Go Symbol Lookup
Loading...

The Better Read on US Employment?

 Text Size  
Published: Friday, 4 Feb 2011 | 7:16 PM ET
By:

Producer

Help Wanted?
Cramer gives his take on whether the economy is on right track, with the Roy Krause, SFN Group president/CEO.

The most accurate read on U.S. employment, Cramer said Friday, comes from staffing and outsourcing companies, like SFN Group.

On Wednesday, the Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-based company delivered 17 cents of earnings per share, which is a 4 cent beat. Its revenues were up 20.4 percent year-over-year and up 16 percent organically, which was stronger-than-expected. In addition, its gross margins increased by 213 basis points to 22.2 percent. For SFN Group to produce these results, companies must have been hiring.

Apart from what seems to be improving U.S. employment, Cramer said SFN Group is changing the way it does business. It's shifting from clerical and light industrial staffing to more professional temporary staff jobs, like information technology, finance, accounting, legal and engineering. These professional jobs carry lighter margins and experience faster growth, Cramer said.

Today, 50 percent of SFN's business is professional temp jobs, but it hopes to increase the number by 10 percent. Cramer likes the move because he thinks it will enhance the price-to-earnings multiple. In other words, people are more likely to pay more for the future of earnings on a professional staffing company rather than a staffing company that mainly deals with clerical staffing jobs. Robert Half International , a professional staffing pure play, sells for 35 times earnings while Kelly Services , largely a clerical staffing company, sells for 20 times earnings.

Cramer thinks SFN is a buy, but to learn more about the company's future, he invited CEO Roy Krause onto "Mad Money." Watch the video to see the full interview.

Call Cramer: 1-800-743-CNBC

Questions for Cramer? madmoney@cnbc.com

Questions, comments, suggestions for the Mad Money website? madcap@cnbc.com

 Print
Forget government reports, Cramer said. Staffing companies provide a far better picture of the job situation.
  Price   Change %Change
KELYA ---
RHI ---
SAFT ---

   
Comments

 

More Comments

 
 

Add Comments

 

Your Comments (Up to 1100 characters):

Remaining characters

Your comments have not been posted yet.

Please review your submission to make sure you are comfortable with your entry.

Your Comments:


                
            
            
        

Featured

Contact Mad Money

  • Showtimes

    Monday - Friday 6p | 11p ET
  • Cramer is host of CNBC's "Mad Money," and co-anchor of the 9 a.m. ET hour of CNBC's "Squawk on the Street."

Mad Money Features

  • Grab the latest CNBC gear from the NBCUniversal Store!

  • Get a behind-the-scenes look at how Cramer formulates his investment advice. "Inside the Madness" is a column, which features e-mails and more with Cramer and his researcher Nicole Urken.

  • You’ve always wanted to hit the “Hallelujah!” button. Here’s your chance.