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Lifestance Health Group (LFST)
NASDAQ:LFST
US Market

Lifestance Health Group (LFST) AI Stock Analysis

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Lifestance Health Group

(NASDAQ:LFST)

63Neutral
LifeStance Health Group's stock score reflects strong revenue growth and positive developments from the recent earnings call, such as achieving positive net income and operational improvements. However, ongoing profitability challenges, negative free cash flow, and bearish technical indicators weigh on the overall score. The stock's high valuation further limits its appeal.
Positive Factors
Business Model
The in-network, 'clicks-and-mortar' operating model at LifeStance is unique and remains well positioned for long-term organic growth in the high demand behavioral healthcare space.
Financial Performance
LifeStance Health reported its first quarter of positive GAAP net income, indicating improved financial performance.
Management Optimism
Management has continued to express optimism in its efforts to standardize and optimize the business, which is playing out.
Negative Factors
Center Margin Pressure
Center margin is expected to be pressured in the remaining quarters, reversing a trend of solid improvement.
Guidance Disappointment
Investors expressed disappointment that Q1 EBITDA upside was not flowed through to guidance and that 2025 revenue guidance was unchanged.
Stock Volatility
Shares of LifeStance gapped down ~18% at one point on the 1Q report, 2Q guidance, and reiteration of annual targets.

Lifestance Health Group (LFST) vs. S&P 500 (SPY)

Lifestance Health Group Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionLifeStance Health Group (LFST) is a leading provider of outpatient mental health care, focusing on delivering high-quality, accessible care to patients across the United States. The company operates in the healthcare sector, specifically within the mental health services industry, offering a range of services that include therapy, psychiatry, and psychological assessments through a network of licensed clinicians. LifeStance Health is committed to addressing the growing demand for mental health services by providing care in both in-person and telehealth formats, ensuring flexibility and convenience for its patients.
How the Company Makes MoneyLifeStance Health Group generates revenue primarily through providing mental health services to patients. The company's revenue model is based on a fee-for-service arrangement, where they charge patients or their insurance providers for each session or service rendered. Key revenue streams include therapy sessions, psychiatric evaluations, medication management, and other mental health services offered by their network of clinicians. LifeStance Health also benefits from significant partnerships with insurance providers, which facilitate access to a broader patient base by ensuring that services are covered under various health insurance plans. Additionally, the company's expansion into telehealth services has opened up new revenue opportunities by allowing them to reach patients beyond geographical limitations, further contributing to their earnings.

Lifestance Health Group Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Lifestance Health Group demonstrates strong revenue growth and improving cash flows, but ongoing losses in net income and negative EBIT margins indicate challenges in achieving profitability. The balance sheet shows strong equity support and reduced leverage, which provides some financial stability. Continued focus on operational efficiency and cost management could help improve profitability and overall financial health.
Income Statement
62
Positive
The company has shown a consistent revenue growth from $212.5 million in 2019 to $1.25 billion in 2024, indicating strong market demand and expansion. However, profitability remains a concern, with negative net income and EBIT over recent years, reflecting challenges in managing costs and achieving operational efficiency. The EBIT and EBITDA margins have improved slightly but are still negative, suggesting ongoing issues with core operational performance.
Balance Sheet
58
Neutral
The balance sheet indicates a strong equity base with stockholders' equity at $1.45 billion, showing resilience despite operational losses. The debt-to-equity ratio has improved significantly from 2020, indicating better financial management and reduced leverage. However, a high total debt of $198 million and negative net income pose risks to financial stability. The equity ratio remains robust, highlighting long-term viability.
Cash Flow
70
Positive
The cash flow statement shows a significant improvement in operating cash flow, turning positive in 2024, which is a positive signal for liquidity. Free cash flow has also improved to $107 million in 2024, indicating better cash management. However, historical volatility in cash flows and capital expenditures highlight the need for sustained cash generation to support growth and reduce financial risk.
Breakdown
Dec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income StatementTotal Revenue
1.25B1.06B859.54M667.51M377.22M
Gross Profit
1.25B302.10M237.02M201.51M134.32M
EBIT
-31.61M-189.13M-210.17M-286.35M15.44M
EBITDA
39.87M-104.93M-136.41M-229.62M8.77M
Net Income Common Stockholders
-57.44M-186.26M-215.56M-307.20M-38.07M
Balance SheetCash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments
154.57M78.82M108.62M148.03M18.83M
Total Assets
2.12B2.23B2.17B1.93B1.57B
Total Debt
198.15M511.04M476.49M157.42M362.53M
Net Debt
43.58M432.22M367.87M9.39M343.70M
Total Liabilities
672.01M804.28M655.15M382.08M571.89M
Stockholders Equity
1.45B1.43B1.52B1.55B997.84M
Cash FlowFree Cash Flow
85.69M-57.40M-26.47M-85.07M-46.60M
Operating Cash Flow
107.26M-16.88M52.79M9.42M-8.53M
Investing Cash Flow
-21.57M-60.34M-139.46M-194.08M-861.17M
Financing Cash Flow
-9.95M47.43M47.26M313.86M912.27M

Lifestance Health Group Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Negative
Last Price5.84
Price Trends
50DMA
6.56
Negative
100DMA
7.19
Negative
200DMA
6.99
Negative
Market Momentum
MACD
-0.26
Positive
RSI
38.68
Neutral
STOCH
29.50
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For LFST, the sentiment is Negative. The current price of 5.84 is below the 20-day moving average (MA) of 6.20, below the 50-day MA of 6.56, and below the 200-day MA of 6.99, indicating a bearish trend. The MACD of -0.26 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 38.68 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 29.50 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Negative sentiment for LFST.

Lifestance Health Group Risk Analysis

Lifestance Health Group disclosed 47 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Lifestance Health Group reported the most risks in the “Finance & Corporate” category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 0 New Risks

Lifestance Health Group Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (52)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
76
Outperform
$1.36B37.475.00%54.81%-45.07%
69
Neutral
$1.04B39.4311.28%30.04%43.47%
65
Neutral
$2.41B12.846.35%5.48%
63
Neutral
$2.27B-2.47%16.31%79.86%
61
Neutral
$498.60M178.442.52%25.02%
52
Neutral
$5.15B3.02-44.64%2.83%16.44%-0.47%
47
Neutral
$369.54M-60.67%3.88%
* Healthcare Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
LFST
Lifestance Health Group
5.84
-1.67
-22.24%
ACHC
Acadia Healthcare
26.15
-40.64
-60.85%
ASTH
Astrana Health
27.18
-11.88
-30.41%
PNTG
Pennant Group
30.22
7.10
30.71%
TALK
Talkspace
2.98
0.18
6.43%
CMPS
COMPASS Pathways
3.98
-3.94
-49.75%

Lifestance Health Group Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:May 07, 2025
(Q1-2025)
|
% Change Since: -10.84%|
Next Earnings Date:Aug 06, 2025
Earnings Call Sentiment Positive
LifeStance Health reported a solid start to 2025, exceeding guided metrics and achieving positive net income for the first time. The company showed strong clinician growth, improved operational efficiencies, and a significant improvement in free cash flow. However, pressures on revenue per visit and the competitive environment for recruiting clinicians present challenges. Overall, the positive aspects of the earnings call outweigh the negatives, indicating a strong performance and outlook.
Q1-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Exceeded Guided Metrics
LifeStance Health exceeded each of its guided metrics for the first quarter of 2025, instilling confidence in their ability to deliver on full-year guidance.
Solid Financial Performance
Reported revenue of $333 million, representing an 11% year-over-year growth, with double-digit adjusted EBITDA margins of 10.4%.
Positive Net Income
Achieved positive net income for the first time in LifeStance's history as a public company, with net income of $700,000.
Clinician Growth
Increased clinician base by 152 clinicians or 10% year-over-year, bringing the total to 7,535 clinicians.
Operational Excellence
Completed the rollout of the digital patient check-in tool, driving higher patient satisfaction, operational efficiencies, and significant improvements in patient collections.
Strong Free Cash Flow Improvement
Improved free cash flow by $17 million year-over-year in the first quarter, despite being negative $10 million.
Negative Updates
Pressure on Revenue Per Visit
Total revenue per visit increased only 1% year-over-year, with downward pressure expected due to rate decreases from a single outlier payer.
Negative Free Cash Flow
Reported negative free cash flow of $10 million in the first quarter.
Competitive Environment for Clinicians
Continues to face a very competitive environment for attracting and retaining clinicians, despite stable turnover and retention.
Company Guidance
In the first quarter of 2025, LifeStance Health surpassed its financial guidance, reporting a robust performance across several metrics. They achieved a double-digit adjusted EBITDA margin of 10.4%, marking an improvement over expectations, and recorded positive net income for the first time since becoming a public company. The company also reported a solid revenue growth of 11% year-over-year, reaching $333 million, driven by a 10% increase in visit volumes to 2.1 million, primarily due to a 10% growth in their clinician base, now totaling 7,535 clinicians. Total revenue per visit rose by 1% to $159. Furthermore, LifeStance improved its free cash flow by $17 million compared to the same period last year, although it was still negative $10 million. They maintained strong leverage ratios with net leverage at 1.2x and gross leverage at 2.3x, significantly improved from the prior year's figures. Looking ahead, they are confident in their full-year guidance ranges, expecting revenues of $1.4 billion to $1.44 billion, center margin between $440 million to $464 million, and adjusted EBITDA ranging from $130 million to $150 million.

Lifestance Health Group Corporate Events

Executive/Board ChangesBusiness Operations and Strategy
LifeStance Health Group Appoints New Chief Technology Officer
Neutral
May 14, 2025

On May 14, 2025, LifeStance Health Group announced the departure of Chief Digital Officer Pablo Pantaleoni, effective July 1, 2025, and the appointment of Vaughn Paunovich as the new Chief Technology Officer, effective June 9, 2025. Paunovich, with extensive experience in healthcare technology, is expected to lead LifeStance’s technology strategy to enhance patient and clinician experiences, aligning with the company’s mission to expand access to mental health services. Pantaleoni, who joined the company in 2020, significantly contributed to its digital transformation and will ensure a smooth transition with Paunovich.

The most recent analyst rating on (LFST) stock is a Buy with a $10.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Lifestance Health Group stock, see the LFST Stock Forecast page.

Spark’s Take on LFST Stock

According to Spark, TipRanks’ AI Analyst, LFST is a Neutral.

Lifestance Health Group’s overall stock score reflects strong revenue growth and cash flow improvements, tempered by ongoing profitability challenges and high valuation risks. Technical indicators suggest potential bearish momentum, while the positive earnings call highlights operational achievements. The score indicates a moderate investment outlook, with significant emphasis on improving profitability and market position to enhance future potential.

To see Spark’s full report on LFST stock, click here.

Business Operations and StrategyFinancial Disclosures
LifeStance Health Reports First Positive Net Income
Positive
May 7, 2025

On May 7, 2025, LifeStance Health Group reported its financial results for the first quarter ending March 31, 2025, highlighting a revenue increase of 11% to $333 million and a net income of $0.7 million, marking the first positive net income since becoming a public company. The company also noted a 10% increase in clinician base and visit volumes, alongside a 25% rise in Adjusted EBITDA. LifeStance reiterated its full-year 2025 guidance, projecting revenues between $1.40 billion and $1.44 billion, and emphasized its commitment to enhancing patient and clinician experiences while expanding access to mental healthcare services.

Spark’s Take on LFST Stock

According to Spark, TipRanks’ AI Analyst, LFST is a Neutral.

LifeStance Health Group’s overall stock score reflects strong revenue growth and cash flow improvements but is tempered by ongoing profitability challenges and high valuation. The technical indicators suggest potential short-term bearish momentum. The positive earnings call highlights operational achievements but also acknowledges rate pressures and increased expenses. The company’s strategic focus on growth and leadership changes are promising, but financial performance improvements are crucial for a higher score.

To see Spark’s full report on LFST stock, click here.

Business Operations and StrategyFinancial Disclosures
LifeStance Health Group Reports Strong 2024 Financial Results
Positive
Feb 27, 2025

LifeStance Health Group reported its financial results for the fourth quarter and full year 2024, showing a 19% increase in revenue to $1.251 billion and a 103% growth in Adjusted EBITDA to $119.7 million. Despite a net loss of $57.4 million for the year, the company demonstrated strong operational performance with increased visit volumes and clinician growth, positioning itself for continued momentum in 2025 with projected revenues between $1.40 billion and $1.44 billion.

Executive/Board ChangesBusiness Operations and Strategy
Lifestance Health Group Announces Leadership Changes for 2025
Positive
Feb 27, 2025

LifeStance Health Group announced leadership changes effective March 2025, with David Bourdon promoted to Chief Executive Officer, succeeding the retiring Kenneth Burdick, who will become Executive Chairman. Ryan McGroarty will take over as Chief Financial Officer, bringing extensive experience from his previous roles at Help at Home and Cigna. These appointments aim to maintain the company’s strong operational and financial performance, ensuring continued growth and expansion in the mental health care sector.

Glossary
OutperformA stock rated as "Outperform" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests that the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to the average returns of other stocks in the same sector or market index. Investors might consider this stock a good buying opportunity.
NeutralA stock rated as "Neutral" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly attractive nor unattractive for investment. Investors may consider holding onto the stock, as it is not expected to either significantly outperform or underperform the market.
UnderperformA stock rated as "Underperform" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests that the stock may deliver lower returns compared to the average returns of other stocks in the same sector or market index. Investors might consider selling the stock or avoiding it as an investment.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.