CRAI

We rate CRA INTERNATIONAL, INC. (CRAI) as a Hold with a composite score of 52.9/100 at a current price of $156.78. The stock presents a mixed quantitative picture — neither compelling enough to warrant new accumulation nor weak enough to justify selling for existing holders. Our factors are split, and the overall profile suggests patience is warranted.

The rating is primarily driven by strength in stability (81th percentile) and momentum (63th percentile), which together account for the majority of the composite score. Offsetting weakness in investment (25th percentile) and value (54th percentile) tempers our overall conviction. We assign a Narrow Moat rating (55/100), Low uncertainty, and Standard capital allocation.

Key items to watch: whether strong momentum is fundamentally supported by revenue trends. Any material change in these dynamics could warrant a reassessment of our rating. The moat trend is stable, which suggests the competitive landscape is stable for now.

CRA INTERNATIONAL, INC. holds a top-quartile position (#0 of 50) within the Services sector, based on our composite quantitative scoring across quality, value, momentum, and stability factors. The composite score of 52.9/100 places it at rank #1554 in our full 7,333-stock universe. At $1.4B in market capitalization, CRA INTERNATIONAL, INC. is a small-cap player in the Services space, which limits certain scale advantages but may allow for more agile strategic execution.

The outlook is moderately positive, with revenue expanding at 2% and favorable momentum (63th percentile) reflecting constructive market sentiment. The business shows steady execution, though the growth rate is below the levels typically associated with high-conviction growth stories. Momentum confirmation provides support for the current price level.

The margin cascade tells an important story: gross margins of 30% (-29.3pp vs sector) narrow to operating margins of 10% (+6.4pp vs sector) and net margins of 6.3%, yielding a gross-to-net conversion rate of 21%. This conversion rate is typical for the sector, suggesting a standard cost structure without notable efficiency advantages or disadvantages.

At a current price of $156.78, CRA INTERNATIONAL, INC. is trading near fair value based on current fundamentals. Our value factor score of 54/100 reflects a composite assessment across multiple valuation metrics including price-to-earnings, price-to-book, EV/EBITDA, and price-to-sales ratios relative to both sector peers and the broader market. Valuation metrics are mixed, with no strong signal of mispricing in either direction.

The stock currently trades at a P/E of 23.2x (roughly in line with the sector median of 23.7x), EV/EBITDA of 12.2x (near the sector median), P/B of 5.4x, P/S of 1.5x. The below-sector P/E suggests possible undervaluation or the market pricing in near-term headwinds.

We assign a Low uncertainty rating to CRA INTERNATIONAL, INC.. The company exhibits strong financial stability with a beta of 0.66, conservative leverage (47% D/E), and a stability factor in the 81th percentile. The predictable nature of the business model and solid financial position reduce the range of potential outcomes, giving us confidence in our fair value estimate.

Specific risk factors that inform our assessment include: low beta of 0.66 — while defensive, this may indicate limited upside participation in bull markets. Each of these factors independently widens the distribution of potential outcomes, and in combination they create a risk profile that demands careful position sizing. The stability factor at the 81th percentile and quality factor at the 58th percentile provide a quantitative summary of the overall risk landscape.

Key risk mitigants include: above-average stability (81th percentile) suggests predictable business dynamics. These factors partially offset the identified risks and provide downside protection in adverse scenarios. On balance, the risk-reward profile is favorable for long-term investors.

We rate CRA INTERNATIONAL, INC.'s capital allocation as Standard. Management has shown adequate — though not exceptional — stewardship of shareholder capital. Returns on equity stand at 23.4%, and the balance sheet is managed within acceptable parameters (D/E: 47%). Exemplary allocators typically sustain ROE above 20% and D/E below 50%; CRA INTERNATIONAL, INC. falls short on at least one dimension.

There is room for improvement in optimizing the capital structure or enhancing shareholder returns. The 0.96% dividend yield provides some income return, but the overall capital allocation framework would benefit from either higher reinvestment returns, improved balance sheet efficiency, or increased shareholder distributions. We will monitor for signs of strategic improvement that could warrant an upgrade.

In summary, CRA INTERNATIONAL, INC. receives a Hold rating with a composite score of 52.9/100 (rank #1554 of 7,333). Our quantitative framework assigns a Narrow Moat (55/100, trend: stable), Low uncertainty, and Standard capital allocation. The average factor score across quality, value, momentum, stability, and investment is 56/100.

Our analysis supports a neutral stance on CRA INTERNATIONAL, INC.. While the quantitative profile is not weak enough to warrant selling, it lacks the multi-factor strength required for a buy recommendation. Existing holders should maintain positions and monitor for catalysts — either fundamental improvement or valuation compression — that would shift the risk-reward balance.