Assenagon Asset Management S.A. Sells 1,428,694 Shares of Carnival Corporation $CCL

Key Points

• Assenagon Asset Management sold 1,428,694 shares of Carnival in Q4, trimming its stake by 41.7% to 1,994,393 shares worth about $60.9 million per its SEC filing.
• Carnival shares trade around $25.45 and sit below their 12‑month high, while Wall Street consensus is a “Moderate Buy” with a $34 average price target (20 Buy vs. 8 Hold ratings).
• Near‑term momentum is supported by improved risk sentiment and booking trends, but ongoing concerns about fuel costs, analyst target cuts and recent insider/hedge‑fund selling could add volatility into earnings season.

Assenagon Asset Management S.A. lessened its holdings in Carnival Corporation (NYSE:CCL - Free Report) by 41.7% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 1,994,393 shares of the company's stock after selling 1,428,694 shares during the quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. owned 0.17% of Carnival worth $60,909,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in CCL. Evolution Wealth Management Inc. acquired a new position in Carnival in the second quarter worth about $25,000. Measured Wealth Private Client Group LLC acquired a new stake in Carnival during the third quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Annis Gardner Whiting Capital Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in Carnival by 182.0% during the third quarter. Annis Gardner Whiting Capital Advisors LLC now owns 1,021 shares of the company's stock valued at $30,000 after purchasing an additional 659 shares in the last quarter. LRI Investments LLC bought a new stake in shares of Carnival in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $30,000. Finally, Johnson Financial Group Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Carnival in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $32,000. 67.19% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Carnival Price Performance

Carnival stock opened at $25.45 on Wednesday. The business's 50-day simple moving average is $29.22 and its 200 day simple moving average is $28.95. The company has a quick ratio of 0.28, a current ratio of 0.32 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.96. The stock has a market cap of $31.53 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.72, a P/E/G ratio of 0.98 and a beta of 2.42. Carnival Corporation has a 12-month low of $15.07 and a 12-month high of $34.03.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

CCL has been the subject of several analyst reports. TD Cowen restated a "buy" rating on shares of Carnival in a research report on Tuesday, January 13th. Wolfe Research reiterated an "outperform" rating on shares of Carnival in a research report on Friday, December 19th. Weiss Ratings reissued a "hold (c)" rating on shares of Carnival in a report on Friday, December 26th. Susquehanna reduced their target price on shares of Carnival from $40.00 to $30.00 and set a "positive" rating on the stock in a research note on Monday. Finally, Wall Street Zen raised shares of Carnival from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Saturday, January 31st. Twenty investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and eight have assigned a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Carnival presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $34.00.

Key Stories Impacting Carnival

Here are the key news stories impacting Carnival this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Market risk sentiment improved after signs of de‑escalation in the Middle East and a drop in crude prices, which reduces near‑term fuel cost worries for fuel‑sensitive cruise operators — a key reason the stock has rallied recently. Read More.
• Positive Sentiment: Near‑term momentum ahead of Carnival’s Q1 report: analysts and commentators note strong bookings and pricing trends even as fuel and regional mix remain questions — this has supported buying into the name ahead of the print. Read More.
• Neutral Sentiment: Brand and itinerary updates (Princess South America season; Cunard fashion partnership) help marketing and long‑term demand positioning but are unlikely to move near‑term earnings materially. Read More. · Read More.
• Neutral Sentiment: Carnival is moving to simplify its dual‑listed capital structure by voluntarily delisting certain debt listings — a corporate governance/capital‑markets cleanup that may reduce complexity for fixed‑income investors but has limited immediate EPS impact. Read More.
• Negative Sentiment: Several analysts trimmed price targets recently (Truist, Barclays, Susquehanna among others), reflecting lingering margin risk from fuel and cost pressures — analyst downgrades or lower targets can cap upside ahead of clearer guidance. Read More.
• Negative Sentiment: Disclosure of insider sales and large, mixed hedge‑fund rebalancing highlighted by data services can spook investors; notable insider sales were flagged in recent reporting. Such flows can add volatility into the earnings window. Read More.

Carnival Company Profile

Carnival Corporation NYSE: CCL is a global cruise operator that provides leisure travel services through a portfolio of passenger cruise brands. The company's core business is operating cruise ships that offer multi-night voyages and associated vacation services, including onboard accommodations, dining, entertainment, spa and wellness offerings, casinos, youth programs, and organized shore excursions. Carnival markets cruise vacations to a broad range of consumers, from value-focused travelers to premium and luxury segments, through differentiated brand positioning and onboard experiences.

Its operating structure comprises multiple well-known cruise brands that target distinct geographic and demographic markets.

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