Charles River Associates (CRA) Reports Financial Results for the Second Quarter of 2024

Second Quarter 2024 Revenue of $171.4 Million Up 5.9% Year Over Year

Company Raises Both Revenue and Profit Guidance for Full-Year Fiscal 2024

Charles River Associates (NASDAQ: CRAI), a worldwide leader in providing economic, financial and management consulting services, today announced financial results for the fiscal second quarter ended June 29, 2024.

“CRA continued its run of strong performance into the second quarter as revenue increased 5.9% year over year to $171.4 million,” said Paul Maleh, CRA’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “Broad-based contributions drove our results, with five practices growing revenue year over year—Antitrust & Competition Economics, Financial Economics, Intellectual Property, Labor & Employment, and Life Sciences. From this position of strength, we took steps during the quarter to further enhance the performance of our service portfolio as reflected in our increased financial guidance.”

Highlights for Second Quarter Fiscal 2024

• Revenue grew 5.9% year over year to $171.4 million.
• Utilization was 74%, and quarter-end headcount decreased 0.3% year over year.
• Restructuring expense associated with portfolio optimization actions of $8.2 million, consisting of cash severance of $2.5 million and non-cash charges of $5.7 million.
• Net income decreased 31.2% year over year to $6.5 million, or 3.8% of revenue, compared with $9.5 million, or 5.9% of revenue, in the second quarter of fiscal 2023; non-GAAP net income increased 26.4% year over year to $12.7 million, or 7.4% of revenue, compared with $10.0 million, or 6.2% of revenue, in the second quarter of fiscal 2023.
• Earnings per diluted share decreased 29.9% year over year to $0.94 from $1.34 in the second quarter of fiscal 2023; non-GAAP earnings per diluted share increased 28.9% year over year to $1.83 from $1.42 in the second quarter of fiscal 2023.
• Non-GAAP EBITDA increased 18.5% to $22.3 million, or 13.0% of revenue, compared with $18.8 million, or 11.6% of revenue, in the second quarter of fiscal 2023.
• On a constant currency basis relative to the second quarter of fiscal 2023, revenue, GAAP net income, and earnings per diluted share would have remained unchanged. Non-GAAP net income would have been lower by $0.1 million, while earnings per diluted share and non-GAAP EBITDA would have been lower by $0.01 per diluted share and $0.1 million, respectively.
• CRA returned $27.0 million of capital to its shareholders, consisting of $2.9 million of dividend payments and $24.1 million for share repurchases of approximately 140,000 shares.

Management Commentary and Financial Guidance

“Through the first two quarters of fiscal 2024, on a constant currency basis relative to fiscal 2023, CRA generated total revenue of $342.2 million, the highest first-half revenue in CRA’s history, and non-GAAP EBITDA of $44.5 million, achieving a margin of 13.0%,” continued Maleh. “Reflecting the strong start to the year, we are increasing our revenue and profit guidance. For full-year fiscal 2024, on a constant currency basis relative to fiscal 2023, we expect revenue in the range of $670.0 million to $685.0 million and non-GAAP EBITDA margin in the range of 12.2% to 13.0%. This new guidance compares with a prior revenue range of $645.0 million to $675.0 million and a prior non-GAAP EBITDA margin range of 10.8% to 11.5%. While we are pleased with CRA’s performance through the first half of the year, we remain mindful that uncertainties around global economic, business, health, and geopolitical 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 and without unreasonable effort: (A) unusual gains or charges, foreign currency exchange rates, and the resulting effect of these items on CRA’s taxes and (B) the impact of equity awards on CRA’s taxes. 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 release is provided in the financial tables at the end of this release.

Quarterly Dividend

On August 1, 2024, CRA announced a quarterly cash dividend of $0.42 per common share, payable on September 13, 2024 to shareholders of record as of August 27, 2024. 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 second-quarter 2024 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, Dan Mahoney, 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 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 and non‑GAAP EBITDA. 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 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 losses, net, restructuring costs and related tax effects. This 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. On a constant currency basis for the fiscal year-to-date period ended June 29, 2024 relative to the fiscal year-to-date period ended July 1, 2023, revenue and non-GAAP EBITDA would have been lower by $1.0 million and $0.2 million, respectively.

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 release. EBITDA and the financial measures identified in this 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 2024 on a constant currency basis relative to fiscal 2023 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; 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

JUNE 29, 2024 COMPARED TO JULY 1, 2023

(IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)

Fiscal Quarter Ended

Fiscal Year-to-Date Period Ended

June 29,2024

As a % ofRevenue

July 1,2023

As a % ofRevenue

June 29,2024

As a % ofRevenue

July 1,2023

As a % ofRevenue

Revenues

$

171,442

 

100.0

%

$

161,965

 

100.0

%

$

343,230

 

100.0

%

$

314,810

 

100.0

%

Costs of services (exclusive of depreciation and amortization)

 

125,327

 

73.1

%

 

113,333

 

70.0

%

 

244,206

 

71.1

%

 

221,170

 

70.3

%

Selling, general and administrative expenses

 

32,016

 

18.7

%

 

29,846

 

18.4

%

 

62,514

 

18.2

%

 

58,218

 

18.5

%

Depreciation and amortization

 

2,811

 

1.6

%

 

2,872

 

1.8

%

 

5,603

 

1.6

%

 

5,815

 

1.8

%

Income from operations

 

11,288

 

6.6

%

 

15,914

 

9.8

%

 

30,907

 

9.0

%

 

29,607

 

9.4

%

 


Interest expense, net

 

(1,483

)

-0.9

%

 

(1,616

)

-1.0

%

 

(1,948

)

-0.6

%

 

(2,187

)

-0.7

%

Foreign currency losses, net

 

(191

)

-0.1

%

 

(686

)

-0.4

%

 

(333

)

-0.1

%

 

(1,214

)

-0.4

%

Income before provision for income taxes

 

9,614

 

5.6

%

 

13,612

 

8.4

%

 

28,626

 

8.3

%

 

26,206

 

8.3

%

Provision for income taxes

 

3,076

 

1.8

%

 

4,104

 

2.5

%

 

8,397

 

2.4

%

 

7,780

 

2.5

%

Net income

$

6,538

 

3.8

%

$

9,508

 

5.9

%

$

20,229

 

5.9

%

$

18,426

 

5.9

%

 


Net income per share:


















Basic

$

0.96

 

$

1.36

 

$

2.93

 

$

2.61

 

Diluted

$

0.94

 

$

1.34

 

$

2.90

 

$

2.56

 

 


Weighted average number of shares outstanding:


















Basic

 

6,834

 

 

6,983

 

 

6,880

 

 

7,051

 

Diluted

 

6,911

 

 

7,080

 

 

6,961

 

 

7,166

 

CRA INTERNATIONAL, INC.

RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

FOR THE FISCAL QUARTERS AND FISCAL YEAR-TO-DATE PERIODS ENDED

JUNE 29, 2024 COMPARED TO JULY 1, 2023

(IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)

Fiscal Quarter Ended

Fiscal Year-to-Date Period Ended

June 29,2024

As a % ofRevenue

July 1,2023

As a % ofRevenue

June 29,2024

As a % ofRevenue

July 1,2023

As a % ofRevenue

Revenues

$

171,442

 

100.0

%

$

161,965

 

100.0

%

$

343,230

 

100.0

%

$

314,810

 

100.0

%

 


Net income

$

6,538

 

3.8

%

$

9,508

 

5.9

%

$

20,229

 

5.9

%

$

18,426

 

5.9

%

Adjustments needed to reconcile GAAP net income to non-GAAP net income:


















Non-cash valuation change in contingent consideration

 

-

 

-

%

 

16

 

-

%

 

-

 

-

%

 

36

 

-

%

Restructuring (1)

 

8,176

 

4.8

%

 

-

 

-

%

 

8,176

 

2.4

%

 

-

 

-

%

Acquisition-related costs

 

-

 

-

%

 

-

 

-

%

 

-

 

-

%

 

22

 

-

%

Foreign currency losses, net

 

190

 

0.1

%

 

686

 

0.4

%

 

332

 

0.1

%

 

1,214

 

0.4

%

Tax effect on adjustments

 

(2,205

)

-1.3

%

 

(165

)

-0.1

%

 

(2,239

)

-0.7

%

 

(304

)

-0.1

%

Non-GAAP net income

$

12,699

 

7.4

%

$

10,045

 

6.2

%

$

26,498

 

7.7

%

$

19,394

 

6.2

%

 


Non-GAAP net income per share:


















Basic

$

1.85

 

$

1.44

 

$

3.84

 

$

2.75

 

Diluted

$

1.83

 

$

1.42

 

$

3.80

 

$

2.70

 

 


Weighted average number of shares outstanding:


















Basic

 

6,834

 

 

6,983

 

 

6,880

 

 

7,051

 

Diluted

 

6,911

 

 

7,080

 

 

6,961

 

 

7,166

 

 


(1) 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

JUNE 29, 2024 COMPARED TO JULY 1, 2023

(IN THOUSANDS)

Fiscal Quarter Ended

Fiscal Year-to-Date Period Ended

June 29,2024

As a % ofRevenue

July 1,2023

As a % ofRevenue

June 29,2024

As a % ofRevenue

July 1,2023

As a % ofRevenue

Revenues

$

171,442

 

100.0

%

$

161,965

 

100.0

%

$

343,230

 

100.0

%

$

314,810

 

100.0

%

 


Net income

$

6,538

 

3.8

%

$

9,508

 

5.9

%

$

20,229

 

5.9

%

$

18,426

 

5.9

%

Adjustments needed to reconcile GAAP net income to non-GAAP net income:


















Non-cash valuation change in contingent consideration

 

-

 

-

%

 

16

 

-

%

 

-

 

-

%

 

36

 

-

%

Restructuring (1)

 

8,176

 

4.8

%

 

-

 

-

%

 

8,176

 

2.4

%

 

-

 

-

%

Acquisition-related costs

 

-

 

-

%

 

-

 

-

%

 

-

 

-

%

 

22

 

-

%

Foreign currency losses, net

 

190

 

0.1

%

 

686

 

0.4

%

 

332

 

0.1

%

 

1,214

 

0.4

%

Tax effect on adjustments

 

(2,205

)

-1.3

%

 

(165

)

-0.1

%

 

(2,239

)

-0.7

%

 

(304

)

-0.1

%

Non-GAAP net income

$

12,699

 

7.4

%

$

10,045

 

6.2

%

$

26,498

 

7.7

%

$

19,394

 

6.2

%

Adjustments needed to reconcile non-GAAP net income to non-GAAP EBITDA:


















Interest expense, net

 

1,483

 

0.9

%

 

1,616

 

1.0

%

 

1,948

 

0.6

%

 

2,187

 

0.7

%

Provision for income taxes

 

5,281

 

3.1

%

 

4,269

 

2.6

%

 

10,636

 

3.1

%

 

8,084

 

2.6

%

Depreciation and amortization

 

2,811

 

1.6

%

 

2,872

 

1.8

%

 

5,603

 

1.6

%

 

5,815

 

1.8

%

Non-GAAP EBITDA

$

22,274

 

13.0

%

$

18,802

 

11.6

%

$

44,685

 

13.0

%

$

35,480

 

11.3

%

 


(1) 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)

June 29,2024

December 30,2023

Assets

Cash and cash equivalents

$

24,649

$

45,586

Accounts receivable and unbilled services, net

 

216,570

 

199,556

Other current assets

 

29,961

 

20,334

Total current assets

 

271,180

 

265,476

 


Property and equipment, net

 

36,817

 

38,176

Goodwill and intangible assets, net

 

101,836

 

101,185

Right-of-use assets

 

81,338

 

86,887

Other assets

 

54,841

 

61,487

Total assets

$

546,012

$

553,211

Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity

Accounts payable

$

22,997

$

28,701

Accrued expenses

 

113,252

 

171,040

Current portion of lease liabilities

 

16,966

 

16,475

Revolving line of credit

 

87,000

 

-

Other current liabilities

 

12,456

 

19,871

Total current liabilities

 

252,671

 

236,087

Non-current portion of lease liabilities

 

84,492

 

92,280

Other non-current liabilities

 

17,100

 

12,743

Total liabilities

 

354,263

 

341,110

 


Total shareholders’ equity

 

191,749

 

212,101

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

$

546,012

$

553,211

CRA INTERNATIONAL, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(IN THOUSANDS)

Fiscal Year-to-Date Period Ended

June 29,2024

July 1,2023

 


Operating activities:





Net income

$

20,229

 

$

18,426

 

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash used in operating activities:





Non-cash items, net

 

15,769

 

 

15,200

 

Accounts receivable and unbilled services

 

(18,476

)

 

(16,415

)

Working capital items, net

 

(78,795

)

 

(82,190

)

Net cash used in operating activities

 

(61,273

)

 

(64,979

)

 


Investing activities:





Purchases of property and equipment, net

 

(3,046

)

 

(1,282

)

Consideration paid for acquisition, net

 

(1,500

)

 

(570

)

Net cash used in investing activities

 

(4,546

)

 

(1,852

)

 


Financing activities:





Borrowings under revolving line of credit

 

93,000

 

 

105,000

 

Repayments under revolving line of credit

 

(6,000

)

 

(25,000

)

Tax withholding payments reimbursed by shares

 

(1,977

)

 

(2,009

)

Cash dividends paid

 

(5,976

)

 

(5,230

)

Repurchase of common stock

 

(33,348

)

 

(23,577

)

Net cash provided by financing activities

 

45,699

 

 

49,184

 

 


Effect of foreign exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents

 

(817

)

 

471

 

 


Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents

 

(20,937

)

 

(17,176

)

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

 

45,586

 

 

31,447

 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

$

24,649

 

$

14,271

 

Noncash investing and financing activities:

Increase in accounts payable and accrued expenses for property and equipment

$

553

 

$

376

 

Excise tax on share repurchases

$

(300

)

$

(200

)

Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for lease obligations

$

2,329

 

$

190

 

Supplemental cash flow information:

Cash paid for taxes

$

12,681

 

$

6,218

 

Cash paid for interest

$

1,533

 

$

2,178

 

Cash paid for amounts included in operating lease liabilities

$

11,163

 

$

11,077

 

 

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240801315702/en/

Dan Mahoney Chief Financial Officer Charles River Associates 617-425-3505 Nicholas Manganaro Sharon Merrill Advisors [e-mail] 617-542-5300