Carnival (NYSE:CCL) Updates Q1 2026 Earnings Guidance

Carnival (NYSE:CCL) updated its first quarter 2026 earnings guidance on Friday. The company provided EPS guidance of 0.170-0.170 for the period, compared to the consensus EPS estimate of 0.180. The company issued revenue guidance of -. Carnival also updated its FY 2026 guidance to 2.480-2.48 EPS.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities research analysts have issued reports on the stock. Weiss Ratings restated a “hold (c+)” rating on shares of Carnival in a report on Wednesday, October 8th. Barclays decreased their target price on Carnival from $37.00 to $36.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday. Argus lowered their target price on Carnival from $40.00 to $35.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, September 30th. Cowen reaffirmed a “buy” rating on shares of Carnival in a research report on Wednesday. Finally, Wolfe Research reissued an “outperform” rating on shares of Carnival in a research report on Friday. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, nineteen have given a Buy rating and seven have assigned a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $34.00.

Carnival Stock Up 9.8%

CCL stock opened at $31.13 on Friday. Carnival has a twelve month low of $15.07 and a twelve month high of $32.80. The company has a quick ratio of 0.30, a current ratio of 0.34 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.10. The company has a market cap of $36.34 billion, a PE ratio of 16.21, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.53 and a beta of 2.53. The business’s 50-day simple moving average is $27.26 and its 200 day simple moving average is $28.31.

Carnival (NYSE:CCL) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Friday, December 19th. The company reported $0.34 EPS 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 company had revenue of $6.33 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.38 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $0.14 EPS. The company’s quarterly revenue was up 6.6% on a year-over-year basis. 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, research analysts anticipate that Carnival will post 1.77 earnings per share for the current year.

Carnival News Roundup

Here are the key news stories impacting Carnival this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Q4 EPS beat and record 2025 profits — Carnival reported stronger-than-expected adjusted EPS and posted record full-year profits driven by higher yields, rising demand and cost discipline; investors view the earnings surprise as confirmation of the recovery thesis. Zacks: Carnival Q4 Earnings Beat
• Positive Sentiment: Dividend reinstated — Management announced the return of a cash dividend, a visible shift toward returning capital that buoyed investor sentiment and supports multiple expansion. Proactive: Dividend Return & Single Listing Plan
• Positive Sentiment: FY2026 guidance above Street — Carnival set FY2026 EPS at $2.48, ahead of consensus (~$2.41), signaling confidence in pricing power and demand resilience into next year. Reuters: Forecast Above Estimates
• Positive Sentiment: Proposal to unify listings — Carnival proposed a plan to move to a single NYSE-listed share, which could improve liquidity and attract U.S.-centric investors if approved. Proactive: Single NYSE Listing
• Positive Sentiment: Analyst support — Multiple firms reiterated buy ratings or bullish notes after the results and outlook, reinforcing positive analyst momentum. TipRanks: Analyst Commentary
• Neutral Sentiment: Unusual options activity — Call buying spiked intraday (large increase in call volume), indicating speculative bullish interest that can amplify moves but may reverse quickly.
• Neutral Sentiment: Management interviews and color — CEO interviews provided supportive commentary on consumer demand and pricing; useful for sentiment but not new fundamentals. YouTube: CEO Interview
• Negative Sentiment: Revenue slightly missed estimates and Q1 guide soft vs. consensus — Q4 revenue came in marginally below Street expectations and Q1 2026 EPS guidance (0.17) is a tick under consensus (0.18), giving short-term ammunition to skeptics about near-term momentum. Press Release / Slide Deck

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Carnival

A number of hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Measured Wealth Private Client Group LLC bought a new position in shares of Carnival during the 3rd quarter worth about $25,000. Johnson Financial Group Inc. bought a new stake in Carnival in the third quarter valued at about $32,000. Towarzystwo Funduszy Inwestycyjnych PZU SA raised its position in Carnival by 90.9% in the third quarter. Towarzystwo Funduszy Inwestycyjnych PZU SA now owns 2,100 shares of the company’s stock worth $61,000 after purchasing an additional 1,000 shares in the last quarter. Wealth Watch Advisors INC acquired a new position in Carnival in the third quarter worth about $71,000. Finally, Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. lifted its stake in Carnival by 103.9% during the third quarter. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. now owns 5,159 shares of the company’s stock worth $149,000 after purchasing an additional 2,629 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 67.19% of the company’s stock.

Carnival Company Profile

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.