Charles River Associates (CRA) Reports Fourth-Quarter and Full-Year 2021 Financial Results
Charles River Associates (NASDAQ: CRAI) reported record revenue for fiscal 2021, achieving $565.9 million, a growth of 11.3% year over year. Despite a 1.9% decline in Q4 2021 revenue to $134.8 million, net income surged 29.3% to $8.7 million. Full-year GAAP net income rose 70.1% to $41.7 million, translating to $5.45 per diluted share. The company plans revenue guidance for fiscal 2022 between $585 million and $605 million, with EBITDA margins projected at 10.8% to 11.5%. A quarterly dividend of $0.31 per share was announced, payable on March 25, 2022.
- Fiscal 2021 revenue of $565.9 million grew 11.3% year over year.
- GAAP net income for fiscal 2021 increased 70.1% to $41.7 million.
- Quarterly net income rose 29.3% to $8.7 million in Q4 2021.
- Earnings per diluted share reached $5.45, up from $3.07 in fiscal 2020.
- CRA returned $53.0 million to shareholders, including $8.3 million in dividends.
- Q4 2021 revenue declined 1.9% year over year.
- Utilization rate dropped to 72% in Q4.
- Revenue growth for fiscal 2022 is uncertain due to macroeconomic conditions.
Broad-based Contributions Drive Record Revenue and Profits in Fiscal 2021
“CRA’s fiscal 2021 topped a record-setting fiscal 2020 as revenue increased year over year by
Highlights for Fourth-Quarter Fiscal 2021
(Q4 2021 contained 13 weeks, compared with 14 weeks in Q4 2020)
-
Revenue declined
1.9% year over year to$134.8 million -
Utilization was
72% , and quarter-end headcount increased3.6% year over year. -
Net income increased
29.3% year over year to$8.7 million 6.4% of revenue, compared with$6.7 million 4.9% of revenue, in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2020; non-GAAP net income increased15.0% year over year to$8.7 million 6.4% of revenue, compared with$7.5 million 5.5% of revenue, in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2020. -
Earnings per diluted share increased
34.1% year over year to$1.14 20.0% year over year to$1.14 -
Non-GAAP EBITDA increased
9.1% to$15.2 million 11.3% of revenue, compared with$14.0 million 10.2% of revenue, in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2020. -
On a constant currency basis relative to the fourth quarter of fiscal 2020, revenue would have been lower by
$0.4 million $0.1 million -
CRA returned
$7.4 million $2.4 million $5.0 million
Highlights for Full-Year Fiscal 2021
(Fiscal 2021 contained 52 weeks, compared with 53 weeks in fiscal 2020)
-
Revenue grew
11.3% year over year to$565.9 million 74% . -
GAAP net income increased
70.1% year over year to$41.7 million 7.4% of revenue, or$5.45 $24.5 million 4.8% of revenue, or$3.07 57.0% year over year to$42.0 million 7.4% of revenue, or$5.49 $26.7 million 5.3% of revenue, or$3.35 -
Non-GAAP EBITDA grew
34.8% to$68.4 million 12.1% of revenue, compared with$50.7 million 10.0% of revenue, in fiscal 2020. -
On a constant currency basis relative to fiscal 2020, revenue, GAAP net income, and earnings per diluted share would have been lower by
$6.4 million $0.5 million $0.06 $0.5 million $0.06 $0.7 million -
For fiscal 2021, CRA returned
$53.0 million $8.3 million $44.7 million $25.0 million April 5, 2021 .
Management Commentary and Financial Guidance
“The hard work of my colleagues and their dedication to client service drove our success in fiscal 2021,” said Maleh. “Recapping our record financial performance, CRA reported revenue for fiscal 2021 of
“Our fiscal 2021 financial performance demonstrates our continued strength in the marketplace. We will look to build on our trend of broad-based, profitable growth in the years ahead,” continued Maleh. “For full-year fiscal 2022, on a constant currency basis relative to fiscal 2021, we expect revenue in the range of
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.
Quarterly Dividend
On
Conference Call Information and Prepared CFO Remarks
CRA will host a conference call today at
In combination with this press release, CRA has posted prepared remarks by its CFO
About
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
NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES
In this release, CRA has supplemented the presentation of its financial results calculated in accordance with
CRA defines non-GAAP EBITDA as net income before interest expense (net), 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 and related tax effects. Non-GAAP net income and non-GAAP net income per share also exclude non-cash amounts relating to valuation changes in contingent consideration 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.
CRA has also provided an adjusted revenue growth rate for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2021 as compared to the fourth quarter of fiscal 2020 to adjust for the impact of the extra week in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2020. The adjustment reflects the percentage change in the quarter over quarter results after reducing the revenue attributed to the fourth quarter of fiscal 2020 by one week on a pro rata basis.
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 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 2022 on a constant currency basis relative to fiscal 2021 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; the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic; 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
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Fiscal Quarter Ended |
|
Fiscal Year-to-Date Period Ended |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
As a % of
|
|
|
|
As a % of
|
|
|
|
As a % of
|
|
|
|
As a % of
|
||||||||||||||||
| Revenues | $ |
134,766 |
|
100.0 |
% |
$ |
137,422 |
|
100.0 |
% |
$ |
565,933 |
|
100.0 |
% |
$ |
508,373 |
|
100.0 |
% |
||||||||||
| Cost of services (exclusive of depreciation and amortization) |
|
93,658 |
|
69.5 |
% |
|
101,247 |
|
73.7 |
% |
|
400,054 |
|
70.7 |
% |
|
370,709 |
|
72.9 |
% |
||||||||||
| Selling, general and administrative expenses |
|
25,633 |
|
19.0 |
% |
|
22,286 |
|
16.2 |
% |
|
97,372 |
|
17.2 |
% |
|
90,028 |
|
17.7 |
% |
||||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization |
|
3,111 |
|
2.3 |
% |
|
3,547 |
|
2.6 |
% |
|
12,768 |
|
2.3 |
% |
|
12,840 |
|
2.5 |
% |
||||||||||
| Income from operations |
|
12,364 |
|
9.2 |
% |
|
10,342 |
|
7.5 |
% |
|
55,739 |
|
9.8 |
% |
|
34,796 |
|
6.8 |
% |
||||||||||
| Interest expense, net |
|
(179 |
) |
-0.1 |
% |
|
(205 |
) |
-0.1 |
% |
|
(970 |
) |
-0.2 |
% |
|
(1,216 |
) |
-0.2 |
% |
||||||||||
| Foreign currency gains (losses), net |
|
(241 |
) |
-0.2 |
% |
|
(1,061 |
) |
-0.8 |
% |
|
(494 |
) |
-0.1 |
% |
|
42 |
|
- |
% |
||||||||||
| Income before provision for income taxes |
|
11,944 |
|
8.9 |
% |
|
9,076 |
|
6.6 |
% |
|
54,275 |
|
9.6 |
% |
|
33,622 |
|
6.6 |
% |
||||||||||
| Provision for income taxes |
|
3,277 |
|
2.4 |
% |
|
2,371 |
|
1.7 |
% |
|
12,596 |
|
2.2 |
% |
|
9,115 |
|
1.8 |
% |
||||||||||
| Net income | $ |
8,667 |
|
6.4 |
% |
$ |
6,705 |
|
4.9 |
% |
$ |
41,679 |
|
7.4 |
% |
$ |
24,507 |
|
4.8 |
% |
||||||||||
| Net income per share: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Basic | $ |
1.17 |
|
$ |
0.86 |
|
$ |
5.59 |
|
$ |
3.14 |
|
||||||||||||||||||
| Diluted | $ |
1.14 |
|
$ |
0.85 |
|
$ |
5.45 |
|
$ |
3.07 |
|
||||||||||||||||||
| Weighted average number of shares outstanding: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Basic |
|
7,373 |
|
|
7,735 |
|
|
7,423 |
|
|
7,768 |
|
||||||||||||||||||
| Diluted |
|
7,555 |
|
|
7,905 |
|
|
7,621 |
|
|
7,948 |
|
||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Fiscal Quarter Ended |
|
Fiscal Year-to-Date Period Ended |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
As a % of
|
|
|
|
As a % of
|
|
|
|
As a % of
|
|
|
|
As a % of
|
||||||||||||||||
| Revenues | $ |
134,766 |
|
100.0 |
% |
$ |
137,422 |
|
100.0 |
% |
$ |
565,933 |
|
100.0 |
% |
$ |
508,373 |
|
100.0 |
% |
||||||||||
| Net income | $ |
8,667 |
|
6.4 |
% |
$ |
6,705 |
|
4.9 |
% |
$ |
41,679 |
|
7.4 |
% |
$ |
24,507 |
|
4.8 |
% |
||||||||||
| Adjustments needed to reconcile GAAP net income to non-GAAP net income: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Non-cash valuation change in contingent consideration |
|
- |
|
- |
% |
|
1,140 |
|
0.8 |
% |
|
380 |
|
0.1 |
% |
|
3,041 |
|
0.6 |
% |
||||||||||
| Tax effect on adjustments |
|
- |
|
- |
% |
|
(308 |
) |
-0.2 |
% |
|
(103 |
) |
- |
% |
|
(816 |
) |
-0.2 |
% |
||||||||||
| Non-GAAP net income | $ |
8,667 |
|
6.4 |
% |
$ |
7,537 |
|
5.5 |
% |
$ |
41,956 |
|
7.4 |
% |
$ |
26,732 |
|
5.3 |
% |
||||||||||
| Non-GAAP net income per share: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Basic | $ |
1.17 |
|
$ |
0.97 |
|
$ |
5.63 |
|
$ |
3.43 |
|
||||||||||||||||||
| Diluted | $ |
1.14 |
|
$ |
0.95 |
|
$ |
5.49 |
|
$ |
3.35 |
|
||||||||||||||||||
| Weighted average number of shares outstanding: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Basic |
|
7,373 |
|
7,735 |
|
|
7,423 |
|
|
7,768 |
|
|||||||||||||||||||
| Diluted |
|
7,555 |
|
|
7,905 |
|
|
7,621 |
|
|
7,948 |
|
||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Fiscal Quarter Ended |
|
Fiscal Year-to-Date Period Ended |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
As a % of
|
|
|
|
As a % of
|
|
|
|
As a % of
|
|
|
|
As a % of
|
||||||||||||||||
| Revenues | $ |
134,766 |
|
100.0 |
% |
$ |
137,422 |
|
100.0 |
% |
$ |
565,933 |
|
100.0 |
% |
$ |
508,373 |
|
100.0 |
% |
||||||||||
| Net income | $ |
8,667 |
|
6.4 |
% |
$ |
6,705 |
|
4.9 |
% |
$ |
41,679 |
|
7.4 |
% |
$ |
24,507 |
|
4.8 |
% |
||||||||||
| Adjustments needed to reconcile GAAP net income to non-GAAP net income: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Non-cash valuation change in contingent consideration |
|
- |
|
- |
% |
|
1,140 |
|
0.8 |
% |
|
380 |
|
0.1 |
% |
|
3,041 |
|
0.6 |
% |
||||||||||
| Tax effect on adjustments |
|
- |
|
- |
% |
|
(308 |
) |
-0.2 |
% |
|
(103 |
) |
- |
% |
|
(816 |
) |
-0.2 |
% |
||||||||||
| Non-GAAP net income | $ |
8,667 |
|
6.4 |
% |
$ |
7,537 |
|
5.5 |
% |
$ |
41,956 |
|
7.4 |
% |
$ |
26,732 |
|
5.3 |
% |
||||||||||
| Adjustments needed to reconcile non-GAAP net income to non-GAAP EBITDA: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Interest expense, net |
|
179 |
|
0.1 |
% |
|
205 |
|
0.1 |
% |
|
970 |
|
0.2 |
% |
|
1,216 |
|
0.2 |
% |
||||||||||
| Provision for income taxes |
|
3,277 |
2.4 |
% |
|
2,679 |
|
1.9 |
% |
|
12,699 |
|
2.2 |
% |
|
9,931 |
|
2.0 |
% |
|||||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization |
|
3,111 |
|
2.3 |
% |
|
3,547 |
|
2.6 |
% |
|
12,768 |
|
2.3 |
% |
|
12,840 |
|
2.5 |
% |
||||||||||
| Non-GAAP EBITDA | $ |
15,234 |
|
11.3 |
% |
$ |
13,968 |
|
10.2 |
% |
$ |
68,393 |
|
12.1 |
% |
$ |
50,719 |
|
10.0 |
% |
||||||||||
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (IN THOUSANDS) |
|||||||||
2022 |
2021 |
||||||||
| Assets | |||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ |
66,130 |
$ |
45,677 |
|||||
| Accounts receivable and unbilled services, net |
|
162,057 |
|
152,476 |
|||||
| Other current assets |
|
21,160 |
|
21,817 |
|||||
| Total current assets |
|
249,347 |
|
219,970 |
|||||
| Property and equipment, net |
|
53,612 |
|
62,878 |
|||||
|
93,117 |
|
94,295 |
||||||
| Right-of-use assets |
|
110,475 |
|
122,144 |
|||||
| Other assets |
|
48,809 |
|
59,223 |
|||||
| Total assets | $ |
555,360 |
$ |
558,510 |
|||||
| Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity | |||||||||
| Accounts payable | $ |
23,511 |
$ |
19,430 |
|||||
| Accrued expenses |
|
156,314 |
|
136,376 |
|||||
| Current portion of lease liabilities |
|
14,337 |
|
13,557 |
|||||
| Other current liabilities |
|
18,924 |
|
30,768 |
|||||
| Total current liabilities |
|
213,086 |
|
200,131 |
|||||
| Non-current portion of lease liabilities |
|
124,464 |
|
139,447 |
|||||
| Other non-current liabilities |
|
11,976 |
|
9,913 |
|||||
| Total liabilities |
|
349,526 |
|
349,491 |
|||||
| Total shareholders’ equity |
|
205,834 |
|
209,019 |
|||||
| Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity | $ |
555,360 |
$ |
558,510 |
|||||
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (IN THOUSANDS) |
|||||||||||
| Fiscal Year-to-Date Period Ended | |||||||||||
2022 |
2021 |
||||||||||
| Operating activities: | |||||||||||
| Net income | $ |
41,679 |
|
$ |
24,507 |
|
|||||
| Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: | |||||||||||
| Non-cash items, net |
|
29,680 |
|
|
28,994 |
|
|||||
| Accounts receivable and unbilled services |
|
(10,088 |
) |
|
(5,888 |
) |
|||||
| Working capital items, net |
|
14,427 |
|
|
7,050 |
|
|||||
| Net cash provided by operating activities |
|
75,698 |
|
|
54,663 |
|
|||||
| Investing activities: | |||||||||||
| Purchases of property and equipment |
|
(2,623 |
) |
|
(17,094 |
) |
|||||
| Net cash used in investing activities |
|
(2,623 |
) |
|
(17,094 |
) |
|||||
| Financing activities: | |||||||||||
| Issuance of common stock, principally stock options exercises |
|
5,157 |
|
|
2,236 |
|
|||||
| Borrowings under revolving line of credit |
|
74,000 |
|
|
77,000 |
|
|||||
| Repayments under revolving line of credit |
|
(74,000 |
) |
|
(77,000 |
) |
|||||
| Tax withholding payments reimbursed by shares |
|
(1,528 |
) |
|
(862 |
) |
|||||
| Cash paid for contingent consideration |
|
(2,357 |
) |
|
- |
|
|||||
| Cash dividends paid |
|
(8,289 |
) |
|
(7,503 |
) |
|||||
| Repurchase of common stock |
|
(44,976 |
) |
|
(13,371 |
) |
|||||
| Net cash used in financing activities |
|
(51,993 |
) |
|
(19,500 |
) |
|||||
| Effect of foreign exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents |
|
(629 |
) |
|
1,969 |
|
|||||
| Net increase in cash and cash equivalents |
|
20,453 |
|
|
20,038 |
|
|||||
| Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period |
|
45,677 |
|
|
25,639 |
|
|||||
| Cash and cash equivalents at end of period | $ |
66,130 |
|
$ |
45,677 |
|
|||||
| Noncash investing and financing activities: | |||||||||||
| Purchases of property and equipment not yet paid for | $ |
(8 |
) |
$ |
4,749 |
|
|||||
| Asset retirement obligations | $ |
- |
|
$ |
155 |
|
|||||
| Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for lease obligations | $ |
1,751 |
|
$ |
2,640 |
|
|||||
| Restricted common stock issued for contingent consideration | $ |
2,250 |
|
$ |
- |
|
|||||
| Supplemental cash flow information: | |||||||||||
| Cash paid for taxes | $ |
14,953 |
|
$ |
6,535 |
|
|||||
| Cash paid for interest | $ |
727 |
|
$ |
1,162 |
|
|||||
| Cash paid for amounts included in operating lease liabilities | $ |
20,823 |
|
$ |
20,436 |
|
|||||
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220302006089/en/
Chief Financial Officer
617-425-3505
crai@investorrelations.com
617-542-5300
Source:
FAQ
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