An Outperformer: A glimpse at the company's price trend reveals that the stock has had an impressive run over the year. Shares of Charles River Associates have returned 77.5% compared with the 10.8% growth of the industry it belongs to and the 26.6% decline of the Zacks S&P 500 composite. Solid Zacks Rank: CRAI currently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). Our research shows that stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 or 2 (Buy) offer attractive investment opportunities for investors. You can see the complete list of ...

CRA International, Inc. (CRAI) reported impressive first-quarter 2024 results, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate on both counts. The better-than-expected results impressed investors as the stock has gained 6.6% since the earnings release on May 2.CRAI’s adjusted EPS came in at $1.96, which surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 41% and increased 51.9% year over year. Revenues of $171.8 million beat the consensus mark by 6.9% and increased 12.4% from the year-ago quarter.Other Quarterly DetailsThe c ...

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Revenue increased by 12.4% to $171.8 million, marking the highest quarterly revenue in the company's history [4] - Non-GAAP net income, earnings per diluted share, and EBITDA grew year-over-year by 48%, 52%, and 34%, respectively [4][13] - Non-GAAP selling, general and administrative expenses were 15.6% of revenue, down from 16.2% a year ago [16] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Eight out of eleven practices experienced year-over-year growth, with legal and regulatory services leading at a 16% revenue increase [27] - The Antitrust & Competition Economics practice achieved record quarterly revenue, driven by high-profile mergers and ongoing antitrust services [28][62] - The Energy practice continued to support clients in transitioning away from fossil fuels and managing reliability risks [8] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - New project originations grew by more than 10% compared to Q1 2023 [5] - The project lead flow increased by 3% year-over-year, consistent with broader legal market trends [27] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on maintaining strong performance while being mindful of macroeconomic uncertainties [13] - There is a cautious approach to adding headcount, aiming to improve utilization rates closer to historical norms [45] - The company continues to see a healthy flow of opportunities and is viewed as an attractive destination for top talent [51][66] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management noted that macroeconomic uncertainties remain prevalent, but there has been no internal decline in demand [42][60] - The company is reaffirming its full-year financial guidance, awaiting another quarter of performance before making updates [13][60] - There is optimism about the demand drivers across practices, although caution is exercised due to broader market conditions [48][65] Other Important Information - The company ended the quarter with $37.1 million in cash and $70 million in borrowings, resulting in net debt of $32.9 million [14] - A total of $12.3 million was returned to shareholders, including $3.1 million in dividends and $9.2 million in share repurchases [37] - Days Sales Outstanding (DSO) was 106 days, slightly up from 105 days in the previous quarter [58] Q&A Session Summary Question: Guidance maintenance after strong quarter - Management indicated that maintaining guidance reflects broader market uncertainties rather than internal performance issues [41][60] Question: Talent acquisition and headcount additions - The company is cautiously adding headcount to support strong performance while aiming to improve utilization rates [45] Question: Demand drivers and visibility - Management observed consistent demand drivers across practices, with no significant deterioration noted [48][62] Question: Antitrust and M&A activity - The Antitrust & Competition Economics practice continues to perform well, with growth driven by non-merger antitrust services [62] Question: Consultant retention and hiring plans - Attrition rates are approaching normal levels, allowing for a conservative approach to hiring while still attracting top talent [67]

CRA International (CRAI) came out with quarterly earnings of $1.96 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.39 per share. This compares to earnings of $1.29 per share a year ago. These figures are adjusted for non-recurring items.This quarterly report represents an earnings surprise of 41.01%. A quarter ago, it was expected that this consulting firm would post earnings of $1.10 per share when it actually produced earnings of $1.63, delivering a surprise of 48.18%.Over the last four quarters, th ...

• Effective tax rate and non-GAAP effective tax rate: 28.0% Revenue For Q1 of fiscal 2024, revenue was $171.8 million, compared with revenue of $152.8 million for Q1 of fiscal 2023. Utilization Selling, General and Administrative (SG&A) Expenses Depreciation & Amortization For Q1 of fiscal 2024, share-based compensation expense was approximately $1.0 million, or 0.6% of revenue, compared with $0.9 million, or 0.6% of revenue, for Q1 of fiscal 2023. CHARLES RIVER ASSOCIATES (CRA) FIRST QUARTER FISCAL YEAR 20 ...

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CRA International (CRAI) is expected to deliver a year-over-year increase in earnings on higher revenues when it reports results for the quarter ended March 2024. This widely-known consensus outlook gives a good sense of the company's earnings picture, but how the actual results compare to these estimates is a powerful factor that could impact its near-term stock price.The earnings report, which is expected to be released on May 2, 2024, might help the stock move higher if these key numbers are better than ...

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