Is CRA International’s (CRAI) Insider Share Plan Quietly Reframing Its Stronger Earnings Story?

• Earlier this week, CRA International reported that Chairman Paul A. Maleh filed a Form 144 on December 3, 2025, to sell 7,500 restricted shares under a prearranged 10b5-1 trading plan.
• At the same time, CRA International’s earnings outlook has been revised higher and the firm is outperforming the broader Business Services sector, highlighting growing investor attention to its consulting franchise.
• We’ll now examine how the stronger earnings outlook and sector outperformance influence CRA International’s existing investment narrative and risk balance.

The end of cancer? These 29 emerging AI stocks are developing tech that will allow early identification of life changing diseases like cancer and Alzheimer's.

CRA International Investment Narrative Recap

To own CRA International, you need to believe in its ability to convert specialized economic and litigation consulting into steady earnings, even if dealmaking or regulatory cycles cool. The chairman’s planned Form 144 sale under a 10b5-1 plan does not, in itself, materially change the near term earnings catalyst or the key risk around potential slowdowns in M&A and litigation activity.

The most relevant backdrop to this filing is CRA’s recently raised earnings outlook and its outperformance versus the broader Business Services sector, which has put more focus on the durability of its recent profit momentum. Together with ongoing buybacks and higher dividends, this stronger earnings profile has supported the current investment narrative, but it also raises the stakes if client activity or pricing were to soften.

Yet investors still need to weigh how exposed CRA International remains to a downturn in M&A and litigation volumes...

Read the full narrative on CRA International (it's free!)

CRA International's narrative projects $822.0 million revenue and $60.0 million earnings by 2028. This requires 4.9% yearly revenue growth and a $3.6 million earnings increase from $56.4 million today.

Uncover how CRA International's forecasts yield a $249.50 fair value, a 32% upside to its current price.

Exploring Other Perspectives

Two members of the Simply Wall St Community currently estimate CRA International’s fair value between US$249.50 and US$307.66, highlighting a wide band of individual expectations. You can set those views against the key risk that sustained weakness in global dealmaking or litigation activity could eventually pressure the consulting demand CRA relies on.

Explore 2 other fair value estimates on CRA International - why the stock might be worth just $249.50!

Build Your Own CRA International Narrative

Disagree with existing narratives? Create your own in under 3 minutes - extraordinary investment returns rarely come from following the herd.

• A great starting point for your CRA International research is our analysis highlighting 3 key rewards that could impact your investment decision.
• Our free CRA International research report provides a comprehensive fundamental analysis summarized in a single visual - the Snowflake - making it easy to evaluate CRA International's overall financial health at a glance.

Searching For A Fresh Perspective?

Markets shift fast. These stocks won't stay hidden for long. Get the list while it matters:

• These 13 companies survived and thrived after COVID and have the right ingredients to survive Trump's tariffs. Discover why before your portfolio feels the trade war pinch.
• Rare earth metals are an input to most high-tech devices, military and defence systems and electric vehicles. The global race is on to secure supply of these critical minerals. Beat the pack to uncover the 36 best rare earth metal stocks of the very few that mine this essential strategic resource.
• We've found 15 US stocks that are forecast to pay a dividend yield of over 6% next year. See the full list for free.

This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com