Stifel Nicolaus Forecasts Strong Price Appreciation for Norwegian Cruise Line (NYSE:NCLH) Stock

Key Points

• Stifel Nicolaus has raised its price target for Norwegian Cruise Line (NCLH) from $26.00 to $35.00, indicating a potential upside of 43.34% from the previous close.
• Analysts have varied opinions on NCLH, with a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $26.90, while nine analysts recommend a hold, and twelve have issued a buy rating.
• Norwegian Cruise Line's latest quarterly earnings report revealed earnings per share of $0.51, which missed the consensus estimate of $0.52, along with a revenue of $2.52 billion.

Norwegian Cruise Line (NYSE:NCLH - Get Free Report) had its price objective increased by equities researchers at Stifel Nicolaus from $26.00 to $35.00 in a note issued to investors on Friday,Benzinga reports. The brokerage presently has a "buy" rating on the stock. Stifel Nicolaus' price objective indicates a potential upside of 43.34% from the company's previous close.

Several other analysts have also recently issued reports on NCLH. Mizuho upped their price target on shares of Norwegian Cruise Line from $26.00 to $29.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a report on Friday. Jefferies Financial Group upped their price target on shares of Norwegian Cruise Line from $24.00 to $29.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Monday, July 7th. Melius Research raised shares of Norwegian Cruise Line to a "strong-buy" rating in a report on Monday, April 21st. The Goldman Sachs Group cut their price target on shares of Norwegian Cruise Line from $31.00 to $20.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, April 23rd. Finally, Argus reissued a "hold" rating on shares of Norwegian Cruise Line in a report on Wednesday, June 18th. Nine research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twelve have issued a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $26.90.

Norwegian Cruise Line Stock Down 4.5%

Shares of NCLH stock traded down $1.14 on Friday, hitting $24.42. The stock had a trading volume of 11,028,335 shares, compared to its average volume of 14,201,782. The firm has a market capitalization of $10.91 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.11, a P/E/G ratio of 0.98 and a beta of 2.13. The stock's 50 day moving average is $20.63 and its 200-day moving average is $20.98. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 9.09, a quick ratio of 0.16 and a current ratio of 0.19. Norwegian Cruise Line has a 52-week low of $14.21 and a 52-week high of $29.29.

Norwegian Cruise Line (NYSE:NCLH - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, July 31st. The company reported $0.51 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.52 by ($0.01). The company had revenue of $2.52 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.55 billion. Norwegian Cruise Line had a net margin of 9.05% and a return on equity of 66.78%. The company's revenue was up 6.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $0.40 earnings per share. As a group, research analysts expect that Norwegian Cruise Line will post 1.48 earnings per share for the current year.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Norwegian Cruise Line

Large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Sentry Investment Management LLC purchased a new stake in Norwegian Cruise Line during the second quarter valued at about $31,000. New Age Alpha Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Norwegian Cruise Line in the first quarter worth approximately $33,000. Versant Capital Management Inc raised its position in Norwegian Cruise Line by 147.7% during the first quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc now owns 1,880 shares of the company's stock valued at $36,000 after acquiring an additional 1,121 shares in the last quarter. Raiffeisen Bank International AG bought a new position in Norwegian Cruise Line during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $40,000. Finally, Bogart Wealth LLC raised its position in Norwegian Cruise Line by 1,012.0% during the first quarter. Bogart Wealth LLC now owns 2,224 shares of the company's stock valued at $42,000 after acquiring an additional 2,024 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 69.58% of the company's stock.

About Norwegian Cruise Line

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd., together with its subsidiaries, operates as a cruise company in North America, Europe, the Asia-Pacific, and internationally. The company operates through the Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises, and Regent Seven Seas Cruises brands. It offers itineraries ranging from three days to a 180-days calling on various ports, including Scandinavia, Northern Europe, the Mediterranean, the Greek Isles, Alaska, Canada and New England, Hawaii, Asia, Tahiti and the South Pacific, Australia and New Zealand, Africa, India, South America, the Panama Canal, and the Caribbean.

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