EXPO vs ICFI vs CRAI vs SAIC vs FORR

For growth investors, CRA International, Inc.

(CRAI) is the stronger pick with 9. 3% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -8. 2% for Forrester Research, Inc. (FORR). 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 Exponent, Inc. (EXPO) a "Buy" — based on 8 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 Exponent, Inc. at 29. 7x. On forward P/E, Forrester Research, Inc. is actually cheaper at 9. 0x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth. 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 Exponent, Inc. 's 5. 02x — 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 +78. 9%, compared to -84. 5% for Forrester Research, Inc. (FORR). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CRAI returned +552. 4% versus FORR's -75. 0%. 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.

27β versus Exponent, Inc. 's 0. 86β — meaning EXPO is approximately 215% 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 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 -8. 2% for Forrester Research, Inc. (FORR). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: CRA International, Inc. grew EPS 20. 8% year-over-year, compared to -1993. 3% for Forrester Research, Inc.. 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.

Exponent, Inc.

(EXPO) is the more profitable company, earning 18. 2% net margin versus -30. 1% for Forrester Research, Inc. — meaning it keeps 18. 2% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: EXPO leads at 20. 6% versus 0. 5% for FORR. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — FORR leads at 53. 3%, 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 Exponent, Inc. 's 5. 02x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Forrester Research, Inc. (FORR) trades at 9. 0x forward P/E versus 29. 9x for Exponent, Inc. — 20. 9x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for ICFI: 47. 2% to $102. 50.

In this comparison, EXPO (2.

0% yield), SAIC (1. 6% yield), CRAI (1. 5% yield), ICFI (0. 8% yield) pay a dividend. FORR 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.

27), 1. 6% yield, +104. 0% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (SAIC: +104. 0%, FORR: -75. 0%), 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 (EXPO (Industrials) and ICFI (Industrials) and CRAI (Industrials) and SAIC (Technology) and FORR (Industrials)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: EXPO is a small-cap quality compounder stock; ICFI is a small-cap deep-value stock; CRAI is a small-cap deep-value stock; SAIC is a small-cap deep-value stock; FORR is a small-cap quality compounder stock. EXPO, ICFI, CRAI, SAIC pay a dividend while FORR 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.