CRA International, Inc. (CRAI) AI Stock Analysis

NASDAQ: CRAIAI research summary: business, growth, valuation, analysts, bull and bear case.

CRAI AI stock analysis summary

AI Research

CRA International, Inc. (CRAI) is an economic, financial, and management consulting firm advising clients on litigation, regulatory, and corporate strategy issues. In FY2025, revenue reached $751.6M with net income of $54.8M, supported by an 8.1% five-year revenue CAGR. In the trailing twelve months, revenue reached $794.6M while return on equity stood at 26.0%.

Market cap
$1.12B
Revenue (TTM)
$794.6M
P/E
23.7x
fwd 17.0x
1Y return
-0.7%
S&P 500 16.8%
Avg. target
$250.50
40.7% vs last close

Bull case

  • Quarterly revenue growth accelerated to 12.8% year-over-year in the latest quarter ended June 30, 2026, outpacing the US-listed Industrials peer median of 9.1%.
  • The company's mean analyst price target of $250.50 implies upside of 40.7% from the last close of $178.09.
  • CRA International has reduced its share count by 15.2% over five years, supported by $47.1M deployed toward share buybacks in FY2025.

Bear case

  • The stock delivered a 1-year return of -0.7%, lagging the S&P 500 1-year return of 16.8%.
  • Free cash flow decreased to $18.6M in FY2025 from $33.1M in FY2024 and $73.1M in FY2021.
  • The company held $18.2M in cash against $194.2M in total debt as of June 30, 2026, creating net debt of $176.0M.

What CRA International does

Founded in 1965 and headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, CRA International, Inc. provides economic, financial, and management consulting services across the United States, the United Kingdom, and other international markets. The company advises clients on complex economic and financial issues related to litigation and regulatory proceedings, providing research, analysis, and expert testimony. Its areas of expertise include finance, accounting, economics, insurance, and forensic investigations. Additionally, CRA International offers management consulting services such as business strategy development, performance enhancement, market demand estimation, pricing strategies, intellectual property valuation, and supply chain optimization across industries like healthcare, energy, financial services, and technology.

Growth and profitability

CRA International expanded annual revenue from $565.9M in FY2021 to $751.6M in FY2025, delivering an 8.1% five-year revenue CAGR from FY2020 to FY2025. Annual net income increased from $41.7M in FY2021 to $54.8M in FY2025, with diluted earnings per share growing from $5.48 to $8.22 over the same timeframe. Operating margin widened to 11.1% in FY2025 compared to 9.8% in FY2021. For the trailing twelve months ended June 30, 2026, revenue stood at $794.6M with an operating margin of 11.2% and EPS of $7.50. In the latest quarter ended June 30, 2026, quarterly revenue grew 12.8% year-over-year, while quarterly earnings increased 17.5%.

CRAI income statement →

Balance sheet and cash flow

As of June 30, 2026, CRA International held $18.2M in cash and short-term investments against $194.2M in total debt, resulting in net debt of $176.0M. Both the current ratio and debt-to-equity ratio stood at 1.06, with shareholders' equity of $182.7M and total assets of $665.3M. In FY2025, the company generated $22.4M in operating cash flow and $18.6M in free cash flow. Capital expenditures totaled $3.9M, while capital returns included $47.1M spent on share buybacks and $13.8M in dividends paid.

CRAI balance sheet →

Valuation and performance

At a last close of $178.09, CRA International holds a market capitalization of $1.12B and an enterprise value of $1.30B. The stock trades at a trailing P/E of 23.7x and a forward P/E of 17.0x, both modestly below the median of its US-listed Industrials peers at 24.8x and 17.2x, respectively. Its EV/EBITDA of 12.0x is also lower than the peer median of 13.9x. Over the past year, CRAI posted a return of -0.7%, trailing the S&P 500 return of 16.8%, while its five-year return of 77.8% sits near the index return of 83.0%.

CRAI key metrics →

CRAI dividend

CRA International pays a quarterly dividend with an annualized forward rate of $2.28, providing a dividend yield of 1.28%. The dividend payout ratio stands at 27.6%, and the company has paid dividends for 11 consecutive years. Over the past five years, the dividend grew at an annualized rate of 21.6%. The company's last ex-dividend date was August 25, 2026.

CRAI dividend history →

What analysts expect

Wall Street coverage on CRA International includes 1 Buy and 1 Hold rating, with no Sell ratings. The mean price target is $250.50, representing a 40.7% premium over the last close of $178.09. For the current fiscal year ending December 31, 2026, consensus estimates project revenue of $814.3M and EPS of $8.47. In the subsequent fiscal year, 3 analysts project revenue of $847.0M and EPS of $9.56. The company beat EPS estimates in 3 of the last 4 quarters, with its next earnings report scheduled for October 29, 2026.

CRAI forecast and price target →

Key risks and what to watch

  • Net debt of $176.0M and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.06 leave the company with limited cash reserves of $18.2M.
  • Annual free cash flow declined from $73.1M in FY2021 to $18.6M in FY2025 despite revenue increasing to $751.6M.
  • Analyst consensus anticipates modest revenue growth of 4.0% for the next fiscal year ending in 2027, reaching $847.0M.

AI-generated research summary. Written with AI from Quotelinks data as of October 16, 2026 and checked so every figure matches that data. For information only, not investment advice. Disclaimer

About this CRAI AI stock analysis

This page is an AI-written research summary of CRA International, Inc. (CRAI). The text was generated on October 30, 2026 from Quotelinks data as of October 16, 2026 (company profile, annual results, latest balance sheet, valuation, price performance and analyst estimates). An automatic check rejects any draft that contains a figure not found in that data. It is not investment advice; verify figures on the linked tabs before making decisions.

Related: CRAI income statement, CRAI balance sheet, CRAI key metrics, CRAI analyst forecast, CRAI chart. See the CRAI stock overview for the latest quote and news.

CRAI AI stock analysis FAQ

Does CRA International pay a dividend?

Yes, CRA International pays a quarterly dividend with a forward annual rate of $2.28 per share, yielding 1.28%. The company has paid dividends for 11 consecutive years and maintains a payout ratio of 27.6%.

What is CRA International's valuation compared to peers?

CRAI trades at a forward P/E of 17.0x and an EV/EBITDA of 12.0x. These multiples compare to the US-listed Industrials peer median forward P/E of 17.2x and EV/EBITDA of 13.9x.

How fast is CRA International growing?

In the latest quarter ended June 30, 2026, revenue increased 12.8% year-over-year and earnings grew 17.5%. Over the longer term, the company achieved an 8.1% five-year revenue CAGR from FY2020 to FY2025.

What are analysts forecasting for CRA International's stock price and earnings?

Analysts have established a mean price target of $250.50, which is 40.7% above its last close of $178.09. For FY2026, analysts estimate EPS of $8.47 on revenue of $814.3M, followed by EPS of $9.56 on revenue of $847.0M in FY2027.

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