Empirical Financial Services LLC d.b.a. Empirical Wealth Management Makes New Investment in Carnival Corporation $CCL

Key Points

• Empirical Financial Services LLC (Empirical Wealth Management) bought a new stake of 44,662 shares of Carnival in Q3 worth about $1.29M, and institutional investors now own roughly 67.19% of CCL.
• Carnival beat quarterly EPS estimates at $0.34 (vs. $0.25 consensus) with revenue of $6.33B (up 6.6% Y/Y), issued guidance of Q1 2026 EPS of 0.17 and FY2026 EPS of 2.48, and declared a $0.15 quarterly dividend ($0.60 annual, 1.9% yield).
• Analysts have raised price targets (Wells Fargo, UBS, Stifel) to an average target of about $35 and a "Moderate Buy" consensus, while the stock trades near $31.97 with a PE of 15.98 and remains sensitive to fuel-cost and macro volatility due to high beta and leverage.

Empirical Financial Services LLC d.b.a. Empirical Wealth Management acquired a new stake in shares of Carnival Corporation (NYSE:CCL - Free Report) during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor acquired 44,662 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $1,291,000.

Several other large investors also recently made changes to their positions in CCL. Evolution Wealth Management Inc. acquired a new position in Carnival during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $25,000. Annis Gardner Whiting Capital Advisors LLC raised its position in shares of Carnival by 182.0% during the third quarter. Annis Gardner Whiting Capital Advisors LLC now owns 1,021 shares of the company's stock worth $30,000 after purchasing an additional 659 shares during the period. LRI Investments LLC acquired a new position in shares of Carnival during the third quarter worth approximately $30,000. Whipplewood Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Carnival by 301.0% in the 2nd quarter. Whipplewood Advisors LLC now owns 1,560 shares of the company's stock worth $44,000 after purchasing an additional 1,171 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Farmers & Merchants Investments Inc. grew its position in Carnival by 140.6% in the 3rd quarter. Farmers & Merchants Investments Inc. now owns 1,516 shares of the company's stock valued at $44,000 after purchasing an additional 886 shares during the period. 67.19% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Carnival Stock Performance

Carnival stock opened at $31.97 on Monday. Carnival Corporation has a 1-year low of $15.07 and a 1-year high of $34.03. The company has a current ratio of 0.32, a quick ratio of 0.28 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.96. The firm has a market capitalization of $39.53 billion, a PE ratio of 15.98, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.17 and a beta of 2.49. The firm's 50 day simple moving average is $30.82 and its 200 day simple moving average is $29.49.

Carnival (NYSE:CCL - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Friday, December 19th. The company reported $0.34 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $0.25 by $0.09. Carnival had a net margin of 10.37% and a return on equity of 28.39%. The firm had revenue of $6.33 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.38 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $0.14 EPS. The business's revenue for the quarter was up 6.6% on a year-over-year basis. Carnival has set its Q1 2026 guidance at 0.170-0.170 EPS and its FY 2026 guidance at 2.480-2.48 EPS. As a group, analysts expect that Carnival Corporation will post 1.77 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Carnival Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, February 27th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 13th will be issued a $0.15 dividend. This represents a $0.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.9%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 13th. Carnival's payout ratio is presently 30.00%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities research analysts have commented on CCL shares. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price objective on shares of Carnival from $35.00 to $38.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research note on Monday, December 22nd. UBS Group increased their price target on Carnival from $37.00 to $38.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Monday, January 12th. Wall Street Zen upgraded Carnival from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Saturday, January 31st. Argus restated a "buy" rating and issued a $35.00 price objective on shares of Carnival in a research note on Monday, December 22nd. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus raised their target price on Carnival from $38.00 to $40.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Monday, December 22nd. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, nineteen have issued a Buy rating and eight have given a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $35.00.

More Carnival News

Here are the key news stories impacting Carnival this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Analysts note a 2026 fuel and foreign-exchange tailwind that could meaningfully boost Carnival’s margins and support its investment case if sustained; this is being cited as a medium-term positive for earnings. Is Carnival’s 2026 Fuel and FX Tailwind Meaningfully Altering The Investment Case For CCL?
• Positive Sentiment: Carnival was named to Zacks’ top lists (Rank #1) for growth and for value on Feb. 19, signaling positive analyst momentum and favorable quant rankings that can attract buying interest. Best Growth Stocks to Buy for February 19th Best Value Stocks to Buy for February 19th
• Positive Sentiment: Corporate sustainability initiatives — including food-waste reductions and ongoing fleet upkeep — were highlighted by Carnival, which can improve ESG perception and lower operating waste/costs over time. Carnival Highlights Food Waste Cuts And Fleet Upkeep In Sustainability Push
• Neutral Sentiment: Zacks and other outlets profile Carnival as a strong momentum/value stock based on style scores and relative strength; these are informational and can support flows but are not immediate catalysts. Here's Why Carnival (CCL) is a Strong Momentum Stock
• Neutral Sentiment: Strong performances and strategic moves across the cruise sector (e.g., Royal Caribbean’s momentum) create a favorable backdrop for Carnival but are indirect — sector strength helps sentiment but doesn’t guarantee CCL will match peers.
• Negative Sentiment: Several market reports tied today’s weakness in CCL to crude oil trading near six‑month highs, reviving investor concerns about rising fuel expense for the cruise operator; that sent shares lower intraday. Carnival Stock Is Falling Thursday: What's Driving The Action?
• Negative Sentiment: News roundups flagged a larger-than-market decline for CCL in recent sessions, driven by short-term selling pressure and macro volatility; with a high beta and significant leverage, Carnival is sensitive to cyclical headwinds. Why Carnival (CCL) Dipped More Than Broader Market Today

About Carnival

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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