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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, DC 20549



FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): September 29, 2005

CRA INTERNATIONAL, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Massachusetts
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation)
  000-24049
(Commission
file number)
  04-2372210
(IRS employer
identification no.)


200 Clarendon Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02116
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (617) 425-3000

Not Applicable
(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

o
Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)


o
Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)


o
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))


o
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))





Item 2.02    Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

        On September 29, 2005 we issued a press release reporting our financial results for our fiscal quarter ended September 2, 2005. A copy of the press release is set forth as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated by reference herein.

        The information contained in Item 2.02 of this report and Exhibit 99.1 attached hereto shall not be deemed "filed" for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, except as expressly set forth by specific reference in such a filing.


Item 9.01    Financial Statements and Exhibits.


Number

  Title
99.1   September 29, 2005 press release

2



SIGNATURES

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

    CRA INTERNATIONAL, INC.

Dated: September 29, 2005

 

By:

/s/  
JAMES C. BURROWS      
James C. Burrows
President and Chief Executive Officer

3



Exhibit Index

Number

  Title
99.1   September 29, 2005 press release

4




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Exhibit 99.1

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:

Wayne Mackie   Jim Buckley
Vice President, Chief Financial Officer   Executive Vice President
CRA International   Sharon Merrill Associates, Inc.
617-425-3700   617-542-5300

CRA INTERNATIONAL REPORTS THIRD-QUARTER
FISCAL 2005 FINANCIAL RESULTS

Company Achieves Revenue Growth of 25 Percent; Net Income Increases Nearly 47 Percent

        BOSTON, September 29, 2005—CRA International, Inc. (Nasdaq: CRAI), an internationally known leader in providing economic, financial, and management consulting services, today reported financial results for its third quarter of fiscal 2005, the sixteen weeks ended September 2, 2005.

        Third-quarter fiscal 2005 revenue increased 25 percent to $92.5 million from $74.2 million for the third quarter of fiscal 2004. Net income for the third quarter of fiscal 2005 increased approximately 47 percent to $7.9 million, or $0.66 per diluted share, from $5.4 million, or $0.52 per diluted share, in the third quarter of fiscal 2004. CRA International's effective tax rate for the third quarter of fiscal 2005 was 40.5 percent, compared with 51.5 percent in the third quarter of fiscal 2004. Weighted average diluted shares outstanding used to calculate earnings per share in the third quarter of fiscal 2005 were 12.0 million, versus 10.4 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2004.

        Revenue for the first three quarters of fiscal 2005 was $221.7 million, a 40 percent increase from $158.4 million in the same period a year earlier. Net income for the first three quarters of fiscal 2005 was $18.0 million, a 50 percent increase from $12.0 million in the first three quarters of fiscal 2004. Earnings per diluted share were $1.58 in the first three quarters of fiscal 2005 compared with $1.13 in the first three quarters of fiscal 2004. Weighted average diluted shares outstanding used to calculate earnings per share in the first three quarters of fiscal 2005 were 11.4 million, versus 10.6 million in the first three quarters of fiscal 2004.

Comments on the Third Quarter

        James C. Burrows, CRA International's President and CEO, said, "Our third-quarter results reflect a combination of acquisition and organic growth stemming in part from merger-driven activity in our global competition practice and from continued growth in our European and Middle East consulting business."

        "The steps we took to bolster our London operation are reflected in our international results in the third quarter," continued Burrows. "The acquisitions of Lee & Allen and the former Lexecon Ltd business expanded our overseas consulting roster and greatly expanded our capabilities. This contributed to the improved performance of our London office, which coincided with positive contributions from our other international locations. The improved international performance directly impacted our tax rate, resulting in an effective tax rate for the quarter of 40.5 percent, which lowers our year-to-date tax rate to 43.3 percent."

Outlook and Financial Guidance

        Burrows concluded, "Based on year-to-date results and the acquisitions made during the year, we currently expect full-year 2005 revenue growth to be at the low end of the 35-40 percent range. In addition, taking into account the June stock offering, we anticipate full-year EPS growth in the 32-40 percent range. This is based on an average diluted share count of approximately 12.2 million



shares for the fourth quarter and assumes a stock price of approximately $47.18, which was the average closing price of the 10 trading days through September 27, 2005. Deviations from this stock price will cause our earnings per share to vary based on share dilution from our stock options and convertible bonds. The above estimates are based on full year utilization at the low end of our 78-80 percent guidance range, a tax rate of approximately 43 percent for the year, and annual organic headcount growth of approximately 10 percent."

Conference Call/Webcast Information

        CRA International will host a conference call this morning at 11:00 a.m. ET to discuss its third-quarter fiscal 2005 financial results. To listen to a live webcast of the conference call, please visit the Investor Relations section of CRA's website, www.crai.com. CRA's third-quarter fiscal 2005 conference call also can be heard live by dialing (913) 981-5558 or (800) 478-6251 prior to the start of the call. Please refer to confirmation code 4550244. A replay of the call also will be available on the Company's website.

About CRA International

        Founded in 1965, CRA International is an economics, finance, and business consulting firm that works with businesses, law firms, accounting firms, and governments in providing a wide range of services. CRA combines economic and financial analysis with expertise in litigation and regulatory support, business strategy and planning, market and demand forecasting, policy analysis, and engineering and technology management. The firm is distinguished by a corporate philosophy of providing responsive, top-quality consulting; an interdisciplinary team approach; unsurpassed economic, financial, and other analytic skills; and pragmatic business insights. In addition to its corporate headquarters in Boston and international offices in Brussels, Canberra, Dubai, Hong Kong, London, Melbourne, Mexico City, Sydney, Toronto, and Wellington, CRA also has U.S. offices in Cambridge, Chicago, College Station, Dallas, Houston, New York, Oakland, Pasadena, Philadelphia, Salt Lake City, Silicon Valley, and Washington, D.C. Detailed information about CRA can be found at www.crai.com.

        Statements in this press release concerning the future business, operating results, 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 results to differ materially from any forward-looking statements made by the Company include, among others, changes in the Company's effective tax rate, share dilution from the Company's convertible debt offering, dependence on key personnel, attracting and retaining qualified consultants, dependence on outside experts, utilization rates, risks associated with acquisitions, risks inherent in international operations, NeuCo's performance, management of new offices, dependence on growth of the Company's business consulting practice, the ability of the Company to integrate successfully new consultants into its practice, intense competition, 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 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's consolidated statements of income and consolidated balance sheet are attached.



CRA INTERNATIONAL, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(In thousands, except per share data)

 
  Sixteen Weeks Ended
  Sixteen Weeks Ended
  Forty Weeks Ended
  Forty Weeks Ended
 
 
  September 2,
2005

  September 3,
2004

  September 2,
2005

  September 3,
2004

 
Revenues   $ 92,515   $ 74,205   $ 221,674   $ 158,400  
Costs of services     54,893     45,569     131,925     94,114  
   
 
 
 
 
Gross profit     37,622     28,636     89,749     64,286  

Selling, general and administrative

 

 

23,865

 

 

17,216

 

 

56,583

 

 

41,187

 
   
 
 
 
 
Income from operations     13,757     11,420     33,166     23,099  

Interest and other income (expense), net

 

 

(281

)

 

(717

)

 

(1,417

)

 

(470

)
   
 
 
 
 
Income before provision for income taxes and minority interest     13,476     10,703     31,749     22,629  
Provision for income taxes     (5,458 )   (5,507 )   (13,752 )   (10,635 )
   
 
 
 
 
Income before minority interest     8,018     5,196     17,997     11,994  
Minority interest     (132 )   177     (3 )   (20 )
   
 
 
 
 
Net income   $ 7,886   $ 5,373   $ 17,994   $ 11,974  
   
 
 
 
 

Net income per share:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
  Basic   $ 0.73   $ 0.54   $ 1.75   $ 1.19  
   
 
 
 
 
  Diluted   $ 0.66   $ 0.52   $ 1.58   $ 1.13  
   
 
 
 
 

Weighted average number of shares outstanding:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
  Basic     10,782     9,909     10,308     10,072  
   
 
 
 
 
  Diluted     12,010     10,352     11,416     10,564  
   
 
 
 
 

CRA INTERNATIONAL, INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands)

 
  September 2,
2005

  November 27,
2004

Assets            
Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments   $ 104,364   $ 67,811
Accounts receivable and unbilled, net     87,812     75,531
Other current assets     16,734     19,480
   
 
  Total current assets     208,910     162,822

Property and equipment, net

 

 

26,192

 

 

18,528
Goodwill and intangible assets, net     122,929     94,509
Long-term investments        
Other assets     11,372     12,952
   
 
Total assets   $ 369,403   $ 288,811
   
 
Liabilities and stockholders' equity            
Current liabilities   $ 68,390   $ 61,503
Long-term liabilities     99,705     100,282
   
 
  Total liabilities     168,095     161,785

Total stockholders' equity

 

 

201,308

 

 

127,026
   
 
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity   $ 369,403   $ 288,811
   
 



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