CCRN vs TBI

For growth investors, TrueBlue, Inc.

(TBI) is the stronger pick with 3. 1% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -21. 6% for Cross Country Healthcare, Inc. (CCRN). Analysts rate TrueBlue, Inc. (TBI) a "Buy" — based on 10 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 -78. 2% for TrueBlue, Inc. (TBI). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CCRN returned -28. 1% versus TBI's -68. 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 TrueBlue, Inc. 's 1. 13β — meaning TBI is approximately 46% 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 62% for TrueBlue, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

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

(TBI) is pulling ahead at 3. 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, TBI leads at -10. 5% 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.

TrueBlue, Inc.

(TBI) is the more profitable company, earning -3. 0% net margin versus -9. 0% for Cross Country Healthcare, Inc. — meaning it keeps -3. 0% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: CCRN leads at -0. 3% versus -1. 7% for TBI. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — TBI leads at 21. 2%, 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.

Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for CCRN: 4.

9% to $10. 61.

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.

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. 78)). Both have compounded well over 10 years (CCRN: -28. 1%, TBI: -68. 3%), 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 TBI (Industrials)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

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.