Carnival Corporation (NYSE:CUK) experienced a notable increase in its share price prior to the market opening on Friday, following the release of its better-than-expected earnings report. The stock, which closed at $26.32 the previous day, opened at $27.63. By mid-session, shares were trading at $29.6460 with a trading volume of 2,468,092 shares.
The cruise line operator reported earnings of $0.34 per share for the quarter, exceeding analysts’ consensus estimate of $0.25 per share by $0.09. Revenue for the quarter reached $6.33 billion, slightly below the anticipated $6.37 billion. The company also posted a net margin of 10.07% and a return on equity of 27.86%. Looking ahead, Carnival has set its fiscal year 2026 earnings guidance at $2.480 per share and $0.170 for the first quarter of 2026.
Analyst Ratings and Institutional Investments
In related news, Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a “hold (c+)” rating for Carnival shares in a research note dated October 8. Currently, one equities research analyst has assigned a Hold rating to the stock, yielding a consensus rating of “Hold” based on data from MarketBeat.
Institutional investors have also taken significant steps regarding their holdings in Carnival. Osaic Holdings Inc. increased its stake by 36.5% in the second quarter, bringing its total to 1,717 shares valued at approximately $44,000 after purchasing an additional 459 shares. Similarly, Vident Advisory LLC raised its position by 3.1% in the third quarter, now holding 18,911 shares worth $500,000 following the acquisition of an additional 568 shares.
Creative Planning also expanded its stake by 5.0% during the same period, owning 12,032 shares valued at $318,000 after adding 577 shares. Additionally, Parallel Advisors LLC increased its holdings by 51.1% in the second quarter, now owning 1,819 shares worth $46,000. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC raised its position by 70.0% during the second quarter, owning 1,671 shares valued at $43,000. Currently, institutional investors and hedge funds hold 23.80% of Carnival’s stock.
Carnival’s Financial Overview
Carnival Corporation maintains a quick ratio of 0.30, a current ratio of 0.34, and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.10. The company boasts a market capitalization of $5.77 billion and a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.96, with a beta of 2.57. The stock’s 50-day simple moving average stands at $24.84, while the 200-day simple moving average is $25.77.
Carnival plc, founded in 1972 by Ted Arison, is one of the leading cruise operators globally, providing leisure travel services to millions of passengers annually. Its diverse portfolio of brands offers a range of cruise experiences, from family-oriented “fun ships” to premium and luxury options, catering to a wide variety of travelers. The company has expanded through both organic growth and strategic acquisitions, solidifying its place in the cruise industry.
