CRA International Inc logo

CRA International Inc(CRAI)

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EXPLORE ADVISORIES AND THEIR HISTORY
QUALITY SIGNAL RECENCY
1-STAR RATING
Consider higher Upturn Star rating
BUY for 11 days
PROFIT SINCE LAST BUY
+13.25% ▲
LAST CLOSE
$200.14
10/23/2026
(24-hour delay)

Advisory History & Simulated Performance *

*as per simulation (see disclosures)
  • ALL
  • 1Y
  • 1M
  • 1W
  • BUY Advisory
  • SELL Advisory (Profit)
  • SELL Advisory (Loss)
  • Profit
  • Loss
  • PASS (Skip)
Upturn Stock price based on last close iconStock price based on last close
Simulated performance—not actual client returns. Excludes advisory subscription fees, trading commissions, and taxes, which would reduce returns. Results depend on calculation assumptions and do not guarantee future outcomes. See Disclosures for full methodology, assumptions, and limitations.

Advisory Performance History (Simulated)Advisory Performance History info

Simulated performance—not actual client returns. Excludes advisory subscription fees, trading commissions, and taxes, which would reduce returns. Results depend on calculation assumptions and do not guarantee future outcomes. See Disclosures for full methodology, assumptions, and limitations.

Upturn Advisory & Investor View for CRAI

10/23/2026: CRAI (1-star) has a low Upturn Star Rating. Not recommended to BUY.

CRA International is a professional services firm that specializes in providing high-end economic and financial consulting to legal, corporate, and government clients. The company has a stable business model, with a strong reputation for intellectual rigor that allows it to maintain consistent margins and provide reliable shareholder dividends. Its primary growth opportunity lies in integrating advanced data analytics into its core litigation and regulatory advisory services. Key risks include the competitive landscape for specialized talent and sensitivity to changes in the legal and regulatory environment. The stock is a solid fit for value and dividend-focused investors seeking long-term exposure to the specialized consulting sector.

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 rarely explosive given the professional services business model.
Momentum investorWeak fitThe stock tends to trade based on long-term fundamental performance rather than short-term price momentum.
Value investorStrong fitOften trades at reasonable valuations relative to its consistent cash flow and high-margin service offerings.
Dividend investorStrong fitThe company offers a consistent dividend and maintains a sustainable payout ratio supported by cash-generative operations.
Low-risk investorMixed fitWhile operations are stable, the stock can experience volatility tied to broader market conditions and project-based revenue cycles.

Risk Profile

Risk factorLevelWhy it matters
Price volatilityMediumThe stock can react to market-wide sell-offs or specific industry news impacting consulting demand.
Valuation riskMediumInvestors must be careful not to overpay during periods of high market optimism regarding professional services.
Competition risk (consulting talent)HighThe ability to attract and retain high-level experts is central to the firm's competitive advantage.
Business qualityStrongCRA has a high-quality reputation and a business model that produces consistent professional service margins.
Dividend incomeMediumDividends are reliable but not intended for high-yield income investors.
Execution riskMediumSuccess depends on the integration of experts and the ability to maintain the brand reputation across global offices.

Price Behavior

Steady Uptrend
PRICE PATH

Steady Uptrend

The stock demonstrates consistent and steady upward price momentum.

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 42.82%
Avg. Invested days 39
Today’s Advisory Consider higher Upturn Star rating
Upturn Advisory Rating upturn star rating icon
Upturn Advisory Performance Upturn Advisory Performance icon 3.0
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 10/23/2026

Upturn Scorecard

Upturn Star Rating

★★★★★
CRAI receives a 3-star rating, supported by solid quantitative characteristics. 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). Liquidity 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 95.4% 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 10.24%
FMR Inc 7.49%
Vanguard Capital Management, LLC 4.42%
Two Sigma Investments LLC 4.17%
Needham Investment Management, LLC 3.43%

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. Soft margins explain the 2-star rating, with weak cash conversion and solid capital efficiency.

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 1.26B USD
Price to earnings Ratio 26.69
1Y Target Price 250.5
Price to earnings Ratio 26.69
1Y Target Price 250.5
Volume (30-day avg) 125.3K shares
Beta 0.69
52 Weeks Range 131.22 - 224.92
Updated Date 10/24/2026
52 Weeks Range 131.22 - 224.92
Updated Date 10/24/2026
Dividends yield (FY) 1.09%
Basic EPS (TTM) 7.5

How Company Makes Money

Business areaWhat it includesRetail investor read
Litigation and RegulatoryExpert testimony, antitrust analysis, and economic damages litigation.The firm gets paid high fees for providing expert witnesses and data-driven analysis to legal teams in high-stakes disputes.
Management ConsultingStrategic advisory, operational improvement, and business transformation services.CRA helps businesses improve performance and strategy, earning revenue through ongoing consulting retainers and projects.
GeographyOperations primarily in North America, with expanding reach in Europe and the Middle East.The company is largely US-centric but has successfully expanded its footprint into international markets to capture global regulatory work.

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 26.69
Forward PE 17.42
Enterprise Value 1.33B
Price to Sales(TTM) 1.58
Enterprise Value 1.33B
Price to Sales(TTM) 1.58
Enterprise Value to Revenue 1.67
Enterprise Value to EBITDA 12.24
Shares Outstanding 6.28M
Shares Floating 6.04M
Shares Outstanding 6.28M
Shares Floating 6.04M
Percent Insiders 3.74
Percent Institutions 95.45

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.

Form CRS provides a relationship summary of our automated advisory services, flat subscription fees, and conflicts of interest. Form ADV Part 2A brochure contains complete details on services, billing, and disclosures. If any summary differs from our current regulatory filings, the filed Form ADV controls.