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ACADACADIA Pharmaceuticals Inc.Sell5.2·$21.13-2.72%
ACAD · Why this verdict

Why ACADIA Pharmaceuticals (ACAD) is rated SELL

Updated

Model-generated analysis — not investment advice. Not a registered investment advisor. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

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Methodology · Editorial policy & full disclaimer

VerdictSELL
Overall score5.2/10
ConfidenceMEDIUM
MacroRISK_OFF

Per-dimension breakdown

Value

6.5/10data confidence 83%
ComponentSub-score
P/E9.0
P/S8.0
EV/EBITDA0.0
Fwd P/E5.2
Analyst target9.0
  • Forward P/E: 24.1x

Quality

6.3/10data confidence 100%
ComponentSub-score
ROE10.0
ROA2.5
Gross margin8.3
Op margin0.0
Net margin10.0
Current ratio9.4
FCF quality3.3
Moat6.9
Piotroski F6.7
  • Excellent ROE: 37%
  • Strong margins: 34%
  • Earnings quality RED FLAG: 41% FCF/NI

Growth

2.5/10data confidence 67%
ComponentSub-score
Rev growth4.9
EPS growth0.0

Momentum

5.2/10data confidence 100%
ComponentSub-score
RSI4.5
MACD7.1
OBV10.0
MA position4.0
Volume0.4
  • Volume accumulation (rising OBV)
  • Below 200-MA, MA slope -1.1%/30d — confirmed downtrend

Sentiment

6.4/10data confidence 100%
ComponentSub-score
Analyst rating5.0
Price target9.4
erm sentiment5.0
  • Analyst upside: 47%

Insider

3.9/10data confidence 75%
ComponentSub-score
materiality4.5
insider conviction2.0
holder change5.1
  • Modest insider selling — $910,063 (0.025% of mkt cap)

Peer rank

6.0/10data confidence 80%
ComponentSub-score
value rank8.8
quality rank8.7
growth rank3.8
  • Attractive P/E vs peers
  • Superior ROE vs peers

Technical

4.9/10data confidence 100%
ComponentSub-score
bollinger4.4
support resistance5.2
52w position5.2

Risk (lower is worse)

3.5/10data confidence 100%
ComponentSub-score
short interest4.7
days to cover4.5
volatility5.1
put call1.9
implied vol0.0
max pain risk3.0
beta8.0
debt equity0.9
  • Elevated put/call: 1.71
  • High IV: 97%
  • Above max pain $18

Catalyst

6.4/10data confidence 100%
ComponentSub-score
erm5.0
earnings history5.6
earnings timing5.0
surprise avg10.0

How the verdict was assembled

Engine trigger

Multiple concerning factors. Consider reducing position.

Engine technical detail
verdict_path: L4:PATH_F_SELL
Passed (8)
  • MOMENTUM:5.2>=4.5
  • ASYMMETRY:5.4>=1.5
  • INSIDER:OK
  • 8K:CLEAN
  • NEWS_EVENTS:NONE_RECENT
  • EARNINGS_PROXIMITY:58d clear
  • SEMI_CYCLE_PEAK:CLEAR
  • MATERIALS_CYCLE_PEAK:CLEAR
Failed (0)

none

Warning (2)
  • MOMENTUM:5.2<5.5 (soft — BUY_NOW allowed but watch)
  • DEATH_CROSS:momentum=5.2>=5.0 recovering
Reward-to-Risk
5.41
Upside
+32.1%
Downside
5.9%
Sizing output
AVOID

SetupRECOVERY Death cross but MACD improving, RSI 52

EdgeNO_EDGE No clear edge identified

SuitabilityAGGRESSIVE MCap $3.7B<$5B

Investment implication

The F-path SELL output reflects an overall score of 4.2 below the 5.6 soft trigger — multiple weakening dimensions accumulated rather than a single hard-floor breach. The strongest dimension ( Value at 6.5) was not enough to lift the adjusted overall above the threshold. Current asymmetry R:R is 5.41 — supplementary context, not the trigger for this path.

The strongest dimensions are Value at 6.5, Sentiment at 6.4, and Catalyst at 6.4; the weakest are Growth at 2.5, Risk (lower is worse) at 3.5, and Insider at 3.9. The V9 engine cleared all gates with 2 warnings, producing an asymmetric reward-to-risk of 5.41 and an engine sizing output of AVOID.

Engine reasoning is mechanically derived from pipeline gate outputs. See decision view.

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