NHC
National HealthCare Corporation
Medical - Care Facilities
Market Cap$2.66B
5Y Perf.+155.6%
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Stock Comparison
NHC vs CCRN
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
CCRN
Cross Country Healthcare, Inc.
Medical - Care Facilities
Market Cap$423M
5Y Perf.+115.7%
NHC vs CCRN — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | NHC | CCRN |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Medical - Care Facilities | Medical - Care Facilities |
| Market Cap | $2.66B | $423M |
| Revenue (TTM) | $1.50B | $761M |
| Net Income (TTM) | $101M | $-99M |
| Gross Margin | 38.5% | 18.2% |
| Operating Margin | 8.1% | -0.9% |
| Forward P/E | 21.5x | 133.8x |
| Total Debt | $87M | $2M |
| Cash & Equiv. | — | $109M |
NHC vs CCRN — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
NHC
CCRN
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| National HealthCare… (NHC) | 100 | 255.6 | +155.6% |
| Cross Country Healt… (CCRN) | 100 | 215.7 | +115.7% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: NHC vs CCRN
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: NHC leads in 7 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and valuation and capital efficiency. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
NHC
National HealthCare Corporation
The Income Pick
NHC carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and growth exposure.
- Dividend streak 12 yrs, beta 0.60, yield 1.4%
- Rev growth 13.2%, EPS growth 17.5%, 3Y rev CAGR 11.0%
- 198.2% 10Y total return vs CCRN's -10.5%
Best for: income & stability and growth exposure
CCRN
Cross Country Healthcare, Inc.
The Specific-Use Pick
In this particular matchup, CCRN is outpaced on most metrics by others in the set.
Best for: healthcare exposure
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | NHC | 13.2% revenue growth vs CCRN's -21.6% |
| Value | NHC | Lower P/E (21.5x vs 133.8x) |
| Quality / Margins | NHC | 6.7% margin vs CCRN's -13.0% |
| Stability / Safety | NHC | Beta 0.60 vs CCRN's 0.78 |
| Dividends | NHC | 1.4% yield; 12-year raise streak; the other pay no meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | NHC | +81.9% vs CCRN's -5.4% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | NHC | 6.4% ROA vs CCRN's -19.8%, ROIC 8.4% vs -0.9% |
NHC vs CCRN — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2025
FY 2025
NHC vs CCRN — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLNHCLAGGINGCCRN
CCRNCross Country Healthc…
1leads
NHCNational HealthCare C…
4leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs CCRNMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
NHC6/6
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
CCRN4/6
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
Tied
—
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
NHC5/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
NHC2/2
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
NHC1/1
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
NHC leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
NHC is the larger business by revenue, generating $1.5B annually — 2.0x CCRN's $761M. NHC is the more profitable business, keeping 6.7% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to CCRN's -13.0%. On growth, NHC holds the edge at +12.5% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | NHCNational HealthCa… | CCRNCross Country Hea… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $1.5B | $761M |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $166M | $9M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $101M | -$99M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $147M | $41M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +38.5% | +18.2% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +8.1% | -0.9% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +6.7% | -13.0% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +9.8% | +5.4% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +12.5% | -100.0% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -8.4% | -6.0% |
NHC leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
CCRN leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
On an enterprise value basis, NHC's 15.9x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than CCRN's 23.7x.
| Metric | NHCNational HealthCa… | CCRNCross Country Hea… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $2.7B | $423M |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $2.7B | $317M |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 22.35x | -4.47x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 21.51x | 133.84x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 0.97x | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 15.85x | 23.75x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 1.81x | 0.40x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 2.50x | 1.31x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 17.89x | 10.55x |
CCRN leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
Evenly matched — NHC and CCRN each lead in 4 of 8 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
NHC delivers a 9.6% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $10 in annual profit, vs $-27 for CCRN. CCRN carries lower financial leverage with a 0.01x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to NHC's 0.08x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), CCRN scores 6/9 vs NHC's 2/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | NHCNational HealthCa… | CCRNCross Country Hea… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +9.6% | -27.1% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +6.4% | -19.8% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +8.4% | -0.9% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | — | -0.8% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 2 | 6 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.08x | 0.01x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $87M | -$106M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | — | $109M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $87M | $2M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 24.41x | -1.39x |
Evenly matched — NHC and CCRN each lead in 4 of 8 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
NHC leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in NHC five years ago would be worth $26,213 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $7,746 for CCRN. Over the past 12 months, NHC leads with a +81.9% total return vs CCRN's -5.4%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors NHC at 46.5% vs CCRN's -17.7% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | NHCNational HealthCa… | CCRNCross Country Hea… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +31.9% | +62.4% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +81.9% | -5.4% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +214.6% | -44.3% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +162.1% | -22.5% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +198.2% | -10.5% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +46.5% | -17.7% |
NHC leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
NHC leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
NHC is the less volatile stock with a 0.60 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than CCRN's 0.78 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. NHC currently trades 93.1% from its 52-week high vs CCRN's 87.3% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | NHCNational HealthCa… | CCRNCross Country Hea… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.60x | 0.78x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $184.08 | $14.99 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $93.54 | $7.43 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +93.1% | +87.3% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 51.2 | 53.1 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 117K | 552K |
NHC leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
NHC leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Analyst Outlook
NHC is the only dividend payer here at 1.44% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | NHCNational HealthCa… | CCRNCross Country Hea… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | — | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | — | $10.61 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | — | 14 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +1.4% | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 12 | 1 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $2.47 | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +0.6% | +1.6% |
NHC leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Key Takeaway
NHC leads in 4 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Total Returns). CCRN leads in 1 (Valuation Metrics). 1 tied.
Best OverallNational HealthCare Corpora… (NHC)Leads 4 of 6 categories
Loading custom metrics...
NHC vs CCRN: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is NHC or CCRN a better buy right now?
For growth investors, National HealthCare Corporation (NHC) is the stronger pick with 13.
2% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -21. 6% for Cross Country Healthcare, Inc. (CCRN). National HealthCare Corporation (NHC) offers the better valuation at 22. 3x trailing P/E (21. 5x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. 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.
02Which has the better valuation — NHC or CCRN?
On forward P/E, National HealthCare Corporation is actually cheaper at 21.
5x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — NHC or CCRN?
Over the past 5 years, National HealthCare Corporation (NHC) delivered a total return of +162.
1%, compared to -22. 5% for Cross Country Healthcare, Inc. (CCRN). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: NHC returned +198. 2% versus CCRN's -10. 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 — NHC or CCRN?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), National HealthCare Corporation (NHC) is the lower-risk stock at 0.
60β versus Cross Country Healthcare, Inc. 's 0. 78β — meaning CCRN is approximately 31% more volatile than NHC relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Cross Country Healthcare, Inc. (CCRN) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 1% versus 8% for National HealthCare Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — NHC or CCRN?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), National HealthCare Corporation (NHC) is pulling ahead at 13.
2% versus -21. 6% for Cross Country Healthcare, Inc. (CCRN). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: National HealthCare Corporation grew EPS 17. 5% year-over-year, compared to -565. 9% for Cross Country Healthcare, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, NHC leads at 11. 0% 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.
06Which has better profit margins — NHC or CCRN?
National HealthCare Corporation (NHC) is the more profitable company, earning 8.
2% net margin versus -9. 0% for Cross Country Healthcare, Inc. — meaning it keeps 8. 2% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: NHC leads at 8. 7% versus -0. 3% for CCRN. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — NHC leads at 37. 3%, 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.
07Is NHC or CCRN more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, National HealthCare Corporation (NHC) trades at 21.
5x forward P/E versus 133. 8x for Cross Country Healthcare, Inc. — 112. 3x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis.
08Which pays a better dividend — NHC or CCRN?
In this comparison, NHC (1.
4% yield) pays a dividend. CCRN does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
09Is NHC or CCRN better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, National HealthCare Corporation (NHC) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.
60), 1. 4% yield, +198. 2% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (NHC: +198. 2%, CCRN: -10. 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.
10What are the main differences between NHC 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.
NHC 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.
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