Summary of CRA International Conference Call - September 17, 2025 Company Overview - CRA International (NasdaqGS: CRAI) is celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2025, founded in 1965 by professors from Harvard and MIT to provide academic quality research to the business world [1][2] - The company operates primarily in two segments: legal and regulatory (approximately 80% of revenue) and management consulting (approximately 20% of revenue) [2][5] - CRA has over 20 offices in 10 countries, with 80% of revenue coming from North America and 20% from international markets [3] Financial Performance - CRA has experienced consistent revenue growth of approximately 8% to 10% annually over the last 15 years [6] - Profitability has grown at an even faster rate, with no debt and operations fully financed through internal cash flow [7] - The company has returned nearly $200 million to shareholders over the past five years, reducing share count by 13% [13][14] - The average price of share repurchases over the last five years was $88, with current trading over $200, indicating strong intrinsic value [8] Shareholder Returns - CRA initiated a dividend in 2016, which has since tripled to $0.49 per share, contributing to an attractive shareholder yield of approximately 6% [15][16] - The company aims to maximize long-term value per share and has a history of effective capital redistribution [8][12] Market Position and Strategy - CRA has worked with 85 of the Fortune 100 companies and 98 of the top 100 law firms in the past two years, indicating strong client retention and repeat business [5][6] - The firm focuses on high-value services and has not expanded into subscription-based revenue models, believing that quality service provides resilience against economic shocks [21][22] - CRA differentiates itself from larger global firms and specialized boutiques by maintaining a focus on its core competencies at the intersection of economics and regulation [27][29] Industry Dynamics - The regulatory environment remains complex, creating opportunities for CRA to assist clients in navigating these challenges [19] - The company anticipates a potential increase in M&A activity as capital becomes cheaper, although there are other complicating factors in executing large deals [30][31] Key Challenges and Opportunities - CRA is adapting to changing client needs and expanding service depth while maintaining its core focus [19][21] - The firm has not experienced direct impacts from regulatory inquiries but is aware of potential budget reductions from regulatory bodies [24] - Pricing power remains strong, with annual price increases of 2% to 4% without significant pushback from clients [25][26] Conclusion - CRA International is well-positioned for continued growth, with a strong focus on quality service, effective capital management, and a commitment to shareholder returns, despite the complexities of the current regulatory and economic environment [17][31]