BOSTON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Charles River Associates (NASDAQ: CRAI), a worldwide leader in providing economic, financial and management consulting services, today announced financial results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year ended December 31, 2022.
“CRA once again set financial highs as fiscal 2022 topped a record-setting fiscal 2021,” said Paul Maleh, CRA’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “For the quarter, we continued to see broad-based strength across our portfolio. Reported revenue increased 7.6% compared with the fourth quarter of fiscal 2021 to $145.0 million. On a constant currency basis, revenue in the fourth quarter would have been higher by $4.4 million, or an additional 3.3% of year-over-year growth. Leading the way with double-digit revenue growth were six practices: Auctions & Competitive Bidding, Finance, Financial Economics, Intellectual Property, Labor & Employment, and Risk, Investigations & Analytics. Geographically, we saw balanced contributions from our North American and international operations, which grew fourth quarter revenue year over year by 8.2% and 5.4%, respectively.”
Highlights for Fourth-Quarter Fiscal 2022
- Revenue grew 7.6% year over year to $145.0 million.
- Utilization was 74%, and quarter-end headcount increased 9.1% year over year.
- Net income increased 0.1% year over year to $8.7 million, or 6.0% of revenue, compared with $8.7 million, or 6.4% of revenue, in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2021; non-GAAP net income increased 0.7% year over year to $8.7 million, or 6.0% of revenue, compared with $8.7 million, or 6.4% of revenue, in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2021.
- Earnings per diluted share increased 4.4% year over year to $1.19; non-GAAP earnings per diluted share increased 4.4% year over year to $1.19.
- Non-GAAP EBITDA decreased 4.0% to $14.6 million, or 10.1% of revenue, compared with $15.2 million, or 11.3% of revenue, in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2021.
- Net income, earnings per diluted share, and non-GAAP EBITDA were negatively impacted by a non-operating foreign currency loss of approximately $1.7 million related to net losses on foreign denominated transactions and the revaluation of working capital balances.
- On a constant currency basis relative to the fourth quarter of fiscal 2021, revenue, GAAP net income, and earnings per diluted share would have been higher by $4.4 million, $0.8 million, and $0.11 per diluted share, respectively. Non-GAAP net income, non-GAAP earnings per diluted share, and non-GAAP EBITDA would have been higher by $0.9 million, $0.12 per diluted share, and $1.1 million, respectively.
- CRA returned $2.7 million of capital to its shareholders, consisting of $2.7 million in dividend payments.
Highlights for Full-Year Fiscal 2022
- Revenue grew 4.4% year over year to $590.9 million with company-wide utilization of 75%.
- GAAP net income increased 4.7% year over year to $43.6 million, or 7.4% of revenue, or $5.91 per diluted share, compared with $41.7 million, or 7.4% of revenue, or $5.45 per diluted share for the full year fiscal 2021. Non-GAAP net income increased 4.5% year over year to $43.8 million, or 7.4% of revenue, or $5.94 per diluted share, compared with $42.0 million, or 7.4% of revenue, or $5.49 per diluted share for the full year fiscal 2021.
- Non-GAAP EBITDA grew 6.6% to $72.9 million, or 12.3% of revenue, compared with $68.4 million, or 12.1% of revenue, in fiscal 2021.
- Net income, earnings per diluted share, and non-GAAP EBITDA were positively impacted by a non-operating foreign currency gain of approximately $1.9 million related to net gains on foreign denominated transactions and the revaluation of working capital balances.
- On a constant currency basis relative to fiscal 2021, revenue, GAAP net income, and earnings per diluted share would have been higher by $12.6 million, $1.9 million, and $0.25 per diluted share, respectively. Non-GAAP net income, non-GAAP earnings per diluted share, and non-GAAP EBITDA would have been higher by $1.9 million, $0.25 per diluted share, and $2.4 million, respectively.
- For fiscal 2022, CRA returned $37.2 million of capital to its shareholders, consisting of $9.6 million of dividend payments and $27.6 million for share repurchases of approximately 320,000 shares.
Management Commentary and Financial Guidance
“CRA reported revenue for fiscal 2022 of $590.9 million, or $603.5 million on a constant currency basis after adjusting for $12.6 million of currency headwinds,” said Maleh. “Full-year, non-GAAP EBITDA was $72.9 million, or $75.3 million on a constant currency basis after adjusting for $2.4 million of currency headwinds. Non-GAAP EBITDA margin was 12.5% on a constant currency basis.”
“Our fiscal 2022 financial performance demonstrates our continued strength in the marketplace. For full-year fiscal 2023, on a constant currency basis relative to fiscal 2022, we expect revenue in the range of $615 million to $640 million, and non-GAAP EBITDA margin in the range of 10.8% to 11.5%. Our margin guidance takes into account a refinement to our approach for the coming year. Reflecting on our investor communications and financial results over the past several years, starting in the first quarter of 2023, we will be modifying our presentation of non-GAAP EBITDA to exclude non-operating foreign currency gains and losses related to foreign denominated transactions and the revaluation of working capital balances. Under this revised definition, CRA’s non-GAAP EBITDA margin on a constant currency basis was 12.2% for each of fiscal years 2021 and 2022 . While we are pleased with CRA’s strong performance in 2022 and are confident we can maintain our current momentum, we remain mindful that uncertain global macroeconomic, business, public health, and political 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 unusual gains or charges, foreign currency exchange rates, and the resulting effect of these items, and of equity awards, on CRA’s taxes without unreasonable effort. 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.
Share Repurchase Expansion and Quarterly Dividend
On March 1, 2023, CRA’s Board of Directors authorized a $20.0 million expansion of the Company’s existing share repurchase program, in addition to the $22.9 million currently remaining under the program. CRA may repurchase shares of its common stock in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions in accordance with applicable insider trading and other securities laws and regulations. The timing, amount and extent to which CRA repurchases shares will depend upon market conditions and other factors it may consider in its sole discretion.
The Board of Directors also authorized a quarterly cash dividend of $0.36 per common share, payable on March 24, 2023 to shareholders of record as of March 14, 2023. 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.
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, Twitter, and Facebook.
