program after the company used $97 million of its prior $100 million authorization.
Company Raises 2026 Outlook LifeStance increased its full-year revenue outlook to a range of $1.685 billion to $1.725 billion, a $45 million increase at the midpoint. The midpoint implies 20% annual revenue growth.
Center Margin guidance was raised to $570 million to $594 million, a $23 million increase at the midpoint. Adjusted EBITDA guidance was raised to $215 million to $235 million, a $15 million increase at the midpoint. The midpoint of adjusted EBITDA guidance implies a 13.2% margin, more than 200 basis points above the prior year. Third-quarter guidance calls for revenue of $420 million to $440 million, Center Margin of $140 million to $152 million, and adjusted EBITDA of $49 million to $59 million. McGroarty said the updated annual forecast assumes growth primarily from higher visit volumes alongside mid-single-digit growth in revenue per visit. The company said it expects stock-based compensation of approximately $60 million to $70 million for the year.
Management said it intends to use some of its earnings outperformance to fund investments during the second half of 2026. Those investments include patient acquisition and business development, technology and artificial intelligence capabilities, clinical-excellence and outcomes teams, and expanded compensation and benefits for clinicians and certain center-support staff.
Productivity, Technology and Specialty Services Chief Executive Officer Dave Bourdon said the company is using about 70% of the time clinicians make available, leaving room to improve utilization. He said productivity efforts include converting more prospective patients into booked appointments and optimizing clinician schedules to accommodate new-patient demand.
LifeStance plans to transition to a new electronic health record vendor in 2027. Bourdon described the project as a foundational investment intended to streamline front- and back-office operations, improve patient and clinician experiences, and provide clinicians with better data and tools. He said the implementation is expected to occur in waves and may cause a short-term productivity disruption as clinicians shift to the new platform.
The company is also expanding specialty services, including neuropsychological testing and treatment-resistant depression offerings such as transcranial magnetic stimulation, or TMS, and Spravato. Bourdon said specialty services generated about $50 million in revenue in 2025 and are expected to grow roughly 40% in 2026, with most of that growth coming from treatment-resistant depression services.
He said the pace of rollout is currently shaped mainly by LifeStance’s efforts to refine its operating model, including variations in state requirements and payer environments. The company expects to accelerate expansion in future years.
Expansion Strategy and Clinical Outcomes LifeStance completed a small tuck-in acquisition during the quarter that expanded its therapy and psychiatry presence in Arizona. Bourdon said tuck-in acquisitions are the preferred method for entering new markets, while de novo expansion will be used where suitable acquisition targets are unavailable.
The company operates in 33 states and has a presence in roughly half of the 150 largest U.S. markets, according to management. Bourdon said acquisitions are intended primarily to establish a foundation in new geographies and are not expected to have a material effect on 2026 financial results.
On clinical outcomes, Bourdon cited company analyses showing that at least 75% of nearly 140,000 patients experienced clinically meaningful improvement in anxiety and depression symptoms across generations and geographic regions. He said LifeStance believes mental health care differentiation will increasingly be based on outcomes as well as patient access.
Management said commercial insurance remains its primary focus, although the company participates in some Medicare Advantage and exchange plans through larger payer contracts. Bourdon said the company has limited exposure to Medicaid and traditional Medicare fee-for-service.
About LifeStance Health Group (NASDAQ:LFST)LifeStance Health Group NASDAQ: LFST is a leading provider of outpatient mental health services in the United States. Headquartered in New York City, the company operates a growing network of clinics that deliver integrated, patient-centered psychological and psychiatric care. LifeStance’s mission is to expand access to high-quality mental health treatment by combining evidence-based therapy modalities with personalized treatment plans.
The company’s service offerings include individual, family, and group psychotherapy, psychiatric medication management, psychological assessment, and telehealth services.
This instant news alert was generated by narrative science technology and financial data from MarketBeat in order to provide readers with the fastest reporting and unbiased coverage. Please send any questions or comments about this story to [email protected].
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LifeStance Health Group (LFST - Free Report) came out with quarterly earnings of $0.06 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.03 per share. This compares to a loss of $0.01 per share a year ago. These figures are adjusted for non-recurring items.
This quarterly report represents an earnings surprise of +100.00%. A quarter ago, it was expected that this outpatient mental health services provider would post earnings of $0.01 per share when it actually produced earnings of $0.04, delivering a surprise of +300%.
Over the last four quarters, the company has surpassed consensus EPS estimates four times.
LifeStance Health, which belongs to the Zacks Medical - Outpatient and Home Healthcare industry, posted revenues of $435.35 million for the quarter ended June 2026, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 5.08%. This compares to year-ago revenues of $345.31 million. The company has topped consensus revenue estimates four times over the last four quarters.
The sustainability of the stock's immediate price movement based on the recently-released numbers and future earnings expectations will mostly depend on management's commentary on the earnings call.
LifeStance Health shares have added about 47.3% since the beginning of the year versus the S&P 500's gain of 12.8%.
What's Next for LifeStance Health?While LifeStance Health has outperformed the market so far this year, the question that comes to investors' minds is: what's next for the stock?
There are no easy answers to this key question, but one reliable measure that can help investors address this is the company's earnings outlook. Not only does this include current consensus earnings expectations for the coming quarter(s), but also how these expectations have changed lately.
Empirical research shows a strong correlation between near-term stock movements and trends in earnings estimate revisions. Investors can track such revisions by themselves or rely on a tried-and-tested rating tool like the Zacks Rank, which has an impressive track record of harnessing the power of earnings estimate revisions.
Ahead of this earnings release, the estimate revisions trend for LifeStance Health was mixed. While the magnitude and direction of estimate revisions could change following the company's just-released earnings report, the current status translates into a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) for the stock. So, the shares are expected to perform in line with the market in the near future. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
It will be interesting to see how estimates for the coming quarters and the current fiscal year change in the days ahead. The current consensus EPS estimate is $0.03 on $414.85 million in revenues for the coming quarter and $0.12 on $1.66 billion in revenues for the current fiscal year.
Investors should be mindful of the fact that the outlook for the industry can have a material impact on the performance of the stock as well. In terms of the Zacks Industry Rank, Medical - Outpatient and Home Healthcare is currently in the top 30% of the 250 plus Zacks industries. Our research shows that the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries outperform the bottom 50% by a factor of more than 2 to 1.
Another stock from the same industry, Aveanna Healthcare (AVAH - Free Report) , has yet to report results for the quarter ended June 2026. The results are expected to be released on August 13.
This home health care services provider is expected to post quarterly earnings of $0.17 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of -5.6%. The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 6.7% higher over the last 30 days to the current level.
Aveanna Healthcare's revenues are expected to be $647.08 million, up 9.8% from the year-ago quarter.
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Aug. 06, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- LifeStance Health Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: LFST), one of the nation's largest providers of outpatient mental healthcare, today announced financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2026.
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., July 16, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- LifeStance Health Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: LFST), one of the nation’s largest providers of outpatient mental healthcare, will issue its second quarter 2026 earnings release before the market opens on Thursday, August 6, 2026.
LifeStance will host a live earnings conference call to discuss second quarter results on August 6, 2026, at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time. To participate in the call, please dial 1-800-715-9871, domestically, or 1-646-307-1963, internationally, and use conference ID 6776851, or ask to be joined into the LifeStance call.
A real-time audio webcast can be accessed via the Events and Presentations section of the LifeStance Investor Relations website (https://investor.lifestance.com), where related materials will be posted prior to the conference call.
A replay of the webcast will be available after the conclusion of the conference call and can be accessed on the LifeStance Investor Relations website.
About LifeStance Health
Founded in 2017, LifeStance (NASDAQ: LFST) is reimagining mental health. We are one of the nation’s largest providers of virtual and in-person outpatient mental healthcare for children, adolescents and adults experiencing a variety of mental health conditions. Our mission is to help people lead healthier, more fulfilling lives by improving access to trusted, affordable and personalized mental healthcare. LifeStance and its supported practices employ over 8,300 psychiatrists, advanced practice nurses, psychologists and therapists and operate across 33 states and more than 550 centers. To learn more, please visit www.LifeStance.com.
Momentum investing revolves around the idea of following a stock's recent trend in either direction. In "long context," investors will be essentially be "buying high, but hoping to sell even higher." With this methodology, taking advantage of trends in a stock's price is key; once a stock establishes a course, it is more than likely to continue moving that way. The goal is that once a stock heads down a fixed path, it will lead to timely and profitable trades.
Even though momentum is a popular stock characteristic, it can be tough to define. Debate surrounding which are the best and worst metrics to focus on is lengthy, but the Zacks Momentum Style Score, part of the Zacks Style Scores, helps address this issue for us.
Below, we take a look at LifeStance Health Group (LFST - Free Report) , a company that currently holds a Momentum Style Score of B. We also talk about price change and earnings estimate revisions, two of the main aspects of the Momentum Style Score.
It's also important to note that Style Scores work as a complement to the Zacks Rank, our stock rating system that has an impressive track record of outperformance. LifeStance Health Group currently has a Zacks Rank of #1 (Strong Buy). Our research shows that stocks rated Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) and #2 (Buy) and Style Scores of "A or B" outperform the market over the following one-month period.
You can see the current list of Zacks #1 Rank Stocks here >>>
Set to Beat the Market?Let's discuss some of the components of the Momentum Style Score for LFST that show why this outpatient mental health services provider shows promise as a solid momentum pick.
Looking at a stock's short-term price activity is a great way to gauge if it has momentum, since this can reflect both the current interest in a stock and if buyers or sellers have the upper hand at the moment. It's also helpful to compare a security to its industry; this can show investors the best companies in a particular area.
For LFST, shares are up 9.63% over the past week while the Zacks Medical - Outpatient and Home Healthcare industry is up 5.14% over the same time period. Shares are looking quite well from a longer time frame too, as the monthly price change of 42.3% compares favorably with the industry's 12% performance as well.
While any stock can see a spike in price, it takes a real winner to consistently outperform the market. Over the past quarter, shares of LifeStance Health Group have risen 67.43%, and are up 130.44% in the last year. In comparison, the S&P 500 has only moved 13.69% and 21.71%, respectively.
Investors should also pay attention to LFST's average 20-day trading volume. Volume is a useful item in many ways, and the 20-day average establishes a good price-to-volume baseline; a rising stock with above average volume is generally a bullish sign, whereas a declining stock on above average volume is typically bearish. LFST is currently averaging 4,002,606 shares for the last 20 days.
Earnings OutlookThe Zacks Momentum Style Score encompasses many things, including estimate revisions and a stock's price movement. Investors should note that earnings estimates are also significant to the Zacks Rank, and a nice path here can be promising. We have recently been noticing this with LFST.
Over the past two months, 1 earnings estimate moved higher compared to none lower for the full year. This revision helped boost LFST's consensus estimate, increasing from $0.11 to $0.12 in the past 60 days. Looking at the next fiscal year, 1 estimate has moved upwards while there have been no downward revisions in the same time period.
Bottom LineGiven these factors, it shouldn't be surprising that LFST is a #1 (Strong Buy) stock and boasts a Momentum Score of B. If you're looking for a fresh pick that's set to soar in the near-term, make sure to keep LifeStance Health Group on your short list.
LifeStance Health Group (LFST - Free Report) could be a solid choice for investors given its recent upgrade to a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). An upward trend in earnings estimates -- one of the most powerful forces impacting stock prices -- has triggered this rating change.
A company's changing earnings picture is at the core of the Zacks rating. The system tracks the Zacks Consensus Estimate -- the consensus measure of EPS estimates from the sell-side analysts covering the stock -- for the current and following years.
Individual investors often find it hard to make decisions based on rating upgrades by Wall Street analysts, since these are mostly driven by subjective factors that are hard to see and measure in real time. In these situations, the Zacks rating system comes in handy because of the power of a changing earnings picture in determining near-term stock price movements.
Therefore, the Zacks rating upgrade for LifeStance Health basically reflects positivity about its earnings outlook that could translate into buying pressure and an increase in its stock price.
Most Powerful Force Impacting Stock PricesThe change in a company's future earnings potential, as reflected in earnings estimate revisions, has proven to be strongly correlated with the near-term price movement of its stock. The influence of institutional investors has a partial contribution to this relationship, as these big professionals use earnings and earnings estimates to calculate the fair value of a company's shares. An increase or decrease in earnings estimates in their valuation models simply results in higher or lower fair value for a stock, and institutional investors typically buy or sell it. Their transaction of large amounts of shares then leads to price movement for the stock.
For LifeStance Health, rising earnings estimates and the consequent rating upgrade fundamentally mean an improvement in the company's underlying business. And investors' appreciation of this improving business trend should push the stock higher.
Harnessing the Power of Earnings Estimate RevisionsAs empirical research shows a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock movements, tracking such revisions for making an investment decision could be truly rewarding. Here is where the tried-and-tested Zacks Rank stock-rating system plays an important role, as it effectively harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions.
The Zacks Rank stock-rating system, which uses four factors related to earnings estimates to classify stocks into five groups, ranging from Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) to Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell), has an impressive externally-audited track record, with Zacks Rank #1 stocks generating an average annual return of +25% since 1988. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>> .
Earnings Estimate Revisions for LifeStance HealthFor the fiscal year ending December 2026, this outpatient mental health services provider is expected to earn $0.12 per share, which is unchanged compared with the year-ago reported number.
Analysts have been steadily raising their estimates for LifeStance Health. Over the past three months, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the company has increased 42.3%.
Bottom LineUnlike the overly optimistic Wall Street analysts whose rating systems tend to be weighted toward favorable recommendations, the Zacks rating system maintains an equal proportion of "buy" and "sell" ratings for its entire universe of more than 4,000 stocks at any point in time. Irrespective of market conditions, only the top 5% of the Zacks-covered stocks get a "Strong Buy" rating and the next 15% get a "Buy" rating. So, the placement of a stock in the top 20% of the Zacks-covered stocks indicates its superior earnings estimate revision feature, making it a solid candidate for producing market-beating returns in the near term.
You can learn more about the Zacks Rank here >>>
The upgrade of LifeStance Health to a Zacks Rank #1 positions it in the top 5% of the Zacks-covered stocks in terms of estimate revisions, implying that the stock might move higher in the near term.
Analysis of 180,000 Patients Validates Measurement-Informed Care for Anxiety and Depression
, /PRNewswire/ -- LifeStance Health, one of the nation's largest providers of outpatient mental health care, published new clinical outcomes data demonstrating that LifeStance patients treated for anxiety and depression broadly experienced clinically significant improvements in their symptoms.
The analysis included nearly 180,000 patients who initiated care between September 2024 and December 2025 across the 33 states LifeStance serves. Key findings include:
Anxiety improvement: 79% of LifeStance patients showed clinically significant improvements in symptoms of anxiety* Depression improvement: 73% of LifeStance patients showed clinically significant improvements in symptoms of depression* Results were consistent across all U.S. geographic regions *Among 140,000 individuals with at least moderate anxiety and 150,000 individuals with at least moderate depression.
Patients were evaluated using two widely used mental health screening tools: the GAD-7 for anxiety and the PHQ-9 for depression. Through LifeStance's measurement‑informed care model, patients complete GAD‑7 and PHQ‑9 assessments at regular intervals, allowing clinicians to track progress over time and adjust care as needed.
LifeStance is committed to clinical excellence and delivering high-quality care. Its model is designed to support improved patient outcomes, including in-person and telehealth options to expand access and support patient engagement; integrated therapy and medication management for more comprehensive and personalized care; and measurement-informed practices that allow clinicians to track and adjust treatment over time.
"For too long, patients seeking mental health care have not had the same clear way to track progress that exists in other areas of medicine, like a blood pressure reading or an A1C result," said Dr. Stephanie Eken, Chief Medical Officer, LifeStance. "Measurement-informed care is changing that dynamic. Our data shows that when patients receive high-quality mental health care, they get better—and LifeStance is demonstrating that at scale."
The full anxiety and depression treatment outcomes analysis is available at LifeStance.com.
About LifeStance
Founded in 2017, LifeStance (Nasdaq: LFST) is reimagining mental health. We are one of the nation's largest providers of virtual and in-person outpatient mental health care for children, adolescents and adults experiencing a variety of mental health conditions. Our mission is to help people lead healthier, more fulfilling lives by improving access to trusted, affordable and personalized mental healthcare. LifeStance and its supported practices employ approximately 8,000 psychiatrists, advanced practice nurses, psychologists and therapists and operate across 33 states and more than 550 centers.
Contacts:
Media relations: [email protected]
Investor relations: [email protected]
LifeStance Health Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:LFST – Get Free Report) has been given an average rating of “Moderate Buy” by the nine brokerages that are covering the firm, MarketBeat.com reports. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation, six have given a buy recommendation and one has assigned a strong buy recommendation to the company. The average 12 month target price among brokers that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $9.8333.
LFST has been the subject of a number of recent research reports. UBS Group boosted their price objective on shares of LifeStance Health Group from $10.00 to $12.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, February 26th. Wall Street Zen raised shares of LifeStance Health Group from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Sunday, February 8th. Canaccord Genuity Group boosted their price objective on shares of LifeStance Health Group from $9.00 to $10.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, February 26th. Jefferies Financial Group raised shares of LifeStance Health Group to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, March 12th. Finally, Weiss Ratings raised shares of LifeStance Health Group from a “sell (d-)” rating to a “hold (c-)” rating in a research report on Friday, February 27th.
View Our Latest Stock Analysis on LFST
LifeStance Health Group Price Performance Shares of LFST opened at $6.40 on Monday. The firm has a market cap of $2.49 billion, a PE ratio of 320.16 and a beta of 1.13. The company has a current ratio of 1.65, a quick ratio of 1.65 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.17. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $6.76 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $6.47. LifeStance Health Group has a 1-year low of $3.74 and a 1-year high of $8.09.
LifeStance Health Group (NASDAQ:LFST – Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, February 25th. The company reported $0.03 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.05 by ($0.02). The company had revenue of $382.20 million for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $378.51 million. LifeStance Health Group had a net margin of 0.68% and a return on equity of 0.65%. LifeStance Health Group’s quarterly revenue was up 17.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted ($0.01) earnings per share. On average, equities analysts anticipate that LifeStance Health Group will post -0.18 EPS for the current year.
LifeStance Health Group announced that its Board of Directors has initiated a share repurchase plan on Wednesday, February 25th that allows the company to buyback $100.00 million in shares. This buyback authorization allows the company to reacquire up to 3.6% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares buyback plans are generally an indication that the company’s board of directors believes its stock is undervalued.
Insider Activity In other news, Director Darren M. Black sold 4,314,939 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Monday, March 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $7.01, for a total transaction of $30,247,722.39. Following the completion of the sale, the director owned 29,209,776 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $204,760,529.76. The trade was a 12.87% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. 3.20% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.
Institutional Inflows and Outflows Several hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of LFST. Royal Bank of Canada boosted its holdings in LifeStance Health Group by 63.4% in the 1st quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 70,248 shares of the company’s stock worth $468,000 after buying an additional 27,244 shares during the period. AQR Capital Management LLC boosted its holdings in LifeStance Health Group by 223.0% in the 1st quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 51,500 shares of the company’s stock worth $343,000 after buying an additional 35,554 shares during the period. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. boosted its holdings in LifeStance Health Group by 3.0% in the 1st quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. now owns 142,950 shares of the company’s stock worth $952,000 after buying an additional 4,169 shares during the period. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC boosted its holdings in LifeStance Health Group by 1.9% in the 1st quarter. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC now owns 615,652 shares of the company’s stock worth $4,100,000 after buying an additional 11,331 shares during the period. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted its holdings in LifeStance Health Group by 10.2% in the 2nd quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 550,657 shares of the company’s stock worth $2,847,000 after buying an additional 51,154 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 85.50% of the company’s stock.
LifeStance Health Group Company Profile (Get Free Report)
LifeStance Health Group (NASDAQ:LFST) is a leading provider of outpatient mental health services in the United States. Headquartered in New York City, the company operates a growing network of clinics that deliver integrated, patient-centered psychological and psychiatric care. LifeStance’s mission is to expand access to high-quality mental health treatment by combining evidence-based therapy modalities with personalized treatment plans.
The company’s service offerings include individual, family, and group psychotherapy, psychiatric medication management, psychological assessment, and telehealth services.
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Chemed (NYSE:CHE – Get Free Report) and LifeStance Health Group (NASDAQ:LFST – Get Free Report) are both mid-cap medical companies, but which is the better business? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their valuation, earnings, dividends, institutional ownership, analyst recommendations, risk and profitability.
Institutional & Insider Ownership 95.9% of Chemed shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 85.5% of LifeStance Health Group shares are held by institutional investors. 3.3% of Chemed shares are held by insiders. Comparatively, 6.6% of LifeStance Health Group shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, endowments and hedge funds believe a company will outperform the market over the long term.
Analyst Recommendations This is a summary of current ratings and target prices for Chemed and LifeStance Health Group, as reported by MarketBeat.com.
Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Chemed 2 2 2 0 2.00 LifeStance Health Group 0 2 6 1 2.89 Chemed currently has a consensus target price of $498.00, suggesting a potential upside of 18.38%. LifeStance Health Group has a consensus target price of $9.83, suggesting a potential upside of 39.48%. Given LifeStance Health Group’s stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, analysts clearly believe LifeStance Health Group is more favorable than Chemed.
Earnings & Valuation This table compares Chemed and LifeStance Health Group”s top-line revenue, earnings per share and valuation.
Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Chemed $2.53 billion 2.43 $265.24 million $18.35 22.92 LifeStance Health Group $1.42 billion 1.92 $9.66 million $0.02 352.50 Chemed has higher revenue and earnings than LifeStance Health Group. Chemed is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than LifeStance Health Group, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.
Volatility and Risk Chemed has a beta of 0.49, suggesting that its share price is 51% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, LifeStance Health Group has a beta of 1.13, suggesting that its share price is 13% more volatile than the S&P 500.
Profitability This table compares Chemed and LifeStance Health Group’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.
Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Chemed 10.23% 27.18% 17.38% LifeStance Health Group 0.68% 0.65% 0.45% Summary Chemed beats LifeStance Health Group on 8 of the 15 factors compared between the two stocks.
About Chemed (Get Free Report)
Chemed Corporation provides hospice and palliative care services to patients through a network of physicians, registered nurses, home health aides, social workers, clergy, and volunteers primarily in the United States. The company operates in VITAS and Roto-Rooter segments. It offers plumbing, drain cleaning, excavation, water restoration, and other related services to residential and commercial customers through company-owned branches, independent contractors, and franchisees. The company was incorporated in 1970 and is headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio.
About LifeStance Health Group (Get Free Report)
LifeStance Health Group, Inc., through its subsidiaries, provides outpatient mental health services to children, adolescents, adults, and geriatrics in the United States. The company offers patients a suite of mental health services, including psychiatric evaluations and treatment, psychological, and neuropsychological testing, as well as individual, family, and group therapy. It treats a range of mental health conditions, including anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, eating disorders, psychotic disorders, and post-traumatic stress disorder. In addition, the company operates an outpatient mental health platform, as well as offers patient care virtually through its online delivery platform or in-person at its centers. LifeStance Health Group, Inc. was founded in 2017 and is headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona.
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Here are five stocks added to the Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) List today:
APA Corporation (APA - Free Report) : This energy company has seen the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings increasing 105.8% over the last 60 days.
Marathon Petroleum Corporation (MPC - Free Report) : This energy company has seen the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings increasing 76% over the last 60 days.
Phillips 66 (PSX - Free Report) : This integrated downstream energy company has seen the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings increasing 21.6% over the last 60 days.
LifeStance Health Group, Inc. (LFST - Free Report) : This mental healthcare services provider has seen the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings increasing 50% over the last 60 days.
Galp Energia, SGPS, S.A. (GLPEY - Free Report) : This integrated energy company has seen the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings increasing 41.1% over the last 60 days.
You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Check out this week’s current list of Best Stocks to Buy Now.
Director Robert Bessler reported the sale of 69,899 shares of LifeStance Health Group (LFST 0.81%) in multiple open-market transactions valued at approximately $492,000, according to the SEC Form 4 filing.
Transaction summaryMetricValueShares sold (indirect)69,899Transaction value~$492KPost-transaction shares (direct)57,619Post-transaction shares (indirect)2,702,057Post-transaction value (direct ownership)~$406KTransaction and post-transaction values based on SEC Form 4 weighted average sell price of $7.04 on April 24, 2026.
Key questionsHow does this sale compare to Bessler's historical transaction size and cadence?
This transaction aligns with Bessler's historical average sell-only trade size of approximately 53,600 shares, and follows a recent series of disposals that have meaningfully reduced his available share capacity.What proportion of Bessler's total position was affected, and what remains?
The sale represented 2.47% of his total holdings, leaving him with 57,619 shares directly and 2.7 million shares indirectly.Were any direct holdings impacted by this transaction?
No direct shares were sold; all activity was executed through indirect holdings.Is this transaction likely to alter Bessler's influence or alignment with shareholders?
Given the small percentage of overall holdings sold, and the substantial remaining indirect position, Bessler retains a meaningful economic interest in LifeStance Health Group.Company overviewMetricValueEmployees7,535Revenue (TTM)$1.42 billionNet income (TTM)$9.66 million1-year price change8.60%* 1-year price change calculated using April 24, 2026 as the reference date.
Company snapshotLifeStance Health Group provides outpatient mental health services, including psychiatric evaluations, psychological and neuropsychological testing, and individual, family, and group therapy, both virtually and in-person across 32 states.It operates a hybrid care delivery model combining physical centers and a digital platform, generating revenue through direct patient services.The company serves a broad demographic, including children, adolescents, adults, and geriatrics seeking mental health care.LifeStance Health Group provides outpatient mental health services in the United States, leveraging a blend of in-person and virtual care. The company’s expansive network and technology-enabled platform enable access to behavioral health services for diverse patient populations.
What this transaction means for investorsBoard of Directors member Dr. Robert Bessler’s sale of LifeStance stock on April 23 and 24 is not a cause for concern for investors. He retained over 2.7 million indirectly-held as well as nearly 60,000 directly-held shares after the transaction, indicating he is maintaining a sizable equity stake in the company.
The sale came at a time when LifeStance stock was soaring. Shares reached a 52-week high of $8.09 in February. The stock is up thanks to strong business performance.
LifeStance ended 2025 with full year revenue of $1.4 billion, representing a 14% year-over-year increase. The company also made a dramatic turnaround in its bottom line, delivering net income of $9.7 million in 2025 compared to a net loss of $57.4 million in 2024.
As a result of its share price jump, LifeStance Health’s forward price-to-sales ratio of two is elevated, making it a good time to sell. The company expects 2026 revenue to come in around $1.6 billion, showing that its business continues to grow. So while the forward sales multiple is up, now may still be an opportunity to buy as well.
Robert Izquierdo 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.
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., April 29, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- LifeStance Health Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: LFST), one of the nation’s largest providers of outpatient mental healthcare, today announced that management will present at the following upcoming investor conferences.
Bank of America 2026 Healthcare Conference:
Presenter: Dave Bourdon, CEO
Date: Wednesday, May 13, 2026
Location: Encore at the Wynn, Las Vegas, NV
Time: 5:00 p.m. (Pacific Time)
William Blair 46th Annual Growth Stock Conference
Presenter: Dave Bourdon, CEO
Date: Thursday, June 4, 2026
Location: Loews Chicago Hotel, Chicago, IL
Time: 11:20 a.m. (Central Time)
The presentations will be webcast live and will be available on the Events and Presentations section of the LifeStance Health Investor Relations website (https://investor.lifestance.com).
A replay of the webcast will be available after the conclusion of the event and can be accessed on the LifeStance Health Investor Relations website.
About LifeStance Health
Founded in 2017, LifeStance (NASDAQ: LFST) is reimagining mental health. We are one of the nation’s largest providers of virtual and in-person outpatient mental healthcare for children, adolescents and adults experiencing a variety of mental health conditions. Our mission is to help people lead healthier, more fulfilling lives by improving access to trusted, affordable and personalized mental healthcare. LifeStance and its supported practices employ approximately 8,000 psychiatrists, advanced practice nurses, psychologists and therapists and operate across 33 states and more than 550 centers. To learn more, please visit www.LifeStance.com.
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., May 07, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- LifeStance Health Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: LFST), one of the nation’s largest providers of outpatient mental healthcare, today announced financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2026.
(All results compared to prior-year comparative period, unless otherwise noted)
2026 Highlights and FY 2026 Outlook
Revenue of $403.5 million increased 21% compared to revenue of $333.0 millionClinician base increased 11% to 8,349 clinicians, a sequential net increase of 309 in the first quarterFirst quarter visit volumes increased 18% to 2.5 millionNet income of $14.2 million compared to net income of $0.7 millionAdjusted EBITDA of $51.1 million compared to Adjusted EBITDA of $34.6 millionNet cash provided by operations of $33.1 million in the first quarterFree Cash Flow generation of $22.3 million in the first quarterFor full year 2026, raising revenue expectations to $1.640 billion to $1.680 billion, Center Margin expectations to $547 million to $571 million, and Adjusted EBITDA of $200 million to $220 million “We delivered an exceptional quarter to begin the year, highlighted by strong revenue growth of 21%, net income growth of $13.5 million, and Adjusted EBITDA growth of 48%,” said Dave Bourdon, CEO of LifeStance. “Our performance demonstrates that our differentiated model is meeting the societal trend of growing demand for mental healthcare. We also took an important step forward in our commitment to clinical excellence by announcing an outcomes study on approximately 180,000 LifeStance patients that showed roughly three quarters reported clinically significant improvement in anxiety and depression.”
Financial Highlights Q1 2026 Q1 2025 Y/Y (in millions) Total revenue $403.5 $333.0 21%Income from operations 22.3 1.6 NM Center Margin 135.9 109.8 24%Net income 14.2 0.7 NM Adjusted EBITDA 51.1 34.6 48%As % of Total revenue: Income from operations 5.5% 0.5% Center Margin 33.7% 33.0% Net income 3.5% 0.2% Adjusted EBITDA 12.7% 10.4% NM - not meaningful (All results compared to prior-year period, unless otherwise noted)
Revenue grew 21% to $403.5 million. Revenue growth in the first quarter was driven primarily by higher visit volumes from net clinician growth, improved clinician productivity, and higher total revenue per visit.Income from operations was $22.3 million and net income was $14.2 million.Center Margin grew 24% to $135.9 million, or 33.7% of total revenue.Adjusted EBITDA increased 48% to $51.1 million, or 12.7% of total revenue. Adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of revenue increased in the first quarter as a result of higher total revenue per visit, lower center costs as a percentage of revenue, and improved operating leverage from revenue growing faster than general and administrative expenses. Balance Sheet, Cash Flow, and Capital Allocation
For the three months ended March 31, 2026, LifeStance generated $33.1 million cash flow from operations. The Company ended the first quarter with cash of $194.8 million and net long-term debt of $262.5 million.
2026 Guidance
LifeStance is providing the following outlook for 2026:
The Company is raising full year revenue to $1.640 billion to $1.680 billion, Center Margin to $547 million to $571 million, and Adjusted EBITDA to $200 million to $220 million.For the second quarter of 2026, the Company expects total revenue of $405 million to $425 million, Center Margin of $135 million to $147 million, and Adjusted EBITDA of $50 million to $60 million. Conference Call, Webcast Information, and Presentations
LifeStance will hold a conference call today, May 7, 2026 at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time to discuss the first quarter 2026 results. Investors who wish to participate in the call should dial 1-800-715-9871, domestically, or 1-646-307-1963, internationally, approximately 10 minutes before the call begins and provide conference ID number 8795477 or ask to be joined into the LifeStance call. A real-time audio webcast can be accessed via the Events and Presentations section of the LifeStance Investor Relations website (https://investor.lifestance.com), where related materials will be posted prior to the conference call.
About LifeStance Health Group, Inc.
Founded in 2017, LifeStance (Nasdaq: LFST) is reimagining mental health. We are one of the nation’s largest providers of virtual and in-person outpatient mental healthcare for children, adolescents and adults experiencing a variety of mental health conditions. Our mission is to help people lead healthier, more fulfilling lives by improving access to trusted, affordable, and personalized mental healthcare. LifeStance and its supported practices employ over 8,300 psychiatrists, advanced practice nurses, psychologists and therapists and operates across 33 states and more than 550 centers. To learn more, please visit www.LifeStance.com.
We routinely post information that may be important to investors on the “Investor Relations” section of our website at investor.lifestance.com. We encourage investors and potential investors to consult our website regularly for important information about us.
Forward-Looking Statements
Statements in this press release and on the related teleconference that express a belief, expectation or intention, as well as those that are not historical fact, are forward-looking statements. These statements include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to: full year and second quarter guidance and management's related assumptions; business plans and objectives; our share repurchase authorization and repurchases thereunder; and other statements contained in this press release that are not historical facts. When used in this press release and on the related teleconference, words such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “could,” “intend,” “potential,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “plan,” “target,” “predict,” “project,” “seek” and similar expressions as they relate to us are intended to identify forward-looking statements. They involve a number of risks and uncertainties that may cause actual events and results to differ materially from such forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: if reimbursement rates paid by third-party payors are reduced or if third-party payors otherwise restrain our ability to obtain or deliver care to patients, our business could be materially harmed; we may not grow at the rates we historically have achieved or at all, even if our key metrics may imply future growth, including if we are unable to successfully execute on our growth initiatives and business strategies; if we fail to manage our growth effectively, our expenses could increase more than expected, our revenue may not increase proportionally or at all, and we may be unable to execute on our business strategy; our ability to recruit new clinicians and retain existing clinicians; we conduct business in a heavily regulated industry and if we fail to comply with these laws and government regulations, we could incur penalties or be required to make significant changes to our operations or experience adverse publicity, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition; we are dependent on our relationships with supported practices, which we do not own, to provide healthcare services, and our business would be harmed if those relationships were disrupted or if our arrangements with these entities became subject to legal challenges; we operate in a competitive industry, and if we are not able to compete effectively, our business and financial performance would be harmed; the impact on us of healthcare reform legislation and other changes in the healthcare industry and in healthcare spending is currently unknown, but may harm our business; if our or our vendors’ security measures fail or are breached and unauthorized access to our employees’, patients’ or partners’ data is obtained, our systems may be perceived as insecure, we may incur significant liabilities, including through private litigation or regulatory action, our reputation may be harmed, and we could lose patients and partners; our business depends on our ability to effectively invest in, implement improvements to and properly maintain the uninterrupted operation and data integrity of our information technology and other business systems; our existing indebtedness could adversely affect our business and growth prospects; and other risks and uncertainties set forth under “Risk Factors” included in the reports we have filed or will file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025 and subsequent filings made with the Securities and Exchange Commission. LifeStance does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements made in this press release to reflect any change in management's expectations or any change in the assumptions or circumstances on which such statements are based, except as otherwise required by law.
Non-GAAP Financial Information
This press release contains certain non-GAAP financial measures, including Center Margin, Adjusted EBITDA, and Adjusted EBITDA margin. Tables showing the reconciliation of these non-GAAP financial measures to the comparable GAAP measures are included at the end of this release. Management believes these non-GAAP financial measures are useful in evaluating the Company’s operating performance, and may be helpful to securities analysts, institutional investors and other interested parties in understanding the Company’s operating performance and prospects. This press release also refers to Free Cash Flow, which is calculated as net cash provided by (used in) operating activities less purchases of property and equipment. Management believes Free Cash Flow is a useful indicator of liquidity that provides information to management and investors about the amount of cash generated from our operations that, after investments in property and equipment, can be used for future growth. These non-GAAP financial measures, as calculated, may not be comparable to companies in other industries or within the same industry with similarly titled measures of performance. Therefore, the Company’s non-GAAP financial measures should be considered in addition to, not as a substitute for, or in isolation from, measures prepared in accordance with GAAP, such as net income or income from operations.
Center Margin and Adjusted EBITDA anticipated for the second quarter of 2026 and full year 2026 are calculated in a manner consistent with the historical presentation of these measures at the end of this release. Reconciliation for the forward-looking second quarter of 2026 and full year 2026 Center Margin, Adjusted EBITDA guidance and Free Cash Flow is not being provided, as LifeStance does not currently have sufficient data to accurately estimate the variables and individual adjustments for such reconciliation. As such, LifeStance management cannot estimate on a forward-looking basis without unreasonable effort the impact these variables and individual adjustments will have on its reported results.
Management acknowledges that there are many items that impact a company’s reported results and the adjustments reflected in these non-GAAP measures are not intended to present all items that may have impacted these results.
Consolidated Financial Information and Reconciliations
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(unaudited)
(In thousands, except for par value)
March 31, 2026 December 31, 2025 CURRENT ASSETS Cash and cash equivalents $194,797 $248,642 Patient accounts receivable, net 122,916 95,710 Prepaid expenses and other current assets 38,198 71,848 Total current assets 355,911 416,200 NONCURRENT ASSETS Property and equipment, net 161,468 161,583 Right-of-use assets 151,526 149,720 Intangible assets, net 175,141 177,665 Goodwill 1,296,999 1,293,346 Other noncurrent assets 4,837 5,419 Total noncurrent assets 1,789,971 1,787,733 Total assets $2,145,882 $2,203,933 LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY CURRENT LIABILITIES Accounts payable $4,292 $6,122 Accrued payroll expenses 117,306 143,327 Other accrued expenses 52,408 42,187 Operating lease liabilities, current 47,369 45,544 Other current liabilities 18,357 14,782 Total current liabilities 239,732 251,962 NONCURRENT LIABILITIES Long-term debt, net 262,459 265,927 Operating lease liabilities, noncurrent 148,821 148,553 Deferred tax liability, net 16,408 16,408 Other noncurrent liabilities 1,046 68 Total noncurrent liabilities 428,734 430,956 Total liabilities $668,466 $682,918 COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY Preferred stock – par value $0.01 per share; 25,000 shares authorized as of
March 31, 2026 and December 31, 2025; 0 shares issued and outstanding as
of March 31, 2026 and December 31, 2025 — — Common stock – par value $0.01 per share; 800,000 shares authorized as of
March 31, 2026 and December 31, 2025; 387,813 and 388,318 shares
issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2026 and December 31, 2025,
respectively 3,878 3,883 Additional paid-in capital 2,267,921 2,325,758 Accumulated deficit (794,383) (808,626)Total stockholders' equity 1,477,416 1,521,015 Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity $2,145,882 $2,203,933 CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(unaudited)
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
Three Months Ended March 31, 2026 2025 TOTAL REVENUE $403,476 $332,970 OPERATING EXPENSES Center costs, excluding depreciation and
amortization shown separately below 267,544 223,179 General and administrative expenses 100,330 94,431 Depreciation and amortization 13,318 13,756 Total operating expenses $381,192 $331,366 INCOME FROM OPERATIONS $22,284 $1,604 OTHER EXPENSE Loss on remeasurement of contingent consideration (5) — Transaction costs (544) — Interest expense, net (1,793) (3,073)Other expense (182) (1)Total other expense $(2,524) $(3,074)INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE INCOME TAXES 19,760 (1,470)INCOME TAX (PROVISION) BENEFIT (5,517) 2,179 NET INCOME $14,243 $709 EARNINGS PER SHARE Basic 0.04 0.00 Diluted 0.04 0.00 Weighted-average shares outstanding Basic 387,264 383,272 Diluted 395,084 390,666 NET INCOME $14,243 $709 OTHER COMPREHENSIVE LOSS Unrealized losses on cash flow hedge, net of tax — (317)COMPREHENSIVE INCOME $14,243 $392 CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(unaudited)
(In thousands)
Three Months Ended March 31, 2026 2025 CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES Net income $14,243 $709 Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by
(used in) operating activities: Depreciation and amortization 13,318 13,756 Non-cash operating lease costs 10,717 10,231 Stock-based compensation 15,201 18,584 Amortization of discount and debt issue costs 251 251 Other, net 129 357 Change in operating assets and liabilities, net of businesses acquired: Patient accounts receivable, net (26,953) (8,568)Prepaid expenses and other current assets 33,779 (4,515)Accounts payable (1,017) (77)Accrued payroll expenses (26,362) (17,540)Operating lease liabilities (9,955) (11,894)Other accrued expenses 9,758 (4,386)Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities $33,109 $(3,092)CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES Purchases of property and equipment (10,767) (7,168)Acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired (3,144) — Net cash used in investing activities $(13,911) $(7,168)CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES Payments of long-term debt — (1,813)Taxes related to net share settlement of equity awards (23,936) (8,162)Repurchases of common stock (49,107) — Net cash used in financing activities $(73,043) $(9,975)NET DECREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS (53,845) (20,235)Cash and cash equivalents - beginning of period 248,642 154,571 CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS – END OF PERIOD $194,797 $134,336 SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION Cash paid for interest, net $77 $4,382 Cash paid for taxes, net of refunds $349 $609 SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES OF NON CASH INVESTING AND
FINANCING ACTIVITIES Contingent consideration incurred in acquisitions of businesses $1,008 $— Acquisition of property and equipment included in liabilities $2,489 $2,348 RECONCILIATION OF INCOME FROM OPERATIONS TO CENTER MARGIN
Three Months Ended March 31, 2026 2025 (in thousands) Income from operations $22,284 $1,604 Adjusted for: Depreciation and amortization 13,318 13,756 General and administrative expenses(1) 100,330 94,431 Center Margin $135,932 $109,791 (1) Represents salaries, wages and employee benefits for our executive leadership, finance, human resources, marketing, billing and credentialing support and technology infrastructure and stock-based compensation for all employees. RECONCILIATION OF NET INCOME TO ADJUSTED EBITDA
Three Months Ended March 31, 2026 2025 (in thousands) Net income $14,243 $709 Adjusted for: Interest expense, net 1,793 3,073 Depreciation and amortization 13,318 13,756 Income tax provision (benefit) 5,517 (2,179)Loss on remeasurement of contingent consideration 5 — Stock-based compensation expense 15,201 18,584 Loss on disposal of assets 182 1 Transaction costs(1) 544 — Executive transition costs — 185 Litigation costs(2) (197) 205 Strategic initiatives(3) 86 — Real estate optimization and restructuring charges(4) — (45)Amortization of cloud-based software implementation costs(5) 418 357 Adjusted EBITDA $51,110 $34,646 (1) Primarily includes capital markets advisory, consulting, accounting and legal expenses related to the underwritten public offering of shares of our common stock by certain selling stockholders completed in the first quarter of 2026. (2) Litigation costs, net of insurance recoveries, include only those costs which are considered non-recurring and outside of the ordinary course of business based on the following considerations, which we assess regularly: (i) the frequency of similar cases that have been brought to date, or are expected to be brought within two years, (ii) the complexity of the case (e.g., complex class action litigation), (iii) the nature of the remedy(ies) sought, including the size of any monetary damages sought, (iv) the counterparty involved, and (v) our overall litigation strategy. During each of the three months ended March 31, 2026 and 2025, litigation costs included cash expenses related to certain litigation matters, including a privacy class action litigation, and for the three months ended March 31, 2025, a compensation model class action litigation. (3) Strategic initiatives consist of expenses directly related to evaluating and implementing a critical enterprise-wide scalable electronic health resources system in connection with our significant expansion. Strategic initiatives represents costs, such as third-party consulting costs and one-time costs, that are not part of our ongoing operations related to this enterprise-wide system. We considered the frequency and scale of this enterprise upgrade when determining that the expenses were not normal, recurring operating expenses. (4) Real estate optimization and restructuring charges consist of cash expenses and non-cash charges related to our real estate optimization initiative, which included certain asset impairment and disposal costs, certain gains and losses related to early lease terminations, and exit and disposal costs related to our real estate optimization initiative to consolidate our physical footprint during 2023. As the decision to close these centers was part of a significant strategic project driven by a historic shift in behavior, the magnitude of center closures was greater than what would be expected as part of ordinary business operations and did not constitute normal recurring operating activities. During the three months ended March 31, 2025, real estate optimization and restructuring charges consisted of certain gains and losses related to early lease terminations of previously abandoned real estate leases in 2023. (5) Represents amortization of capitalized implementation costs related to cloud-based software arrangements that are included within general and administrative expenses included in our unaudited consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income.
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., May 07, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- LifeStance Health Group, Inc. (“LifeStance” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: LFST), one of the nation’s largest providers of virtual and in-person outpatient mental health care, today announced that pursuant to a shelf registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), certain stockholders of the Company (the “Selling Stockholders”) intend to offer 35,000,000 shares of LifeStance’s common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Common Stock”). The Selling Stockholders will receive all of the proceeds from the offering. The Company is not selling any shares of Common Stock in the offering and will not receive any proceeds from the offering.
In addition, the Company has authorized the concurrent purchase from the underwriter of 6,000,000 shares of Common Stock (the “Repurchase”), subject to the completion of the offering. The price per share for the shares to be repurchased by the Company will be the same as the price per share payable by the underwriter to the Selling Stockholders. The underwriter will not receive any underwriting fees for the shares being repurchased by the Company. The Repurchase will be subject to completion of the offering and the satisfaction of other customary conditions. The offering is not conditioned upon the completion of the Repurchase.
J.P. Morgan is acting as the underwriter for the offering.
An automatic shelf registration statement (including a prospectus) relating to the offering of Common Stock was filed by LifeStance with the SEC on May 21, 2024 and became effective upon filing. Before you invest, you should read the prospectus in the shelf registration statement and the documents incorporated by reference therein and the prospectus supplement that the Company has filed with the SEC for more complete information about the Company and the offering. The offering will be made only by means of a prospectus and a related prospectus supplement relating to the offering, copies of which may be obtained by contacting J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, c/o Broadridge Financial Solutions, 1155 Long Island Avenue, Edgewood, NY 11717, or by email at [email protected] and [email protected]. A copy of the prospectus and the related prospectus supplement relating to the offering may also be obtained free of charge by visiting EDGAR on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy these securities, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction. Nothing herein should be construed as an offer to sell, or the solicitation of an offer to buy, any shares of Common Stock subject to the Repurchase.
About LifeStance
Founded in 2017, LifeStance (Nasdaq: LFST) is reimagining mental health. We are one of the nation’s largest providers of virtual and in-person outpatient mental health care for children, adolescents and adults experiencing a variety of mental health conditions. Our mission is to help people lead healthier, more fulfilling lives by improving access to trusted, affordable and personalized mental healthcare. LifeStance and its supported practices employ over 8,300 psychiatrists, advanced practice nurses, psychologists and therapists and operates across 33 states and more than 550 centers.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release may contain “forward-looking” statements based on the Company’s beliefs and assumptions and on information currently available to the Company. Forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “envision,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “predict,” “project,” “target,” “potential,” “will,” “would,” “could,” “should,” “continue,” “contemplate” and other similar expressions, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. For example, all statements we make regarding the terms of the proposed public offering and the Repurchase are forward-looking statements.
Forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations and assumptions regarding our business, the economy and other future conditions. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, by their nature, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict. As a result, our actual results may differ materially from those contemplated by any forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: if reimbursement rates paid by third-party payors are reduced or if third-party payors otherwise restrain our ability to obtain or deliver care to patients, our business could be harmed; we may not grow at the rates we historically have achieved or at all, even if our key metrics may imply future growth, including if we are unable to successfully execute on our growth initiatives and business strategies; if we fail to manage our growth effectively, our expenses could increase more than expected, our revenue may not increase proportionally or at all, and we may be unable to execute on our business strategy; our growth depends on our ability to recruit, acquire and retain clinicians; we operate in a competitive industry, and if we are not able to compete effectively, our business, results of operations and financial condition would be harmed; our business depends on our ability to effectively invest in, implement improvements to and properly maintain the uninterrupted operation and data integrity of our information technology and other business systems; we conduct business in a heavily regulated industry and if we fail to comply with these laws and government regulations, we could incur penalties or be required to make significant changes to our operations or experience adverse publicity, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition; we are dependent on our relationships with supported practices, which we do not own, to provide health care services, and our business would be harmed if those relationships were disrupted or if our arrangements with these entities became subject to legal challenges; if we are unable to adapt to healthcare reform legislation and other changes in the healthcare industry and in healthcare spending, our business could be harmed; if our or our vendors’ security measures fail or are breached and unauthorized access to our employees’, patients’ or partners’ data is obtained, our systems may be perceived as insecure, we may incur significant liabilities, including through private litigation or regulatory action, our reputation may be harmed, and we could lose patients and partners; our existing indebtedness could adversely affect our business and growth prospects; and other risks and uncertainties set forth under “Risk Factors” included in the reports we have filed or will file with the SEC, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025 and subsequent filings made with the SEC.
For the reasons described above, we caution you against relying on any forward-looking statements, which should be read in conjunction with the other cautionary statements included elsewhere in this press release and risk factors discussed from time to time in the Company’s filings with the SEC, which can be found at the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov. Any forward-looking statement in this presentation speaks only as of the date of this press release. Factors or events that could cause our actual results to differ may emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict all of them. We undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement after the date of this press release, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as may be required by law. No recipient should, therefore, rely on these forward-looking statements as representing the views of the Company or its management as of any date subsequent to the date of the press release.
Outpatient mental health services provider LifeStance Health Group (LFST 0.81%) was lively on the stock market for all the right reasons on Thursday. The specialized healthcare company reported an impressive beat-and-raise quarter, and investors fell over themselves trying to buy its shares. By the time the dust cleared, LifeStance's equity was up by more than 20%.
Healthy gains In its first quarter, LifeStance's revenue was $403.5 million. This was a significant (21%) year-over-year improvement in that line item. Net income under generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) soared, meanwhile, rising from the year-ago tally of $709,000 to $14.2 million, or $0.04 per share.
Image source: Getty Images.
That caught more than a few analysts off guard, as those professionals were collectively modeling $387.4 million in revenue and a per-share net income of only $0.01.
In its earnings report, LifeStance quoted CEO Dave Bourdon as saying that "our performance demonstrates that our differentiated model is meeting the societal trend of growing demand for mental healthcare."
Bourdon also cited an outcome study conducted by the company, which found that roughly three-quarters of its patients reported clinically significant improvement in anxiety and depression.
Today's Change
(
-0.81
%) $
-0.07
Current Price
$
8.54
A hot niche at the moment With this considerable tailwind, LifeStance raised its full-year guidance.
The company now expects to earn revenue of $1.64 billion to $1.68 billion, up from its previous forecast of under $1.62 billion to nearly $1.66 billion. Non-GAAP (adjusted) earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) are expected to be $200 million to $220 million, up from $185 million to $205 million previously.
I'd agree with management's assessment that mental health is a (justifiably) popular segment of the industry just now. With its next-generation services in this niche, LifeStance absolutely has notable growth potential in its future.
Eric Volkman 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.
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., May 07, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- LifeStance Health Group, Inc. (“LifeStance” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: LFST), one of the nation’s largest providers of virtual and in-person outpatient mental health care, today announced the pricing of a secondary underwritten public offering of 35,000,000 shares of LifeStance’s common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Common Stock”) at a public offering price of $8.15 per share, pursuant to a shelf registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) from certain stockholders of the Company (the “Selling Stockholders”). The Selling Stockholders will receive all of the proceeds from the offering. The Company is not selling any shares of Common Stock in the offering and will not receive any proceeds from the offering.
In addition, the Company has agreed to purchase from the underwriter 6,000,000 shares of Common Stock to be sold by the Selling Stockholders in the offering, at a price per share equal to the price per share to be paid by the underwriter to the Selling Stockholders (the “Repurchase”). The Repurchase is conditioned upon the completion of the offering and the satisfaction of other customary conditions. The offering is not conditioned upon the completion of the Repurchase. The underwriter will not receive any compensation for the shares of Common Stock being purchased by the Company.
Subject to customary closing conditions, the offering and the Repurchase are expected to settle and close on or about May 12, 2026.
J.P. Morgan is acting as the underwriter for the offering.
An automatic shelf registration statement (including a prospectus) relating to the offering of Common Stock was filed by LifeStance with the SEC on May 21, 2024 and became effective upon filing. Before you invest, you should read the prospectus in the shelf registration statement and the documents incorporated by reference therein and the prospectus supplement that the Company has filed with the SEC for more complete information about the Company and the offering. The offering is being made only by means of a prospectus and a related prospectus supplement relating to the offering, copies of which may be obtained by contacting J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, c/o Broadridge Financial Solutions, 1155 Long Island Avenue, Edgewood, NY 11717, or by email at [email protected] and [email protected]. A copy of the prospectus and the related prospectus supplement relating to the offering may also be obtained free of charge by visiting EDGAR on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy these securities, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction. Nothing herein should be construed as an offer to sell, or the solicitation of an offer to buy, any shares of Common Stock subject to the
Repurchase.
About LifeStance
Founded in 2017, LifeStance (Nasdaq: LFST) is reimagining mental health. We are one of the nation’s largest providers of virtual and in-person outpatient mental health care for children, adolescents and adults experiencing a variety of mental health conditions. Our mission is to help people lead healthier, more fulfilling lives by improving access to trusted, affordable and personalized mental healthcare. LifeStance and its supported practices employ over 8,300 psychiatrists, advanced practice nurses, psychologists and therapists and operates across 33 states and more than 550 centers.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release may contain “forward-looking” statements based on the Company’s beliefs and assumptions and on information currently available to the Company. Forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “envision,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “predict,” “project,” “target,” “potential,” “will,” “would,” “could,” “should,” “continue,” “contemplate” and other similar expressions, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. For example, all statements we make regarding the terms of the proposed public offering and the Repurchase are forward-looking statements.
Forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations and assumptions regarding our business, the economy and other future conditions. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, by their nature, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict. As a result, our actual results may differ materially from those contemplated by any forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: if reimbursement rates paid by third-party payors are reduced or if third-party payors otherwise restrain our ability to obtain or deliver care to patients, our business could be harmed; we may not grow at the rates we historically have achieved or at all, even if our key metrics may imply future growth, including if we are unable to successfully execute on our growth initiatives and business strategies; if we fail to manage our growth effectively, our expenses could increase more than expected, our revenue may not increase proportionally or at all, and we may be unable to execute on our business strategy; our growth depends on our ability to recruit, acquire and retain clinicians; we operate in a competitive industry, and if we are not able to compete effectively, our business, results of operations and financial condition would be harmed; our business depends on our ability to effectively invest in, implement improvements to and properly maintain the uninterrupted operation and data integrity of our information technology and other business systems; we conduct business in a heavily regulated industry and if we fail to comply with these laws and government regulations, we could incur penalties or be required to make significant changes to our operations or experience adverse publicity, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition; we are dependent on our relationships with supported practices, which we do not own, to provide health care services, and our business would be harmed if those relationships were disrupted or if our arrangements with these entities became subject to legal challenges; if we are unable to adapt to healthcare reform legislation and other changes in the healthcare industry and in healthcare spending, our business could be harmed; if our or our vendors’ security measures fail or are breached and unauthorized access to our employees’, patients’ or partners’ data is obtained, our systems may be perceived as insecure, we may incur significant liabilities, including through private litigation or regulatory action, our reputation may be harmed, and we could lose patients and partners; our existing indebtedness could adversely affect our business and growth prospects; and other risks and uncertainties set forth under “Risk Factors” included in the reports we have filed or will file with the SEC, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025 and subsequent filings made with the SEC.
For the reasons described above, we caution you against relying on any forward-looking statements, which should be read in conjunction with the other cautionary statements included elsewhere in this press release and risk factors discussed from time to time in the Company’s filings with the SEC, which can be found at the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov. Any forward-looking statement in this presentation speaks only as of the date of this press release. Factors or events that could cause our actual results to differ may emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict all of them. We undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement after the date of this press release, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as may be required by law. No recipient should, therefore, rely on these forward-looking statements as representing the views of the Company or its management as of any date subsequent to the date of the press release.
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Shares of LifeStance Health Group (LFST - Free Report) have gained 21.8% over the past four weeks to close the last trading session at $7.93, but there could still be a solid upside left in the stock if short-term price targets of Wall Street analysts are any indication. Going by the price targets, the mean estimate of $10.39 indicates a potential upside of 31%.
The mean estimate comprises nine short-term price targets with a standard deviation of $1.58. While the lowest estimate of $8.00 indicates a 0.9% increase from the current price level, the most optimistic analyst expects the stock to surge 63.9% to reach $13.00. It's very important to note the standard deviation here, as it helps understand the variability of the estimates. The smaller the standard deviation, the greater the agreement among analysts.
While the consensus price target is a much-coveted metric for investors, solely banking on this metric to make an investment decision may not be wise at all. That's because the ability and unbiasedness of analysts in setting price targets have long been questionable.
However, an impressive consensus price target is not the only factor that indicates a potential upside in LFST. This view is strengthened by the agreement among analysts that the company will report better earnings than what they estimated earlier. Though a positive trend in earnings estimate revisions doesn't give any idea as to how much the stock could surge, it has proven effective in predicting an upside.
Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Here's What You Should Know About Analysts' Price TargetsAccording to researchers at several universities across the globe, a price target is one of many pieces of information about a stock that misleads investors far more often than it guides. In fact, empirical research shows that price targets set by several analysts, irrespective of the extent of agreement, rarely indicate where the price of a stock could actually be heading.
While Wall Street analysts have deep knowledge of a company's fundamentals and the sensitivity of its business to economic and industry issues, many of them tend to set overly optimistic price targets. Are you wondering why?
They usually do that to drum up interest in shares of companies that their firms either have existing business relationships with or are looking to be associated with. In other words, business incentives of firms covering a stock often result in inflated price targets set by analysts.
However, a tight clustering of price targets, which is represented by a low standard deviation, indicates that analysts have a high degree of agreement about the direction and magnitude of a stock's price movement. While that doesn't necessarily mean the stock will hit the average price target, it could be a good starting point for further research aimed at identifying the potential fundamental driving forces.
That said, while investors should not entirely ignore price targets, making an investment decision solely based on them could lead to disappointing ROI. So, price targets should always be treated with a high degree of skepticism.
Why LFST Could Witness a Solid UpsideThere has been increasing optimism among analysts lately about the company's earnings prospects, as indicated by strong agreement among them in revising EPS estimates higher. And that could be a legitimate reason to expect an upside in the stock. After all, empirical research shows a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock price movements.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has increased 26.9% over the past month, as two estimates have gone higher compared to no negative revision.
Moreover, LFST currently has a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), which means it is in the top 5% of more than 4,000 stocks that we rank based on four factors related to earnings estimates. Given an impressive externally-audited track record, this is a more conclusive indication of the stock's potential upside in the near term. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>> .
Therefore, while the consensus price target may not be a reliable indicator of how much LFST could gain, the direction of price movement it implies does appear to be a good guide.
Momentum investing is all about the idea of following a stock's recent trend, which can be in either direction. In the "long context," investors will essentially be "buying high, but hoping to sell even higher." And for investors following this methodology, taking advantage of trends in a stock's price is key; once a stock establishes a course, it is more than likely to continue moving in that direction. The goal is that once a stock heads down a fixed path, it will lead to timely and profitable trades.
While many investors like to look for momentum in stocks, this can be very tough to define. There is a lot of debate surrounding which metrics are the best to focus on and which are poor quality indicators of future performance. The Zacks Momentum Style Score, part of the Zacks Style Scores, helps address this issue for us.
Below, we take a look at LifeStance Health Group (LFST - Free Report) , which currently has a Momentum Style Score of A. We also discuss some of the main drivers of the Momentum Style Score, like price change and earnings estimate revisions.
It's also important to note that Style Scores work as a complement to the Zacks Rank, our stock rating system that has an impressive track record of outperformance. LifeStance Health Group currently has a Zacks Rank of #1 (Strong Buy). Our research shows that stocks rated Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) and #2 (Buy) and Style Scores of "A or B" outperform the market over the following one-month period.
You can see the current list of Zacks #1 Rank Stocks here >>>
Set to Beat the Market?Let's discuss some of the components of the Momentum Style Score for LFST that show why this outpatient mental health services provider shows promise as a solid momentum pick.
A good momentum benchmark for a stock is to look at its short-term price activity, as this can reflect both current interest and if buyers or sellers currently have the upper hand. It is also useful to compare a security to its industry, as this can help investors pinpoint the top companies in a particular area.
For LFST, shares are up 2.26% over the past week while the Zacks Medical - Outpatient and Home Healthcare industry is up 0.01% over the same time period. Shares are looking quite well from a longer time frame too, as the monthly price change of 21.81% compares favorably with the industry's 1.29% performance as well.
Considering longer term price metrics, like performance over the last three months or year, can be advantageous as well. Over the past quarter, shares of LifeStance Health Group have risen 12.64%, and are up 35.09% in the last year. In comparison, the S&P 500 has only moved 8.63% and 27.99%, respectively.
Investors should also take note of LFST's average 20-day trading volume. Volume is a useful item in many ways, and the 20-day average establishes a good price-to-volume baseline; a rising stock with above average volume is generally a bullish sign, whereas a declining stock on above average volume is typically bearish. Right now LFST is averaging 7,067,471 shares for the last 20 days..
Earnings OutlookThe Zacks Momentum Style Score encompasses many things, including estimate revisions and a stock's price movement. Investors should note that earnings estimates are also significant to the Zacks Rank, and a nice path here can be promising. We have recently been noticing this with LFST.
Over the past two months, 2 earnings estimates moved higher compared to none lower for the full year. These revisions helped boost LFST's consensus estimate, increasing from $0.09 to $0.11 in the past 60 days. Looking at the next fiscal year, 1 estimate has moved upwards while there have been no downward revisions in the same time period.
Bottom LineGiven these factors, it shouldn't be surprising that LFST is a #1 (Strong Buy) stock and boasts a Momentum Score of A. If you're looking for a fresh pick that's set to soar in the near-term, make sure to keep LifeStance Health Group on your short list.
LifeStance Health Group (LFST - Free Report) could be a solid addition to your portfolio given a notable revision in the company's earnings estimates. While the stock has been gaining lately, the trend might continue since its earnings outlook is still improving.
The rising trend in estimate revisions, which is a result of growing analyst optimism on the earnings prospects of this outpatient mental health services provider, should get reflected in its stock price. After all, empirical research shows a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock price movements. Our stock rating tool -- the Zacks Rank -- has this insight at its core.
The five-grade Zacks Rank system, which ranges from a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) to a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell), has an impressive externally-audited track record of outperformance, with Zacks #1 Ranked stocks generating an average annual return of +25% since 2008.
For LifeStance Health Group, there has been strong agreement among the covering analysts in raising earnings estimates, which has helped push consensus estimates considerably higher for the next quarter and full year.
The chart below shows the evolution of forward 12-month Zacks Consensus EPS estimate:
12 Month EPS
Current-Quarter Estimate RevisionsFor the current quarter, the company is expected to earn $0.02 per share, which is a change of +300.0% from the year-ago reported number.
Over the last 30 days, two estimates have moved higher for LifeStance Health compared to no negative revisions. As a result, the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased 40%.
Current-Year Estimate RevisionsFor the full year, the earnings estimate of $0.11 per share represents a change of +450.0% from the year-ago number.
In terms of estimate revisions, the trend for the current year also appears quite encouraging for LifeStance Health. Over the past month, two estimates have moved higher compared to no negative revisions, helping the consensus estimate increase 26.92%.
Favorable Zacks RankThe promising estimate revisions have helped LifeStance Health earn a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). The Zacks Rank is a tried-and-tested rating tool that helps investors effectively harness the power of earnings estimate revisions and make the right investment decision.
You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Our research shows that stocks with Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) and 2 (Buy) significantly outperform the S&P 500.
Bottom LineInvestors have been betting on LifeStance Health because of its solid estimate revisions, as evident from the stock's 21.8% gain over the past four weeks. As its earnings growth prospects might push the stock higher, you may consider adding it to your portfolio right away.
A downtrend has been apparent in LifeStance Health Group (LFST - Free Report) lately. While the stock has lost 5.3% over the past week, it could witness a trend reversal as a hammer chart pattern was formed in its last trading session. This could mean that the bulls have been able to counteract the bears to help the stock find support.
The formation of a hammer pattern is considered a technical indication of nearing a bottom with likely subsiding of selling pressure. But this is not the only factor that makes a bullish case for the stock. On the fundamental side, strong agreement among Wall Street analysts in raising earnings estimates for this outpatient mental health services provider enhances its prospects of a trend reversal.
What is a Hammer Chart and How to Trade It?This is one of the popular price patterns in candlestick charting. A minor difference between the opening and closing prices forms a small candle body, and a higher difference between the low of the day and the open or close forms a long lower wick (or vertical line). The length of the lower wick being at least twice the length of the real body, the candle resembles a 'hammer.'
In simple terms, during a downtrend, with bears having absolute control, a stock usually opens lower compared to the previous day's close, and again closes lower. On the day the hammer pattern is formed, maintaining the downtrend, the stock makes a new low. However, after eventually finding support at the low of the day, some amount of buying interest emerges, pushing the stock up to close the session near or slightly above its opening price.
When it occurs at the bottom of a downtrend, this pattern signals that the bears might have lost control over the price. And, the success of bulls in stopping the price from falling further indicates a potential trend reversal.
Hammer candles can occur on any timeframe -- such as one-minute, daily, weekly -- and are utilized by both short-term as well as long-term investors.
Like every technical indicator, the hammer chart pattern has its limitations. Particularly, as the strength of a hammer depends on its placement on the chart, it should always be used in conjunction with other bullish indicators.
Here's What Makes the Trend Reversal More Likely for LFSTAn upward trend in earnings estimate revisions that LFST has been witnessing lately can certainly be considered a bullish indicator on the fundamental side. That's because empirical research shows that trends in earnings estimate revisions are strongly correlated with near-term stock price movements.
Over the last 30 days, the consensus EPS estimate for the current year has increased 42.3%. What it means is that the sell-side analysts covering LFST are majorly in agreement that the company will report better earnings than they predicted earlier.
If this is not enough, you should note that LFST currently has a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), which means it is in the top 5% of more than 4,000 stocks that we rank based on trends in earnings estimate revisions and EPS surprises. And stocks carrying a Zacks Rank #1 or 2 usually outperform the market. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>> .
Moreover, a Zacks Rank of 1 for LifeStance Health is a more conclusive indication of a potential trend reversal, as the Zacks Rank has proven to be an excellent timing indicator that helps investors identify precisely when a company's prospects are beginning to improve.
Shares of LifeStance Health Group (LFST - Free Report) have gained 3.2% over the past four weeks to close the last trading session at $7.81, but there could still be a solid upside left in the stock if short-term price targets of Wall Street analysts are any indication. Going by the price targets, the mean estimate of $10.72 indicates a potential upside of 37.3%.
The average comprises nine short-term price targets ranging from a low of $9.00 to a high of $13.00, with a standard deviation of $1.3. While the lowest estimate indicates an increase of 15.2% from the current price level, the most optimistic estimate points to a 66.5% upside. More than the range, one should note the standard deviation here, as it helps understand the variability of the estimates. The smaller the standard deviation, the greater the agreement among analysts.
While the consensus price target is a much-coveted metric for investors, solely banking on this metric to make an investment decision may not be wise at all. That's because the ability and unbiasedness of analysts in setting price targets have long been questionable.
However, an impressive consensus price target is not the only factor that indicates a potential upside in LFST. This view is strengthened by the agreement among analysts that the company will report better earnings than what they estimated earlier. Though a positive trend in earnings estimate revisions doesn't give any idea as to how much the stock could surge, it has proven effective in predicting an upside.
Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Here's What You May Not Know About Analysts' Price TargetsAccording to researchers at several universities across the globe, a price target is one of many pieces of information about a stock that misleads investors far more often than it guides. In fact, empirical research shows that price targets set by several analysts, irrespective of the extent of agreement, rarely indicate where the price of a stock could actually be heading.
While Wall Street analysts have deep knowledge of a company's fundamentals and the sensitivity of its business to economic and industry issues, many of them tend to set overly optimistic price targets. Are you wondering why?
They usually do that to drum up interest in shares of companies that their firms either have existing business relationships with or are looking to be associated with. In other words, business incentives of firms covering a stock often result in inflated price targets set by analysts.
However, a tight clustering of price targets, which is represented by a low standard deviation, indicates that analysts have a high degree of agreement about the direction and magnitude of a stock's price movement. While that doesn't necessarily mean the stock will hit the average price target, it could be a good starting point for further research aimed at identifying the potential fundamental driving forces.
That said, while investors should not entirely ignore price targets, making an investment decision solely based on them could lead to disappointing ROI. So, price targets should always be treated with a high degree of skepticism.
Why LFST Could Witness a Solid UpsideAnalysts' growing optimism over the company's earnings prospects, as indicated by strong agreement among them in revising EPS estimates higher, could be a legitimate reason to expect an upside in the stock. That's because empirical research shows a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock price movements.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has increased 42.3% over the past month, as three estimates have gone higher compared to no negative revision.
Moreover, LFST currently has a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), which means it is in the top 5% of more than 4,000 stocks that we rank based on four factors related to earnings estimates. Given an impressive externally-audited track record, this is a more conclusive indication of the stock's potential upside in the near term. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>> .
Therefore, while the consensus price target may not be a reliable indicator of how much LFST could gain, the direction of price movement it implies does appear to be a good guide.
