CRAI vs ICFI vs HURN vs SAIC

For growth investors, Huron Consulting Group Inc.

(HURN) is the stronger pick with 14. 3% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -7. 3% for ICF International, Inc. (ICFI). Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) offers the better valuation at 12. 2x trailing P/E (9. 3x 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, Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) is the cheapest at 12.

2x versus Huron Consulting Group Inc. at 21. 4x. On forward P/E, Science Applications International Corporation is actually cheaper at 9. 3x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Science Applications International Corporation wins at 0. 56x versus ICF International, Inc. 's 0. 92x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Huron Consulting Group Inc.

(HURN) delivered a total return of +120. 2%, compared to -16. 9% for ICF International, Inc. (ICFI). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CRAI returned +550. 5% versus ICFI's +100. 5%. 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), Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

26β versus Huron Consulting Group Inc. 's 0. 82β — meaning HURN is approximately 211% more volatile than SAIC relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 14% versus 104% for Huron Consulting Group Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Huron Consulting Group Inc.

(HURN) is pulling ahead at 14. 3% versus -7. 3% for ICF International, Inc. (ICFI). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: CRA International, Inc. grew EPS 20. 8% year-over-year, compared to -14. 9% for ICF International, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, HURN leads at 14. 5% 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.

CRA International, Inc.

(CRAI) is the more profitable company, earning 7. 3% net margin versus 4. 9% for ICF International, Inc. — meaning it keeps 7. 3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: HURN leads at 11. 7% versus 7. 1% for SAIC. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — ICFI leads at 34. 1%, 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, Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 56x versus ICF International, Inc. 's 0. 92x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) trades at 9. 3x forward P/E versus 16. 9x for CRA International, Inc. — 7. 6x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for HURN: 60. 3% to $200. 00.

In this comparison, SAIC (1.

6% yield), CRAI (1. 5% yield), ICFI (0. 8% yield) pay a dividend. HURN does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.

26), 1. 6% yield, +104. 4% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (SAIC: +104. 4%, HURN: +116. 8%), 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 ICFI (Industrials) and HURN (Industrials) and SAIC (Technology)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: CRAI is a small-cap deep-value stock; ICFI is a small-cap deep-value stock; HURN is a small-cap quality compounder stock; SAIC is a small-cap deep-value stock. CRAI, ICFI, SAIC pay a dividend while HURN does not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. 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.