Carnival Stock Earnings Estimates Lifted by Zacks Research

Carnival Corporation (NYSE:CCL) – Stock analysts at Zacks Research raised their FY2026 earnings per share (EPS) estimates for Carnival in a research report issued to clients and investors on Monday, October 12th. Zacks Research analyst Team now expects that the company will post earnings per share of $2.24 for the year, up from their previous forecast of $2.22. The consensus estimate for Carnival’s current full-year earnings is $2.27 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for Carnival’s Q4 2026 earnings at $0.20 EPS, Q1 2027 earnings at $0.14 EPS, Q2 2027 earnings at $0.42 EPS, Q3 2027 earnings at $1.46 EPS, Q4 2027 earnings at $0.53 EPS, FY2027 earnings at $2.55 EPS, Q1 2028 earnings at $0.29 EPS, Q2 2028 earnings at $0.53 EPS and FY2028 earnings at $2.90 EPS.

Carnival (NYSE:CCL) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, September 29th. The company reported $1.43 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.35 by $0.08. The firm had revenue of $8.44 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $8.39 billion. Carnival had a return on equity of 24.83% and a net margin of 11.37%. The company’s revenue was up 3.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $1.43 earnings per share. Carnival has set its Q4 2026 guidance at 0.200-0.200 EPS and its FY 2026 guidance at 2.240-2.240 EPS.

Several other analysts have also recently commented on the stock. The Goldman Sachs Group decreased their price objective on shares of Carnival from $35.00 to $30.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, September 17th. Weiss Ratings downgraded shares of Carnival from a “buy (b-)” rating to a “hold (c+)” rating in a report on Thursday, September 10th. Argus cut their price objective on shares of Carnival from $35.00 to $30.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, October 1st. Freedom Broker increased their price objective on shares of Carnival from $35.00 to $36.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, October 1st. Finally, UBS Group reissued a “buy” rating and set a $36.00 target price on shares of Carnival in a report on Wednesday, September 30th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty-one have issued a Buy rating and six have assigned a Hold rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $34.14.

Carnival Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:CCL opened at $26.72 on Wednesday. Carnival has a twelve month low of $21.45 and a twelve month high of $34.03. The company’s 50 day moving average is $24.95 and its 200 day moving average is $26.40. The company has a current ratio of 0.27, a quick ratio of 0.23 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.54. The company has a market cap of $35.93 billion, a PE ratio of 11.13, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.13 and a beta of 2.38.

Institutional Trading of Carnival

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of CCL. Manning & Napier Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Carnival during the second quarter worth approximately $25,000. Basecamp Wealth Advisors LLC raised its stake in Carnival by 107.8% in the 1st quarter. Basecamp Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 1,045 shares of the company’s stock valued at $27,000 after purchasing an additional 542 shares during the last quarter. Axiom Investment Management LLC purchased a new position in Carnival in the 2nd quarter valued at $29,000. Ancora Advisors LLC purchased a new position in Carnival in the 2nd quarter valued at $29,000. Finally, Motiv8 Investments LLC purchased a new position in Carnival in the 4th quarter valued at $32,000. 67.19% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Carnival News Roundup

Here are the key news stories impacting Carnival this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Record results and bookings support demand: Carnival generated approximately $8.4 billion in third-quarter revenue and $1.9 billion in net income, while customer deposits and advance bookings indicate solid demand extending into 2027. These trends could support higher pricing and yields. What Carnival’s Record Q3 Earnings and Bookings Strength Means For Shareholders
• Positive Sentiment: Analyst remains bullish: Tigress Financial reaffirmed its “Buy” rating and set a $42 price target, implying substantial upside from the recently referenced share price. The call reflects confidence in Carnival’s earnings recovery and demand outlook.
• Positive Sentiment: Princess Cruises is expanding its offering: The brand announced more than 250 departures for its 2028–2029 Americas season, including a return to the Amazon and itineraries spanning the Caribbean, South America, Hawaii, Canada, and Antarctica. The broader program could help support long-term bookings and revenue diversification. Princess Cruises Unveils Expansive 2028-2029 Americas Season with Return to the Amazon
• Neutral Sentiment: Low valuation creates both opportunity and uncertainty: Carnival trades at roughly half the S&P 500’s earnings multiple, but its weaker 12-month performance raises the question of whether the discount reflects slower growth ahead. Is Carnival Stock A Real Bargain?
• Negative Sentiment: Growth headwinds remain: Capacity is expected to grow only about 0.5% in fiscal 2027, while Caribbean competition and loyalty-related pressures could limit pricing gains and offset some of the benefit from strong bookings. Can Carnival’s 0.5% Capacity Growth Support Higher FY27 Yields?

Carnival Company Profile

Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE: CCL) is a global leisure travel company that operates cruise lines and related vacation businesses. Its brands offer ocean cruises, onboard entertainment, dining, accommodation, excursions and other travel experiences to passengers across a range of price points and destinations.

The company’s portfolio includes Carnival Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, Holland America Line, Seabourn, Cunard, P&O Cruises, P&O Cruises Australia, AIDA Cruises and Costa Cruises.