Carnival Corporation (CCL) - What Are Investment Firms Thinking About This Stock?

Key Points

• Analyst sentiment remains positive: Carnival has a “Moderate Buy” consensus from 28 analysts, with 21 buy ratings, six holds and one strong buy. The average 12-month price target is $34.14, though several firms recently lowered their targets.
• Institutional ownership increased: Major investors including Dimensional Fund Advisors, Amundi and Hound Partners expanded their positions, while institutional investors collectively own 67.19% of Carnival’s shares.
• Quarterly results exceeded expectations: Carnival reported $1.43 in quarterly EPS versus the $1.35 consensus estimate, while revenue rose 3.5% year over year to $8.44 billion. The stock recently traded at $26.46, below its 52-week high of $34.03.

Carnival Corporation (NYSE:CCL - Get Free Report) has received an average rating of "Moderate Buy" from the twenty-eight ratings firms that are presently covering the stock, Marketbeat reports. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twenty-one have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. The average 12 month price objective among brokers that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $34.14.

Several research analysts have issued reports on the company. Wells Fargo & Company cut their price objective on Carnival from $36.00 to $34.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, October 1st. Truist Financial upped their price target on shares of Carnival from $29.00 to $31.00 and gave the company a "hold" rating in a report on Thursday, July 23rd. TD Cowen reduced their price objective on Carnival from $34.00 to $32.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, September 22nd. Argus reduced their price objective on shares of Carnival from $35.00 to $30.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, October 1st. Finally, Susquehanna decreased their price target on Carnival from $33.00 to $28.00 and set a "positive" rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, September 30th.

Institutional Trading of Carnival

A number of institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of CCL. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP boosted its stake in shares of Carnival by 5.5% in the first quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 15,904,029 shares of the company's stock valued at $411,372,000 after purchasing an additional 834,885 shares during the period. Amundi grew its stake in Carnival by 67.3% in the second quarter. Amundi now owns 6,770,304 shares of the company's stock worth $193,428,000 after purchasing an additional 2,723,171 shares in the last quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp increased its holdings in shares of Carnival by 5.2% in the 1st quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 5,608,651 shares of the company's stock valued at $145,152,000 after acquiring an additional 278,758 shares during the last quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. grew its position in shares of Carnival by 11.4% during the 2nd quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. now owns 4,687,038 shares of the company's stock valued at $133,909,000 after buying an additional 480,097 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Hound Partners LLC boosted its position in Carnival by 27.9% during the 1st quarter. Hound Partners LLC now owns 4,514,839 shares of the company's stock valued at $116,844,000 after purchasing an additional 985,772 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 67.19% of the company's stock.

Carnival Stock Performance

NYSE:CCL opened at $26.46 on Tuesday. The firm has a market cap of $35.57 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.55, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.11 and a beta of 2.38. The firm's fifty day moving average price is $24.74 and its 200 day moving average price is $26.44. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.54, a current ratio of 0.27 and a quick ratio of 0.23. Carnival has a 1-year low of $21.45 and a 1-year high of $34.03.

Carnival (NYSE:CCL - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, September 29th. The company reported $1.43 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $1.35 by $0.08. Carnival had a net margin of 11.37% and a return on equity of 24.83%. The business had revenue of $8.44 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $8.39 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $1.43 earnings per share. The business's revenue was up 3.5% compared to the same quarter last year. Carnival has set its Q4 2026 guidance at 0.200-0.200 EPS and its FY 2026 guidance at 2.240-2.240 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts expect that Carnival will post 2.26 EPS for the current year.

About Carnival

Carnival Corporation & plc NYSE: CCL is one of the world's largest leisure travel and cruise companies. It operates cruise lines that provide vacation travel, onboard entertainment, dining, accommodations, recreational activities and shore excursions. The company's brands serve a broad range of travelers, from mainstream and contemporary vacationers to premium and luxury guests.

Carnival's portfolio includes Carnival Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, Holland America Line, Seabourn, Cunard, Costa Cruises, AIDA Cruises, P&O Cruises UK and P&O Cruises Australia.

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