Carnival Corporation & plc (CCL) is listed on NYSE and operates in the Leisure industry (Consumer Cyclical sector).
Carnival Corporation & plc operates as a leisure travel company. Its ships visit approximately 700 ports under the Carnival Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, Holland America Line, P&O Cruises (Australia), Seabourn, Costa Cruises, AIDA Cruises, P&O Cruises (UK), and Cunard brand names. The company also provides port destinations and other services, as well as owns and owns and operates hotels, lodges, glass-domed railcars, and motor coaches. It sells its cruises primarily through travel agents, tour operators, vacation planners, and websites. The company operates in the United States, Canada, Continental Europe, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Asia, and internationally. It operates 87 ships with 223,000 lower berths. Carnival Corporation & plc was founded in 1972 and is headquartered in Miami, Florida.
| Rating | Analysts |
|---|---|
| Strong Buy | 0 |
| Buy | 28 |
| Hold | 17 |
| Sell | 2 |
| Strong Sell | 0 |
Carnival Corporation & plc is a leisure travel company specializing in cruise operations. It operates a fleet of 87 ships with 223,000 lower berths, visiting approximately 700 ports worldwide. The company's cruise brands include Carnival Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, Holland America Line, P&O Cruises (Australia and UK), Seabourn, Costa Cruises, AIDA Cruises, and Cunard. In addition to cruise services, Carnival offers port destinations and operates hotels, lodges, glass-domed railcars, and motor coaches. The company markets its cruises primarily through travel agents, tour operators, vacation planners, and online platforms. Carnival Corporation & plc has a global presence, with operations in the United States, Canada, Continental Europe, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, and Asia. Founded in 1972, the company is headquartered in Miami, Florida.
Over the past three fiscal years, the company has demonstrated a robust growth trajectory, with revenue consistently increasing at an 11.0% CAGR from $21.59 billion in 2023 to $26.62 billion in 2025. This revenue growth has been accompanied by a significant improvement in profitability, as evidenced by the operating margin expanding 7.8 percentage points from 9.1% to 16.8%, and the net margin turning positive, increasing by 10.7 percentage points from -0.3% to 10.4%. The company's earnings per share (EPS) also saw a remarkable turnaround, moving from a loss of $0.0586 in 2023 to a positive $2.02 in 2025. Cash generation has been strong, with operating cash flow (OCF) growing at a 20.5% CAGR to $6.22 billion and free cash flow (FCF) increasing at an impressive 61.7% CAGR to $2.61 billion, resulting in an FCF margin of 9.8%. Despite this growth, the company has faced some challenges, such as a 4.1 percentage point decline in gross margin, which indicates rising costs or pricing pressures. Additionally, the share count increased by 11.1%, which has diluted some of the per-share gains. On the capital efficiency front, the company has improved its return on invested capital (ROIC) to 10.7%, while net debt has decreased from $29.48 billion to $26.07 billion, reflecting a more prudent capital management strategy. However, liquidity remains a concern with a current ratio of 0.30, indicating potential short-term financial constraints. Overall, the company has made significant strides in profitability and cash generation, although it must address liquidity and margin pressures to sustain its growth momentum.
Recent developments for Carnival Corporation (CCL) have been marked by significant analyst activity and market reactions. On April 20, Zacks Investment Research highlighted that CCL's demand remains robust despite geopolitical shifts, suggesting potential resilience in the company's market position. However, just days earlier, on April 17, Zacks also listed CCL among new strong sell stocks, indicating mixed analyst sentiment. In market movements, Carnival's stock experienced a rally as geopolitical tensions eased, notably with the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, leading to a significant drop in oil prices. This development saw WTI crude fall over 14% to about $81 per barrel, providing a bullish setup for Carnival's stock, which is trading above its 20-day and 100-day simple moving averages. Additionally, Holland America, a Carnival subsidiary, announced a $500 million investment in fleet enhancements, marking the largest update in its 153-year history. This strategic initiative aims to revitalize guest experiences across several ship classes. Meanwhile, institutional activity included Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA increasing its position in Carnival, reflecting continued interest from institutional investors. These developments collectively paint a picture of a company navigating complex market dynamics with strategic investments and fluctuating analyst perspectives.