Carnival today
Carnival Co. And
As of 01/15/2025 15:58 Eastern
- 52 week range
- $13.78
▼
$27.17
- P/E ratio
- 22.29
- Target price
- $27.18
Carnival Co. and pl.s. New York Stock Exchange: CCL is the world’s largest cruise ship operator with a portfolio of nine cruise line brands. The consumer leader owns some of the most well-known brands such as Carnival Cruise Lines, Princess Cruises, Holland America, Seabourn, Costa Cruises, AIDA Cruises, P&O Cruises and Cunard Line. Carnival caters to every budget, demographic and lifestyle, from budget cruises to family cruises to chic luxury lines. The company is coming off a record year in 2024 and has set a low target for 2025, which could see the stock rise even further. Here are four reasons to consider buying the stock.
1) Strong fourth-quarter 2024 earnings bode well for a stronger 2025.
Carnival ended the year with fourth-quarter 2024 earnings per share of 14 cents, beating consensus estimates by 6 cents. Carnival turned a profit in 2024 after being in the red last year. Revenue rose 10% year over year to a record $5.94 billion, in line with consensus estimates. Gross margin exceeded 2023 levels by 20% YoY.
Full-year revenue hit a record $25 billion, up 15% year-over-year. Adjusted EBITDA for 2024 reached a new record of $6.1 billion, up 40% year-over-year. Full-year operating income rose 80% year over year to $3.6 billion. Carnival delivered strong pricing in 2024, allowing the company to exceed its original 2024 guidance by $700 million and increase earnings by nearly $2 billion. Adjusted return on invested capital (ROIC) increased 11% YoY. Carnival is now more than 80% of the way toward meeting its EBITDA SEA Change EBITDA and adjusted ROI targets in 2026. The company said 2025 is shaping up to be another banner year, with profitability growth expected to exceed historical growth rates.
2) Profits should increase due to lower fuel costs in line with Trump’s “Storm Baby Storm” attitude.
The new Trump administration is committed to a “Storm, Baby, Storm” policy aimed at increasing U.S. oil and gas production with the goal of cutting energy costs in half by 2025. not only Carnival, but also peers, including Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. New York Stock Exchange: RCL And Viking Holdings Inc. New York Stock Exchange: VIC. Lower energy costs mean more money in consumers’ wallets to book cruises, increasing already huge demand. Carnival also improved its net debt to adjusted EBITDA ratio to 4.3x.
3) Reservations for 2026 are already filling up.
Carnival Co. and stock forecast today
$27.18
Growth potential 8.84%Moderate purchase
Based on ratings from 18 analysts
| High forecast | $34.00 |
|---|---|
| Average forecast | $27.18 |
| Low forecast | US$19.00 |
Carnival Co stock forecast details.
Carnival saw double-digit growth in new and returning guests in 2024 as the cruiser demographic continues to expand. According to a Cruise Line Industry of America (CLIA) survey, nearly 76% of millennials and Gen Xers are considering a cruise vacation.
Carnival said its cumulative pre-bookings for all of 2025 are at an all-time high in both price and occupancy. Even with less inventory available, the number of orders placed in the fourth quarter of 2025 was even higher than last year. Nearly two-thirds of 2025 cruises are already booked and at higher prices. Bookings made in the fourth quarter through 2026 continue to break records. The North American and European segments are experiencing their longest pre-booking periods ever. This reflects a strong demand for “even longer voyages.”
Carnival raised its first-quarter 2025 earnings per share forecast to breakeven, compared with the consensus estimate of a loss of 3 cents. However, full-year 2025 earnings per share may have been understated to $1.70 compared to analysts’ consensus estimate of $1.75.
4) CCL stock forms a weekly bull flag
The bull flag pattern consists of two parts. First, the underlying stock forms a flagpole, which is a sharp jump in the stock’s price, usually at an angle of 45 degrees or greater. The flagpole ends when the stock reaches its peak. The flag is formed on parallel descending trend lines consisting of lower highs and lower lows. A bull flag is triggered when the stock breaks the upper downtrend line and passes the top of the flagpole.
The weekly flagpole hit a high of $27.18 for CCL stock. The flag formed a parallel channel consisting of a descending upper resistance line and a lower support line. The bull flag could be triggered if CCL rises through the upper trendline resistance at the $24.61 Fibonacci level. The weekly flat support VWAP is $20.52. The weekly RSI is at the 61 band level. Fibonacci (Fibonacci retracement support levels are located at $22.67, $19.93, $18.23 and $17.03.
The average consensus price target for CCL is $27.18which implies a growth potential of 0.96%. and his highest analyst price target is at US$34. It has 14 Buy analyst ratings, three Hold ratings, and one Sell rating. The stock’s short interest is 5.67%.
Actionable Option Strategies: Bullish investors may consider using cash-backed puts at Fibonacci retracement support levels to buy the dip. If the stock is allocated, then writing covered calls at high Fibonacci levels implements a wheel strategy to generate income.
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