Equity Profile

CRAI

CRA International, Inc.

IndustrialsResearch & Consulting Services$896.7M

Aug6Thu

Pre-Earnings Brief

UpcomingQ2-2026Pre-Market9:00 AM EDT

Company Snapshot

CRAI International, Inc. is a consulting firm that provides research and consulting services across various industries....

Key Metrics to Watch

Earnings Per Share (EPS)

EPS is a key indicator of the company's profitability and will show how well CRAI is managing its costs and generating income.

N/A

Revenue Growth

Revenue growth reflects the company's ability to attract and retain clients, which is crucial for its consulting business.

N/A

Wall Street expectations, options signals, track record, and call prep available with Pro.

CRAI Q2-2026 Earnings Preview

Context

Company Snapshot

CRAI International, Inc. is a consulting firm that provides research and consulting services across various industries. With a market cap of $1 billion, the company plays a significant role in helping organizations make informed decisions, particularly in areas like economic analysis and strategic planning.

Earnings Scorecard·Last 8Q

EPS Beat Streak

EPS Beat Rate

75%

Avg EPS Surprise

-0.53%

Avg Stock Reaction

-0.48%

Last Quarter Recap

In Q1 2026, CRAI reported an EPS of $1.99, slightly missing the estimate of $2.02, leading to an 8.86% drop in stock price the following day. The company has shown volatility in its earnings history, with significant surprises in previous quarters.

Management Promises & Guidance

Expectations

Wall Street Expectations

Investors are cautiously optimistic about CRAI's upcoming earnings, given its history of beating EPS estimates 75% of the time. However, the recent miss has raised concerns about future performance.

Bull Case

If CRAI can exceed expectations and demonstrate strong revenue growth, it could restore investor confidence and drive the stock price higher.

Bear Case

Conversely, if the company reports another earnings miss or weak guidance, it could lead to further declines in stock price, especially given the recent volatility.

Expectations

Two Questions That Matter

The print will turn on these two things.

What will the EPS be for Q2 2026?

Given the company's recent performance, a strong EPS could indicate a turnaround, while a weak result could further erode investor confidence.

What is the revenue growth outlook for the next quarter?

Revenue growth is crucial for sustaining the business, and guidance on this will be closely watched by investors.

Edge

What the Street Is Missing

Why consensus could be wrong

The Street may be underestimating CRAI's ability to rebound from recent misses, as historical patterns suggest a strong likelihood of recovery in subsequent quarters.

Supporting Evidence

The company has a 75% EPS beat rate, indicating potential for positive surprises.

Options are pricing in an 18.05% move, suggesting that investors expect significant volatility, which could favor a rebound.

The historical average absolute move of 6.52% suggests that the stock could react positively to any good news.

Key Risk

If CRAI reports an EPS above $2.10, it could significantly shift market sentiment and challenge the current cautious consensus.

Edge

Thesis-Break Levels

Pre-commit to what would confirm each case.

This quarter's performance is critical as CRAI seeks to regain momentum after a disappointing Q1.

Bull Confirmed If

A reported EPS of $2.10 or higher would confirm the bull case and indicate strong operational performance.

Bear Confirmed If

An EPS below $1.90 would confirm the bear case and raise concerns about the company's profitability.

Pre-Earnings Positioning

Options Market

Implied Move

±18.05%

Historical Avg

±6.5%

Pricing rich

The options market is pricing in a significant move, suggesting that investors expect volatility around the earnings report.

Options are pricing ±18.1% while CRAI has averaged ±6.5% over the last 8 prints — setup is pricing rich.

Detail

ATM IV

0.5%

30d HV

48.6%

Edge

Historical Setup Match

Cross-company pattern from 30 similar setups.

Prior-quarter miss + options pricing rich in Industrials

n=30

Fade rate: 12 of 30 (40%)

This setup has occurred 30 times across Industrials in the last 2 years. 12 of 30 faded and 18 held — no strong directional bias after the initial reaction. The average absolute 1-day move is 6.2%, with a raw directional average of +1.5% (modestly positive historical bias).

Preparation

Post-Print Playbook

Likely market behavior by outcome — not investment advice.

Beat & Raise

If CRAI beats expectations, history suggests a potential stock increase of around 0.10%, confirming a positive outlook.

In-Line / Cautious

If results are in line with expectations but management's commentary is cautious, the stock may remain flat or see minor fluctuations.

Miss

A miss could lead to a decline of approximately 2.20%, reflecting ongoing concerns about the company's performance.

Earnings Track Record

Preparation

What to Listen For

Call Prep

1Any updates on client acquisition and retention strategies.
2Details on cost management initiatives and their impact on margins.
3Insights into market trends affecting the consulting industry.
4Guidance on revenue expectations for the next quarter.
5Management's outlook on economic conditions and their potential impact on business.

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Company Snapshot

CRAI International, Inc. is a consulting firm that provides research and consulting services across various industries....

Key Metrics to Watch

Earnings Per Share (EPS)

EPS is a key indicator of the company's profitability and will show how well CRAI is managing its costs and generating income.

N/A

Revenue Growth

Revenue growth reflects the company's ability to attract and retain clients, which is crucial for its consulting business.

N/A

Wall Street expectations, options signals, track record, and call prep available with Pro.

CRAI Q2-2026 Earnings Preview

Context

Company Snapshot

Earnings Scorecard·Last 8Q

EPS Beat Streak

EPS Beat Rate

75%

Avg EPS Surprise

-0.53%

Avg Stock Reaction

-0.48%

Last Quarter Recap

Management Promises & Guidance

Expectations

Wall Street Expectations

Investors are cautiously optimistic about CRAI's upcoming earnings, given its history of beating EPS estimates 75% of the time. However, the recent miss has raised concerns about future performance.

Bull Case

If CRAI can exceed expectations and demonstrate strong revenue growth, it could restore investor confidence and drive the stock price higher.

Bear Case

Conversely, if the company reports another earnings miss or weak guidance, it could lead to further declines in stock price, especially given the recent volatility.

Expectations

Two Questions That Matter

The print will turn on these two things.

What will the EPS be for Q2 2026?

Given the company's recent performance, a strong EPS could indicate a turnaround, while a weak result could further erode investor confidence.

What is the revenue growth outlook for the next quarter?

Revenue growth is crucial for sustaining the business, and guidance on this will be closely watched by investors.

Edge

What the Street Is Missing

Why consensus could be wrong

The Street may be underestimating CRAI's ability to rebound from recent misses, as historical patterns suggest a strong likelihood of recovery in subsequent quarters.

Supporting Evidence

The company has a 75% EPS beat rate, indicating potential for positive surprises.

Options are pricing in an 18.05% move, suggesting that investors expect significant volatility, which could favor a rebound.

The historical average absolute move of 6.52% suggests that the stock could react positively to any good news.

Key Risk

If CRAI reports an EPS above $2.10, it could significantly shift market sentiment and challenge the current cautious consensus.

Edge

Thesis-Break Levels

Pre-commit to what would confirm each case.

This quarter's performance is critical as CRAI seeks to regain momentum after a disappointing Q1.

Bull Confirmed If

A reported EPS of $2.10 or higher would confirm the bull case and indicate strong operational performance.

Bear Confirmed If

An EPS below $1.90 would confirm the bear case and raise concerns about the company's profitability.

Pre-Earnings Positioning

Options Market

Implied Move

±18.05%

Historical Avg

±6.5%

Pricing rich

The options market is pricing in a significant move, suggesting that investors expect volatility around the earnings report.

Options are pricing ±18.1% while CRAI has averaged ±6.5% over the last 8 prints — setup is pricing rich.

Detail

ATM IV

0.5%

30d HV

48.6%

Edge

Historical Setup Match

Cross-company pattern from 30 similar setups.

Prior-quarter miss + options pricing rich in Industrials

n=30

Fade rate: 12 of 30 (40%)

Preparation

Post-Print Playbook

Likely market behavior by outcome — not investment advice.

Beat & Raise

If CRAI beats expectations, history suggests a potential stock increase of around 0.10%, confirming a positive outlook.

In-Line / Cautious

If results are in line with expectations but management's commentary is cautious, the stock may remain flat or see minor fluctuations.

Miss

A miss could lead to a decline of approximately 2.20%, reflecting ongoing concerns about the company's performance.

Earnings Track Record

Preparation

What to Listen For

Call Prep

1Any updates on client acquisition and retention strategies.
2Details on cost management initiatives and their impact on margins.
3Insights into market trends affecting the consulting industry.
4Guidance on revenue expectations for the next quarter.
5Management's outlook on economic conditions and their potential impact on business.