Cross Country Healthcare rises amid rumors it was not discussed in FTC meeting
Cross Country Healthcare Stock Movement: Cross Country Healthcare's stock rose 5.5% amid speculation that it was not the focus of a Federal Trade Commission (FTC) closed-door meeting regarding its acquisition by Aya Healthcare.
FTC Meeting Speculation: Prior to the meeting, there were concerns that the FTC might discuss Aya Healthcare's planned $615 million purchase of Cross Country, but traders suggested the meeting was likely about a lawsuit against Live Nation and Ticketmaster instead.
Acquisition Details: Cross Country Healthcare received a second request from the FTC regarding the acquisition, and both companies confirmed compliance with the FTC's request as of August 29, with the deal expected to close in Q4.
Acquisition Agreement: Aya Healthcare has agreed to acquire Cross Country for $18.61 per share in cash, with the deal initially announced in December.
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- Earnings Announcement Date: Cross Country Healthcare (CCRN) is set to release its Q4 2023 earnings on March 4th after market close, with consensus EPS estimate at $0.03, reflecting a 25% year-over-year decline, and revenue expected at $254.3 million, down 17.9% year-over-year, indicating significant challenges ahead for the company.
- Historical Performance Review: Over the past two years, CCRN has beaten EPS estimates 50% of the time and revenue estimates 63% of the time, suggesting a degree of capability to exceed expectations, yet the recent downward revisions may undermine investor confidence.
- Expectation Revision Trends: In the last three months, EPS estimates have seen one upward revision and three downward revisions, while revenue estimates have experienced no upward revisions and four downward revisions, reflecting a cautious market outlook that could lead to stock price volatility.
- Merger Termination Impact: CCRN recently terminated its merger with Aya Holdings, which will incur a $20 million fee, and while this decision may negatively impact stock prices in the short term, it also provides the company with greater flexibility for future independent growth.
- Earnings Miss: Cross Country Healthcare reported a Q4 non-GAAP EPS of -$0.06, missing expectations by $0.09, indicating significant challenges in profitability that could undermine investor confidence.
- Revenue Decline: The company’s Q4 revenue of $236.8M represents a 23.6% year-over-year decline, falling short by $17.5M, reflecting weak market demand and intensified competition, which may hinder future growth prospects.
- Future Guidance: Management's guidance for Q1 2026 revenue is set at $235M to $240M, projecting a year-over-year decline of 20% to 18%, indicating a lack of confidence in short-term recovery, which could affect shareholder investment decisions.
- Adjusted EBITDA Outlook: The expected adjusted EBITDA range of $4.0M to $5.0M reflects a year-over-year decline of 54% to 42%, highlighting significant challenges in cost control and operational efficiency that may impact the company’s competitive position in the market.
- Earnings Call Scheduled: Cross Country Healthcare will hold a conference call on March 4, 2026, at 5:00 PM ET to discuss its Q4 and full-year 2025 financial results, with the earnings press release set to be distributed after market close, aiming to keep investors informed of the latest financial performance.
- Live Webcast and Replay: The call will be webcast live on the company's website, with participants able to dial in at 800-369-2163 (U.S.) or 773-756-4715 (non-U.S.), and a replay will be available from March 4 to March 18, ensuring that investors who cannot attend live can still access critical information.
- Intellify® Platform Overview: Cross Country Healthcare leverages its Intellify® platform, a cloud-based workforce management and vendor management system, to help healthcare organizations optimize their labor ecosystem, improve resource utilization, and reduce complexity, thereby maintaining a competitive edge in the healthcare industry.
- Company Background and Vision: As a technology-driven company with nearly 40 years of healthcare labor expertise, Cross Country Healthcare aims to help health systems achieve sustainable labor optimization through AI-powered digital platforms and advisory services, enhancing service quality and operational efficiency.

Leadership Change: John Martins has resigned as President and CEO of Cross Country Healthcare, effective December 14, with Kevin Clark appointed as his successor.
Experience of New CEO: Kevin Clark, who co-founded the company and has nearly 40 years of experience in the healthcare staffing industry, will also continue as Chairman of the Board.
Market Reaction: Following the announcement, Cross Country Healthcare's stock rose by 4.83% to $8.90 in pre-market trading on the Nasdaq.
Disclaimer: The views expressed in the article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Nasdaq, Inc.
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Global Market Trends: European shares were generally higher, with the eurozone's STOXX 600 up 0.45%. Asian markets also closed mostly higher, led by Japan's Nikkei, which gained 2.33%.
U.S. Stock Market Performance: U.S. stocks saw a slight increase, with the Dow Jones up 0.1%, NASDAQ rising 0.01%, and S&P 500 gaining 0.1% on Thursday. Financial shares rose by 0.4%, while health care stocks fell by 0.6%.
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