Carnival (NYSE:CCL) Cut to “Hold” at Wall Street Zen

Wall Street Zen downgraded shares of Carnival (NYSE:CCL) from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note released on Saturday morning.

Several other research analysts have also recently weighed in on CCL. Barclays decreased their price target on shares of Carnival from $37.00 to $36.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, March 24th. Wolfe Research reissued an “outperform” rating on shares of Carnival in a research note on Friday, December 19th. Jefferies Financial Group boosted their target price on Carnival from $34.00 to $37.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Monday, December 15th. Mizuho upped their target price on Carnival from $38.00 to $39.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Friday. Finally, William Blair reaffirmed an “outperform” rating on shares of Carnival in a report on Tuesday, March 3rd. Twenty research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and seven have issued a Hold rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Carnival has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $34.17.

Carnival Price Performance

CCL stock opened at $23.92 on Friday. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $28.85 and a 200-day moving average of $28.75. The firm has a market capitalization of $29.63 billion, a P/E ratio of 10.63, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.07 and a beta of 2.42. Carnival has a 12 month low of $15.07 and a 12 month high of $34.03. The company has a current ratio of 0.30, a quick ratio of 0.26 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.82.

Carnival (NYSE:CCL) last posted its earnings results on Friday, March 27th. The company reported $0.20 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.18 by $0.02. Carnival had a net margin of 11.48% and a return on equity of 26.92%. The business had revenue of $6.17 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.13 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $0.13 EPS. Carnival’s revenue was up 6.1% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that Carnival will post 1.77 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Evolution Wealth Management Inc. purchased a new stake in Carnival during the second quarter valued at about $25,000. BOCHK Asset Management Ltd purchased a new position in shares of Carnival in the 4th quarter worth about $25,000. Measured Wealth Private Client Group LLC bought a new position in shares of Carnival during the 3rd quarter valued at about $25,000. Lloyd Advisory Services LLC. bought a new position in shares of Carnival during the 4th quarter valued at about $26,000. Finally, Newbridge Financial Services Group Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Carnival by 381.0% during the 4th quarter. Newbridge Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 962 shares of the company’s stock valued at $29,000 after buying an additional 762 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 67.19% of the company’s stock.

Carnival News Summary

Here are the key news stories impacting Carnival this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Q1 beat and record bookings — Carnival reported a revenue and EPS beat for Q1, with management saying ~85% of 2026 bookings are already on the books and cumulative future-year bookings hit a first-quarter record; that underpins near-term demand and revenue visibility. Carnival delivers solid bookings and operational gains during Q1 amid rising fuel risks: analysts
• Positive Sentiment: Shareholder returns & PROPEL roadmap — Management launched the PROPEL strategic plan with long-term targets, reinstated a dividend and authorized a $2.5B buyback, indicating commitment to returning cash and improving ROIC. Carnival delivers solid bookings and operational gains during Q1 amid rising fuel risks: analysts
• Positive Sentiment: BofA and other bullish calls — BofA continues to back CCL with a high $45 price target (citing ~86% upside) and several brokers have reiterated Buy/Overweight ratings despite some lower targets. Why This Top Analyst Expects Carnival Stock To Explode 86%
• Neutral Sentiment: Relative industry positioning — Analysts note Carnival looks better positioned versus Norwegian (NCLH) on demand, pricing and execution, which supports a preference for CCL among cruise names. CCL vs. NCLH: Which Cruise Stock Is Better Positioned for 2026?
• Neutral Sentiment: Analyst price target moves — Several firms (Citigroup, Wells Fargo, Sanford Bernstein) trimmed price targets or adjusted ratings but largely maintained constructive stances — evidence of cautious optimism rather than panic. Carnival (NYSE:CCL) Price Target Raised to $39.00
• Negative Sentiment: Rising fuel costs — A recent oil-price spike is the main near-term risk: Carnival doesn’t hedge fuel fully, so higher bunker prices could meaningfully compress margins and was cited by multiple analysts as the reason for downward target adjustments. An Oil Price Shock Is Hurting Carnival Stock. But Is It a Buy Now in Hopes of a Quick Turnaround?
• Negative Sentiment: Technical/headline risk — The stock faces technical pressure (50-day vs 200-day moving averages) and could attract short-term selling from momentum players if oil-driven margin worries persist. Market commentary on technicals and sector trends

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.