Charles River Associates (CRAI) Hits Fresh High: Is There Still Room to Run?

Company Performance - CRA International (CRAI) shares have increased by 8.4% over the past month, reaching a new 52-week high of $210.7, and have gained 109% since the start of the year, outperforming the Zacks Business Services sector (24.2%) and the Zacks Consulting Services industry (8.9%) [1] - The company has consistently exceeded earnings expectations, reporting EPS of$ 1.77 against a consensus estimate of $1.58 in its last earnings report on October 31, 2024, and beating revenue estimates by 0.55% [2] - For the current fiscal year, CRA is projected to achieve earnings of$ 7.15 per share on revenues of $677.28 million, reflecting a 30.95% increase in EPS and an 8.54% increase in revenues [3] Valuation Metrics - CRA has a Value Score of B, a Growth Score of A, and a Momentum Score of B, resulting in a VGM Score of A, indicating strong overall performance [6] - The stock trades at 28.9X current fiscal year EPS estimates, above the peer industry average of 26.3X, and at 22.1X trailing cash flow compared to the peer group's average of 19.8X, with a PEG ratio of 1.81 [7] Zacks Rank - CRA holds a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy), supported by favorable earnings estimate revisions from analysts, suggesting potential for further gains [8] Industry Comparison - The Consulting Services industry is performing well, ranking in the top 30% of all industries, providing a favorable environment for both CRA and its peer, Huron Consulting Group Inc. (HURN) [11]