Analysts were expecting Cross Country Healthcare Inc. (CCRN) [Chart - News - Analysis] to report earnings of $0.02 for last quarter, but CCRN beat expectations with actual earnings of $0.03---1 cent above the consensus estimate. CCRN also issued earnings guidance for next quarter that is in line with current analyst expectations.

If you compare last quarter's earnings to the $0.20 the company made per share during the same quarter a year ago, you can see that CCRN’s earnings are down this year.

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Also, if you compare CCRN's 12.00% projected earnings-per-share (EPS) growth rate for the next five years with the projected EPS growth rate of 12.44% for the Staffing & Outsourcing Services industry as a whole during that same time frame, you can see that analysts expect CCRN to underperform the industry in the future---which is a bad sign for the stock.

Drilling down a little deeper into the Staffing & Outsourcing Services industry, you can see how analysts believe CCRN will stack up against some of the other stocks in the industry, like Administaff Inc. (ASF) [Chart - News - Analysis] and Korn/Ferry International (KFY) [Chart - News - Analysis], in the future. Analysts believe ASF's earnings are going to grow at a rate of 15.00% while KFY's earnings are going to grow at a rate of 15.00%.

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Net earnings rose to $352.8 million or $0.70 per share from $233.5 million or $0.45 per share in the year ago period. Net earnings from continuing operations climbed to $347.4 million or $0.69 per share from $226 million or $0.43 per share in the prior-year quarter.

Earnings from continuing operations, excluding tax settlements, increased to $227.4 million or $0.45 per share, from $216 million or $0.42 per share last year.

The consensus of 18 analysts polled by Thomson Reuters for the company was to report earnings of $0.45 a share. Analysts' estimates typically exclude one-time gains and losses.

Staffing and outsourcing solutions provider Paychex Inc. (PAYX) reported fourth-quarter results on June 24. net income slipped to $113.8 million or $0.32 per share from prior-year quarter's $135.48 million or $0.38 per share, missing analysts' consensus by 2 cents. The company anticipates a 10-12% decline in fiscal 2010 net income, on a 1-4% drop in revenue.

Another peer, Administaff Inc. (ASF) is scheduled to report second-quarter earnings of August 3. Analysts expect the company to post earnings of $0.25 a share, on revenue of $407.08 million.

ADP total revenues dropped to $2.11 billion from $2.21 billion in the same period last year, coming in line with analysts' expectations. The company noted that revenue growth was negatively impacted by severe economic conditions and unfavorable foreign exchange.

Revenues, other than interest on funds held for clients and PEO revenues, declined to $1.67 billion from $1.77 billion in the corresponding period last year.

Interest on funds held for clients decreased to $146.3 million from $169.7 million in the year-ago quarter. The company attributed the fall to a decline of 30 basis points in the average interest yield to 3.9%, and a decline of 7.4% in average client funds balances to $15 billion from $16.1 billion.

PEO revenues increased 7% to $290.1 million from $272.2 million in the previous year. Average work-site employees paid by PEO Services increased 4% over last year to about 194,000 and 193,000, respectively.

Commenting on the latest quarter results, Gary Butler, the president and chief executive officer of Automatic data processing stated, "As anticipated, our key business metrics for Employer Services continued to show year-over-year declines in the fourth quarter."

Butler added, "The selling environment remained challenging during the fourth quarter resulting in year-over-year declines in new business sales for both the fourth quarter and the full year that were larger than we anticipated."

Full-year net earnings rose to $1.33 billion or $2.63 from $1.24 billion or $2.34 per share in the previous year. Net earnings from continuing operations jumped to $1.328 billion or $2.63 per share from $1.16 billion or $2.20 per share last year.

Net earnings from continuing operations, excluding favorable tax settlements, increased to $1.21 billion or $2.39 per share from $1.15 billion or $2.18 per share last year. Analysts estimated full-year earnings of $2.39 a share.

Total revenues rose to $8.87 billion from $8.78 billion last year, in line with street expectations.

Looking ahead to fiscal 2010, the company anticipates the severely negative economic conditions to continue. Automatic Data Processing sees comparatively worsening business metrics in the first half of fiscal 2010, with particularly tough year-over-year comparison for the first quarter.

Full-year net earnings from continuing operations, excluding favorable tax settlements, are expected to be $2.29 - $2.39 per share, while analysts expect $2.39 a share.

Total revenues are expected to decline 1-4% year-over-year. Analysts estimate full-year revenues to be $8.87 billion.

ADP is currently trading down 1.77% or 67 cents at $37.15.

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Jonathan Judge, President and Chief Executive Officer said, "Fiscal 2009 was one of the most challenging years in Paychex history. We were faced with many difficulties including the weakest economic conditions we have ever experienced, a severe credit crisis, and extremely low investment rates of return on our funds held for clients."

The Rochester, New York-based company posted fourth quarter net income of $113.8 million or $0.32 per share, compared to $135.5 million or $0.38 per share in the prior year.

On average, 17 analysts polled by Thomson Reuters expected the company to report earnings of $0.34 per share for the quarter. Analysts' estimates typically exclude special items.

In the sequential third quarter, Paychex's net income declined 8% to $130.8 million, with earnings per share at $0.36.

Total revenue for the fourth quarter declined 4% to $495.9 million from $519.2 million in the earlier year period. Analysts had a consensus revenue estimate of $510.46 million for the fourth quarter.

Payroll service revenue in the quarter decreased 5% to $347.9 million, while Human Resource Services revenue increased 9% to $132.9 million. Checks per client declined 5.2% for the fourth quarter.

Operating income decreased 12% to $174.3 million, and operating income, net of certain items, decreased 4% to $159.2 million.

In the preceding third quarter, the company posted a total revenue of $528.6 million, a decline of 1% from the earlier year.

For the full year, Paychex reported net income of $533.5 million or $1.48 per share, compared to $576.1 million or $1.56 per share in the previous fiscal. Total revenue for the full year increased marginally to $2.08 billion from $2.07 billion last year.

Wall Street analysts expected the company to earn $1.50 per share on revenues of $2.09 billion.

Looking ahead, the company said it expects fiscal 2010 net income to decline in the range of 10% to 12%, and total revenue to decrease by 1% to 4%.

Analysts currently expect the company to report earnings of $1.46 per share, on revenues of $2.09 billion for the year.

Among others in the industry, professional employer organization Administaff Inc. (ASF), last month reported a decline in profit and revenues for the first quarter. The company's net income declined to $8.2 million or $0.33 per share from $13.2 million or $0.51 per share a year ago. Revenues fell 1.3% to $462.0 million from last year.

Business outsourcing solutions provider Automatic Data Processing, Inc. (ADP), reported its third quarter results early last month with a 3% decline in profit and 2% decrease in revenue from previous year. The company's net income for the third quarter was $402.5 million on a total revenue of $2.37 billion.

PAYX closed Wednesday's regular trading at $26.71, up $0.57 or 2.18%, on the Nasdaq. However, in after hours, the stock declined $0.89 or 3.33%. In the past 52-week period, the stock has traded in the range of $20.31 - $35.53, with an average 3-month volume of 4.05 million shares.