Horizon Investments LLC Decreases Stake in Carnival Corporation $CCL

Key Points

• Horizon Investments LLC cut its Carnival stake by 73.4% in the fourth quarter, selling 65,631 shares and leaving it with 23,840 shares worth about $728,000.
• Carnival reported better-than-expected quarterly results, with earnings of $0.20 per share versus $0.18 expected and revenue of $6.17 billion, up 6.1% year over year.
• Wall Street sentiment remains mostly positive: analysts assign Carnival a “Moderate Buy” rating on average, though several firms recently trimmed price targets even as some upgraded the stock.

Horizon Investments LLC reduced its stake in Carnival Corporation (NYSE:CCL - Free Report) by 73.4% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 23,840 shares of the company's stock after selling 65,631 shares during the quarter. Horizon Investments LLC's holdings in Carnival were worth $728,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the company. BOCHK Asset Management Ltd purchased a new position in shares of Carnival in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Measured Wealth Private Client Group LLC purchased a new position in shares of Carnival in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Newbridge Financial Services Group Inc. raised its position in shares of Carnival by 381.0% in the 4th quarter. Newbridge Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 962 shares of the company's stock valued at $29,000 after purchasing an additional 762 shares during the last quarter. Annis Gardner Whiting Capital Advisors LLC raised its position in shares of Carnival by 182.0% in the 3rd 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 during the last quarter. Finally, LRI Investments LLC purchased a new position in shares of Carnival in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $30,000. 67.19% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Carnival Price Performance

NYSE:CCL opened at $27.02 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.82, a current ratio of 0.30 and a quick ratio of 0.26. The firm has a market cap of $33.47 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.01, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.21 and a beta of 2.33. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $26.75 and a 200-day moving average price of $28.29. Carnival Corporation has a 1-year low of $19.90 and a 1-year high of $34.03.

Carnival (NYSE:CCL - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Friday, March 27th. The company reported $0.20 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.18 by $0.02. The firm had revenue of $6.17 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.13 billion. Carnival had a net margin of 11.48% and a return on equity of 26.92%. The business's quarterly revenue was up 6.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $0.13 EPS. Equities research analysts forecast that Carnival Corporation will post 2.23 EPS for the current year.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research firms have issued reports on CCL. Weiss Ratings raised shares of Carnival from a "hold (c+)" rating to a "buy (b-)" rating in a research report on Monday, March 30th. Morgan Stanley raised shares of Carnival from an "equal weight" rating to an "overweight" rating and reduced their price target for the stock from $33.00 to $31.00 in a research report on Thursday, March 19th. The Goldman Sachs Group reduced their price target on shares of Carnival from $34.00 to $30.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, March 11th. Truist Financial reduced their price target on shares of Carnival from $34.00 to $30.00 and set a "hold" rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, March 24th. Finally, Barclays reduced their price target on shares of Carnival from $37.00 to $36.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, March 24th. Twenty-one investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, four have issued a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $33.99.

Trending Headlines about Carnival

Here are the key news stories impacting Carnival this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Carnival launched a unified digital supply-chain and maintenance platform across its eight brands using advanced forecasting and AI-driven modeling — management says this standardization should reduce logistics and inventory friction and create potential valuation upside from efficiency gains. Carnival Digital Overhaul Links AI Supply Chain To Valuation Upside
• Positive Sentiment: Carnival completed the unification of its dual-listed structure and redomiciled to Bermuda, consolidating Carnival plc as a UK subsidiary — a corporate simplification that can improve governance, reduce complexity for investors, and remove an overhang that previously complicated valuation. Carnival Corporation & plc Completes Unification
• Positive Sentiment: Ongoing fleet investments and capacity moves (new ship arrivals, LNG-powered orders, biofuel trials) plus plans for a consolidated Miami campus aim to support long-term growth, operational efficiencies and sustainability goals — these are constructive for demand and cost trajectory over time. Carnival’s Fleet Expansion and New Miami Campus Could Be A Game Changer
• Neutral Sentiment: Brand-level product updates: Holland America’s renovated Oosterdam and Cunard’s new 2028 voyages expand booking inventory and product appeal — positive for bookings but more likely to show up gradually in revenue rather than move the stock immediately. Newly Renovated Oosterdam to Cruise Europe
• Negative Sentiment: Unusually large options activity: investors bought ~91,701 put contracts (about 52% above typical daily put volume), indicating elevated hedging or bearish positioning that could pressure the stock if sentiment shifts negative.

Insider Buying and Selling at Carnival

In other news, Director Sir Jonathon Band sold 11,988 shares of Carnival stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, April 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $26.19, for a total transaction of $313,965.72. Following the completion of the transaction, the director directly owned 52,601 shares of the company's stock, valued at $1,377,620.19. The trade was a 18.56% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. 7.90% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

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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