Charles River Associates CRAI
- Market cap
- $1.0B
- P/E
- 21.4×
Follow CRAI
Target Price Range
Analyst price targets
Free account| 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | 2027 | 2028 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16.25 | 31.77 | 39.23 | 34.24 | 21.96 | 49.43 | 78.35 | 81.29 | 97.31 | 152.57 |
Analyst estimates 2026–2028 Powerpack |
Low Price
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| 37.48 | 47.30 | 58.75 | 56.04 | 58.19 | 116.71 | 125.80 | 128.10 | 210.70 | 215.03 |
High Price
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| 540 | 631 | 687 | 779 | 831 | 861 | 939 | 1,004 | 946 | 959 |
Employees
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| 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Revenue/Emp
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| 325 | 370 | 418 | 451 | 508 | 566 | 591 | 624 | 687 | 752 |
Revenue
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| 29.99% | 30.06% | 30.76% | 29.60% | 27.08% | 29.31% | 30.60% | 29.52% | 30.18% | 30.91% |
Gross Margin
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| 22 | 15 | 29 | 27 | 34 | 54 | 59 | 52 | 66 | 77 |
EBT
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| 6.74% | 4.10% | 6.93% | 5.94% | 6.61% | 9.59% | 9.95% | 8.38% | 9.64% | 10.19% |
EBT Margin
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| 14 | 8 | 22 | 21 | 25 | 42 | 44 | 38 | 47 | 55 |
Net Income
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| 8 | 9 | 10 | 21 | 25 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 27 | 30 |
Depreciation
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| 38.20 | 44.63 | 51.52 | 57.38 | 65.44 | 76.24 | 81.86 | 89.04 | 100.78 | 113.17 |
Revenue/Sh
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| 1.50 | 0.91 | 2.76 | 2.63 | 3.14 | 5.59 | 6.02 | 5.48 | 6.82 | 8.23 |
Earnings/Sh
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| 5.66 | 5.53 | 4.46 | 3.54 | 7.04 | 10.20 | 3.48 | 8.57 | 7.29 | 3.38 |
Cash Flow/Sh
|
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| (1.53) | (1.18) | (1.91) | (2.12) | (2.20) | (0.35) | (0.53) | (0.34) | (2.44) | (0.58) |
Capex/Sh
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| 4.13 | 4.35 | 2.56 | 1.42 | 4.84 | 9.84 | 2.95 | 8.23 | 4.85 | 2.79 |
Free CF/Sh
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| 24.45 | 24.99 | 24.23 | 25.14 | 26.91 | 27.73 | 29.25 | 30.27 | 31.09 | 32.16 |
Book Value/Sh
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| 9 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 |
Shares
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| 24.07 | 49.79 | 15.42 | 20.71 | 16.17 | 16.70 | 20.46 | 18.09 | 27.45 | 24.45 |
PE Ratio
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| 0.95 | 1.02 | 0.83 | 0.95 | 0.78 | 1.22 | 1.50 | 1.11 | 1.86 | 1.77 |
PS Ratio
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| 1.49 | 1.81 | 1.76 | 2.17 | 1.89 | 3.37 | 4.21 | 3.28 | 6.02 | 6.24 |
PB Ratio
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| 0.79 | 0.89 | 0.75 | 1.25 | 0.99 | 1.35 | 1.66 | 1.24 | 2.04 | 1.92 |
EV/Sales
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| 7.30 | 9.10 | 15.09 | 50.47 | 13.39 | 10.48 | 45.96 | 13.46 | 42.45 | 77.82 |
EV/FCF
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| 48 | 46 | 36 | 28 | 55 | 76 | 25 | 60 | 50 | 22 |
Op' Cash Flow
|
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| (13) | (10) | (15) | (17) | (17) | (3) | (4) | (2) | (17) | (4) |
Capex
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| 35 | 36 | 21 | 11 | 38 | 73 | 21 | 58 | 33 | 19 |
FCF
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| 76 | 62 | 39 | 13 | 20 | 36 | 32 | 29 | 18 | (27) |
Working Cap'
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| — | — | — | 13 | 14 | 14 | 16 | — | — | 34 |
Total Debt
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| (54) | (54) | (38) | (13) | (32) | (52) | (15) | (46) | (27) | 16 |
Net Debt
|
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| 208 | 207 | 196 | 198 | 209 | 206 | 211 | 212 | 212 | 214 |
Sh' Equity
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| 4.04% | 2.22% | 6.14% | 4.58% | 4.47% | 7.48% | 7.86% | 6.95% | 8.27% | 9.11% |
ROA
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| 7.66% | 6.43% | 11.41% | 9.92% | 12.29% | 22.62% | 18.76% | 21.60% | 23.86% | 22.65% |
ROIC
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| 6.15% | 3.67% | 11.14% | 10.50% | 12.00% | 20.09% | 20.84% | 18.12% | 21.94% | 25.69% |
ROE
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Charles River Associates peers in Consulting Services
| Company | Market cap | P/E | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|
| ICFI ICF International, Inc. | $1.5B | 17.2× | Compare |
| ROMA Roma Green Finance Limited | $517.4M | — | Compare |
| SBC SBC Medical Group Holdings Incorporated | $488.5M | 10.4× | Compare |
| HURN Huron Consulting Group Inc. | $2.5B | 23.2× | Compare |
| Company | Market cap | P/E | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|
| FCN FTI Consulting, Inc. | $3.6B | 16.1× | Compare |
| FORR Forrester Research, Inc. | $220.3M | 0.0× | Compare |
| LAWR Robot Consulting Co., Ltd. | $172.4M | — | Compare |
| RGP Resources Connection, Inc. | $130.1M | 0.0× | Compare |
Charles River Associates (CRAI) key facts
- Charles River Associates (CRAI) is a Consulting Services company in the Industrials sector, listed on Nasdaq.
- Charles River Associates' revenue for fiscal 2025 (year ended December 2025) was $751.6 million, up 9.33% from fiscal 2024.
- Net income was $54.8 million, or $8.23 per share (basic), a net margin of 7.28%.
- As of September 25, 2026, CRAI traded at $162.07, a market capitalization of $1.0 billion.
- At that price the stock trades at 21.4× trailing-twelve-month earnings and 1.3× sales.
- Charles River Associates pays an annual dividend of $1.44 per share, a yield of 1.38%, with a payout ratio of 25.8%.
- Return on equity was 25.7% and debt-to-equity 1.20.
Charles River Associates (CRAI) Latest News
23 Sep
Independent analysis by Charles River Associates, commissioned by Veolia for National Pollution Prevention Week, shows hazardous waste management as a critical input to US production and growth. The report warns that a 1% shortfall in capacity could shave about $27 billion from 2033 real gross output, rising to roughly $82 billion with a 3% shortfall, over the next decade. It notes most goods and services rely on proper waste management, with the United States generating over 30 million tons annually (about 200 pounds per person) and projected growth to 35 million tons by 2033 due to reshoring and expansion in semiconductors and batteries. Veolia—a leading hazardous-waste player after acquiring Clean Earth in June 2026—says capacity and technology are essential to sustain economic growth and public health. CRA Associate Principal Alan Jaske emphasizes how ubiquitous hazardous waste management is across industries. Commissioned analysis by CRA could enhance credibility and consulting opportunities for CRA without altering its core operations, yielding a moderate positive impact.
StockStory flags three low-volatility stocks that it believes may underperform during bull markets: Alarm.com (ALRM), CRA International (CRAI), and NOV. CRAI shows a rolling one-year beta of 0.32 with a smaller revenue base of about $794.6 million and an estimated 1.8% sales rise in the next 12 months. Free cash flow margin has declined by roughly 8.7 percentage points over the last five years, suggesting weaker capital efficiency. The stock trades around $158.47 with a forward P/E of 17.9x. The piece cautions that scale, growth, and cash-flow dynamics limit CRAI’s upside and points readers to a free full report for more details. Concerns about CRAI's small revenue base, slow growth, and declining free cash flow margin could moderately dent sentiment and near-term performance.
16 Sep
Charles River Associates (CRAI) draws on advisory expertise and specialized talent to withstand intense market competition. CRAI's emphasis on expertise and talent supports competitive positioning with moderate effects on operations and sentiment.
15 Aug
Charles River Associates Q2 earnings call covered top analyst questions on company performance and outlook. Q2 earnings call questions can shape short-term investor views on operations and strategy.
13 Aug
CRA International held its Q2 2026 earnings call, covering quarterly financial results and performance outlook. Quarterly earnings disclosures typically affect near-term stock valuation and sentiment without guaranteeing long-term trajectory shifts.
11 Aug
Charles River Associates shares rose 20% over three months as demand broadened across key practices. Broadening demand across practices supports sustained revenue growth for Charles River Associates.
CRAI stock faces evaluation on purchase worthiness amid growth weighed against margin pressures and leverage risks. CRAI growth assessment versus margin and leverage risks can moderately shift investor sentiment and stock trajectory.
10 Aug
CRAI posts broad-based practice growth in Q2 with persistent demand supporting an improved outlook. Q2 growth across practices and sustained demand strengthen CRAI's trajectory and investor outlook.
6 Aug
Charles River Associates (NASDAQ:CRAI) posted bullish Q2 CY2026 results, reflecting stronger-than-expected financial performance and positive momentum for the firm. Bullish quarterly results typically drive notable shifts in revenue outlook, investor sentiment, and near-term stock trajectory for CRA.
CRA International, Inc. held its Q2 2026 earnings call covering financial results, operational updates and forward outlook for the firm. Earnings call details on quarterly results and guidance can moderately affect near-term investor sentiment and valuation.
CRAI held Q2 earnings call highlighting financial results, operational updates and outlook. Quarterly earnings details can shift short-term sentiment and valuation without major strategic shifts.
Charles River Associates reported financial results for the second quarter of 2026. Quarterly earnings results supply performance data that shape near-term investor views and valuation.
27 Jul
CRA International (CRAI) appears undervalued and attractive to investors due to prevailing market misconceptions about the company. Analyst view of undervaluation may lift short-term investor sentiment and share price without altering core operations.
17 Jul
CRA International assumes new Bria-IMT role that may strengthen its healthcare competitive moat and pricing power. New Bria-IMT role positions CRA International to materially expand healthcare moat and pricing power.
5 Jun
Charles River Associates (CRAI) is singled out as the profitable stock with promising prospects while two other stocks face challenges. CRAI highlighted for promising prospects can moderately lift investor sentiment and near-term share performance.
27 May
CRA International Inc reported another record quarter. Record quarterly results indicate sustained revenue growth and stronger financial positioning.
15 May
CRA International (NASDAQ:CRAI) reports earnings troubles that may signal larger underlying issues, raising concerns for shareholders. Earnings shortfalls indicate potential systemic problems threatening CRAI's financial health and investor confidence.
14 May
CRAI posted strong Q1 revenue growth, offset by margin compression and escalating cost headwinds. Strong revenue growth boosts top-line performance, but margin compression and cost pressures limit profitability gains.
9 May
CRA International, Inc. missed EPS estimates by 15%, prompting analysts to revise forecasts downward. EPS miss of 15% combined with analyst forecast cuts will significantly pressure stock performance and future valuation.
8 May
CRA International, Inc. (CRAI) released Q1 2026 earnings call summary highlighting financial results, revenue growth, profitability metrics, and forward guidance amid stable market conditions. Q1 2026 earnings summary discloses financial performance and guidance capable of significantly shifting investor sentiment and stock trajectory.
7 May
Charles River Associates (CRAI) released Q1 earnings call highlights, covering financial results, revenue growth, key client wins, and forward-looking guidance. Q1 earnings highlights reveal financial performance and strategic outlook that significantly shape investor expectations and stock trajectory.
Charles River Associates (NASDAQ:CRAI) reported Q1 CY2026 results, beating revenue expectations. Q1 revenue beat signals strong financial performance, likely boosting stock price and investor sentiment significantly.
Charles River Associates (CRA) reported financial results for the first quarter of 2026. Quarterly financial results disclosure significantly influences market performance and investor sentiment.
CRA International (CRAI) Q1 earnings missed estimates. Q1 earnings miss affects financial performance and investor sentiment moderately but is unlikely to fundamentally alter long-term trajectory.
5 May
Charles River Associates (CRAI) named one of Wall Street's favorite stocks for its competitive advantages, while two others are turned down. Wall Street's favorable endorsement of CRAI's competitive advantages is expected to moderately boost investor sentiment and market performance.
30 Apr
CRA International (CRAI) is expected to beat earnings estimates, with analysts questioning if this will drive the stock higher amid positive consensus. Expected earnings beat signals potential uplift in financial performance and investor sentiment, but limited by pre-earnings uncertainty.
1 Apr
Charles River Associates (CRAI) stock showcases niche consulting strengths amid ongoing industry challenges. Niche consulting advantages offer moderate buffer against industry headwinds, influencing financials and positioning without major shifts.
19 Mar
Charles River Associates (CRAI) celebrates 60 years in business, defends against fears of AI disruption in consulting, and projects 2026 revenue of $785M-$805M. Multi-year revenue guidance of $785M-$805M signals strong growth outlook, significantly boosting investor sentiment and stock trajectory.
Charles River Associates (CRAI) Q4 earnings deliver highs and lows compared to peers in the Business Process Outsourcing & Consulting stocks sector. Q4 earnings comparison to sector peers influences financial performance perception and short-term market sentiment.
8 Mar
CRA International (CRAI) issued a 2026 revenue outlook and dividend adjustment, potentially reshaping its investment narrative amid positive market reactions. CRAI's long-term 2026 revenue guidance and dividend move constitute major strategic updates likely to significantly impact valuation and investor sentiment.