Charles River Associates (CRA) Announces Fourth-Quarter and Full-Year Fiscal 2011 Financial Results

Litigation and Management Consulting Drive Sequential Q4 Growth and Increased Profitability; Company Concludes Fiscal 2011 with Year-Over-Year Improvement

BOSTON--()--Charles River Associates (NASDAQ: CRAI), a worldwide leader in providing management, economic and financial consulting services, today announced fourth-quarter financial results for the 13 weeks ended December 31, 2011. Fourth-quarter 2011 revenue was $75.0 million compared with $71.0 million for the 13-week third quarter of fiscal 2011 and $75.9 million for the 12-week fourth quarter of fiscal 2010, ended November 27, 2010. Non-GAAP revenue for the fourth quarter of 2011 was $73.1 million compared with $69.4 million for the third quarter of fiscal 2011 and $74.5 million for the 12-week fourth quarter of fiscal 2010.

Net income for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2011 was $4.4 million, or $0.42 per diluted share. This compares with net income for the third quarter of fiscal 2011 of $3.7 million, or $0.34 per diluted share, and net income of $1.8 million, or $0.17 per diluted share, for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2010. Non-GAAP net income for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2011 was $4.3 million, or $0.40 per diluted share, compared with $3.3 million, or $0.31 per diluted share, for the third quarter of fiscal 2011 and $3.7 million, or $0.35 per diluted share, for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2010.

A complete reconciliation between revenue, net income and net income per share on a GAAP and non-GAAP basis for the fourth quarters of fiscal 2011 and fiscal 2010, the third quarter of fiscal 2011, and for fiscal 2011 and fiscal 2010 is provided in the financial tables at the end of this release.

Comments on the Fourth Quarter

“We concluded fiscal 2011 with a solid fourth-quarter performance and sequential revenue growth across both our Litigation and Management Consulting businesses,” said Paul Maleh, CRA’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “Within the Litigation business, our Competition, Finance and Life Sciences practices were standout performers in the quarter reflecting ongoing assignments and new project wins. The performance of the Management Consulting business improved in the fourth quarter due to new engagements and growth across the portfolio.”

“The broad-based demand for our services in the quarter was evident in our utilization rate of 74%,” Maleh said. “For the second half of this fiscal year, our results were in-line with our previously announced goal of low-to-mid 70s percent utilization. We achieved a non-GAAP operating margin of 10.0% in the fourth quarter, reaching double-digit non-GAAP operating margins in three of the four quarters of fiscal 2011. For the full year, our non-GAAP operating margin was 9.8%. As a result of our improved operating margin, as well as strong billing and collection efforts, our cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments increased by nearly $22 million to $76 million as of December 31, 2011, compared with the end of the third quarter.”

Full-Year Fiscal 2011 Results

Revenue for fiscal 2011 was $305.2 million compared with $287.4 million for fiscal 2010. Non-GAAP revenue for fiscal 2011 grew more than 6% to $299.1 million, compared with $281.0 million for fiscal 2010.

Net income for fiscal 2011 was $16.9 million, or $1.57 per diluted share, compared with fiscal 2010 net income of $2.6 million, or $0.24 per diluted share. Non-GAAP net income in fiscal 2011 increased 82% to $17.1 million, or $1.60 per diluted share, compared with 2010 non-GAAP net income of $9.4 million, or $0.87 per diluted share.

Comments on Fiscal 2011

“Our results for fiscal 2011 reflect good momentum in generating broad-based growth across our lines of business and in benefitting from a more efficient and scalable infrastructure,” Maleh said. “During the year, we deepened client relationships, simplified internal processes, better allocated our resources, and delivered profitable growth across the company. We concluded fiscal 2011 with more than 6% non-GAAP annual revenue growth and an 82% year-over-year increase in non-GAAP net income. As a result, we enter fiscal 2012 in a strong position for continued profitable growth.”

Outlook

“Looking ahead, we anticipate continued revenue growth of approximately 6% for 2012, which is consistent with the growth we achieved in 2011,” Maleh said. “While we remain cautious about our clients’ spending environment and the potential weakness in Europe, we are expecting overall demand for our services will remain relatively stable in fiscal 2012, and we are targeting a utilization rate for the full year in the low-to-mid 70s.”

“We will continue to focus on improving operating leverage across the firm. The revenue growth we are anticipating for 2012 should help further drive our margin performance. As a result, we currently are targeting an increase in our annual non-GAAP operating margin to approximately 11% by the fourth quarter of fiscal 2012. With $76 million in cash and a $60 million unused credit line at the end of fiscal 2011, we believe we have significant financial flexibility to aggressively pursue consultants and acquisition opportunities that can help drive additional growth in our practices,” Maleh concluded.

Conference Call Information and Prepared CFO Remarks

CRA will host a conference call this morning at 9:00 a.m. ET to discuss its fourth-quarter fiscal 2011 financial results. To listen to a live webcast of the call, please visit the Company’s website at http://www.crai.com prior to the event’s broadcast. To listen to the call via telephone, dial (201) 689-8881 or (877) 709-8155. Interested parties unable to participate in the live call may access an archived version of the webcast on CRA’s website.

In combination with this press release, CRA will be providing prepared remarks by its CFO Wayne Mackie under “Conference Call Materials” in the investor relations section on the Company’s website at http://www.crai.com. These remarks are offered to provide the investment community with additional background on CRA’s financial results prior to the start of the conference call.

About Charles River Associates (CRA)

Charles River Associates® is a global consulting firm specializing in litigation, regulatory, and financial consulting, and management consulting. 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 North America, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. Detailed information about Charles River Associates, a registered trade name of CRA International, Inc., is available at http://www.crai.com.

NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

In addition to reporting its financial results in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP, the Company has also provided in this release non-GAAP financial information. The Company believes the use of non-GAAP measures in addition to GAAP measures is an additional useful method for evaluating its results of operations. The Company believes that presenting its financial results excluding certain restructuring costs, expenses related to the repurchase of its convertible bonds, and the results of the Company’s NeuCo subsidiary is important to investors and management because it is more indicative of the Company’s ongoing operating results and financial condition. These non-GAAP financial measures should be considered in conjunction with, but not as a substitute for, the financial information presented in accordance with GAAP, and the expected results calculated in accordance with GAAP and reconciliations to those expected results should be carefully evaluated. The non-GAAP financial measures used by the Company may be calculated differently from, and therefore may not be comparable to, similarly titled measures used by other companies. Specifically, for the fourth and third quarters of fiscal 2011, the Company has excluded NeuCo’s results. For the fourth quarter of fiscal 2010 and full-year fiscal 2010 results, the Company has excluded certain restructuring costs, expenses related to bond repurchases and NeuCo’s results. For full year fiscal 2011, the Company has excluded certain restructuring costs and NeuCo’s results.

Statements in this press release concerning the future business, operating results, estimated cost savings, and financial condition of the Company and statements using the terms “anticipates,” “believes,” “expects,” “should,” or similar expressions are “forward-looking” statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based upon management's current expectations and are subject to a number of factors and uncertainties. Information contained in these forward-looking statements is inherently uncertain, and actual performance and results may differ materially due to many important factors. Such factors that could cause actual performance or results to differ materially from any forward-looking statements made by the Company include, among others, the Company’s restructuring costs and attributable annual cost savings, changes in the Company’s effective tax rate, share dilution from the Company’s stock-based compensation, dependence on key personnel, attracting and retaining qualified consultants, dependence on outside experts, utilization rates, factors related to its completed acquisitions, including integration of personnel, clients and offices, and unanticipated expenses and liabilities, the risk of impairment write downs to the Company’s intangible assets, including goodwill, if the Company’s enterprise value declines below certain levels, risks associated with acquisitions it may make in the future, risks inherent in international operations, the performance of NeuCo, changes in accounting standards, rules and regulations, changes in the law that affect the Company’s practice areas, management of new offices, the potential loss of clients, the ability of customers to terminate the Company’s engagements on short notice, dependence on the growth of the Company’s management consulting practice, the unpredictable nature of litigation-related projects, the ability of the Company to integrate successfully new consultants into its practice, general economic conditions, intense competition, risks inherent in litigation, and professional liability. Further information on these and other potential factors that could affect the Company’s financial results is included in the Company’s periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company cannot guarantee any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievement. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any of its forward-looking statements after the date of this press release.

 
CRA INTERNATIONAL, INC.
UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS INCLUDING A RECONCILIATION TO NON-GAAP RESULTS
FOR THE QUARTER ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2011 COMPARED TO THE QUARTER ENDED NOVEMBER 27, 2010
(In thousands, except per share data)
                     
Quarter Ended December 31, 2011 (1)   Quarter Ended November 27, 2010 (1)

GAAP
% of
Revenues

Adjustments to
GAAP Results
(NeuCo) (2)

Non-GAAP
% of
Revenues

GAAP
% of
Revenues

Adjustments to
GAAP Results
(Restructuring) (3)

Adjustments to
GAAP Results
(Bond Buyback) (4)

Adjustments to
GAAP Results
(NeuCo) (2)

Non-GAAP
% of
Revenues

GAAP
Results

Non-GAAP
Results

GAAP
Results

Non-GAAP
Results

 
 
Revenues $ 74,973 100.0 % $ 1,847 $ 73,126 100.0 % $ 75,862 100.0 % $ - $ - $ 1,345 $ 74,517 100.0 %
Costs of services   47,521   63.4 %   308     47,213   64.6 %   51,771   68.2 %   1,692  

 

-     426     49,653   66.6 %
Gross profit (loss) 27,452 36.6 % 1,539 25,913 35.4 % 24,091 31.8 % (1,692 ) - 919 24,864 33.4 %
 
Selling, general and administrative expenses 18,223 24.3 % 916 17,307 23.7 % 17,725 23.4 % 43 - 1,092 16,590 22.3 %
Depreciation and amortization   1,269   1.7 %   10     1,259   1.7 %   1,299   1.7 %   48     -     61     1,190   1.6 %
Income (loss) from operations 7,960 10.6 % 613 7,347 10.0 % 5,067 6.7 % (1,783 ) - (234 ) 7,084 9.5 %
 
Interest and other income (expense), net   (63 ) -0.1 %   (38 )   (25 ) 0.0 %   (985 ) -1.3 %   -     (244 )   (58 )   (683 ) -0.9 %
Income (loss) before (provision) benefit for income taxes
and noncontrolling interest 7,897 10.5 % 575 7,322 10.0 % 4,082 5.4 % (1,783 ) (244 ) (292 ) 6,401 8.6 %
(Provision) benefit for income taxes   (3,347 ) -4.5 %   (288 )   (3,059 ) -4.2 %   (2,668 ) -3.5 %   311     102     (412 )   (2,669 ) -3.6 %
Net income (loss) 4,550 6.1 % 287 4,263 5.8 % 1,414 1.9 % (1,472 ) (142 ) (704 ) 3,732 5.0 %
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest, net of tax   (101 ) -0.1 %   (101 )   -   0.0 %   358   0.5 %   -     -     358     -   0.0 %
Net income (loss) attributable to CRA International, Inc. $ 4,449   5.9 % $ 186   $ 4,263   5.8 % $ 1,772   2.3 % $ (1,472 ) $ (142 ) $ (346 ) $ 3,732   5.0 %
 
Net income per share attributable to CRA International, Inc.:
Basic $ 0.43   $ 0.41   $ 0.17   $ 0.35  
Diluted $ 0.42   $ 0.40   $ 0.17   $ 0.35  
 
Weighted average number of shares outstanding:
Basic   10,399     10,399     10,556     10,556  
Diluted   10,636     10,636     10,683     10,683  
 
(1) The quarter ended December 31, 2011 includes thirteen weeks of operating results and the quarter ended November 27, 2010 includes twelve weeks of operating results.
 
(2) These adjustments include activity related to NeuCo in the Company's GAAP results.
 
(3) During the quarter ended November 27, 2010, the Company incurred pre-tax expenses of $1.8 million and related income tax benefit of $0.3 million principally associated with employee workforce reductions designed to reduce costs and improve profitability.
 
(4) During the quarter ended November 27, 2010, the Company repurchased $25.7 million of its convertible bonds, at a discount. Under FASB Accounting Standards Codification Topic 470-20, "Debt", this resulted in a $0.2 million loss on a pre-tax basis.
                       
CRA INTERNATIONAL, INC.
UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS INCLUDING A RECONCILIATION TO NON-GAAP RESULTS
FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2011 COMPARED TO THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED NOVEMBER 27, 2010
(In thousands, except per share data)
 
Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2011 (1) Fiscal Year Ended November 27, 2010 (1)

GAAP
% of
Revenues

Adjustments to
GAAP Results
(Restructuring) (2)

Adjustments to
GAAP Results
(NeuCo) (3)

Non-GAAP
% of
Revenues

GAAP
% of
Revenues

Adjustments to
GAAP Results
(Restructuring) (4)

Adjustments to
GAAP Results
(Bond Buyback) (5)

Adjustments to
GAAP Results
(NeuCo) (3)

Non-GAAP
% of
Revenues

GAAP
Results

Non-GAAP
Results

GAAP
Results

Non-GAAP
Results

 
 
Revenues $ 305,228 100.0 % $ - $ 6,156 $ 299,072 100.0 % $ 287,424 100.0 % $ - $ - $ 6,410 $ 281,014 100.0 %
Costs of services   199,383   65.3 %   -     1,385     197,998   66.2 %   197,140   68.6 %   5,379     -     1,794     189,967   67.6 %
Gross profit (loss) 105,845 34.7 % - 4,771 101,074 33.8 % 90,284 31.4 % (5,379 ) - 4,616 91,047 32.4 %
 
Selling, general and administrative expenses 71,752 23.5 % 1,020 3,882 66,850 22.4 % 73,900 25.7 % 2,992 - 5,191 65,717 23.4 %
Depreciation and amortization   5,029   1.6 %   -     30     4,999   1.7 %   5,983   2.1 %   235     -     245     5,503   2.0 %
Income (loss) from operations 29,064 9.5 % (1,020 ) 859 29,225 9.8 % 10,401 3.6 % (8,606 ) - (820 ) 19,827 7.1 %
 
Interest and other income (expense), net   (981 ) -0.3 %   -     (162 )   (819 ) -0.3 %   (4,168 ) -1.5 %   -     (669 )   (182 )   (3,317 ) -1.2 %
Income (loss) before (provision) benefit for income taxes
and noncontrolling interest 28,083 9.2 % (1,020 ) 697 28,406 9.5 % 6,233 2.2 % (8,606 ) (669 ) (1,002 ) 16,510 5.9 %
(Provision) benefit for income taxes   (11,138 ) -3.6 %   379     (254 )   (11,263 ) -3.8 %   (4,273 ) -1.5 %   2,834     277     (279 )   (7,105 ) -2.5 %
Net income (loss) 16,945 5.6 % (641 ) 443 17,143 5.7 % 1,960 0.7 % (5,772 ) (392 ) (1,281 ) 9,405 3.3 %
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest, net of tax   (94 ) 0.0 %   -     (94 )   -   0.0 %   626   0.2 %   -     -     626     -   0.0 %
Net income (loss) attributable to CRA International, Inc. $ 16,851   5.5 % $ (641 ) $ 349   $ 17,143   5.7 % $ 2,586   0.9 % $ (5,772 ) $ (392 ) $ (655 ) $ 9,405   3.3 %
 
Net income per share attributable to CRA International, Inc.:
Basic $ 1.60   $ 1.62   $ 0.24   $ 0.88  
Diluted $ 1.57   $ 1.60   $ 0.24   $ 0.87  
 
Weighted average number of shares outstanding:
Basic   10,555     10,555     10,643     10,643  
Diluted   10,739     10,739     10,773     10,773  
 
(1) The fiscal years ended December 31, 2011 and November 27, 2010 each include fifty-two weeks of operating results.
 
(2) During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011, the Company incurred pre-tax expenses of $1.0 million and related income tax benefit of $0.4 million principally associated with leased office space at the former Houston, TX office.
 
(3) These adjustments include activity related to NeuCo in the Company's GAAP results.
 
(4) During the fiscal year ended November 27, 2010, the Company incurred pre-tax expenses of $8.6 million and related income tax benefit of $2.8 million principally associated with an employee workforce reduction designed to better align staffing levels with revenue, closing the Houston, TX office, office space reductions in Boston and Chicago, and restructuring select practice areas.
 
(5) During the fiscal year ended November 27, 2010, the Company repurchased $40.7 million of its convertible bonds at a discount. Under FASB Accounting Standards Codification Topic 470-20, "Debt", this resulted in a $0.7 million loss on a pre-tax basis.
 
CRA INTERNATIONAL, INC.
UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS INCLUDING A RECONCILIATION TO NON-GAAP RESULTS
FOR THE QUARTER ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2011 COMPARED TO THE QUARTER ENDED OCTOBER 1, 2011
(In thousands, except per share data)
                 
Quarter Ended December 31, 2011 (1) Quarter Ended October 1, 2011 (1)

GAAP
% of
Revenues

Adjustments to
GAAP Results
(NeuCo) (2)

Non-GAAP
% of
Revenues

GAAP
% of
Revenues

Adjustments to
GAAP Results
(NeuCo) (2)

Non-GAAP
% of
Revenues

GAAP
Results

Non-GAAP
Results

GAAP
Results

Non-GAAP
Results

 
 
 
Revenues $ 74,973 100.0 % $ 1,847 $ 73,126 100.0 % $ 71,007 100.0 % $ 1,619 $ 69,388 100.0 %
Costs of services   47,521   63.4 %   308     47,213   64.6 %   46,571   65.6 %   288     46,283   66.7 %
Gross profit 27,452 36.6 % 1,539 25,913 35.4 % 24,436 34.4 % 1,331 23,105 33.3 %
 
Selling, general and administrative expenses 18,223 24.3 % 916 17,307 23.7 % 17,013 24.0 % 837 16,176 23.3 %
Depreciation and amortization   1,269   1.7 %   10     1,259   1.7 %   1,209   1.7 %   5     1,204   1.7 %
Income from operations 7,960 10.6 % 613 7,347 10.0 % 6,214 8.8 % 489 5,725 8.3 %
 
Interest and other income (expense), net   (63 ) -0.1 %   (38 )   (25 ) 0.0 %   (256 ) -0.4 %   (39 )   (217 ) -0.3 %
Income before (provision) benefit for income taxes
and noncontrolling interest 7,897 10.5 % 575 7,322 10.0 % 5,958 8.4 % 450 5,508 7.9 %
(Provision) benefit for income taxes   (3,347 ) -4.5 %   (288 )   (3,059 ) -4.2 %   (2,060 ) -2.9 %   148     (2,208 ) -3.2 %
Net income 4,550 6.1 % 287 4,263 5.8 % 3,898 5.5 % 598 3,300 4.8 %
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest, net of tax   (101 ) -0.1 %   (101 )   -   0.0 %   (238 ) -0.3 %   (238 )   -   0.0 %
Net income attributable to CRA International, Inc. $ 4,449   5.9 % $ 186   $ 4,263   5.8 % $ 3,660   5.2 % $ 360   $ 3,300   4.8 %
 
Net income per share attributable to CRA International, Inc.:
Basic $ 0.43   $ 0.41   $ 0.35   $ 0.31  
Diluted $ 0.42   $ 0.40   $ 0.34   $ 0.31  
 
Weighted average number of shares outstanding:
Basic   10,399     10,399     10,557     10,557  
Diluted   10,636     10,636     10,701     10,701  
 
(1) The quarters ended December 31, 2011 and October 1, 2011 each include thirteen weeks of operating results.
 
(2) These adjustments include activity related to NeuCo in the Company's GAAP results.
 
CRA INTERNATIONAL, INC.
UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands)
 
 
December 31, January 1,
2011 2011
 
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments $ 76,082 $ 87,505
Accounts receivable and unbilled, net 84,720 82,695
Other current assets   29,122   21,830
Total current assets 189,924 192,030
 
Property and equipment, net 21,611 17,618
Goodwill and intangible assets, net 143,126 143,828
Other assets   17,446   13,889
Total assets $ 372,107 $ 367,365
 
Liabilities and shareholders’ equity
Current liabilities $ 82,273 $ 91,497
Long-term liabilities   21,427   20,444
Total liabilities 103,700 111,941
 
Total shareholders’ equity   268,407   255,424
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity $ 372,107 $ 367,365

Contacts

Charles River Associates
Wayne D. Mackie, 617-425-3740
Executive Vice President, CFO
or
Sharon Merrill Associates, Inc.
Jim Buckley, 617-542-5300
Executive Vice President

Release Summary

Litigation and Management Consulting Drive Sequential Q4 Growth and Increased Profitability; Company Concludes Fiscal 2011 with Year-Over-Year Improvement

Contacts

Charles River Associates
Wayne D. Mackie, 617-425-3740
Executive Vice President, CFO
or
Sharon Merrill Associates, Inc.
Jim Buckley, 617-542-5300
Executive Vice President