Public companies are required to disclose risks that can affect the business and impact the stock. These disclosures are known as “Risk Factors”. Companies disclose these risks in their yearly (Form 10-K), quarterly earnings (Form 10-Q), or “foreign private issuer” reports (Form 20-F). Risk factors show the challenges a company faces. Investors can consider the worst-case scenarios before making an investment. TipRanks’ Risk Analysis categorizes risks based on proprietary classification algorithms and machine learning.

Cross Country Healthcare disclosed 36 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Cross Country Healthcare reported the most risks in the “Legal & Regulatory” category.

Risk Overview Q3, 2024

Risk Distribution

28% Legal & Regulatory

19% Finance & Corporate

17% Production

17% Ability to Sell

11% Macro & Political

8% Tech & Innovation

Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy

This chart displays the stock's most recent risk distribution according to category. TipRanks has identified 6 major categories: Finance & corporate, legal & regulatory, macro & political, production, tech & innovation, and ability to sell.

Risk Change Over Time

2022

S&P500 Average

Sector Average

Risks removed

Risks added

Risks changed

Cross Country Healthcare Risk Factors

New Risk (0)

Risk Changed (0)

Risk Removed (0)

No changes from previous report

The chart shows the number of risks a company has disclosed. You can compare this to the sector average or S&P 500 average.

The quarters shown in the chart are according to the calendar year (January to December). Businesses set their own financial calendar, known as a fiscal year. For example, Walmart ends their financial year at the end of January to accommodate the holiday season.

Risk Highlights Q3, 2024

Main Risk Category

Legal & Regulatory

With 10 Risks

Legal & Regulatory

With 10 Risks

Number of Disclosed Risks

No changes from last report

S&P 500 Average: 31

No changes from last report

S&P 500 Average: 31

Recent Changes

0Risks added

0Risks removed

0Risks changed

Since Sep 2024

0Risks added

0Risks removed

0Risks changed

Since Sep 2024

Number of Risk Changed

No changes from last report

S&P 500 Average: 2

No changes from last report

S&P 500 Average: 2

See the risk highlights of Cross Country Healthcare in the last period.

Risk Word Cloud

The most common phrases about risk factors from the most recent report. Larger texts indicate more widely used phrases.

Risk Factors Full Breakdown - Total Risks 36

Legal & Regulatory

Total Risks: 10/36 (28%)Above Sector Average

Regulation5 | 13.9%

Regulation - Risk 1

We are subject to business and regulatory risks associated with international operations.

We have international operations in India where our Cross Country Infotech, Pvt Ltd. (Infotech) subsidiary is located. Infotech provides in-house information systems development and support services, as well as some back-office processing services. We have limited experience in supporting our services outside of North America. Operations in certain markets are subject to risks inherent in international business activities, including: (i) fluctuations in currency exchange rates; (ii) changes in regulations; (iii) varying economic and political conditions; (iv) overlapping or differing tax structures; and (v) regulations (pertaining to, among other things, compensation and benefits, vacation, and the termination of employment). Our inability to effectively manage our international operations or our violation of any regulation could result in increased costs and adversely affect our results of operations.

Regulation - Risk 2

If applicable government regulations change, we may face increased costs that reduce our revenue and profitability.

The temporary healthcare staffing industry is regulated in many states. For example, in some states, firms such as our nurse staffing companies must be registered to establish and advertise as a nurse-staffing agency or must qualify for an exemption from registration in those states. Several states have adopted wage transparency or equity laws that have complex reporting requirements. If we were to lose any required state licenses, we could be required to cease operating in those states. The introduction of new regulatory provisions could also substantially raise the costs associated with hiring temporary employees. For example, some states could impose sales taxes or increase sales tax rates on temporary healthcare staffing services. These increased costs may not be able to be passed on to customers. In addition, if government regulations were implemented that limited the amount we could charge for our services, our profitability could be adversely affected. We continuously monitor changes in regulations and legislation for potential impacts on our business.

Regulation - Risk 3

We operate our business in a regulated industry and modifications, inaccurate interpretations, or violations of any applicable statutory or regulatory requirements may result in material costs or penalties, as well as litigation, and could reduce our revenue and earnings per share.

Our industry is subject to many complex federal, state, local, and international laws and regulations related to, among other things, the licensure of professionals, medical malpractice claims and related indemnity claims, the payment of our field employees (e.g., wage and hour laws, employment taxes, arbitration agreements, and income tax withholdings), expense reimbursements, wage transparency, and the operations of our business generally (e.g., federal, state, and local tax laws). If we do not comply with the laws and regulations that are applicable to our business, we could incur civil and/or criminal penalties or become subject to litigation or equitable remedies. We maintain insurance coverage for employment claims; however, it may not cover all claims against us or continue to be available to us at a reasonable cost. If our insurance does not cover the particular claim or if we are unable to pay our self-insured retention portion, pay any uninsured portion, or maintain adequate insurance coverage, we may be exposed to substantial liabilities that would materially impact our business and financial performance.

Regulation - Risk 4

The healthcare industry is highly regulated. Any material changes in the political, economic, or regulatory environment that affect the purchasing policies, practices, and operations of healthcare organizations, or that lead to consolidation in the healthcare industry, could reduce the funds available to purchase our services or otherwise require us to modify our offerings.

We provide our services to hospitals and health systems which pay us directly. Accordingly, Medicare, Medicaid, and insurance reimbursement policy changes generally do not directly impact us. However, indirectly, our business, financial condition, and results of operations depend upon conditions affecting the healthcare industry generally, and hospitals and health systems particularly. The healthcare industry is highly regulated by federal and state authorities and is subject to changing political, economic, and regulatory influences. Factors such as changes in reimbursement policies for healthcare expenses, consolidation in the healthcare industry, regulation, litigation, and general economic conditions could affect the purchasing practices, operations and financial health of our customers, which could have a negative impact on our business. In addition, application and interpretation of laws sometimes change and those changes may spark regulatory inquiries or investigations as a result, for which we may not be insured and which could adversely affect our business and financial condition. Insurance companies and managed care organizations also seek to control costs by requiring healthcare providers, such as hospitals, to discount their services in exchange for exclusive or preferred participation in their benefit plans. While not affecting us directly, future federal and state legislation or evolving commercial reimbursement trends may further reduce or change conditions for our customers' reimbursement. Such limitations on reimbursement could reduce our customers' cash flows, hampering the prices we can charge customers, and reducing their ability to pay us. Reimbursement changes in government programs, particularly Medicare and Medicaid, can and do indirectly affect the demand and the prices paid for our services. The impact of any legislation to repeal, amend, or replace the Affordable Care Act could also adversely affect our business and financial condition.

Regulation - Risk 5

Legislative or regulatory initiatives related to CSR and ESG matters could have a material adverse effect on our business.

New laws and regulations related to CSR or ESG matters, including potential disclosures with respect to greenhouse gas emissions, have been issued and new proposals may be adopted, which could require us to undertake costly initiatives or operational changes. Non-compliance with these emerging rules or standards, or a failure to address regulator, stakeholder, and societal expectations, may result in potential cost increases, litigation, fines, penalties, reputational damage, loss of customers and vendors, or failure to retain and attract talent. Managing compliance and implementing ESG goals and initiatives involves risks and uncertainties, including increased costs. Any failure, or perceived failure, to manage ESG risks, adhere to public statements, comply with federal, state, or international ESG laws and regulations, or meet evolving and varied stakeholder expectations could result in legal and regulatory proceedings against us and materially adversely affect our business.

Litigation & Legal Liabilities2 | 5.6%

Litigation & Legal Liabilities - Risk 1

Notwithstanding the due diligence investigation we perform in connection with acquisitions, the acquired business may have liabilities, losses, or other exposures for which we do not have adequate insurance coverage, indemnification, or other protection.

While we perform significant due diligence prior to signing purchase agreements, we are dependent on the accuracy and completeness of statements and disclosures made or actions taken by the sellers and their representatives when conducting due diligence and evaluating the results of such due diligence. We do not control and may be unaware of activities of the sellers before the acquisition, including intellectual property disputes and other litigation or disputes, information security vulnerabilities, violations of laws, policies, rules, and regulations, commercial disputes, tax liabilities, and other liabilities. The sellers' obligations to indemnify us is limited to, among others, breaches of specified representations and warranties and covenants included in the purchase agreement and other specific indemnities as set forth in the purchase agreement. In the event of a breach of a representation or warranty, other than a core representation (as defined in the purchase agreement), sellers' obligation to indemnify us may be limited to the time frame in which the loss arises and the amount of the loss. If any issues arise post-closing, we may not be entitled to, or be able to, collect sufficient, or any, indemnification or recourse from the sellers, which could have a material adverse impact on our business and results of operations.

Litigation & Legal Liabilities - Risk 2

We are subject to various litigation, claims, investigations, and other proceedings which could result in substantial judgments, settlement costs, or uninsured liabilities.

We are party to various litigation, claims, investigations, and other proceedings. These matters primarily relate to employee-related matters that include individual and collective claims, professional liability, tax, and payroll and/or related practices. We evaluate these litigation claims and legal proceedings to assess the likelihood of unfavorable outcomes and to estimate, if possible, the amount of potential losses. Additionally, as a result of the economy and changes to the law, increased collective bargaining actions, healthcare professionals no longer being able to secure the same level of income as they did during the COVID-19 pandemic, and other factors, the number of litigation claims have increased. Based on assessments and estimates, if any, we establish reserves and/or disclose the relevant litigation claims or legal proceedings, as appropriate. These assessments are performed at least quarterly and are based on the information available to management at the time and involve a significant amount of management judgment. Based on the new information considered in our reviews, we adjust our disclosures and our loss contingency accruals, which may increase as a result of increased litigation claims. We may not have sufficient insurance to cover these risks. Actual outcomes or losses may differ materially from those estimated by our current assessments, which would impact our profitability. Adverse developments in existing litigation claims or legal proceedings involving our Company or new claims could require us to establish or increase litigation reserves or enter into unfavorable settlements or satisfy judgments for monetary damages for amounts in excess of current reserves, which could adversely affect our financial results. In recent years, healthcare providers and the Company have become subject to an increasing number of legal actions alleging, among other things, malpractice, vicarious liability, violation of certain consumer protection acts, negligent hiring, negligent credentialing, discrimination, or related legal theories. We may be subject to liability in such cases even if our Company's contribution to the alleged injury was minimal or related to one of our subcontractors or its employees. Many of these actions, including class actions, involve large claims and significant defense costs. In addition, we may be subject to claims related to torts or crimes committed by our corporate employees or healthcare professionals that we place on assignment. In most instances, we are required to indemnify customers against some or all of these risks, and the law may consider the Company and its customers to be joint employers, adding further complexities to litigation. A failure of any of our corporate employees or healthcare professionals to observe our policies and guidelines, relevant customer policies and guidelines, or applicable federal, state, or local laws, rules, and regulations could result in negative publicity, payment of fines, or other damages. To protect ourselves from the cost of these types of claims, we maintain professional malpractice liability insurance, employment practices liability insurance, and general liability insurance coverage with terms and in amounts with deductibles that we believe are appropriate for our operations, although we do not maintain insurance coverage for wage and hour claims. We are partially self-insured for our workers' compensation coverage, health insurance coverage, and professional liability coverage for our healthcare providers. If we become subject to substantial uninsured workers' compensation, wage and hour claims, medical coverage, or medical malpractice liabilities, whether directly or indirectly, our financial results may be adversely affected. In addition, our insurance coverage may not cover all claims against us or continue to be available to us at a reasonable cost. If we are unable to pay our self-insured retention portion, pay any uninsured portion, or maintain adequate insurance coverage, we may be exposed to substantial liabilities.

Taxation & Government Incentives1 | 2.8%

Taxation & Government Incentives - Risk 1

We could suffer adverse tax and other financial consequences if taxing authorities do not agree with our tax positions, if there are further legislative tax changes, or if we are unable to utilize our net operating losses (NOLs).

We are periodically subject to a number of tax examinations by taxing authorities in the states and countries where we do business. We also have deferred tax assets related to our net operating losses (NOLs) in state taxing jurisdictions, which, generally, for state tax purposes, carry forward for up to twenty years or indefinitely, depending on the year the NOL was generated. Tax years generally remain subject to examination until three years after NOLs are used or expire. We expect that we will continue to be subject to tax examinations in the future. We recognize tax benefits of uncertain tax positions when we believe the positions are more likely than not of being sustained upon a challenge by the relevant tax authority. We believe our judgments in this area are reasonable and correct, but we may not be successful if challenged by a taxing authority. If there are tax benefits, including, but not limited to, the use of NOLs, expense reimbursements, or other tax attributes, that are challenged successfully by a taxing authority, we may be required to pay additional taxes, interest, and penalties, or we may seek to enter into settlements with the taxing authorities, which could require significant payments or otherwise have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, and financial condition. Lastly, we may be limited in our ability to utilize our remaining state NOLs to offset future taxable income and thereby reduce our otherwise payable income taxes. Our ability to utilize our NOLs is also dependent, in part, upon us having sufficient future earnings to utilize our state NOLs before they expire. If market conditions change materially and we determine that we will be unable to generate sufficient taxable income in the future to utilize our state NOLs, we could be required to record additional valuation allowances. We review the valuation allowances for our state NOLs periodically and make adjustments from time to time, which can result in an increase or decrease to the net deferred tax asset related to our state NOLs. If we are unable to use our state NOLs or use of our state NOLs is limited, we may have to make significant payments or reduce our deferred tax assets, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, and financial condition.

Environmental / Social2 | 5.6%

Environmental / Social - Risk 1

Legislative or regulatory initiatives related to climate change could result in significant operational changes and expenditures and adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

Changes in global temperatures, weather patterns, negative global climate change patterns, and increases in the frequency and severity of extreme weather and natural disasters in both the U.S. and India locations could have a negative effect on the Company's business. Concern over climate change may result in new or additional legislative and regulatory requirements to reduce or mitigate the effects of climate change on the environment, which could result in future tax, transportation, and utility increases and could, in turn, have a material adverse effect on the Company's business. Moreover, continuing political and social attention to climate change and environmental issues has resulted in both existing and pending disclosure requirements, international agreements and national, regional, and local legislation, regulatory measures, reporting obligations, and policy changes. There is increasing societal pressure in some of the areas where we operate to limit greenhouse gas emissions as well as other global initiatives. These agreements and measures may require or could result in future legislation, regulatory measures, or policy changes that would require operational changes, taxes, or purchases of emission credits to reduce emission of greenhouse gases from our operations, which may result in substantial capital expenditures. Furthermore, increasing attention to climate change has resulted in governmental investigations and public and private litigation, which could increase our costs or otherwise adversely affect our business or results of operations. Any or all of these initiatives may result in significant operational changes and expenditures and could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

Environmental / Social - Risk 2

Changes in data privacy and protection laws and regulations in respect of control of personal information (and the failure to comply with such laws and regulations) could increase the Company's costs or otherwise adversely impact its operations, financial results, and reputation.

In the ordinary course of business, the Company collects, uses, and retains personal information from its customers, employees, employment candidates, and contractors, including, without limitation, full names, government-issued identification numbers, addresses, birthdates, and payroll-related information. The possession and use of personal information in conducting the Company's business subjects it to a variety of complex and evolving laws and regulations regarding data privacy, which, in many cases, apply not only to third-party transfers, but also to transfers of information among the Company and its subsidiaries. For example, there has been a number of recently enacted state-level privacy regulations that assign specific rights to consumers, employees, and other data subjects, and imposes specific operational requirements for businesses that collect, process, and store personal information. Complying with these enhanced obligations, state-level privacy regulations (such as the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) and the California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA)) and other current and future laws and regulations relating to data transfer, residency, privacy and protection has increased, and continue to increase the Company's operating costs and require significant management time and attention. Simultaneously, any failure by the Company or its subsidiaries to comply with applicable laws could result in governmental enforcement actions, consumer actions, fines, and other penalties that could potentially have an adverse effect on the Company's operations, financial results and reputation.

Finance & Corporate

Total Risks: 7/36 (19%)Below Sector Average

Share Price & Shareholder Rights2 | 5.6%

Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 1

Stock is issuable under our stock incentive plan and sales of this stock could cause our stock price to decline.

We have registered 3,000,000 shares of common stock for issuance under our 2020 Omnibus Incentive Plan. Shares of restricted stock outstanding as of February 14, 2024 were 538,098. In addition, a target of 413,836 performance stock award grants were outstanding as of February 14, 2024. See Note 14 - Stockholders' Equity to our consolidated financial statements. Vested restricted stock and common stock issued under our awards is eligible for resale in the public market without restriction. We cannot predict what effect, if any, market sales of shares held by any stockholder or the availability of these shares for future sale will have on the market price of our common stock.

Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 2

If provisions in our corporate documents and Delaware law delay or prevent a change in control, we may be unable to consummate a transaction that our stockholders consider favorable.

Our certificate of incorporation and by-laws may discourage, delay, or prevent a merger or acquisition involving us that our stockholders may consider favorable. For example, our certificate of incorporation authorizes our Board of Directors to issue up to 10,000,000 shares of "blank check" preferred stock. Without stockholder approval, the Board of Directors has the authority to attach special rights, including voting and dividend rights, to this preferred stock. With these rights, preferred stockholders could make it more difficult for a third party to acquire us. Delaware law may also discourage, delay, or prevent someone from acquiring or merging with us.

Accounting & Financial Operations2 | 5.6%

Accounting & Financial Operations - Risk 1

Impairment in the value of our goodwill, trade names, or other intangible assets could negatively impact our net income and earnings per share.

We are required to test goodwill and intangible assets with indefinite lives (such as trade names) annually, to determine if impairment has occurred. Long-lived assets and other identifiable intangible assets are also reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that amounts may not be recoverable. If the testing performed indicates that impairment has occurred, we are required to record an impairment charge for the difference between the carrying amount of the goodwill or other intangible assets and the implied fair value of the goodwill or the fair value of the indefinite-lived intangible asset in the period the determination is made. The testing of goodwill and other intangible assets for impairment requires us to make significant estimates about our future performance and cash flows, as well as other assumptions. These estimates can be affected by numerous factors, including changes in economic, industry, or market conditions, changes in business operations, changes in competition, or changes in our stock price and market capitalization. Changes in these factors, or changes in actual performance compared with estimates of our future performance, could affect the fair value of goodwill, trade names, or other intangible assets, which may result in an impairment charge. We cannot accurately predict the amount and timing of any impairment of assets. Should the value of goodwill or other intangible assets become impaired, there could be an adverse effect on us.

Accounting & Financial Operations - Risk 2

Due to inherent limitations, our system of disclosure and internal controls and procedures may not be successful in preventing all errors and fraud, or in making all material information known in a timely manner to management.

Our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, does not expect that our disclosure controls and internal controls will prevent all errors and all fraud. A control system, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the control system are met. Because of the inherent limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, within our Company have been detected. These inherent limitations include the realities that judgments in decision-making can be faulty, and that breakdowns can occur because of a simple error or mistake. Additionally, controls can be circumvented by the acts of an individual, by collusion of two or more people, or by management override of the control. The design of any system of controls also is based in part upon certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and any design may not succeed in achieving its stated goals under all potential future conditions; over time, a control may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate. Because of the inherent limitations, misstatements due to error or fraud may occur and not be detected.

Debt & Financing2 | 5.6%

Debt & Financing - Risk 1

We could fail to generate sufficient cash to fund our liquidity needs and/or fail to satisfy the financial and other covenants to which we are subject under our existing indebtedness, which could adversely affect long term growth and results of operations.

We currently have sufficient liquidity to operate our business in the normal course. If, however, we were to close an acquisition or enter into a similar type of transaction, our liquidity needs may exceed our current capacity. Our credit facility currently contains an occurrence-based financial covenant that may be triggered if we fall below a certain level of excess availability, requiring us to operate above a minimum fixed charge coverage ratio. Additionally, our borrowing capacity is based on trade receivables and we could have a loss in availability due to market or other financial conditions affecting our customers and their ability to pay according to terms, resulting in ineligible receivables (to borrow against). Deterioration in our operating results could result in our inability to comply with this covenant and would result in a default under our credit facility. If an event of default exists, our lenders could call the indebtedness and we may be unable to renegotiate or secure other financing.

Debt & Financing - Risk 2

We could have a level of indebtedness which may have an adverse effect on our business or limit our ability to take advantage of business, strategic, or financing opportunities.

As of December 31, 2023, we had no borrowings under our Asset-Based Loan Agreement (ABL). A change in our level of indebtedness could have important negative consequences including: (i) increased demands on our cash resources to service the debt; (ii) our financial and operating flexibility may be restricted due to debt covenants to which we are subject, and our ability to generate profitability and maintain cash flow from operations could impact our compliance with these covenants; and (iii) we may choose to institute self-imposed limits on our indebtedness based on certain considerations including market interest rates, our relative leverage, and our strategic plans. For example, as a result of our level of indebtedness and the uncertainties arising in the credit markets and the U.S. economy: - we may be more vulnerable to general adverse economic and industry conditions;- we may have to pay higher interest rates upon refinancing or on our variable rate indebtedness if interest rates rise, thereby reducing our cash flows;- we may find it more difficult to obtain additional financing to fund future working capital, capital expenditures, acquisitions, and other general corporate requirements that would be in our long-term interests;- we may be required to dedicate a substantial portion of our cash flow from operations to the payment of principal and interest on our debt, reducing the available cash flow to fund other investments;- we may have limited flexibility in planning for, or reacting to, changes in our business or in the industry;- we may have a competitive disadvantage relative to other companies in our industry that are less leveraged;- we may be required to sell debt or equity securities or sell some of our core assets, possibly on unfavorable terms, in order to meet payment obligations; and - we may not be able to successfully raise capital to execute our mergers and acquisitions strategy. These constraints could have a material adverse effect on our business.

Corporate Activity and Growth1 | 2.8%

Corporate Activity and Growth - Risk 1

We may face difficulties integrating our acquisitions into our operations and our acquisitions may be unsuccessful, involve significant cash expenditures, or expose us to unforeseen liabilities.

We continually evaluate opportunities to acquire companies that would complement or enhance our business. These acquisition opportunities involve numerous risks, including potential loss of key employees or customers of acquired companies; difficulties integrating acquired personnel and distinct cultures into our business; difficulties integrating acquired companies into our operating, financial planning, and financial reporting systems; diversion of management attention from existing operations; and assumptions of liabilities and exposure to unforeseen liabilities of acquired companies, including liabilities for their failure to comply with healthcare and tax regulations. These acquisitions may also involve significant cash expenditures, debt incurrence and integration expenses that could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations. Any acquisition may ultimately have a negative impact on our business and financial condition.

Production

Total Risks: 6/36 (17%)Above Sector Average

Employment / Personnel4 | 11.1%

Employment / Personnel - Risk 1

Our labor costs could be adversely affected by a shortage of experienced healthcare professionals and labor union activity.

Our operations are dependent on our ability to recruit and staff quality healthcare professionals. We compete with other staffing companies and technologies in recruiting and retaining qualified personnel. We may be required to enhance wages and benefits to our employees, which could negatively impact our profitability. Labor union activity is another factor that could adversely affect our labor costs or otherwise adversely impact us. To the extent a significant portion of our employee base unionizes, our labor costs could increase significantly. If our labor costs increase, we may not be able to raise rates to offset these increased costs. Because a significant percentage of our revenues consists of fixed, prospective payments, our ability to pass along increased labor costs is constrained. In the event we are not entirely effective at recruiting and retaining qualified management, nurses, and other medical support personnel, or in controlling labor costs, this could have an adverse effect on our results of operations.

Employment / Personnel - Risk 2

We may be unable to recruit and retain enough quality healthcare professionals to meet our customers' demands.

We rely significantly on our ability to attract, develop, and retain healthcare professionals who possess the skills, experience and, as required, licensure necessary to meet the specified requirements of our healthcare customers. We compete for healthcare staffing personnel with other temporary healthcare staffing companies, as well as actual and potential customers such as healthcare facilities and physician groups, some of which seek to fill positions with either permanent or temporary employees. We rely on word-of-mouth referrals, as well as social and digital media, to attract qualified healthcare professionals. If our social and digital media strategy is not successful, our ability to attract qualified healthcare professionals could be negatively impacted. In addition, with a shortage of certain qualified healthcare professionals in many areas of the United States, competition for these professionals remains intense. Our ability to recruit and retain healthcare professionals depends on our ability to, among other things, offer assignments that are attractive to healthcare professionals and offer them competitive wages and benefits or payments, as applicable. Our competitors might increase hourly wages or the value of benefits to induce healthcare professionals to take assignments with them. If we do not raise wages or increase the value of benefits in response to such increases by our competitors, we could face difficulties attracting and retaining qualified healthcare professionals. If we raise wages or increase benefits in response to our competitors' increases, our customers and our margins could decline. At this time, we still do not have enough nurses, allied professionals, and physicians to meet all of our customers' demands for these staffing services. This shortage of healthcare professionals generally and the competition for their services may limit our ability to increase the number of healthcare professionals that we successfully recruit, decreasing our ability to grow our business.

Employment / Personnel - Risk 3

If certain of our healthcare professionals are reclassified from independent contractors to employees, our profitability could be materially adversely impacted.

Federal or state taxing authorities could re-classify our locum tenens physicians, CRNAs, nurse practitioners, and other independent contractors as employees, despite both the general industry standard to treat them as independent contractors and many state laws prohibiting non-physician owned companies from employing physicians (e.g., the "corporate practice of medicine"). Other than in California and Illinois, where advanced practitioners are required to be classified as W-2 employees by law, if they were re-classified as employees, we would be subject to, among other things, employment and payroll-related tax claims, as well as any applicable penalties and interest. Any such reclassification would have a material adverse impact on our business model for that business segment and would negatively impact our profitability.

Employment / Personnel - Risk 4

Our financial results could be adversely impacted by the loss of key management or corporate employee turnover.

We believe the successful execution of our business strategy and our ability to build upon significant recent investments and acquisitions depends on the continued employment of key members of our management team and corporate employees. If we were to lose any key personnel, we may not be able to find an appropriate replacement on a timely basis and our results of operations could be negatively affected. Further, the loss of a significant number of employees or our inability to hire a sufficient number of qualified employees could have a material adverse effect on our business.

Supply Chain1 | 2.8%

Supply Chain - Risk 1

We are dependent on third parties for the execution of certain critical functions.

We have outsourced certain critical applications or business processes to external providers, including, but not limited to, background screenings of our employees. We exercise care in the selection and oversight of these providers. However, the failure or inability of one or more of these critical suppliers to perform could cause significant disruptions and increased costs to our business. In addition, we rely on third-party timekeeping systems in certain circumstances to process payroll. To the extent that these payroll systems experience a disruption or delay in reporting time worked by our healthcare professionals, we may not be able to make payroll to our healthcare workers timely. This could result in significant dissatisfaction by our healthcare workers and damage to our reputation, in addition to violations of certain laws or regulations. We have a risk mitigation plan in place in the event this were to occur, but the inability to effectively implement this plan, or its failure, could cause an adverse impact to our business and our financials.

Costs1 | 2.8%

Costs - Risk 1

Our costs of providing services may rise faster than we are able to adjust our bill rates and pay rates and, as a result, our margins could decline and our profitability could be adversely impacted.

Costs of providing our services could change more quickly than we are able to renegotiate bill rates in our active contracts and pay rates with our thousands of healthcare professionals. For example, we offer housing subsidies to some of our healthcare professionals or directly provide housing to other healthcare professionals. The cost of subsidizing housing or renting apartments and furniture for these healthcare professionals may increase faster than we are able to renegotiate our rates with our customers, and this may have a negative impact on our profitability. In addition, an increase in other incremental costs beyond our control, such as insurance, could negatively affect our financial results. The costs related to obtaining and maintaining professional and general liability insurance, health insurance, and workers' compensation insurance for healthcare providers has generally been increasing. This could have an adverse impact on our financial condition unless we are able to pass these costs through to our customers or renegotiate pay rates with our healthcare providers.

Ability to Sell

Total Risks: 6/36 (17%)Above Sector Average

Competition1 | 2.8%

Competition - Risk 1

We may face challenges competing in the marketplace if we are unable to anticipate and quickly respond to changing marketplace conditions, such as alternative modes of healthcare delivery, reimbursement, and customer needs.

Patient delivery settings continue to evolve, including potential changes related to artificial intelligence, giving rise to alternative modes of healthcare delivery, such as retail medicine, telemedicine, and home health. Our success is dependent upon our ability to develop innovative workforce solutions and quickly adapt to changing marketplace conditions and client needs, including making modifications to our technologies and evolving our technology platform, which may differentiate our services and abilities from those of our competitors. The markets in which we compete are highly competitive and our competitors may respond more quickly to new or emerging customer needs and marketplace conditions. Uncertainty regarding or changes to federal healthcare law and the willingness of our hospital, healthcare facilities and physician group customers to develop their own temporary staffing pools, replace core staff who have resigned or retired, or to increase the productivity of their permanent staff may, individually or in the aggregate, significantly affect demand for our temporary healthcare staffing services and may hamper our ability to attract, develop, and retain customers. In addition, if hospitals continue to consolidate in an effort to enhance their market positions, improve operational efficiency, hire permanent replacements to replace core staff, and create organizations capable of managing population health, demand for our services could decrease. The staffing industry has experienced a marked decline in revenue in the post-COVID era in light of shifting customer needs. The development of new service lines and business models using advanced technology solutions requires us to be at the forefront of emerging trends in the healthcare industry. We may face challenges competing in the marketplace if we are unable to quickly adapt our business model and successfully implement innovative services and solutions to address these changes.

Demand1 | 2.8%

Demand - Risk 1

Our customers may terminate or not renew their contracts with us.

Our arrangements with hospitals, healthcare facilities, and physician group customers are generally terminable by the customer upon 30 to 90 days' notice. During the COVID-19 pandemic, we believe many hospitals and healthcare systems did not issue request for proposal (RFP)s for temporary staffing agency services because they did not have the time or resources to conduct such a process. More recently, hospitals and healthcare systems are focused on cost-saving measures and the number of RFPs appears to have increased. As a result, we may lose customers if our customers issue RFPs for temporary staffing agency services and choose to contract with one of our competitors instead of us. We may have fixed costs, such as housing costs, associated with terminated arrangements that we will be obligated to pay post-termination, thus negatively impacting our profitability. In addition, the loss of one or more of our large customers could materially and adversely affect our profitability.

Sales & Marketing2 | 5.6%

Sales & Marketing - Risk 1

If our healthcare facility customers increase the use of intermediary organizations, it could impact our profitability and our ability to secure contracts with customers.

We continue to see our customers use intermediary organizations and an increase in the use of side-by-side managed service providers. Intermediaries typically enter into contracts with hospitals or health systems and then subcontract with us and other agencies to provide staffing services, thus interfering to some extent in our relationship with our customers. Each of these intermediaries charges an administrative fee. In instances where we do not win new MSP opportunities or where other vendors win this MSP, a side-by-side MSP opportunity, or vendor management system (VMS) business with our current customers, the number of professionals we have on assignment at those customers and/or our spend under management could decrease. If we are unable to negotiate hourly rates with intermediaries for the services we provide to these customers which are sufficient to cover administrative fees charged by those intermediaries, it could impact our profitability. If hospitals fail to pay the intermediaries for our services or those intermediaries become insolvent or fail to pay us for our services, it could impact our bad debt expense and thus our overall profitability. We also provide comprehensive MSP and other workforce solutions directly to certain of our customers. While such contracts typically improve our market share at these facilities, they could result in less diversification of our customer base, increased liability, and reduced margins.

Sales & Marketing - Risk 2

If the method for paying locum tenens physicians changes, it could negatively impact our profitability.

The Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 created a certain framework for rewarding physicians for providing higher quality care by establishing two tracks of payment: a merit-based incentive payment system and Advanced Alternative Payment Models. If hospitals change the method for paying locum tenens physicians to meet their performance goals or other criteria for Medicaid or Medicare reimbursements, the profitability of our business could be adversely impacted.

Brand / Reputation2 | 5.6%

Brand / Reputation - Risk 1

Our failure to protect our reputation could have a material adverse effect on our business.

We believe that our industry reputation is critical to our success. We also believe that maintaining and enhancing our reputation directly relates to our ability to hire and retain healthcare professionals. Any negative claims or publicity about us, including through social media, may adversely impact our ability to recruit, hire, and retain qualified healthcare professionals, and may also adversely affect relationships with our customers. In this regard, failure to comply with ethical, social, product, labor, health and safety, accounting, or environmental standards could jeopardize our reputation and potentially lead to various adverse effects on our business. The strength of our reputation may also depend on the success of our corporate social responsibility ("CSR") and sustainability initiatives, which require company-wide coordination and alignment. Risks associated with these initiatives include any increased public focus, including by governmental and nongovernmental organizations, new laws and regulations, increased costs associated with sustainability efforts and/or compliance with laws and regulations, as well as increased pressure to expand our CSR and sustainability disclosures in these areas, make commitments, set targets or establish additional goals, and take actions to meet such targets and goals. In addition, organizations that provide information to investors on corporate governance and related matters have developed ratings processes for evaluating companies on their approach to CSR or ESG matters. Such ratings are used by some investors to inform their investment and voting decisions. Unfavorable CSR or ESG ratings may lead to increased negative investor sentiment toward us, which could have a negative impact on the price of our securities and our access to and costs of capital. All of the foregoing could expose us to market, operational, and execution costs or risks. Any CSR or sustainability metrics that we currently or may in the future disclose, whether based on the standards we set for ourselves or those set by others, may influence our reputation and the value of our brands. There is also increased focus, including by investors, customers, and other stakeholders, on CSR and other sustainability matters, including the use of energy and waste. Our reputation could be damaged if we do not, or are perceived to not, act responsibly with respect to sustainability matters, which could also have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial position, and cash flows.

Brand / Reputation - Risk 2

As the use of social media platforms expands, new risks and challenges may cause damage to our brand and reputation.

In our industry, the use of social media platforms has increased due to the ability to access to a broad audience through social media websites and other internet communication. Any inappropriate or unauthorized use of certain social media vehicles by our employees, contractors, customers, or vendors could cause damage to our brand, or result in information leakage that could have legal implications, including the dissemination of personally identifiable information of customers or employees. In addition, inaccurate posts or comments on social media websites could damage our reputation or brand image.

Macro & Political

Total Risks: 4/36 (11%)Above Sector Average

Economy & Political Environment1 | 2.8%

Economy & Political Environment - Risk 1

Global economic conditions and the effect of economic pressures could lead to decreases in demand or pricing for our services, which would adversely affect the profitability of our business.

Uncertainties in global economic conditions that are beyond our control, such as the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, have in the past impacted our business and may in the future materially adversely affect our business, results of operations, financial condition, and stock price. These adverse economic conditions include economic downturns, inflation, recession, slow recovery or growth, new or increased tariffs and other taxes, changes to fiscal and monetary policy, higher interest rates, high unemployment, decreased consumer confidence in the economy, armed hostilities, such as the ongoing military conflict between Russia and Ukraine and the war between Israel and Hamas, foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations, conditions affecting the market for temporary staffing services, and other unexpected events, including public health crises. A decrease or stagnation in the general level of in-patient admissions or out-patient services at our customers' facilities, could lead to decreases in demand or pricing for our services. When a hospital's admissions increase, temporary employees or other healthcare professionals are often added before full-time employees are hired. As admissions decrease, customers typically reduce their use of temporary employees or other healthcare professionals before undertaking layoffs of their permanent employees. In periods of economic downturn or high inflation, permanent healthcare staff generally work more hours, resulting in fewer vacancies and less demand for our services. Decreases in demand or pricing for our services may also affect our ability to provide attractive assignments to our healthcare professionals. Any substantial economic downturn, including significant inflationary pressures, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, or operating results.

Natural and Human Disruptions2 | 5.6%

Natural and Human Disruptions - Risk 1

Our operations and financial results may be affected by pandemics, epidemics, or other public health crises.

During a pandemic, epidemic, or other public health crisis, certain of our healthcare professionals may be exposed to disease, diagnosed with an illness and/or quarantined as a result of illness. Healthcare workers can become burned out from the emotional and physical stress of a prolonged pandemic, as occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic, which may result in shortage of supply if core staff members leave their jobs. If, as a result of such risks, our healthcare professionals do not want to, or are not able to provide services, it could negatively impact our supply and ability to provide staffing services to our customers. In addition, census at healthcare facilities continues to vary for many reasons. All of these effects can result in reduced demand for our services or the cancellation of our healthcare professionals working at those facilities or under contract to provide services at those facilities in the future. These effects may also create specific demand in certain specialties and in specific regions of the country. The financial impact to our healthcare customers from any pandemic, epidemic, outbreak of an infectious disease or other public health crisis may also impact their ability to pay for our services timely or altogether, including invoices for services provided prior to such an event that were in process. Such a failure to pay for our services timely or altogether would have an impact on our collections, resulting in a negative financial impact on our Company.

Natural and Human Disruptions - Risk 2

Losses caused by natural disasters, such as hurricanes and fires, the physical effects of climate change, or other unexpected events, could cause us to suffer material financial losses.

Catastrophes can be caused by various events, including, but not limited to, hurricanes, fires, and other severe weather. The incidence and severity of catastrophes are inherently unpredictable. To the extent climate change causes changes in weather patterns, certain regions where we operate could experience increases in storm intensity, extreme temperatures, wildfires, rising sea-levels and/or drought. With our headquarters, shared services, and many of our remote workers located in South Florida, we are more vulnerable to possible disruptions from hurricanes and the impacts resulting therefrom, such as tornadoes, flooding, fuel shortages, and disruption of internet and telecommunications services. We also have a significant amount of business and employees in California, which is vulnerable to wildfires and earthquakes. Over time, these conditions could result in increases in our operating costs or business interruptions. The extent of losses from a catastrophe is a function of both the total amount of insured exposure and the severity of the event. We do not maintain business interruption insurance for these events. We could suffer material financial losses as a result of disruptions from hurricanes, fires, or other catastrophes, including unexpected events. Locations operated by our vendors may also be subject to natural disasters or other extreme weather conditions. To the extent any of these events occur, our operations and financial results could be adversely affected.

Capital Markets1 | 2.8%

Capital Markets - Risk 1

Market disruptions or downturns may adversely affect our, or our customer's, operating results and financial condition.

Economic conditions and volatility in the financial markets may have an adverse impact on the availability of credit to us and to our customers and businesses generally. Conditions in the credit markets and the economy generally could adversely impact our business and limit or prohibit us from refinancing our credit agreements on terms favorable to us or at all when they become due. To the extent that disruption in the financial markets occurs, it has the potential to materially affect our and our customers' ability to tap into debt and/or equity markets to continue ongoing operations, have access to cash, and/or pay debts as they come due. Although we monitor our credit risks to specific customers that we believe may present credit concerns, default risk or lack of access to liquidity may result from events or circumstances that are difficult to detect or foresee.

Tech & Innovation

Total Risks: 3/36 (8%)Below Sector Average

Cyber Security1 | 2.8%

Cyber Security - Risk 1

Company and third-party computer, technology and communications hardware and software systems are vulnerable to damage, unauthorized access, and disruption that could expose the Company to material operational, financial, and reputational damage (including the unauthorized access to, or exposure of, personal and confidential information).

The Company's ability to manage its operations in both the U.S. and India through the use of key systems successfully is critical to its success and largely depends upon the efficient and uninterrupted operation of its computer, technology and communications systems, some of which are managed by third-party vendors. The Company's primary systems (and, as a result, its operations) are vulnerable to damage or interruption from power outages, computer, technology and telecommunications failures, computer viruses, security breaches, catastrophic events, and errors in usage by the Company's or its vendors' employees and contractors. In addition, the Company's systems contain personal and confidential information, including information of importance to the Company, and its employees, vendors, contractors, and customers. Cyberattacks, including attacks motivated by the desire for monetary gain, geopolitics, grievances against the business services industry in general or against the Company in particular, may disable or damage its systems or the systems of its vendors or customers, or allow unauthorized access to, or exposure of, personal or confidential information, including information about employees, vendors, candidates, contractors and customers. The Company's security tools, controls and practices, including those relating to identity and access management, credential strength, and the security tools, controls and practices of its vendors and customers, may not prevent access, damage or disruption to Company or third-party systems or the unauthorized access to, or exposure of, personal or confidential information. There are many approaches through which such systems could be damaged or disrupted, or information exposed or accessed, including through system vulnerabilities, improperly obtaining and using user credentials, or the misuse of authorized user access. In 2020, the Company transitioned its employee population to a remote work environment in an effort to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. This transition to remote working has also increased the Company's exposure to risks related to the Company's computer and communications hardware and software systems and exacerbated certain related risks, including risks of phishing and other cybersecurity attacks. The damage or disruption to Company or third-party systems, or unauthorized access to, or exposure of, personal or confidential information, could harm the Company's operations, reputation and brand, resulting in a loss of business or revenue. It could also subject the Company to government sanctions, litigation from candidates, contractors, customers, and employees, and legal liability under its contracts, resulting in increased costs or loss of revenue. The Company may also incur additional expenses, such as the cost of remediating incidents or improving security measures, the cost of identifying and retaining replacement vendors, increased costs of insurance, or ransomware payments. Cybersecurity threats continue to increase in frequency and sophistication, thereby increasing the difficulty of detecting and defending against them. Furthermore, the potential risk of security breaches and cyberattacks may increase as the Company introduces new service offerings. Any future events impacting the Company or its third-party vendors that damages or interrupts the Company's or its third-party vendors' systems or exposes data or other confidential information could have a material adverse effect on our operations, reputation, and financial results.

Technology2 | 5.6%

Technology - Risk 1

We are dependent on the proper functioning of our information systems and applications hosted by our vendors, and our inability to implement new technology systems and infrastructure could cause disruptions to our ability to operate effectively.

We are dependent on the proper functioning of information systems used to operate our business, including those applications hosted by our vendors. Critical information systems used in daily operations identify and match staffing resources and customer assignments and perform billing and accounts receivable functions. Additionally, we rely on our information systems in managing our accounting and financial reporting. These systems are subject to certain risks, including technological obsolescence. We continue to evaluate the technology platforms of our businesses, and have successfully replaced the legacy nurse and allied applicant tracking system, which accounts for a significant portion of our business. If our proprietary systems of SaaS applications fail, are not successfully implemented, or are otherwise unable to function in a manner that properly supports our business operations, or if these systems require significant costs to repair, maintain, or further develop or update, we could experience business interruptions or delays that could materially and adversely affect our business and financial results. In addition, our information systems are protected through a secure hosting facility and additional backup remote processing capabilities also exist in the event our primary systems fail or are not accessible. However, our business is still vulnerable to fire, storm, flood, power loss, telecommunications failures, physical or software break-ins and similar events which may prevent personnel from gaining access to systems necessary to perform their tasks in an automated fashion. In the event that critical information systems fail or are otherwise unavailable, these functions would have to be accomplished manually, which could impact our ability to, among other things, maintain billing and clinical records reliably, bill for services efficiently, and maintain our accounting and financial reporting accurately.

Technology - Risk 2

Social, ethical, and security issues relating to the use of artificial intelligence (AI) may result in reputational harm and liability.

Many of our business operations and support activities are performed by a predominantly remote workforce. Should any of these employees utilize non-approved AI, this could result in reputational harm to the Company and have an adverse effect on its operations. In addition, we may incorporate traditional and generative AI solutions into our information systems and products which may become important in our operations over time. The ever-increasing use and evolution of technology, including AI, creates opportunities for the potential loss or misuse of personal data that we collected or used to run our business. There is also a risk that we may not have access to the technology and qualified AI personnel resources to adequately incorporate advancements into our AI initiatives. The rapid evolution of AI, including potential government regulations, will require significant resources to develop, test and maintain our platforms to help us implement AI responsibly. This may result in significantly increased business and security costs, administrative penalties, or costs related to defending legal claims.

See a full breakdown of risk according to category and subcategory. The list starts with the category with the most risk. Click on subcategories to read relevant extracts from the most recent report.

FAQ

What are “Risk Factors”?

Risk factors are any situations or occurrences that could make investing in a company risky.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) requires that publicly traded companies disclose their most significant risk factors. This is so that potential investors can consider any risks before they make an investment.

They also offer companies protection, as a company can use risk factors as liability protection. This could happen if a company underperforms and investors take legal action as a result.

It is worth noting that smaller companies, that is those with a public float of under $75 million on the last business day, do not have to include risk factors in their 10-K and 10-Q forms, although some may choose to do so.

How do companies disclose their risk factors?

Publicly traded companies initially disclose their risk factors to the SEC through their S-1 filings as part of the IPO process.

Additionally, companies must provide a complete list of risk factors in their Annual Reports (Form 10-K) or (Form 20-F) for “foreign private issuers”.

Quarterly Reports also include a section on risk factors (Form 10-Q) where companies are only required to update any changes since the previous report.

According to the SEC, risk factors should be reported concisely, logically and in “plain English” so investors can understand them.

How can I use TipRanks risk factors in my stock research?

Use the Risk Factors tab to get data about the risk factors of any company in which you are considering investing.

You can easily see the most significant risks a company is facing. Additionally, you can find out which risk factors a company has added, removed or adjusted since its previous disclosure. You can also see how a company’s risk factors compare to others in its sector.

Without reading company reports or participating in conference calls, you would most likely not have access to this sort of information, which is usually not included in press releases or other public announcements.

A simplified analysis of risk factors is unique to TipRanks.

What are all the risk factor categories?

TipRanks has identified 6 major categories of risk factors and a number of subcategories for each. You can see how these categories are broken down in the list below.

1. Financial & Corporate

Accounting & Financial Operations - risks related to accounting loss, value of intangible assets, financial statements, value of intangible assets, financial reporting, estimates, guidance, company profitability, dividends, fluctuating results.
Share Price & Shareholder Rights – risks related to things that impact share prices and the rights of shareholders, including analyst ratings, major shareholder activity, trade volatility, liquidity of shares, anti-takeover provisions, international listing, dual listing.
Debt & Financing – risks related to debt, funding, financing and interest rates, financial investments.
Corporate Activity and Growth – risks related to restructuring, M&As, joint ventures, execution of corporate strategy, strategic alliances.

2. Legal & Regulatory

Litigation and Legal Liabilities – risks related to litigation/ lawsuits against the company.
Regulation – risks related to compliance, GDPR, and new legislation.
Environmental / Social – risks related to environmental regulation and to data privacy.
Taxation & Government Incentives – risks related to taxation and changes in government incentives.

3. Production

Costs – risks related to costs of production including commodity prices, future contracts, inventory.
Supply Chain – risks related to the company’s suppliers.
Manufacturing – risks related to the company’s manufacturing process including product quality and product recalls.
Human Capital – risks related to recruitment, training and retention of key employees, employee relationships & unions labor disputes, pension, and post retirement benefits, medical, health and welfare benefits, employee misconduct, employee litigation.

4. Technology & Innovation

Innovation / R&D – risks related to innovation and new product development.
Technology – risks related to the company’s reliance on technology.
Cyber Security – risks related to securing the company’s digital assets and from cyber attacks.
Trade Secrets & Patents – risks related to the company’s ability to protect its intellectual property and to infringement claims against the company as well as piracy and unlicensed copying.

5. Ability to Sell

Demand – risks related to the demand of the company’s goods and services including seasonality, reliance on key customers.
Competition – risks related to the company’s competition including substitutes.
Sales & Marketing – risks related to sales, marketing, and distribution channels, pricing, and market penetration.
Brand & Reputation – risks related to the company’s brand and reputation.

6. Macro & Political

Economy & Political Environment – risks related to changes in economic and political conditions.
Natural and Human Disruptions – risks related to catastrophes, floods, storms, terror, earthquakes, coronavirus pandemic/COVID-19.
International Operations – risks related to the global nature of the company.
Capital Markets – risks related to exchange rates and trade, cryptocurrency.

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