AMN vs CHE vs CCRN vs TBI vs HCSG

For growth investors, Healthcare Services Group, Inc.

(HCSG) is the stronger pick with 7. 1% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -21. 6% for Cross Country Healthcare, Inc. (CCRN). Chemed Corporation (CHE) offers the better valuation at 23. 1x trailing P/E (17. 5x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. 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.

On trailing P/E, Chemed Corporation (CHE) is the cheapest at 23.

1x versus Healthcare Services Group, Inc. at 27. 5x. On forward P/E, AMN Healthcare Services, Inc. is actually cheaper at 11. 0x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Chemed Corporation (CHE) delivered a total return of -11.

2%, compared to -78. 7% for TrueBlue, Inc. (TBI). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CHE returned +241. 8% versus TBI's -68. 4%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Chemed Corporation (CHE) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

33β versus TrueBlue, Inc. 's 1. 13β — meaning TBI is approximately 246% more volatile than CHE relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Cross Country Healthcare, Inc. (CCRN) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 1% versus 125% for AMN Healthcare Services, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Healthcare Services Group, Inc.

(HCSG) is pulling ahead at 7. 1% versus -21. 6% for Cross Country Healthcare, Inc. (CCRN). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: TrueBlue, Inc. grew EPS 61. 4% year-over-year, compared to -565. 9% for Cross Country Healthcare, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, CHE leads at 5. 8% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.

Chemed Corporation (CHE) is the more profitable company, earning 10.

5% net margin versus -9. 0% for Cross Country Healthcare, Inc. — meaning it keeps 10. 5% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: CHE leads at 13. 4% versus -1. 7% for TBI. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — CHE leads at 30. 0%, 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.

On forward earnings alone, AMN Healthcare Services, Inc.

(AMN) trades at 11. 0x forward P/E versus 133. 8x for Cross Country Healthcare, Inc. — 122. 8x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for CHE: 11. 5% to $475. 00.

In this comparison, CHE (0.

5% yield) pays a dividend. AMN, CCRN, TBI, HCSG do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Chemed Corporation (CHE) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.

33), 0. 5% yield, +241. 8% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (CHE: +241. 8%, TBI: -68. 4%), 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.

These companies operate in different sectors (AMN (Healthcare) and CHE (Healthcare) and CCRN (Healthcare) and TBI (Industrials) and HCSG (Healthcare)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

CHE pays a dividend while AMN, CCRN, TBI, HCSG do not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. 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.