Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare AMN Healthcare Services, Inc. (AMN) vs Cross Country Healthcare, Inc. (CCRN) Stock
Analyze side-by-side fundamentals, valuation, growth, and profitability to decide which stock is the better buy.
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Quick Verdict
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | AMN | -21.3% revenue growth vs CCRN's -33.5% |
| Value | AMN | Lower P/E (9.6x vs 106.4x) |
| Quality / Margins | CCRN | -1.4% net margin vs AMN's -3.5% |
| Stability / Safety | CCRN | Beta 0.43 vs AMN's 1.00, lower leverage |
| Dividends | Tie | Neither pays a meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | AMN | -23.1% vs CCRN's -49.3% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | CCRN | -2.9% ROA vs AMN's -4.6%, ROIC -3.2% vs -3.9% |
Who Each Stock Is For
Income & stability
Growth exposure
Long-term compounding (10Y)
Sleep-well-at-night portfolio
Defensive / Recession hedge
Business Model
What each company does and how it makes money
AMN Healthcare is a leading healthcare staffing and workforce solutions company that connects healthcare facilities with temporary and permanent medical professionals. It generates revenue primarily through staffing services—with nurse and allied staffing making up the largest segment—alongside physician placement and technology-enabled workforce management solutions. The company's scale, extensive network of healthcare professionals, and established relationships with thousands of healthcare facilities create significant barriers to entry for competitors.
Cross Country Healthcare is a healthcare staffing and workforce solutions company that provides temporary and permanent placement of clinical professionals. It generates revenue primarily from nurse and allied staffing services — which account for the majority of its business — along with physician staffing and workforce management solutions. The company's competitive advantage lies in its extensive national network and deep healthcare industry expertise, which enables it to efficiently match qualified professionals with healthcare facilities facing staffing shortages.
Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Financial Metrics Comparison
Side-by-side fundamentals across 2 stocks. BestLagging
Financial Scorecard
CCRN leads in 3 of 6 categories (Valuation Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency). AMN leads in 1 (Financial Metrics). 1 tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
AMN is the larger business by revenue, generating $2.7B annually — 2.4x CCRN's $1.1B. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from -1.4% (CCRN) to -3.5% (AMN). On growth, AMN holds the edge at +1.8% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | AMNAMN Healthcare Se… | CCRNCross Country Hea… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $2.7B | $1.1B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $25M | $360,000 |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$96M | -$16M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $242M | $46M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +28.3% | +20.2% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | -2.0% | -1.4% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | -3.5% | -1.4% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +8.9% | +4.1% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +1.8% | -20.6% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +95.9% | -2.9% |
Valuation Metrics
On an enterprise value basis, AMN's 29.2x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than CCRN's 319.8x.
| Metric | AMNAMN Healthcare Se… | CCRNCross Country Hea… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $987M | $281M |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $2.1B | $203M |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -5.06x | -19.77x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 9.57x | 106.36x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 29.18x | 319.77x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 0.33x | 0.21x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.05x | 0.69x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 4.12x | 2.52x |
Profitability & Efficiency
CCRN delivers a -3.8% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $-4 in annual profit, vs $-15 for AMN. CCRN carries lower financial leverage with a 0.01x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to AMN's 1.55x.
| Metric | AMNAMN Healthcare Se… | CCRNCross Country Hea… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | -14.9% | -3.8% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -4.6% | -2.9% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | -3.9% | -3.2% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | -5.0% | -3.4% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 4 | 4 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 1.55x | 0.01x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $1.1B | -$78M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $11M | $82M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $1.1B | $4M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | -1.39x | -4.55x |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in CCRN five years ago would be worth $7,336 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $2,553 for AMN. Over the past 12 months, AMN leads with a -23.1% total return vs CCRN's -49.3%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors CCRN at -31.0% vs AMN's -40.0% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | AMNAMN Healthcare Se… | CCRNCross Country Hea… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +28.8% | +7.9% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -23.1% | -49.3% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -78.4% | -67.1% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -74.5% | -26.6% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -31.5% | -29.9% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -40.0% | -31.0% |
Risk & Volatility
CCRN is the less volatile stock with a 0.43 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than AMN's 1.00 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. AMN currently trades 71.7% from its 52-week high vs CCRN's 50.3% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | AMNAMN Healthcare Se… | CCRNCross Country Hea… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.00x | 0.43x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $27.17 | $17.30 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $14.87 | $7.43 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +71.7% | +50.3% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 50.8 | 53.2 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 1.1M | 490K |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates AMN as "Buy" and CCRN as "Hold". Consensus price targets imply 17.5% upside for AMN (target: $23) vs 14.1% for CCRN (target: $10).
| Metric | AMNAMN Healthcare Se… | CCRNCross Country Hea… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $22.88 | $9.93 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 17 | 13 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | — | 1 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | +13.3% |
Historical Charts
Charts are rendered on first load. Hover for details.
Chart 1Total Return — 5 Years (Rebased to 100)
| Stock | Mar 20 | Feb 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| AMN Healthcare Serv… (AMN) | 100 | 29.18 | -70.8% |
| Cross Country Healt… (CCRN) | 100 | 97.16 | -2.8% |
Cross Country Healt… (CCRN) returned -27% over 5 years vs AMN Healthcare Serv… (AMN)'s -74%.
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2015 | 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| AMN Healthcare Serv… (AMN) | $1.5B | $3.0B | +103.9% |
| Cross Country Healt… (CCRN) | $767M | $1.3B | +75.1% |
AMN Healthcare Services, Inc.'s revenue grew from $1.5B (2015) to $3.0B (2024) — a 8.2% CAGR. Cross Country Healthcare, Inc.'s revenue grew from $767M (2015) to $1.3B (2024) — a 6.4% CAGR.
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2015 | 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| AMN Healthcare Serv… (AMN) | 5.6% | -4.9% | -188.0% |
| Cross Country Healt… (CCRN) | 0.6% | -1.1% | -288.1% |
AMN Healthcare Services, Inc.'s net margin went from 6% (2015) to -5% (2024). Cross Country Healthcare, Inc.'s net margin went from 1% (2015) to -1% (2024).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 7 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2023 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| AMN Healthcare Serv… (AMN) | 18.4 | 14 | -23.9% |
| Cross Country Healt… (CCRN) | 12.6 | 11 | -12.7% |
AMN Healthcare Services, Inc. has traded in a 10x–46x P/E range over 7 years; current trailing P/E is ~-5x. Cross Country Healthcare, Inc. has traded in a 5x–13x P/E range over 4 years; current trailing P/E is ~-20x.
Chart 5EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2015 | 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| AMN Healthcare Serv… (AMN) | 1.68 | -3.85 | -329.2% |
| Cross Country Healt… (CCRN) | 0.14 | -0.44 | -414.3% |
AMN Healthcare Services, Inc.'s EPS grew from $1.68 (2015) to $-3.85 (2024) — a NaN% CAGR. Cross Country Healthcare, Inc.'s EPS grew from $0.14 (2015) to $-0.44 (2024) — a NaN% CAGR.
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
AMN Healthcare Services, Inc. generated $240M FCF in 2024 (-5% vs 2021). Cross Country Healthcare, Inc. generated $111M FCF in 2024 (+220% vs 2021).
AMN vs CCRN: Frequently Asked Questions
8 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is AMN or CCRN a better buy right now?
Analysts rate AMN Healthcare Services, Inc. (AMN) a "Buy" — based on 17 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.
02Which is the better long-term investment — AMN or CCRN?
Over the past 5 years, Cross Country Healthcare, Inc. (CCRN) delivered a total return of -26.6%, compared to -74.5% for AMN Healthcare Services, Inc. (AMN). A $10,000 investment in CCRN five years ago would be worth approximately $7K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CCRN returned -29.9% versus AMN's -31.5%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
03Which is safer — AMN or CCRN?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Cross Country Healthcare, Inc. (CCRN) is the lower-risk stock at 0.43β versus AMN Healthcare Services, Inc.'s 1.00β — meaning AMN is approximately 135% more volatile than CCRN relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Cross Country Healthcare, Inc. (CCRN) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 1% versus 155% for AMN Healthcare Services, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
04Which has better profit margins — AMN or CCRN?
Cross Country Healthcare, Inc. (CCRN) is the more profitable company, earning -1.1% net margin versus -4.9% for AMN Healthcare Services, Inc. — meaning it keeps -1.1% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: CCRN leads at -1.3% versus -3.4% for AMN. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — AMN leads at 30.8%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.
05Is AMN or CCRN more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, AMN Healthcare Services, Inc. (AMN) trades at 9.6x forward P/E versus 106.4x for Cross Country Healthcare, Inc. — 96.8x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for AMN: 17.5% to $22.88.
06Which pays a better dividend — AMN or CCRN?
None of the stocks in this comparison currently pay a material dividend. All are effectively zero-yield and should be held for capital appreciation rather than income.
07Is AMN or CCRN better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Cross Country Healthcare, Inc. (CCRN) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.43)). Both have compounded well over 10 years (CCRN: -29.9%, AMN: -31.5%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.
08What are the main differences between AMN and CCRN?
Both stocks operate in the Healthcare sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.
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