Charles River Associates (NASDAQ:CRAI) Stock Price Down 3.4% - Time to Sell?

Key Points

• Charles River Associates stock decreased by 3.4%, closing at $185.07, with significant trading volume down 24% compared to the average.
• Several analysts maintain a generally positive outlook, with the stock receiving an average rating of "Buy" and a target price of $235.00.
• The company reported an earnings per share of $1.88, surpassing estimates and announced a quarterly dividend of $0.49, equating to an annual yield of 1.1%.

Charles River Associates (NASDAQ:CRAI - Get Free Report) was down 3.4% on Wednesday . The company traded as low as $183.64 and last traded at $185.07. Approximately 60,220 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 24% from the average daily volume of 79,072 shares. The stock had previously closed at $191.59.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research analysts have commented on the stock. Barrington Research restated an "outperform" rating and set a $235.00 price objective on shares of Charles River Associates in a research report on Tuesday, September 23rd. Weiss Ratings restated a "buy (b-)" rating on shares of Charles River Associates in a research report on Wednesday. Finally, Wall Street Zen downgraded shares of Charles River Associates from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Saturday, August 2nd. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of "Buy" and an average target price of $235.00.

Charles River Associates Price Performance

The firm's fifty day moving average price is $194.75 and its 200-day moving average price is $185.13. The company has a market capitalization of $1.19 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.89, a P/E/G ratio of 1.50 and a beta of 0.90.

Charles River Associates (NASDAQ:CRAI - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, July 31st. The business services provider reported $1.88 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.83 by $0.05. The company had revenue of $186.88 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $180.34 million. Charles River Associates had a net margin of 7.93% and a return on equity of 25.51%. Charles River Associates has set its FY 2025 guidance at EPS. On average, research analysts predict that Charles River Associates will post 7.52 earnings per share for the current year.

Charles River Associates Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 12th. Investors of record on Tuesday, August 26th were paid a $0.49 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, August 26th. This represents a $1.96 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.1%. Charles River Associates's payout ratio is currently 23.73%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Charles River Associates

In related news, EVP Jonathan D. Yellin sold 1,750 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on Wednesday, August 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $187.43, for a total value of $328,002.50. Following the sale, the executive vice president owned 17,323 shares of the company's stock, valued at $3,246,849.89. The trade was a 9.18% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. 5.20% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Trading of Charles River Associates

A number of large investors have recently bought and sold shares of CRAI. Jones Financial Companies Lllp acquired a new stake in Charles River Associates during the 1st quarter worth about $27,000. Strs Ohio bought a new position in shares of Charles River Associates during the 1st quarter worth about $329,000. Quantbot Technologies LP bought a new position in shares of Charles River Associates during the 1st quarter worth about $360,000. Jump Financial LLC bought a new position in shares of Charles River Associates during the 1st quarter worth about $628,000. Finally, SG Americas Securities LLC boosted its position in shares of Charles River Associates by 599.7% during the 1st quarter. SG Americas Securities LLC now owns 4,121 shares of the business services provider's stock worth $714,000 after purchasing an additional 3,532 shares in the last quarter. 84.13% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Charles River Associates Company Profile

CRA International, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, provides economic, financial, and management consulting services worldwide. It advises clients on economic and financial matters pertaining to litigation and regulatory proceedings; and guides corporations through business strategy and performance-related issues.

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