The health care sector is outperforming other sectors in a difficult market. A standout in the sector is Cross Country Healthcare, making Cross Country stock a good watchlist candidate. Its earnings per share over the past four quarters have risen 194%, 408%, 637% and 193% last quarter. With growth like that it's no surprise that its IBD SmartSelect Composite Rating climbed from 94 to a near-perfect 96 on Thursday.
The new rating shows Cross Country stock is outpacing 96% of all stocks when it comes to the most important stock-picking criteria. The market's biggest winners often have a 95 or higher score in the early stages of a new price run, so that's a good item to have on your checklist when looking for the best stocks to buy and watch.
Cross Country Stock Sought By Big Investors
Cross Country Healthcare provides staffing to hospitals and doctor's offices including traveling nurses and temporary physicians.
Boca Raton, Fla.-based Cross Country's stock earns an outstanding 98 EPS Rating, which means its recent quarterly and longer-term annual earnings growth is outpacing 98% of all stocks.
Additionally, its Accumulation/Distribution Rating of B shows moderate buying by institutional investors over the last 13 weeks.
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The company reported a 193% rise in earnings for Q1, to $1.70 per share. Sales soared 140% to $788.7 million. That came on the heels of a 197% jump in sales the prior quarter.
Meanwhile, Cross Country stock defied the down market Thursday and rose 0.4% to 20.83. Its stock climbed from a 4.50 per share intraday low in May 2020 to a 30.40 high last December, a 575% run. It's consolidated since then in sync with the market. Still, it's closed higher for the last seven weeks in a row despite the market being in bear country. See if Cross Country stock goes on to form a new chart pattern and offer a new buying opportunity.
Cross Country Healthcare earns the No. 2 rank among its peers in the Commercial Services-Staffing industry group. AMN Healthcare Services is the No. 1-ranked stock in the group.
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