The Goldman Sachs Group Cuts Carnival (NYSE:CCL) Price Target to $30.00

Key Points

• The Goldman Sachs Group cut its price target on Carnival from $34 to $30 but kept a "buy" rating, implying roughly a 16.5% upside from the prior close.
• Carnival beat Q4 EPS estimates ($0.34 vs. $0.25) while reporting revenue of $6.33B (slightly below the $6.38B consensus) and set Q1 2026 guidance at 0.17 EPS and FY2026 at 2.48 EPS.
• Shares traded near $25.76 (down ~1.7%) with a market cap around $31.9B; institutional investors hold about 67% of the stock, with large recent stake increases from firms including Vanguard and Auto Owners.

Carnival (NYSE:CCL - Get Free Report) had its price target reduced by research analysts at The Goldman Sachs Group from $34.00 to $30.00 in a research note issued to investors on Wednesday,Benzinga reports. The brokerage currently has a "buy" rating on the stock. The Goldman Sachs Group's target price points to a potential upside of 16.48% from the company's previous close.

Other analysts also recently issued reports about the company. Wall Street Zen raised Carnival from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Saturday, January 31st. Zacks Research lowered Carnival from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Monday. Mizuho increased their price target on Carnival from $37.00 to $38.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a report on Monday, December 22nd. Susquehanna lifted their price objective on shares of Carnival from $35.00 to $40.00 and gave the company a "positive" rating in a research report on Tuesday, December 16th. Finally, Argus restated a "buy" rating and set a $35.00 price objective on shares of Carnival in a research report on Monday, December 22nd. Nineteen investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and nine have issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $34.70.

Carnival Stock Down 1.7%

Shares of CCL stock traded down $0.45 during mid-day trading on Wednesday, hitting $25.76. The stock had a trading volume of 14,268,080 shares, compared to its average volume of 22,345,633. The firm has a market capitalization of $31.91 billion, a P/E ratio of 12.86, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.97 and a beta of 2.42. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.96, a current ratio of 0.32 and a quick ratio of 0.28. Carnival has a 12-month low of $15.07 and a 12-month high of $34.03. The firm's 50-day moving average is $30.55 and its two-hundred day moving average is $29.44.

Carnival (NYSE:CCL - Get Free Report) last posted its 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. The business had revenue of $6.33 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.38 billion. Carnival had a net margin of 10.37% and a return on equity of 28.39%. The company's revenue for the quarter was up 6.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $0.14 EPS. Carnival has set its Q1 2026 guidance at 0.170-0.170 EPS and its FY 2026 guidance at 2.480-2.48 EPS. On average, analysts predict that Carnival will post 1.77 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Carnival

Institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Auto Owners Insurance Co increased its holdings in shares of Carnival by 2,954.0% in the 4th quarter. Auto Owners Insurance Co now owns 19,851,000 shares of the company's stock valued at $60,625,000 after purchasing an additional 19,201,000 shares during the period. Viking Global Investors LP acquired a new stake in Carnival in the 4th quarter valued at about $429,448,000. Vanguard Group Inc. raised its stake in shares of Carnival by 6.0% in the second quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 126,663,493 shares of the company's stock worth $3,561,777,000 after acquiring an additional 7,157,739 shares during the last quarter. Holocene Advisors LP lifted its position in shares of Carnival by 184.3% during the second quarter. Holocene Advisors LP now owns 10,289,947 shares of the company's stock worth $289,353,000 after purchasing an additional 6,669,935 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Pacer Advisors Inc. grew its stake in shares of Carnival by 2,432.8% during the fourth quarter. Pacer Advisors Inc. now owns 6,689,954 shares of the company's stock valued at $204,311,000 after purchasing an additional 6,425,822 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 67.19% of the company's stock.

Trending Headlines about Carnival

Here are the key news stories impacting Carnival this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Stifel maintained a Buy rating on CCL but lowered its price target to $35 from $40, showing continued analyst conviction even as the firm reduces near-term upside expectations. Wall Street Still Likes Carnival $CCL But Still Drops Price Target
• Positive Sentiment: Princess Cruises (a Carnival brand) launched a high-profile 2028 world cruise, a sign of product/itinerary strength that can support demand and advance bookings over the medium term. Princess Cruises Announces 2028 World Cruise
• Positive Sentiment: Coverage noting Carnival’s presence in S&P 500–linked funds underscores steady passive demand support for the stock despite short-term volatility. Carnival Corporation NYSE: CCL Hospitality Travel Presence In S&P 500 Fund
• Neutral Sentiment: Some investment commentary lists Carnival among stocks to consider in a market pullback; these viewpoints offer long-term buying arguments but don’t offset immediate cost concerns. Market Crash: 3 Stocks I'd Buy Without Hesitation
• Negative Sentiment: Zacks downgraded CCL from Strong-Buy to Hold, reducing short-term analyst support and likely contributing to selling pressure. Zacks.com
• Negative Sentiment: Multiple reports highlight that a rapid oil-price spike tied to the Middle East conflict has exposed Carnival’s unhedged fuel costs, raising margin risk vs. hedged peers and prompting steep intraday declines in cruise stocks. Carnival (CCL) Is Down 9.4% After Oil Shock Exposes Unhedged Fuel Costs
• Negative Sentiment: Industry coverage notes cruise stocks were already under pressure before the conflict, and the new fuel and demand worries have intensified sector-wide selling. ‘Cruising used to feel special.' Cruise lines were struggling even before the Iran conflict hurt stocks.
• Negative Sentiment: Analyses summarizing the recent drop connect higher fuel costs and potential softer demand to the stock’s move, reinforcing the market narrative weighing on CCL today. Why Carnival Corporation & plc’s (CCL) Stock Is Down 7.52%

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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