CCRN vs MAN

For growth investors, ManpowerGroup Inc.

(MAN) is the stronger pick with 0. 6% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -21. 6% for Cross Country Healthcare, Inc. (CCRN). Analysts rate Cross Country Healthcare, Inc. (CCRN) a "Hold" — based on 14 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.

Over the past 5 years, Cross Country Healthcare, Inc.

(CCRN) delivered a total return of -37. 2%, compared to -65. 9% for ManpowerGroup Inc. (MAN). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CCRN returned -28. 1% versus MAN's -32. 3%. 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), Cross Country Healthcare, Inc.

(CCRN) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 78β versus ManpowerGroup Inc. 's 1. 03β — meaning MAN is approximately 32% 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 116% for ManpowerGroup Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), ManpowerGroup Inc.

(MAN) is pulling ahead at 0. 6% versus -21. 6% for Cross Country Healthcare, Inc. (CCRN). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: ManpowerGroup Inc. grew EPS -109. 6% year-over-year, compared to -565. 9% for Cross Country Healthcare, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, MAN leads at -3. 2% 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.

ManpowerGroup Inc.

(MAN) is the more profitable company, earning -0. 1% net margin versus -9. 0% for Cross Country Healthcare, Inc. — meaning it keeps -0. 1% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: MAN leads at 1. 3% versus -0. 3% for CCRN. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — CCRN leads at 18. 7%, 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, ManpowerGroup Inc.

(MAN) trades at 8. 0x forward P/E versus 103. 4x for Cross Country Healthcare, Inc. — 95. 4x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for MAN: 29. 3% to $37. 86.

In this comparison, MAN (4.

9% yield) pays a dividend. CCRN does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, ManpowerGroup Inc.

(MAN) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1. 03), 4. 9% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (MAN: -32. 3%, CCRN: -28. 1%), 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 (CCRN (Healthcare) and MAN (Industrials)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: CCRN is a small-cap quality compounder stock; MAN is a small-cap income-oriented stock. MAN pays a dividend while CCRN does 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.