CRA International Inc logo

CRA International Inc(CRAI)

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ADVISORIES YOU CAN VERIFY
QUALITY SIGNAL
1-STAR RATING
PASS
LAST CLOSE
$162.07
09/25/2026
(24-hour delay)

Advisory History & Simulated Performance *

*as per simulation (see disclosures)
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Advisory Performance History (Simulated)Advisory Performance History info

Upturn Advisory & Investor View for CRAI

09/25/2026: CRAI (1-star) is currently NOT-A-BUY. Pass it for now.

CRA International is a specialized global consulting firm providing high-level economic and management advisory services, primarily serving legal firms and major corporations. The company has a leading position in litigation support and regulatory economics, which are characterized by high barriers to entry and resilient demand. Its primary growth opportunity lies in leveraging its deep intellectual capital to expand into digital analytics and high-margin strategic advisory roles. Investors should monitor risks related to the company’s dependence on specialized talent, revenue concentration in large projects, and competitive pricing pressures. Overall, CRAI may suit investors seeking a stable, expert-led business model with a history of consistent, though not explosive, growth and shareholder returns.

How to Read the Upturn Advisory

The Upturn Star Rating and the current BUY, SELL, or PASS advisory are generated by Upturn’s AI advisory engine based on proprietary signal analysis, price behavior, advisory history, and historical signal performance.

Company fundamentals, valuation, risks, and news provide supporting context about the business.

Investor Fit

Investor styleFitWhy
Growth investorMixed fitGrowth is steady and reliable but generally lacks the aggressive exponential profile sought by pure growth investors.
Momentum investorStrong fit while signal remains positiveMomentum investors may find opportunity during periods of strong sector performance or positive news cycles.
Value investorMixed fitValuation is often tied to intellectual capital, making traditional P/E comparisons for value-seeking investors more complex.
Dividend investorStrong fitThe company has a consistent history of dividends, making it attractive for those seeking reliable income.
Low-risk investorStrong fitThe business model is built on high-barrier-to-entry professional services, offering more stability than cyclical industries.

Risk Profile

Risk factorLevelWhy it matters
Price volatilityMediumThe stock can experience moderate fluctuations based on earnings reports and broader market sentiment.
Valuation riskMediumMarket pricing of consulting firms depends heavily on growth expectations and talent retention.
Competition risk (Professional Services)Medium / highIntense competition for top-tier talent and large-scale client engagements impacts margins.
Business qualityStrongCRAI possesses a long-standing reputation and a high-margin, specialized business model.
Dividend incomeLowDividends are reliable, but the yield may not satisfy those seeking high income-focused investments.
Execution riskMediumSuccessful performance depends on the ability to attract, retain, and integrate expert consultants.

Price Behavior

Downtrend
PRICE PATH

Downtrend

The stock has experienced a sustained decline in price over recent periods.

Moderately Choppy
PRICE STABILITY

Moderately Choppy

The stock has experienced noticeable price swings while retaining some directional structure.

Analysis of Past Performance

Type Stock
Historic Profit 26.12%
Avg. Invested days 43
Today’s Advisory PASS
Upturn Advisory Rating upturn star rating icon
Upturn Advisory Performance Upturn Advisory Performance icon 2.0
Stock Returns Performance Upturn Returns Performance icon 3.0
Upturn Profits based on simulation icon Profits based on simulation
Upturn last close icon Last Close 09/25/2026

Upturn Scorecard

Upturn Star Rating

★★★★★
CRAI receives a 3-star rating, supported by available scored pillars. The rating is constrained by soft unit economics, and weak price momentum.

Company Fundamentals

★★★★★
CRAI has moderate overall fundamentals (3 stars), with moderate financial health, moderate growth momentum, and solid ownership. In FY2025 versus FY2024, solid earnings growth (+17.4%) is partially offset by soft cash generation (FCF margin 2.5%), moderate revenue growth (+9.3%), soft profitability (net margin 7.3%).

Financial Health Rating

★★★★★
CRAI's financial health is supported by solid cash strength, including free-cash-flow generation (2.5% of revenue). Profitability is moderate (3 stars), which helps explain the 3-star overall score.

Growth Momentum Score

★★★★★
Earnings growth is CRAI's strongest growth driver at +17.4% FY2025 versus FY2024 (solid, 4 stars). By comparison, while free-cash-flow growth (-44.0%, negative) holds the profile back, so recent growth is not broad-based across the business.

Ownership

★★★★★
Institutional ownership is 95.5% and approximately 96.3% of outstanding shares are publicly tradable, supporting liquidity and institutional participation. Insider ownership of 3.74% provides only moderate management-shareholder alignment.

Top 5 Institutional Investors

BlackRock Inc 9.46%
FMR Inc 9.08%
Neuberger Berman Group LLC 6.00%
Vanguard Capital Management, LLC 4.41%
Two Sigma Investments LLC 4.17%

Unit Economics (Per $1K Revenue)

★★★★★
CRAI generates approximately $290 of gross profit, $111 of operating income, and $25 of free cash flow for every $1,000 of revenue. Based on FY2025 results. Strong cash conversion and healthy margins support the rating, although capital efficiency remains below the highest tier.

Economic Dimensions

★★★★★
Effective Tax Rate: 28.46%

Quantitative Style Profile

★★★★★
CRAI has a high-quality, liquid, relatively low-volatility profile. Weak momentum is the primary drawback.

Style Classification

Quality Focused

Value-OrientedQuality TiltLow VolatilitySmall / Mid Cap RiskHighly Liquid / Institution-Friendly

Key Highlights

Company Size Small-Cap Stock
Market Capitalization 1.02B USD
Price to earnings Ratio 21.59
1Y Target Price 250.5
Price to earnings Ratio 21.59
1Y Target Price 250.5
Volume (30-day avg) 115.1K shares
Beta 0.64
52 Weeks Range 131.22 - 224.92
Updated Date 09/25/2026
52 Weeks Range 131.22 - 224.92
Updated Date 09/25/2026
Dividends yield (FY) 1.36%
Basic EPS (TTM) 7.53

How Company Makes Money

Business areaWhat it includesRetail investor read
Economic ConsultingExpert witness, litigation support, and regulatory advisory services.This is the core, high-margin driver of the business that benefits from complex legal environments.
Management ConsultingStrategy and operational advisory, particularly for life sciences and energy.This segment provides recurring strategic project revenue, complementing the more volatile litigation practice.

Analyzing Revenue: Products, Geography and Growth

Revenue by Products

Product revenue - Year on Year

Revenue by Geography

Geography revenue - Year on Year

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Valuation

Trailing PE 21.59
Forward PE 17.01
Enterprise Value 1.30B
Price to Sales(TTM) 1.28
Enterprise Value 1.30B
Price to Sales(TTM) 1.28
Enterprise Value to Revenue 1.64
Enterprise Value to EBITDA 12.01
Shares Outstanding 6.28M
Shares Floating 6.04M
Shares Outstanding 6.28M
Shares Floating 6.04M
Percent Insiders 3.74
Percent Institutions 95.49

Icon representing Upturn AI-generated SWOT analysis summary Upturn AI Summary

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Financial Metrics

🧭 Investment Snapshot

Total Revenue (Scale)

Information icon Total money earned from selling products or services before any costs. It is needed to understand the scale of the business and its ability to generate income.

Net Income (Profit)

Information icon Final profit after all expenses, interest, and taxes are deducted. It is needed to determine the overall profitability available to shareholders.

Free Cash Flow (Cash Strength)

Information icon Cash remaining after operating activities and capital expenditures, showing cash available for growth. It is needed to evaluate the company’s ability to invest, pay dividends, or reduce debt.

📈 Growth & Strength

Operating Income (Core Profit)

Information icon Profit from core operations after deducting all operating expenses. It is needed to measure how efficiently the company runs its primary business activities.

EBITDA (Cash Earnings)

Information icon Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization, indicating operating cash potential. It is needed to compare operating performance across companies without accounting or financing differences.

Gross Profit (Unit Profitability)

Information icon Revenue minus cost of revenue, showing profit after direct production costs. It is needed to evaluate core business profitability before overhead expenses.

🛡️ Financial Safety

Cash (Liquidity Buffer)

Information icon Total cash and cash equivalents on hand. It is needed to evaluate immediate liquidity and financial flexibility.

Total Debt (Leverage Risk)

Information icon Total debt including both short-term and long-term components. It is needed to assess the company’s leverage and financial risk.

Net Working Capital (Short-Term Health)

Information icon Current assets minus current liabilities, indicating short-term liquidity strength. It is needed to assess whether the company can meet its short-term obligations.

🧱 Balance Sheet Strength

Stockholder Equity (Net Worth)

Information icon Total equity value held by shareholders. It is needed to understand the net worth of the company from the owners’ perspective.

Total Assets (Asset Base)

Information icon The full value of everything the company owns, including cash, inventory, equipment, and investments. It is needed to understand the resource base used to generate revenue.

Income Before Tax (Pre-Tax Earnings)

Information icon Income before provision for income taxes. It is needed to analyze profitability independent of tax structures.

⚙️ Cost & Drag Factors

Cost of Revenue (Production Cost)

Information icon Direct costs required to produce and deliver the products or services sold. It is needed to assess efficiency in production and service delivery.

Total Operating Expenses (Operating Cost)

Information icon Indirect costs of running the business such as salaries, marketing, and administration. It is needed to understand how much it costs to sustain ongoing business operations.

Income Tax Expense (Tax Drag)

Information icon Amount of taxes paid or payable to the government. It is needed to evaluate the impact of taxation on overall profitability.

About CRA International Inc

Exchange NASDAQ
Headquarters Boston, MA, United States
IPO Launch date 1998-04-24
Chairman, President & CEO Mr. Paul A. Maleh
Sector Industrials
Industry Consulting Services
Full time employees 968
Full time employees 968

CRA International, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, provides economic, financial, and management consulting services worldwide. It advises clients on economic and financial matters pertaining to litigation and regulatory proceedings; and guide corporations through business strategy and performance-related issues. The company also offers consulting services, including research and analysis, expert testimony, and comprehensive support in litigation and regulatory proceedings in the areas of finance, accounting, economics, insurance, and forensic accounting and investigations to corporate clients and attorneys. In addition, it provides management consulting services, such as strategy development, performance improvement, corporate strategy and portfolio analysis, estimation of market demand, environmental, social and corporate governance and sustainability strategy and analysis, design and implementation of auction and bidding, new product pricing strategies, survey and market research, valuation of intellectual property and other assets, assessment of competitors' actions, and analysis of new sources of supply. The company serves various industries comprising blockchain and cryptocurrency; communications and media; consumer, health, and wellness products; energy; entertainment and leisure; financial services; healthcare; life sciences; manufacturing and industries; natural resources; retail and distribution; technology; and transportation. The company was incorporated in 1965 and is headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts.