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CRA International, Inc.: Q3 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 5 November 2026: press release, prepared remarks. Guidance figures: 2 raised, 1 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue rose 15.6% to $214.9 million: Revenue came to $214.9 million, against $185.9 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2025. Source
  • Non-GAAP EBITDA rose 11.2%: Non-GAAP EBITDA was $27.1 million, or 12.6% of revenue, against $24.4 million, or 13.1% of revenue, a year earlier. Source
  • Year-to-date results at company highs: On a constant currency basis, year-to-date revenue was $624.0 million and non-GAAP EBITDA $76.8 million, a 12.3% margin. Source
  • Seven practices grew, about 95% of revenue: Seven practices grew year over year and represented about 95% of third-quarter revenue, which management described as broad-based. Source
  • Forgivable loan amortization rose: Forgivable loan amortization, including performance award amortization, was $15.1 million, or 7.0% of revenue, up from $11.5 million, or 6.2%. Source
  • Operating cash flow rose in quarter: Quarterly operating cash flow was $74.4 million, against $36.5 million a year earlier. Source
  • Days sales outstanding rose to 117: Total DSO was 117 days, with 70 billed and 47 unbilled, against 115 days a year earlier. Source
  • No share repurchases in quarter: No shares were bought back in the quarter. A year earlier about 22,000 shares were repurchased for $4.0 million. Source

“This record top-line performance translated into the highest third-quarter profits in the company’s history as measured by net income, earnings per diluted share and EBITDA.”

Paul Maleh, CRA’s President and Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Revenue SourceFiscal 2026, constant currency relative to fiscal 2025$830 million to $840 millionRaised from $805 million to $820 million
Non-GAAP EBITDA margin SourceFiscal 2026, constant currency relative to fiscal 202512.2% to 12.8%
Revenue, constant currency adjustment SourceFiscal 2026decrease of approximately $2.9 million
Non-GAAP EBITDA, constant currency adjustment SourceFiscal 2026decrease of approximately $0.4 million
Non-cash forgivable loan amortization SourceFiscal 2026increase of approximately $15 millionKept
Quarterly dividend SourcePayable December 11, 2026$0.67 per common shareRaised from $0.57 per common share

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Fiscal 2026 revenue guidance range moved up, and the EBITDA margin range was narrowed. Source
  • Ended: No shares were repurchased in Q3, after about 193,000 shares were bought for $27.8 million in the second quarter. Source
  • New: A non-current term loan of $72.9 million appears on the balance sheet; none was shown at July 4, 2026. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue rose 15.6% to $214.9 million: Revenue came to $214.9 million, against $185.9 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2025. Source
  • Net income and diluted EPS grew: Net income was $13.9 million, or 6.5% of revenue, and diluted EPS was $2.20. Non-GAAP diluted EPS was $2.19, against $2.06. Source
  • Non-GAAP EBITDA rose 11.2%: Non-GAAP EBITDA was $27.1 million, or 12.6% of revenue, against $24.4 million, or 13.1% of revenue, a year earlier. Source
  • Year-to-date results at company highs: On a constant currency basis, year-to-date revenue was $624.0 million and non-GAAP EBITDA $76.8 million, a 12.3% margin. Source

Practices and geographies

  • Seven practices grew, about 95% of revenue: Seven practices grew year over year and represented about 95% of third-quarter revenue, which management described as broad-based. Source
  • Three practices grew double digits: Forensic Services, Life Sciences, and Risk, Investigations & Analytics each grew by double digits; Antitrust & Competition Economics set a quarterly revenue high. Source
  • Legal & Regulatory and Management Consulting grew: Legal & Regulatory offerings grew 15.7% and Management Consulting services grew 9.8% year over year. Source
  • North America and international both grew: North American revenue rose 18.0% and international revenue rose 6.2% year over year. Source

“Broad-based contributions once again characterized CRA’s financial performance, reflecting both the quality and the depth of our portfolio.”

Paul Maleh, CRA’s President and Chief Executive Officer

Costs and margins

  • Operating margin rose to 11.1%: Operating income was $23.9 million, or 11.1% of revenue, against 9.3% a year earlier. Source
  • SG&A fell as share of revenue: SG&A was 16.5% of revenue against 18.1%. Excluding commissions to non-employee experts, it was 14.9% against 16.3%. Source
  • Forgivable loan amortization rose: Forgivable loan amortization, including performance award amortization, was $15.1 million, or 7.0% of revenue, up from $11.5 million, or 6.2%. Source
  • Non-GAAP net margin declined: Non-GAAP net income was $13.9 million, or 6.4% of revenue, against $13.7 million, or 7.3% a year earlier. Source
  • Effective tax rate rose: The GAAP effective tax rate was 34.8%, against 29.3% a year earlier; the non-GAAP rate was 34.9%, against 28.8%. Source

Demand and client reimbursables

  • Pipeline cited for guidance increase: Management linked the revenue guidance increase to results and to the sales pipeline. Source
  • Client reimbursables rose to 9.9%: Client reimbursables were $21.2 million, or 9.9% of revenue, against $17.8 million, or 9.6% a year earlier. Source

“We remain confident in CRA’s competitive position, which is reflected in our decision to raise our quarterly cash dividend by 17.5%”

Paul Maleh, CRA’s President and Chief Executive Officer

Cash, receivables and working capital

  • Operating cash flow rose in quarter: Quarterly operating cash flow was $74.4 million, against $36.5 million a year earlier. Source
  • Year-to-date operating cash used: Year-to-date net cash used in operating activities was $43.9 million, against $37.6 million. Source
  • Days sales outstanding rose to 117: Total DSO was 117 days, with 70 billed and 47 unbilled, against 115 days a year earlier. Source
  • Cash and revolver borrowings: Cash was $20.4 million. Revolver borrowings were $75.0 million, against $95.0 million a year earlier. Source
  • Capital expenditures rose: Capital expenditures totaled $1.2 million, against $0.7 million a year earlier. Source

Capital and shareholder returns

  • No share repurchases in quarter: No shares were bought back in the quarter. A year earlier about 22,000 shares were repurchased for $4.0 million. Source
  • Dividend paid at $0.57 per share: The $0.57 quarterly dividend paid in the quarter totaled $3.6 million, against $3.2 million a year earlier. Source
  • Credit facility refinanced in August: The second-quarter release reported a five-year facility of up to $400 million, with a $75 million term loan and a $325 million revolver.
  • Revolver capacity at $171.9 million: Revolving credit facility borrowing capacity was $171.9 million at October 3, 2026. Source

Talent investment and restructuring

  • Talent investment drives amortization: Management described the higher forgivable loan amortization as investment in talent meant to drive profitable growth. Source
  • Portfolio optimization charges booked: Year-to-date charges for portfolio optimization were $1.6 million of cash severance and $1.0 million of non-cash charges. Source

Currency and calendar effects

  • Constant currency revenue would be higher: On a constant currency basis, Q3 revenue would have been $0.3 million higher, at $215.2 million. Source
  • Fiscal 2026 returns to 52-week year: Fiscal 2026 is a typical 52-week year; fiscal 2025 had 53 weeks, with an extra week in the fourth quarter. Source

Coming up, as management said on 5 November 2026

  • Dividend payable December 11: The $0.67 dividend is payable on December 11, 2026, to holders of record on November 24, 2026. Source
  • Continued quarterly dividends expected: Management expects to keep paying quarterly dividends, with declaration, timing and amount at the Board’s discretion. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Consultant headcount, quarter-end Source1,028
Utilization Source78%

Risks management discussed

  • External: Management cited uncertain global macroeconomic, business and political conditions as able to affect clients and the business. Source
  • Financial: Management does not reconcile annual EBITDA margin guidance to GAAP net income margin, citing unusual items, currency and equity award tax effects. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: About $14 million of the expected increase has been booked through the first three quarters. Source

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.