HighTower Advisors LLC Grows Position in Carnival Corporation $CCL

HighTower Advisors LLC lifted its position in Carnival Corporation (NYSE:CCL) by 22.3% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 485,162 shares of the company’s stock after purchasing an additional 88,381 shares during the period. HighTower Advisors LLC’s holdings in Carnival were worth $14,026,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. grew its holdings in Carnival by 5.1% in the 1st quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. now owns 112,167 shares of the company’s stock worth $2,191,000 after acquiring an additional 5,435 shares during the last quarter. Great Lakes Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Carnival during the first quarter worth about $228,000. Empowered Funds LLC grew its stake in shares of Carnival by 61.6% in the first quarter. Empowered Funds LLC now owns 30,437 shares of the company’s stock worth $594,000 after purchasing an additional 11,601 shares during the last quarter. Woodline Partners LP increased its holdings in Carnival by 41.9% during the 1st quarter. Woodline Partners LP now owns 88,522 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,729,000 after purchasing an additional 26,141 shares during the period. Finally, Chicago Partners Investment Group LLC bought a new position in Carnival during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $381,000. 67.19% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Carnival Stock Performance

Shares of CCL stock opened at $31.97 on Friday. The company’s fifty day moving average price is $30.82 and its 200-day moving average price is $29.48. The stock has a market cap of $39.53 billion, a PE ratio of 15.98, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.15 and a beta of 2.49. The company has a current ratio of 0.32, a quick ratio of 0.28 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.96. Carnival Corporation has a 12 month low of $15.07 and a 12 month high of $34.03.

Carnival (NYSE:CCL) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Friday, December 19th. The company reported $0.34 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.25 by $0.09. The company had revenue of $6.33 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $6.38 billion. Carnival had a net margin of 10.37% and a return on equity of 28.39%. Carnival’s revenue was up 6.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the company posted $0.14 EPS. 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, equities analysts expect that Carnival Corporation will post 1.77 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Carnival Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, February 27th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 13th will be given a $0.15 dividend. This represents a $0.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.9%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 13th. Carnival’s payout ratio is currently 30.00%.

Carnival News Summary

Here are the key news stories impacting Carnival this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Analysts note a 2026 fuel and foreign-exchange tailwind that could meaningfully boost Carnival’s margins and support its investment case if sustained; this is being cited as a medium-term positive for earnings. Is Carnival’s 2026 Fuel and FX Tailwind Meaningfully Altering The Investment Case For CCL?
• Positive Sentiment: Carnival was named to Zacks’ top lists (Rank #1) for growth and for value on Feb. 19, signaling positive analyst momentum and favorable quant rankings that can attract buying interest. Best Growth Stocks to Buy for February 19th Best Value Stocks to Buy for February 19th
• Positive Sentiment: Corporate sustainability initiatives — including food-waste reductions and ongoing fleet upkeep — were highlighted by Carnival, which can improve ESG perception and lower operating waste/costs over time. Carnival Highlights Food Waste Cuts And Fleet Upkeep In Sustainability Push
• Neutral Sentiment: Zacks and other outlets profile Carnival as a strong momentum/value stock based on style scores and relative strength; these are informational and can support flows but are not immediate catalysts. Here’s Why Carnival (CCL) is a Strong Momentum Stock
• Neutral Sentiment: Strong performances and strategic moves across the cruise sector (e.g., Royal Caribbean’s momentum) create a favorable backdrop for Carnival but are indirect — sector strength helps sentiment but doesn’t guarantee CCL will match peers.
• Negative Sentiment: Several market reports tied today’s weakness in CCL to crude oil trading near six‑month highs, reviving investor concerns about rising fuel expense for the cruise operator; that sent shares lower intraday. Carnival Stock Is Falling Thursday: What’s Driving The Action?
• Negative Sentiment: News roundups flagged a larger-than-market decline for CCL in recent sessions, driven by short-term selling pressure and macro volatility; with a high beta and significant leverage, Carnival is sensitive to cyclical headwinds. Why Carnival (CCL) Dipped More Than Broader Market Today

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities research analysts have recently weighed in on CCL shares. The Goldman Sachs Group reiterated a “buy” rating and issued a $34.00 price objective on shares of Carnival in a research report on Monday, December 22nd. Morgan Stanley set a $33.00 price target on shares of Carnival in a report on Wednesday, January 7th. Weiss Ratings restated a “hold (c)” rating on shares of Carnival in a report on Friday, December 26th. Susquehanna raised their target price on shares of Carnival from $35.00 to $40.00 and gave the stock a “positive” rating in a research report on Tuesday, December 16th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus boosted their price target on shares of Carnival from $38.00 to $40.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Monday, December 22nd. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, nineteen have given a Buy rating and eight have issued a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $35.00.

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.