Charles River Stock Moves North Since Q4 Earnings and Revenue Beat

Monday, Mar 2, 2026 10:13 am ET2min read
CRAI--
Aime RobotAime Summary

- Charles River Associates (CRAI) reported Q4 2025 results exceeding Zacks estimates, with $2.06 EPS and $197M revenue (up 11.6% YoY).

- The board increased share repurchase authorization by $55M, driving a 3.1% stock price rise since Feb. 26 earnings release.

- CRAICRTO-- guided 2026 revenue to $785-$805M with 12-13% non-GAAP EBITDA margin, despite flat EBITDA at $24.4M and 12.4% margin decline.

- The firm maintained 78% utilization and 1.4% YoY headcount growth, but cash reserves fell to $18.2M from $22.5M by Q3 2025.

Charles River Associates CRAI reported impressive fourth-quarter 2025 results, with earnings and revenues beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate. CRAI’s board expanded the share repurchase authorization by $55 million.

The better-than-expected results, coupled with the shareholder-friendly announcement, had a positive impact on the market, with the company’s shares rising 3.1% since the earnings release on Feb. 26.

Quarterly EPS of $2.06 marginally beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate and increased 1.5% from the year-ago reported figure. Total revenues of $197 million surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 3.7% and rose 11.6% year over year.

Charles River Associates Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise

Charles River Associates price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | Charles River Associates Quote

Other Quarterly Details for CRAI

The company delivered 78% utilization, while the headcount was up 1.4% year over year. Non-GAAP EBITDA remained relatively flat at $24.4 million. The non-GAAP EBITDA margin declined 150 basis points year over year to 12.4%, below our estimate of 12.7%.

Key Balance Sheet & Cash Flow Figures

The company exited the fourth quarter of 2025 with a cash and cash equivalent balance of $18.21 million compared with $22.5 million at the end of the September-end quarter of 2025. It generated $60 million in cash from operating activities. In the quarter, Charles River paid out $3.73 million in dividends.

2026 Guidance

CRAI announced its 2026 constant-currency revenue guidance in the range of $785-$805 million. The company expects a non-GAAP EBITDA margin between 12% and 13%.

CRAI currently carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell).

You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Recent Earnings Snapshots

Waste Connections, Inc. WCN reported impressive fourth-quarter 2025 results.

Waste Connections’ adjusted earnings (excluding 28 cents from non-recurring items) of $1.29 per share marginally beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate and increased 11.2% year over year. WCN’s revenues of $2.4 billion met the consensus estimate and grew 5% from the year-ago quarter.

Equifax Inc. EFX posted impressive fourth-quarter 2025 results.

EFX’s adjusted earnings were $2.09 per share, outpacing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 2.5% but declining 1.4% from the year-ago quarter. Equifax’s total revenues of $1.6 billion surpassed the consensus estimate by 1.3% and grew 9.2% on a year-over-year basis.

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Charles River Associates (CRAI): Free Stock Analysis Report

Equifax, Inc. (EFX): Free Stock Analysis Report

Waste Connections, Inc. (WCN): Free Stock Analysis Report

This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com).

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