Investors with an interest in Consulting Services stocks have likely encountered both CRA International (CRAI) and Gartner (IT) . But which of these two stocks presents investors with the better value opportunity right now? Let's take a closer look.There are plenty of strategies for discovering value stocks, but we have found that pairing a strong Zacks Rank with an impressive grade in the Value category of our Style Scores system produces the best returns. The Zacks Rank favors stocks with strong earnings ...

The proven Zacks Rank system focuses on earnings estimates and estimate revisions to find winning stocks. Nevertheless, we know that our readers all have their own perspectives, so we are always looking at the latest trends in value, growth, and momentum to find strong picks.Considering these trends, value investing is clearly one of the most preferred ways to find strong stocks in any type of market. Value investors use fundamental analysis and traditional valuation metrics to find stocks that they believe ...

CRA International, Inc. (CRAI) , or Charles River Associates, has had an impressive run over the past six months. The stock has gained 32.5%, outperforming the 20.5% growth of the industry it belongs to and the 15.1% rise of the Zacks S&P 500 composite.CRAI has an impressive Growth Score of A. This style score condenses all the essential metrics from a company’s financial statements to get a true sense of the quality and sustainability of its growth.The Zacks Consensus Estimate for CRAI’s 2024 earnings is p ...

BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Charles River Associates (NASDAQ: CRAI), a worldwide leader in providing economic, financial, and management consulting services, today announced that Lori E. Lightfoot, the former mayor of the city of Chicago and a former federal prosecutor, has joined CRA as a senior consultant to the Forensic Services Practice. Ms. Lightfoot will work out of the company’s Chicago and New York City offices. “ We are excited to welcome Lori Lightfoot to the CRA team,” said CRA President and Chief ...

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BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Charles River Associates (NASDAQ: CRAI), a worldwide leader in providing economic, financial, and management consulting services, today announced the promotions of four new vice presidents. Andrea Asoni in the Antitrust & Competition Practice; Rachel Berk in the Risk, Investigations & Analytics Practice; Anant Kumar in the Energy Practice; and Quenton Wright in the Labor & Employment Practice have each been promoted to the level of vice president. “ Andrea Asoni is an extraordinary ...

alvaro gonzalez/Moment via Getty Images Introduction and thesis CRA International (NASDAQ:CRAI) is a global consulting firm that provides economic, financial, and management consulting services. Headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, the company serves clients across various industries, offering expertise in areas such as litigation support, regulatory compliance, mergers and acquisitions, and strategic consulting. CRAI operates within a highly competitive but lucrative industry, requiring deep experti ...

BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Charles River Associates (NASDAQ: CRAI), a worldwide leader in providing economic, financial, and management consulting services, today announced that an RFP auction process will be conducted for FirstEnergy Corp.’s (NYSE: FE) Ohio subsidiaries –The Cleveland Electric Illuminating Company, Ohio Edison Company, and The Toledo Edison Company – to procure full requirements service for their Percentage of Income Payment Plan (PIPP) customers. The winning PIPP supplier will be obligated ...

CRA International, Inc. (CRAI) reported solid fourth-quarter 2023 results. The better-than-expected results impressed investors as the stock gained 4.9% since the earnings release on Feb 29.CRAI’s earnings per share (EPS) (excluding 1 cent from non-recurring items) came in at $1.63, which surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 48.2% and increased 37% year over year. Revenues of $161.6 million beat the consensus mark by 8.1% and increased 11.5% from the year-ago quarter.Charles River’s shares have gained ...

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - For fiscal 2023, CRA reported revenue of $624 million, a 5.6% increase compared to fiscal 2022, marking the sixth consecutive year of record revenue [55][36] - Non-GAAP net income and diluted earnings per share for the fourth quarter increased by 15% and 19% year-over-year, respectively, achieving all-time highs for both metrics [1] - Non-GAAP EBITDA for fiscal 2023 was $68.3 million, with a margin of 11.0% on a constant currency basis [36][85] - Adjusted net cash flows from operations increased 35% year-over-year to $81.6 million, converting 120% of non-GAAP EBITDA into adjusted net cash flows [37][36] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Seven of CRA's 11 practices grew their top line, with Forensic Services and Labor & Employment delivering double-digit revenue growth compared to fiscal 2022 [1] - The Antitrust & Competition Economics practice saw a 23% increase in worldwide M&A activity in the fourth quarter, leading to record quarterly revenue [33] - Legal and regulatory services revenue increased by 16% in the fourth quarter, surpassing broader market growth rates [56][91] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - North American operations increased by 5%, while international operations grew by 7% in fiscal 2023 [55] - Total case filings in the fourth quarter were up 10% year-over-year, with total court judgments increasing by 7% [56] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to balance labor supply with demand for services, ending the quarter with a consulting headcount of 1,004, a 6.9% increase year-over-year [22] - CRA's board authorized an expansion of the share repurchase program by an additional $35 million, reflecting confidence in long-term prospects [28] - The company plans to invest $14 million to $15 million in capital expenditures for IT infrastructure and office expansions to support headcount growth [38] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed cautious optimism regarding the demand environment, noting improvements in macroeconomic conditions and M&A activity [66][50] - The conversion of project leads into revenue-producing assignments improved significantly in the fourth quarter, aligning with expectations [32] - Management highlighted strong retention rates within the consulting team and a focus on talent investments in high-performing practices [22][87] Other Important Information - CRA's DSO at the end of the fourth quarter was 105 days, down from 114 days in the previous quarter [63] - The effective tax rate for the fourth quarter on a non-GAAP basis was 26.1%, compared to 22% in the same quarter of the previous year [85] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you discuss the drivers behind the revenue guidance for 2025? - Management noted that the foundation of demand remains strong, with improved conversion rates and project originations contributing to the guidance [66][43] Question: What are the plans for capital expenditures and investments? - Management indicated that investments will focus on expanding office locations and upgrading IT infrastructure to support growth [45][38] Question: How is the company addressing the broader demand environment? - Management observed that case filings are increasing, and there are signs of improvement in the M&A market, contributing to a more favorable outlook [66][50]