HCKT vs CRAI

For growth investors, CRA International, Inc.

(CRAI) is the stronger pick with 9. 3% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -2. 6% for The Hackett Group, Inc. (HCKT). CRA International, Inc. (CRAI) offers the better valuation at 18. 8x trailing P/E (18. 5x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate The Hackett Group, Inc. (HCKT) a "Buy" — based on 5 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, CRA International, Inc.

(CRAI) is the cheapest at 18. 8x versus The Hackett Group, Inc. at 21. 7x. On forward P/E, The Hackett Group, Inc. is actually cheaper at 6. 2x — 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: The Hackett Group, Inc. wins at 0. 27x versus CRA International, Inc. 's 0. 86x — 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 +90. 7%, compared to -24. 0% for The Hackett Group, Inc. (HCKT). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CRAI returned +619. 1% versus HCKT's -5. 2%. 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 The Hackett Group, Inc. 's 1. 10β — meaning HCKT is approximately 50% more volatile than CRAI relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, CRA International, Inc. (CRAI) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 36% versus 117% for The Hackett Group, 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 -2. 6% for The Hackett Group, Inc. (HCKT). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: CRA International, Inc. grew EPS 20. 8% year-over-year, compared to -55. 2% for The Hackett Group, 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.

CRA International, Inc.

(CRAI) is the more profitable company, earning 7. 3% net margin versus 4. 2% for The Hackett Group, Inc. — meaning it keeps 7. 3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: CRAI leads at 11. 1% versus 8. 7% for HCKT. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — HCKT leads at 38. 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, The Hackett Group, Inc. (HCKT) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 27x versus CRA International, Inc. 's 0. 86x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, The Hackett Group, Inc. (HCKT) trades at 6. 2x forward P/E versus 18. 5x for CRA International, Inc. — 12. 3x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for HCKT: 100. 8% to $20. 50.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

The Hackett Group, Inc. (HCKT) offers the highest yield at 4. 6%, versus 1. 3% 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. 3% yield, +619. 1% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (CRAI: +619. 1%, HCKT: -5. 2%), 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 (HCKT (Technology) and CRAI (Industrials)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: HCKT is a small-cap income-oriented stock; CRAI is a small-cap quality compounder stock. 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.