---
title: "Charles River Associates: Strong Q1 Beat, Broad-Based Demand Supports Buy Rating and Unchanged $245 Price Target"
type: "News"
locale: "en"
url: "https://longbridge.com/en/news/286302089.md"
description: "Kevin Steinke from Barrington maintains a Buy rating on Charles River Associates (CRA) with a price target of $245. The rating is supported by CRA's strong Q1 results, which exceeded expectations and showed double-digit revenue growth across various consulting practices, particularly in energy and life sciences. Despite pressures on EBITDA margins due to non-cash loan amortization, underlying profitability improved year-over-year, reinforcing Steinke's positive outlook."
datetime: "2026-05-13T18:15:34.000Z"
locales:
  - [zh-CN](https://longbridge.com/zh-CN/news/286302089.md)
  - [en](https://longbridge.com/en/news/286302089.md)
  - [zh-HK](https://longbridge.com/zh-HK/news/286302089.md)
---

# Charles River Associates: Strong Q1 Beat, Broad-Based Demand Supports Buy Rating and Unchanged $245 Price Target

Kevin Steinke, an analyst from Barrington, reiterated the Buy rating on Cra International. The associated price target remains the same with $245.00.

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Kevin Steinke has given his Buy rating due to a combination of factors, starting with Charles River Associates’ stronger-than-expected first-quarter results and solid underlying demand trends. Revenue not only surpassed both his forecast and market expectations but also grew at a healthy double‑digit pace in constant currency, supported by broad-based expansion across most consulting practices, including particularly robust growth in energy, forensics, life sciences, and finance.

He also highlights the record performance of the Antitrust & Competition Economics practice, which benefited from a rebound in global M&A activity and continues to demonstrate resilience across varying deal environments. While reported EBITDA margin was pressured by higher non‑cash forgivable loan amortization tied to hiring and retaining high‑producing consultants, Steinke views this as an investment in future growth, noting that underlying profitability excluding this item actually improved year over year, supporting his unchanged $245 price target and Buy view.

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- [CRAI.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/CRAI.US.md)

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