CRA International Inc (CRAI)

[US Market News]

Charles River Associates (CRA) Reports Fourth-Quarter and Full-Year 2025 Financial Results

February 26, 2026 8:05 AM
Business Wire

Fourth Quarter Revenue Increases 11.6% Year Over Year

Broad-based Contributions Drive Record Revenue and Profitability in Fiscal 2025

Board Expands Share Repurchase Authorization by $55 Million

Charles River Associates (NASDAQ: CRAI), a worldwide leader in providing economic, financial and management consulting services, today announced financial results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year ended January 3, 2026.

“For the eighth consecutive year, CRA established a new record for annual revenue,” said Paul Maleh, CRA’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “Strong top-line growth drove record profitability as net income, earnings per diluted share, and EBITDA each set a new annual high. For the fourth quarter, we continued to see strength across our portfolio of services as total revenue increased 11.6% year over year to $197.0 million. Four practices—Antitrust & Competition Economics, Energy, Forensic Services, and Labor & Employment—led the way, with each generating double-digit revenue growth, while our Life Sciences and Risk, Investigations & Analytics practices also expanded revenue year over year. Geographically, our North American and international operations both supported the quarter’s revenue expansion, increasing 9.4% and 21.9%, respectively.”

Highlights for Fourth Quarter Fiscal 2025

• 
  Revenue grew 11.6% year over year to $197.0 million.
  
  


• 
  Utilization was 78% and quarter-end headcount increased 1.4% year over year.
  
  


• 
  Net income decreased 12.0% year over year to $13.2 million, or 6.7% of revenue, compared with $15.0 million, or 8.5% of revenue, in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024; non-GAAP net income decreased 2.1% year over year to $13.7 million, or 7.0% of revenue, compared with $14.0 million, or 7.9% of revenue, in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024.
  
  


• 
  Earnings per diluted share decreased 8.7% year over year to $1.99 from $2.18 in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024; non-GAAP earnings per diluted share increased 1.5% year over year to $2.06 from $2.03 in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024.
  
  


• 
  Non-GAAP EBITDA remained relatively unchanged at $24.4 million, or 12.4% of revenue, compared with 13.9% of revenue in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024.
  
  


• 
  On a constant currency basis relative to the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024, revenue, GAAP net income, and earnings per diluted share would have been lower by $1.4 million, $0.2 million, and $0.04 per diluted share, respectively. Non-GAAP net income, non-GAAP earnings per diluted share, and non-GAAP EBITDA, would have been lower, by $0.2 million, $0.03 per diluted share, and $0.4 million, respectively.
  
  


• 
  CRA returned $3.7 million of capital to its shareholders via dividend payments.
  
  

Highlights for Full-Year Fiscal 2025

• 
  Revenue grew 9.3% year over year to $751.6 million while company-wide utilization was 77%.
  
  


• 
  GAAP net income increased 17.4% year over year to $54.8 million, or 7.3% of revenue, or $8.14 per diluted share, compared with $46.7 million, or 6.8% of revenue, or $6.74 per diluted share for the full year fiscal 2024. Non-GAAP net income increased 5.2% year over year to $55.3 million, or 7.4% of revenue, or $8.23 per diluted share, compared with $52.6 million, or 7.7% of revenue, or $7.60 per diluted share for the full year fiscal 2024.
  
  


• 
  Non-GAAP EBITDA grew 7.1% to $96.8 million, or 12.9% of revenue, compared with $90.4 million, or 13.2% of revenue, in fiscal 2024.
  
  


• 
  On a constant currency basis relative to fiscal 2024, revenue, GAAP net income, and earnings per diluted share would have been lower by $3.9 million, $0.7 million, and $0.10 per diluted share, respectively. Non-GAAP net income, non-GAAP earnings per diluted share, and non-GAAP EBITDA would have been lower by $0.7 million, $0.11 per diluted share, and $0.9 million, respectively.
  
  


• 
  For fiscal 2025, CRA returned $60.9 million of capital to its shareholders, consisting of $13.8 million in dividend payments and $47.1 million in share repurchases of approximately 252,000 shares.
  
  

Management Commentary and Financial Guidance

“Our fiscal 2025 financial performance reflects our continued strength in the marketplace, and we are looking to continue our broad-based profitable growth in the years ahead,” said Maleh. “For full-year fiscal 2026, on a constant-currency basis relative to fiscal 2025, we expect revenue in the range of $785 million to $805 million, and non-GAAP EBITDA margin in the range of 12.0% to 13.0%.”

“Based on current forecasts, we expect that currency effects will decrease our reported revenue by roughly $5 million and will decrease our reported EBITDA by less than $1 million when stated on a constant currency basis. In addition, non-cash forgivable loan amortization, which is reflected as an expense when presenting EBITDA metrics, is expected to increase approximately $15 million, or more than 30% year over year, in fiscal 2026 due to the increase in talent investments completed in fiscal 2025. Finally, as a reminder, fiscal 2026 returns to CRA’s typical 52-week year, whereas fiscal 2025 contained an extra week and resulted in a 53-week year. While we are pleased with CRA’s strong performance in 2025, we remain mindful that uncertain global macroeconomic, business, and political conditions can affect our business.”

CRA does not provide reconciliations of its annual non-GAAP EBITDA margin guidance to GAAP net income margin because the Company is unable to estimate with reasonable certainty unusual gains or charges, foreign currency exchange rates, and the resulting effect of these items, and of equity awards, on CRA’s taxes without unreasonable effort. These items are uncertain, depend on various factors, and may have a material effect on CRA’s results computed in accordance with GAAP. A reconciliation between the historical GAAP and non-GAAP financial measures presented in this press release is provided in the financial tables at the end of this press release.

Share Repurchase Expansion and Quarterly Dividend

On February 26, 2026, CRA’s Board of Directors authorized a $55.0 million expansion of the Company’s existing share repurchase program, in addition to the $10.9 million currently remaining under the program. CRA may repurchase shares of its common stock in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions in accordance with applicable insider trading and other securities laws and regulations. The timing, amount and extent to which CRA repurchases shares will depend upon market conditions and other factors it may consider in its sole discretion.

The Board of Directors also authorized a quarterly cash dividend of $0.57 per common share, payable on March 20, 2026 to shareholders of record as of March 10, 2026. CRA expects to continue paying quarterly dividends, the declaration, timing and amounts of which remain subject to the discretion of CRA’s Board of Directors.

Conference Call Information and Prepared CFO Remarks

CRA will host a conference call today at 10:00 a.m. ET to discuss its fourth-quarter and fiscal-year 2025 financial results. To listen to the live call, please visit the “Investor Relations” section of CRA’s website at http://www.crai.com, or dial [phone] or [phone]. An archived version of the webcast will be available on CRA’s website for one year.

In combination with this press release, CRA has posted prepared remarks by its CFO Eric Nierenberg under “Quarterly Earnings” in the “Investor Relations” section on CRA’s website at http://www.crai.com. These remarks are offered to provide the investment community with additional background on CRA’s financial results prior to the start of the conference call.

About Charles River Associates (CRA)

Charles River Associates® is a leading global consulting firm specializing in economic, financial, and management consulting services. CRA advises clients on economic and financial matters pertaining to litigation and regulatory proceedings, and guides corporations through critical business strategy and performance-related issues. Since 1965, clients have engaged CRA for its unique combination of functional expertise and industry knowledge, and for its objective solutions to complex problems. Headquartered in Boston, CRA has offices throughout the world. Detailed information about Charles River Associates, a registered trade name of CRA International, Inc., is available at www.crai.com. Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook.

NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

In this press release, CRA has supplemented the presentation of its financial results calculated in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles or “GAAP” with the following financial measures that are not calculated in accordance with GAAP: non-GAAP net income, non-GAAP earnings per diluted share, non-GAAP EBITDA and non-GAAP EBITDA margin. CRA believes that the non-GAAP financial measures described in this press release are important to management and investors because these measures supplement the understanding of CRA’s ongoing operating results and financial condition. In addition, these non-GAAP measures are used by CRA in its budgeting process, and the non-GAAP adjustments are made to the performance measures for some of CRA’s performance-based compensation.

As used herein, CRA defines non-GAAP EBITDA as net income before interest expense (net), provision for income taxes, and depreciation and amortization further adjusted for the impact of certain items that we do not consider indicative of our core operating performance, such as non-cash amounts relating to valuation changes in contingent consideration, acquisition-related costs, foreign currency (gains) losses, net, restructuring costs and related tax effects. Non-GAAP net income and non-GAAP earnings per diluted share also exclude non-cash amounts relating to valuation changes in contingent consideration, acquisition-related costs, foreign currency (gains) losses, net, restructuring costs and related tax effects. This press release also presents certain current fiscal period financial measures on a “constant currency” basis in order to isolate the effect that foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations can have on CRA’s financial results. These constant currency measures are determined by recalculating the current fiscal period local currency financial measure using the specified corresponding prior fiscal period’s foreign exchange rates.

All of the non-GAAP financial measures referred to above should be considered in conjunction with, and not as a substitute for, the GAAP financial information presented in this press release. The financial measures identified in this press release as “non-GAAP” are reconciled to their GAAP comparable measures in the financial tables appended to the end of this press release. In evaluating these non-GAAP financial measures, note that the non-GAAP financial measures used by CRA may be calculated differently from, and therefore may not be comparable to, similarly titled measures used by other companies.

SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT

Statements in this press release concerning our future business, operating results and financial condition, including those concerning guidance on future revenue and non-GAAP EBITDA margin, the impact of exchange rate fluctuations on our financial results, our expectations regarding continued growth, our expectations regarding the payment of any future quarterly dividends and the level and extent of any purchases under our expanded share repurchase program, and statements using the terms “outlook,” “expect,” or similar expressions, are “forward-looking” statements as defined in Section 21 of the Exchange Act. These statements are based upon our current expectations and various underlying assumptions. Although we believe there is a reasonable basis for these statements and assumptions, and these statements are expressed in good faith, these statements are subject to a number of additional factors and uncertainties. Our actual revenue and non-GAAP EBITDA margin in fiscal 2026 on a constant currency basis relative to fiscal 2025 could differ materially from the guidance presented herein, and our actual performance and results may differ materially from the performance and results contained in or implied by the forward-looking statements made herein, due to many important factors. These factors include, but are not limited to, the possibility that the demand for our services may decline as a result of changes in general and industry specific economic conditions; the timing of engagements for our services; the effects of competitive services and pricing; the development and use of artificial intelligence; our ability to attract and retain key employee or non-employee experts; the inability to integrate and utilize existing consultants and personnel; the decline or reduction in project work or activity; global economic conditions including less stable political and economic environments; foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations; unanticipated expenses and liabilities; risks inherent in international operations; changes in tax law or accounting standards, rules, and regulations; our ability to collect on forgivable loans should any become due; and professional and other legal liability or settlements. Additional risks and uncertainties are discussed in our periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the heading “Risk Factors.” The inclusion of such forward-looking information should not be regarded as our representation that the future events, plans, or expectations contemplated will be achieved. Except as may be required by law, we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements after the date of this press release, and we do not intend to do so. 

CRA INTERNATIONAL, INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS FOR THE FISCAL QUARTERS AND FISCAL YEAR-TO-DATE PERIODS ENDED JANUARY 3, 2026 COMPARED TO DECEMBER 28, 2024 (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
	Fiscal Quarter Ended														Fiscal Year-to-Date Period Ended
	January 3, 2026				As a % of Revenue			December 28, 2024				As a % of Revenue			January 3, 2026				As a % of Revenue			December 28, 2024				As a % of Revenue
Revenues	$	196,963			100.0	%		$	176,435			100.0	%		$	751,583			100.0	%		$	687,414			100.0	%
Cost of services (exclusive of depreciation and amortization)		138,924			70.5	%			120,541			68.3	%			519,288			69.1	%			479,936			69.8	%
Selling, general and administrative expenses		33,689			17.1	%			31,266			17.7	%			135,031			18.0	%			125,050			18.2	%
Depreciation and amortization		3,712			1.9	%			3,174			1.8	%			14,140			1.9	%			11,677			1.7	%
Income from operations		20,638			10.5	%			21,454			12.2	%			83,124			11.1	%			70,751			10.3	%
Interest expense, net		(1,383	)		-0.7	%			(1,013	)		-0.6	%			(5,358	)		-0.7	%			(4,417	)		-0.6	%
Foreign currency gains (losses), net		(667	)		-0.3	%			1,145			0.6	%			(1,193	)		-0.2	%			(92	)		—	%
Income before provision for income taxes		18,588			9.4	%			21,586			12.2	%			76,573			10.2	%			66,242			9.6	%
Provision for income taxes		5,403			2.7	%			6,599			3.7	%			21,791			2.9	%			19,589			2.8	%
Net income	$	13,185			6.7	%		$	14,987			8.5	%		$	54,782			7.3	%		$	46,653			6.8	%
Net income per share:
Basic	$	2.01						$	2.21						$	8.23						$	6.82
Diluted	$	1.99						$	2.18						$	8.14						$	6.74
Weighted average number of shares outstanding:
Basic		6,547							6,763							6,641							6,821
Diluted		6,627							6,866							6,714							6,908

CRA INTERNATIONAL, INC. RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES FOR THE FISCAL QUARTERS AND FISCAL YEAR-TO-DATE PERIODS ENDED JANUARY 3, 2026 COMPARED TO DECEMBER 28, 2024 (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
	Fiscal Quarter Ended														Fiscal Year-to-Date Period Ended
	January 3, 2026				As a % of Revenue			December 28, 2024				As a % of Revenue			January 3, 2026				As a % of Revenue			December 28, 2024				As a % of Revenue
Revenues	$	196,963			100.0	%		$	176,435			100.0	%		$	751,583			100.0	%		$	687,414			100.0	%
Net income	$	13,185			6.7	%		$	14,987			8.5	%		$	54,782			7.3	%		$	46,653			6.8	%
Adjustments needed to reconcile GAAP net income to non-GAAP net income:
Non-cash valuation change in contingent consideration		—			—	%			(190	)		-0.1	%			—			—	%			(190	)		—	%
Restructuring (1)(2)		—			—	%			—			—	%			(462	)		-0.1	%			8,176			1.2	%
Foreign currency (gains) losses, net		667			0.3	%			(1,145	)		-0.6	%			1,193			0.2	%			92			—	%
Tax effect on adjustments		(150	)		-0.1	%			340			0.2	%			(183	)		—	%			(2,126	)		-0.3	%
Non-GAAP net income	$	13,702			7.0	%		$	13,992			7.9	%		$	55,330			7.4	%		$	52,605			7.7	%
Non-GAAP net income per share:
Basic	$	2.09						$	2.06						$	8.31						$	7.69
Diluted	$	2.06						$	2.03						$	8.23						$	7.60
Weighted average number of shares outstanding:
Basic		6,547							6,763							6,641							6,821
Diluted		6,627							6,866							6,714							6,908
(1) Fiscal year-to-date ended January 3, 2026 includes restructuring and separation benefits totaling $4.9M, comprised of $3.8M in cash and $1.1M in non-cash charges; net of the reversal of $5.4M of non-cash charges associated with a previously recorded performance award.
(2) Fiscal year-to-date ended December 28, 2024 includes cash severance of $2.5M and non-cash charges of $5.7M associated with portfolio optimization actions.

CRA INTERNATIONAL, INC. RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES FOR THE FISCAL QUARTERS AND FISCAL YEAR-TO-DATE PERIODS ENDED JANUARY 3, 2026 COMPARED TO DECEMBER 28, 2024 (IN THOUSANDS)
	Fiscal Quarter Ended														Fiscal Year-to-Date Period Ended
	January 3, 2026				As a % of Revenue			December 28, 2024				As a % of Revenue			January 3, 2026				As a % of Revenue			December 28, 2024				As a % of Revenue
Revenues	$	196,963			100.0	%		$	176,435			100.0	%		$	751,583			100.0	%		$	687,414			100.0	%
Net income	$	13,185			6.7	%		$	14,987			8.5	%		$	54,782			7.3	%		$	46,653			6.8	%
Adjustments needed to reconcile GAAP net income to non-GAAP net income:
Non-cash valuation change in contingent consideration		—			—	%			(190	)		-0.1	%			—			—	%			(190	)		—	%
Restructuring (1)(2)		—			—	%			—			—	%			(462	)		-0.1	%			8,176			1.2	%
Foreign currency (gains) losses, net		667			0.3	%			(1,145	)		-0.6	%			1,193			0.2	%			92			—	%
Tax effect on adjustments		(150	)		-0.1	%			340			0.2	%			(183	)		—	%			(2,126	)		-0.3	%
Non-GAAP net income	$	13,702			7.0	%		$	13,992			7.9	%		$	55,330			7.4	%		$	52,605			7.7	%
Adjustments needed to reconcile non-GAAP net income to non-GAAP EBITDA:
Interest expense, net		1,383			0.7	%			1,013			0.6	%			5,358			0.7	%			4,417			0.6	%
Provision for income taxes		5,553			2.8	%			6,259			3.5	%			21,974			2.9	%			21,715			3.2	%
Depreciation and amortization		3,712			1.9	%			3,174			1.8	%			14,140			1.9	%			11,677			1.7	%
Non-GAAP EBITDA	$	24,350			12.4	%		$	24,438			13.9	%		$	96,802			12.9	%		$	90,414			13.2	%
(1) Fiscal year-to-date ended January 3, 2026 includes restructuring and separation benefits totaling $4.9M, comprised of $3.8M in cash and $1.1M in non-cash charges; net of the reversal of $5.4M of non-cash charges associated with a previously recorded performance award.
(2) Fiscal year-to-date ended December 28, 2024 includes cash severance of $2.5M and non-cash charges of $5.7M associated with portfolio optimization actions.

CRA INTERNATIONAL, INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (IN THOUSANDS)
	January 3, 2026			December 28, 2024
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$	18,210		$	26,711
Accounts receivable and unbilled services, net		248,862			219,548
Other current assets		36,057			23,104
Total current assets		303,129			269,363
Property and equipment, net		36,713			45,205
Goodwill and intangible assets, net		100,404			100,953
Right-of-use assets		76,132			81,157
Other assets		112,495			74,761
Total assets	$	628,873		$	571,439
Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity
Accounts payable	$	30,177		$	28,155
Accrued expenses		223,460			181,413
Current portion of lease liabilities		17,223			18,696
Revolving line of credit		34,000			—
Other current liabilities		25,169			23,045
Total current liabilities		330,029			251,309
Non-current portion of lease liabilities		76,009			84,541
Other non-current liabilities		9,237			23,516
Total liabilities		415,275			359,366
Total shareholders’ equity		213,598			212,073
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity	$	628,873		$	571,439

CRA INTERNATIONAL, INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (IN THOUSANDS)
	Year Ended
	January 3, 2026				December 28, 2024
Operating activities:
Net income	$	54,782			$	46,653
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities, net of effect of acquired businesses:
Non-cash items, net		34,976				29,316
Accounts receivable and unbilled services		(25,673	)			(22,197	)
Working capital items, net		(41,661	)			(4,037	)
Net cash provided by operating activities		22,424				49,735
Investing activities:
Purchases of property and equipment		(3,868	)			(16,623	)
Consideration paid for acquisitions, net		—				(1,500	)
Net cash used in investing activities		(3,868	)			(18,123	)
Financing activities:
Borrowings under revolving line of credit		132,000				102,000
Repayments under revolving line of credit		(98,000	)			(102,000	)
Tax withholding payments reimbursed by shares		(2,862	)			(3,209	)
Cash dividends paid		(13,831	)			(12,300	)
Repurchase of common stock		(47,149	)			(33,348	)
Net cash used in financing activities		(29,842	)			(48,857	)
Effect of foreign exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents		2,785				(1,630	)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents		(8,501	)			(18,875	)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period		26,711				45,586
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$	18,210			$	26,711
Noncash investing and financing activities:
Increase (decrease) in accounts payable and accrued expenses for property and equipment	$	(449	)		$	598
Excise tax on share repurchases	$	(415	)		$	(270	)
Asset retirement obligations	$	—			$	191
Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for lease obligations	$	8,460			$	10,084
Supplemental cash flow information:
Cash paid for taxes	$	26,459			$	21,444
Cash paid for interest	$	4,659			$	4,145
Cash paid for amounts included in operating lease liabilities	$	24,826			$	20,963

 

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260226369462/en/

Eric Nierenberg

Chief Financial Officer

Charles River Associates

617-425-3020
Nicholas Manganaro

Sharon Merrill Advisors

[e-mail]

617-542-5300

Original: Charles River Associates (CRA) Reports Fourth-Quarter and Full-Year 2025 Financial Results