Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Healthcare Services Group, Inc. (HCSG) vs AMN Healthcare Services, Inc. (AMN) 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 | HCSG | 7.1% revenue growth vs AMN's -21.3% |
| Value | AMN | Lower P/E (9.6x vs 22.5x) |
| Quality / Margins | HCSG | 2.2% net margin vs AMN's -3.5% |
| Stability / Safety | HCSG | Beta 0.74 vs AMN's 1.00, lower leverage |
| Dividends | Tie | Neither pays a meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | HCSG | +107.3% vs AMN's -23.1% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | HCSG | 4.9% ROA vs AMN's -4.6%, ROIC 7.7% 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
Healthcare Services Group provides outsourced housekeeping, laundry, and dietary services to nursing homes, retirement communities, and hospitals across the United States. It generates revenue through service contracts with healthcare facilities—primarily from its Housekeeping segment (~70% of revenue) and Dietary segment (~30%)—where it manages entire departments for clients. The company's moat lies in its specialized expertise in healthcare facility operations and its scale as a national provider, which creates switching costs for clients who rely on its integrated service model.
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.
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
HCSG leads in 4 of 6 categories (Financial Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency). AMN leads in 1 (Valuation Metrics).
Financial Metrics (TTM)
AMN is the larger business by revenue, generating $2.7B annually — 1.5x HCSG's $1.8B. HCSG is the more profitable business, keeping 2.2% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to AMN's -3.5%. On growth, HCSG holds the edge at +8.5% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | HCSGHealthcare Servic… | AMNAMN Healthcare Se… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $1.8B | $2.7B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $60M | $25M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $40M | -$96M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $158M | $242M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +12.5% | +28.3% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +2.4% | -2.0% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +2.2% | -3.5% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +8.7% | +8.9% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +8.5% | +1.8% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +2.1% | +95.9% |
Valuation Metrics
On an enterprise value basis, HCSG's 24.0x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than AMN's 29.2x.
| Metric | HCSGHealthcare Servic… | AMNAMN Healthcare Se… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $1.7B | $987M |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $1.6B | $2.1B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 26.88x | -5.06x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 22.54x | 9.57x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 23.98x | 29.18x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 0.91x | 0.33x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 2.59x | 1.05x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 12.02x | 4.12x |
Profitability & Efficiency
HCSG delivers a 8.0% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $8 in annual profit, vs $-15 for AMN. HCSG carries lower financial leverage with a 0.03x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to AMN's 1.55x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), HCSG scores 7/9 vs AMN's 4/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | HCSGHealthcare Servic… | AMNAMN Healthcare Se… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +8.0% | -14.9% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +4.9% | -4.6% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +7.7% | -3.9% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +7.8% | -5.0% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 7 | 4 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.03x | 1.55x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$116M | $1.1B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $125M | $11M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $19M | $1.1B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 20.15x | -1.39x |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in HCSG five years ago would be worth $7,774 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $2,553 for AMN. Over the past 12 months, HCSG leads with a +107.3% total return vs AMN's -23.1%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors HCSG at 17.9% vs AMN's -40.0% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | HCSGHealthcare Servic… | AMNAMN Healthcare Se… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +25.5% | +28.8% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +107.3% | -23.1% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +64.1% | -78.4% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -22.3% | -74.5% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -23.5% | -31.5% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +17.9% | -40.0% |
Risk & Volatility
HCSG is the less volatile stock with a 0.74 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. HCSG currently trades 94.7% from its 52-week high vs AMN's 71.7% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | HCSGHealthcare Servic… | AMNAMN Healthcare Se… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.74x | 1.00x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $22.98 | $27.17 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $9.13 | $14.87 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +94.7% | +71.7% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 64.3 | 50.8 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 627K | 1.1M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates HCSG as "Buy" and AMN as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 17.5% upside for AMN (target: $23) vs 7.2% for HCSG (target: $23).
| Metric | HCSGHealthcare Servic… | AMNAMN Healthcare Se… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $23.33 | $22.88 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 14 | 17 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 20 | — |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +3.7% | 0.0% |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Healthcare Services… (HCSG) | 100 | 69.75 | -30.3% |
| AMN Healthcare Serv… (AMN) | 100 | 29.18 | -70.8% |
Healthcare Services… (HCSG) returned -22% over 5 years vs AMN Healthcare Serv… (AMN)'s -74%.
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Healthcare Services… (HCSG) | $1.6B | $1.8B | +17.6% |
| AMN Healthcare Serv… (AMN) | $1.9B | $3.0B | +56.9% |
Healthcare Services Group, Inc.'s revenue grew from $1.6B (2016) to $1.8B (2025) — a 1.8% CAGR.
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Healthcare Services… (HCSG) | 5.0% | 3.2% | -35.1% |
| AMN Healthcare Serv… (AMN) | 5.6% | -4.9% | -188.5% |
Healthcare Services Group, Inc.'s net margin went from 5% (2016) to 3% (2025).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 9 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Healthcare Services… (HCSG) | 44.3 | 23.6 | -46.7% |
| AMN Healthcare Serv… (AMN) | 18.4 | 14 | -23.9% |
Healthcare Services Group, Inc. has traded in a 20x–44x P/E range over 9 years; current trailing P/E is ~27x. AMN Healthcare Services, Inc. has traded in a 10x–46x P/E range over 7 years; current trailing P/E is ~-5x.
Chart 5EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Healthcare Services… (HCSG) | 1.05 | 0.81 | -22.9% |
| AMN Healthcare Serv… (AMN) | 2.15 | -3.85 | -279.1% |
Healthcare Services Group, Inc.'s EPS grew from $1.05 (2016) to $0.81 (2025) — a -3% CAGR.
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
Healthcare Services Group, Inc. generated $139M FCF in 2025 (+343% vs 2021). AMN Healthcare Services, Inc. generated $240M FCF in 2024 (-5% vs 2021).
HCSG vs AMN: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is HCSG or AMN a better buy right now?
Healthcare Services Group, Inc. (HCSG) offers the better valuation at 26.9x trailing P/E (22.5x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Healthcare Services Group, Inc. (HCSG) a "Buy" — 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.
02Which has the better valuation — HCSG or AMN?
On forward P/E, AMN Healthcare Services, Inc. is actually cheaper at 9.6x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — HCSG or AMN?
Over the past 5 years, Healthcare Services Group, Inc. (HCSG) delivered a total return of -22.3%, compared to -74.5% for AMN Healthcare Services, Inc. (AMN). A $10,000 investment in HCSG five years ago would be worth approximately $8K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: HCSG returned -23.5% 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.
04Which is safer — HCSG or AMN?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Healthcare Services Group, Inc. (HCSG) is the lower-risk stock at 0.74β versus AMN Healthcare Services, Inc.'s 1.00β — meaning AMN is approximately 35% more volatile than HCSG relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Healthcare Services Group, Inc. (HCSG) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 3% versus 155% for AMN Healthcare Services, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — HCSG or AMN?
Healthcare Services Group, Inc. (HCSG) is the more profitable company, earning 3.2% net margin versus -4.9% for AMN Healthcare Services, Inc. — meaning it keeps 3.2% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: HCSG leads at 2.6% 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.
06Is HCSG or AMN more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, AMN Healthcare Services, Inc. (AMN) trades at 9.6x forward P/E versus 22.5x for Healthcare Services Group, Inc. — 13.0x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for AMN: 17.5% to $22.88.
07Which pays a better dividend — HCSG or AMN?
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.
08Is HCSG or AMN better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Healthcare Services Group, Inc. (HCSG) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.74)). Both have compounded well over 10 years (HCSG: -23.5%, 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.
09What are the main differences between HCSG and AMN?
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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