CRAI vs ACN

For growth investors, CRA International, Inc.

(CRAI) is the stronger pick with 9. 3% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 7. 4% for Accenture plc (ACN). Accenture plc (ACN) offers the better valuation at 14. 8x trailing P/E (13. 0x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate CRA International, Inc. (CRAI) a "Buy" — based on 1 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.

On trailing P/E, Accenture plc (ACN) is the cheapest at 14.

8x versus CRA International, Inc. at 17. 1x. On forward P/E, Accenture plc is actually cheaper at 13. 0x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: CRA International, Inc. wins at 0. 78x versus Accenture plc's 1. 44x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, CRA International, Inc.

(CRAI) delivered a total return of +71. 5%, compared to -29. 5% for Accenture plc (ACN). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CRAI returned +550. 5% versus ACN's +89. 9%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), CRA International, Inc.

(CRAI) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 73β versus Accenture plc's 0. 85β — meaning ACN is approximately 16% more volatile than CRAI relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Accenture plc (ACN) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 25% versus 60% for CRA International, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), CRA International, Inc.

(CRAI) is pulling ahead at 9. 3% versus 7. 4% for Accenture plc (ACN). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: CRA International, Inc. grew EPS 20. 8% year-over-year, compared to 6. 2% for Accenture plc. Over a 3-year CAGR, CRAI leads at 8. 3% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.

Accenture plc (ACN) is the more profitable company, earning 11.

0% net margin versus 7. 3% for CRA International, Inc. — meaning it keeps 11. 0% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: ACN leads at 14. 7% versus 11. 1% for CRAI. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — ACN leads at 31. 9%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.

The PEG ratio (forward P/E divided by expected earnings growth rate) is the most precise measure of undervaluation relative to growth potential.

By this metric, CRA International, Inc. (CRAI) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 78x versus Accenture plc's 1. 44x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Accenture plc (ACN) trades at 13. 0x forward P/E versus 16. 9x for CRA International, Inc. — 3. 9x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for ACN: 66. 4% to $299. 92.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Accenture plc (ACN) offers the highest yield at 3. 2%, versus 1. 5% for CRA International, Inc. (CRAI).

For long-horizon retirement investors, CRA International, Inc.

(CRAI) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 73), 1. 5% yield, +550. 5% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (CRAI: +550. 5%, ACN: +89. 9%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.

These companies operate in different sectors (CRAI (Industrials) and ACN (Technology)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.