Carnival Corporation (NYSE:CUK – Get Free Report)’s share price reached a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Saturday after the company announced better than expected quarterly earnings. The company traded as high as $31.24 and last traded at $30.96, with a volume of 9433801 shares. The stock had previously closed at $26.32.
The company reported $0.34 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.25 by $0.09. Carnival had a return on equity of 27.86% and a net margin of 10.07%.The business had revenue of $6.33 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.37 billion. Carnival has set its FY 2026 guidance at 2.480-2.480 EPS and its Q1 2026 guidance at 0.170-0.17 EPS.
Carnival Announces Dividend
The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, February 27th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 13th will be paid a dividend of $0.15 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 13th. This represents a $0.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.9%.
Key Carnival News
- Positive Sentiment: Carnival reported quarterly EPS of $0.34, beating consensus ($0.25) and showing healthy margins and return on equity — the beat supports bullish sentiment on near‑term profitability. Carnival earnings report (MarketBeat)
- Positive Sentiment: The company raised FY 2026 EPS guidance to 2.48 (vs. consensus ~2.14), signaling stronger full‑year outlook and faster profit recovery — a key driver behind the stock move. CARNIVAL CORPORATION & PLC ACHIEVES RECORD FULL YEAR… (PR Newswire)
- Positive Sentiment: Carnival reported record adjusted net income for the full year and announced it is reinstating the dividend — both actions signal improving cash flow and management confidence. CARNIVAL CORPORATION & PLC ACHIEVES RECORD FULL YEAR… (PR Newswire)
- Positive Sentiment: Stabilis Solutions agreed a 10‑year LNG bunkering offtake with Carnival for the proposed Galveston facility — secures long‑term fuel supply, supports lower‑carbon fuel transition and reduces fuel‑sourcing risk for Galveston operations. Stabilis Solutions Announces Multi-Year Marine Bunkering Agreement with Carnival (Yahoo)
- Neutral Sentiment: Carnival set Q1 2026 EPS guidance at $0.17 (narrow range) — provides clarity but is modest in isolation; market reaction depends on how this compares to seasonal expectations. CARNIVAL CORPORATION & PLC ACHIEVES RECORD FULL YEAR… (PR Newswire)
- Negative Sentiment: Revenue for the quarter was slightly below estimates ($6.33B vs. $6.37B) and the company still shows stretched short‑term liquidity metrics in public snapshots — a reminder of exposure to cyclical travel demand and balance sheet risk. Carnival earnings and metrics (MarketBeat)
Analyst Ratings Changes
Separately, Weiss Ratings reissued a “hold (c+)” rating on shares of Carnival in a research report on Wednesday, October 8th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Hold rating, According to data from MarketBeat, Carnival has an average rating of “Hold”.
Get Our Latest Report on Carnival
Institutional Investors Weigh In On Carnival
Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in CUK. Norges Bank purchased a new position in shares of Carnival during the 2nd quarter valued at about $152,130,000. Bank of Montreal Can grew its holdings in Carnival by 417.0% during the second quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 1,611,280 shares of the company’s stock worth $41,104,000 after acquiring an additional 1,299,639 shares during the period. NINE MASTS CAPITAL Ltd purchased a new position in Carnival during the third quarter valued at approximately $17,600,000. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership lifted its holdings in Carnival by 35.0% in the second quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 2,426,923 shares of the company’s stock valued at $61,911,000 after acquiring an additional 628,995 shares during the period. Finally, Optiver Holding B.V. boosted its position in Carnival by 124.4% in the 3rd quarter. Optiver Holding B.V. now owns 728,577 shares of the company’s stock worth $19,264,000 after purchasing an additional 403,937 shares in the last quarter. 23.80% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.
Carnival Trading Up 17.6%
The firm has a market cap of $5.84 billion, a PE ratio of 15.48 and a beta of 2.57. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $24.96 and a 200 day simple moving average of $25.87. The company has a current ratio of 0.34, a quick ratio of 0.30 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.10.
About Carnival
Carnival plc (NYSE: CUK) is one of the world’s leading cruise operators, offering leisure travel services to millions of passengers each year. Through its portfolio of brands, the company provides passenger cruises that combine accommodations, entertainment, dining, shore excursions and onboard amenities. Carnival’s vessels range from contemporary “fun ships” to premium and luxury experiences, catering to a broad spectrum of travelers from families and couples to solo adventurers.
Founded in 1972 by Ted Arison, the company has grown through organic fleet expansion and strategic acquisitions.
See Also
- Five stocks we like better than Carnival
- 5 discounted opportunities for dividend growth investors
- These 3 Banks Are Rallying Into Year-End, But Will It Continue?
- What is a Special Dividend?
- 3 Surging Stocks Just Got the Ultimate Stamp of Approval From the S&P 500
- Best Stocks Under $10.00
- This ETF Caught a Major Tailwind After the Fed’s Rate Cut
Receive News & Ratings for Carnival Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Carnival and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
