Carnival Reinstates Quarterly Dividend, Shares Trading at Just 12x Forward Earnings
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Dec 29 2025
0mins
Source: NASDAQ.COM
- Quarterly Performance Beat: Carnival reported revenue growth exceeding analyst expectations, achieving double-digit earnings beats in 9 of the last 10 quarters, demonstrating strong recovery capabilities in the market.
- Dividend Policy Resumption: This month, Carnival reinstated its quarterly dividend that was suspended during the pandemic, with a new yield of 1.9%, surpassing Royal Caribbean's 1.4%, indicating the company's confidence in future stability.
- Market Positioning Differences: Carnival operates mass-market ships accommodating thousands of passengers, while Viking focuses on the luxury segment with vessels serving fewer than 200 guests, highlighting significant differences in their target demographics.
- Future Growth Outlook: Although analysts project Carnival's revenue growth to slow to 4% over the next two fiscal years, its earnings are still expected to grow in the pre-teens, indicating strong investment value amid increasing competition.
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Analyst Views on CCL
Wall Street analysts forecast CCL stock price to rise
18 Analyst Rating
14 Buy
4 Hold
0 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 32.600
Low
33.00
Averages
37.41
High
45.00
Current: 32.600
Low
33.00
Averages
37.41
High
45.00
About CCL
Carnival Corporation is a global cruise and leisure travel company. The Company has a portfolio of cruise lines, including AIDA Cruises, Carnival Cruise Line, Costa Cruises, Cunard, Holland America Line, P&O Cruises (Australia), P&O Cruises (UK), Princess Cruises, and Seabourn. The Company's segment includes NAA cruise operations, Europe cruise operations (Europe), Cruise Support and Tour and Other. Its Cruise Support segment includes its portfolio of port destinations and exclusive islands as well as other services, all of which are operated for the benefit of its cruise brands. In addition to its cruise operations, it owns Holland America Princess Alaska Tours, a tour company in Alaska and the Canadian Yukon, which complements its Alaska cruise operations. Its Tour and Other segment represents the hotel and transportation operations of Holland America Princess Alaska Tours and other operations. Its tour company owns and operates hotels, lodges, glass-domed railcars and motorcoaches.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
Two Stocks to Hold for the Next 20 Years
- Massive Market Potential: The global travel market is projected to exceed $9.5 trillion by 2035, presenting significant opportunities for brands like Carnival and Hyatt to innovate and expand, particularly in emerging markets.
- Carnival's Growth Drivers: As the world's largest cruise operator with over 90 ships, Carnival has not fully recovered to pre-pandemic levels, yet its substantial market scale and pricing power position it advantageously for future demand in cruise travel.
- Hyatt's Asset-Light Model: By transforming into an asset-light, fee-driven hospitality brand, Hyatt has reduced capital intensity and enhanced scalability, with adjusted free cash flow expected to grow by 22% to 33% by 2026, indicating the success of its business model.
- Investment Return Potential: Carnival's stock is currently undervalued with a forward P/E ratio of 13 and has reinstated dividends in 2025, while Hyatt's stock has risen 125% over the past five years, both offering strong return potential for long-term investors.
See More
Norwegian Cruise Line Shares Decline Following CEO Transition: Reasons for the Downgrade.
- Stock Performance: Norwegian Cruise Line's stock dropped 6% following the announcement of a new CEO.
- Analyst Downgrade: The decline in stock value was also influenced by a downgrade from analysts.
See More
Carnival Cruises Achieves Successful Corporate Turnaround
- Financial Improvement: After focusing on debt repayment for the past three years, Carnival Cruises has entered a new phase centered on expanding profit margins and shareholder returns, reinstating dividends and accelerating free cash flow, shifting market perception from recovery to compounding growth.
- Stock Breakout: The stock has broken above a multi-month resistance level at $32.50, demonstrating strong relative strength and consistently outperforming the S&P 500, indicating potential institutional accumulation; if the breakout holds, the next target price could approach the $40 range.
- Valuation Attractiveness: Despite growth and profitability metrics aligning with industry rivals, Carnival trades at a forward P/E of approximately 13x, significantly lower than the industry average of 17x, with expected EPS growth of about 12.6%, surpassing the industry’s 12.1%.
- Cash Flow Shift: With no major ship deliveries in 2026, operating cash flow is being redirected toward dividends and further debt reduction, while limited industry capacity growth supports sustained yield expansion, and expected refinancing savings of $700 million annually will directly enhance earnings per share.
See More
Royal Caribbean Shares Surge 16.4% in January
- Earnings Performance: Royal Caribbean reported a 13.2% revenue increase to $4.26 billion in Q4, slightly missing expectations, while adjusted EPS surged 71.8% to $2.80, meeting analyst forecasts, indicating strong recovery in profitability.
- 2026 Guidance: The company expects adjusted EPS for 2026 to be between $17.70 and $18.10, representing a midpoint growth of 14.5%, surpassing analysts' estimate of $17.66, reflecting management's optimistic outlook on future earnings.
- Debt Management: Royal Caribbean's debt-to-EBITDA ratio is below 3.0, back within management's target range, showcasing strong post-pandemic recovery and initiating stock buybacks, indicating robust financial health.
- Market Competitive Advantage: With a 37% adjusted EBITDA margin, Royal Caribbean outperforms peers by about 10 percentage points, benefiting from a streamlined brand portfolio and high-margin mega-ships, making it an attractive option for long-term investors despite its higher valuation.
See More
Princess Cruises Earns Ospitalità Italiana Certification
- Certification Honor: Princess Cruises' Alfredo's Pizzeria aboard Sun Princess and Star Princess has received the prestigious Ospitalità Italiana Certification, affirming its commitment to authentic Italian cuisine, enhancing brand image and attracting more food enthusiasts.
- Traditional Craftsmanship: This certification ensures the use of fresh ingredients and traditional cooking techniques, with hand-stretched pizzas baked in a stone oven, showcasing Italy's rich culinary heritage and solidifying Princess Cruises as a true Italian dining destination.
- Chef Collaboration: The cruise line partners with 13-time World Pizza Champion Tony Gemignani to create five unique pizzas that blend premium ingredients and innovative flavors, enhancing the dining experience and strengthening the brand's competitive position in the market.
- Market Recognition: Princess Cruises has been recognized by USA Today for offering the
See More
Carnival's Impressive Recovery and Growth Story
- Financial Recovery: Carnival achieved record full-year revenue exceeding $26 billion and adjusted net income of $3.1 billion in 2023, demonstrating strong post-pandemic recovery and improved profitability.
- Effective Debt Management: The company has aggressively paid down debt and successfully returned to an investment-grade credit rating, reducing vulnerability to interest rate increases and enhancing financial stability and growth potential.
- Operational Efficiency: By replacing older ships with more fuel-efficient vessels, Carnival has not only improved operational efficiency but also boosted profitability through increased onboard spending by travelers.
- Reasonable Market Valuation: Currently trading at 12x forward earnings estimates, down from over 16x a year ago, this reasonable valuation provides investors with ample room for further gains, potentially attracting more buyers into the stock.
See More
Two Stocks to Hold for the Next 20 Years
- Massive Market Potential: The global travel market is projected to exceed $9.5 trillion by 2035, presenting significant opportunities for brands like Carnival and Hyatt to innovate and expand, particularly in emerging markets.
- Carnival's Growth Drivers: As the world's largest cruise operator with over 90 ships, Carnival has not fully recovered to pre-pandemic levels, yet its substantial market scale and pricing power position it advantageously for future demand in cruise travel.
- Hyatt's Asset-Light Model: By transforming into an asset-light, fee-driven hospitality brand, Hyatt has reduced capital intensity and enhanced scalability, with adjusted free cash flow expected to grow by 22% to 33% by 2026, indicating the success of its business model.
- Investment Return Potential: Carnival's stock is currently undervalued with a forward P/E ratio of 13 and has reinstated dividends in 2025, while Hyatt's stock has risen 125% over the past five years, both offering strong return potential for long-term investors.
See More
Norwegian Cruise Line Shares Decline Following CEO Transition: Reasons for the Downgrade.
- Stock Performance: Norwegian Cruise Line's stock dropped 6% following the announcement of a new CEO.
- Analyst Downgrade: The decline in stock value was also influenced by a downgrade from analysts.
See More
Carnival Cruises Achieves Successful Corporate Turnaround
- Financial Improvement: After focusing on debt repayment for the past three years, Carnival Cruises has entered a new phase centered on expanding profit margins and shareholder returns, reinstating dividends and accelerating free cash flow, shifting market perception from recovery to compounding growth.
- Stock Breakout: The stock has broken above a multi-month resistance level at $32.50, demonstrating strong relative strength and consistently outperforming the S&P 500, indicating potential institutional accumulation; if the breakout holds, the next target price could approach the $40 range.
- Valuation Attractiveness: Despite growth and profitability metrics aligning with industry rivals, Carnival trades at a forward P/E of approximately 13x, significantly lower than the industry average of 17x, with expected EPS growth of about 12.6%, surpassing the industry’s 12.1%.
- Cash Flow Shift: With no major ship deliveries in 2026, operating cash flow is being redirected toward dividends and further debt reduction, while limited industry capacity growth supports sustained yield expansion, and expected refinancing savings of $700 million annually will directly enhance earnings per share.
See More
Royal Caribbean Shares Surge 16.4% in January
- Earnings Performance: Royal Caribbean reported a 13.2% revenue increase to $4.26 billion in Q4, slightly missing expectations, while adjusted EPS surged 71.8% to $2.80, meeting analyst forecasts, indicating strong recovery in profitability.
- 2026 Guidance: The company expects adjusted EPS for 2026 to be between $17.70 and $18.10, representing a midpoint growth of 14.5%, surpassing analysts' estimate of $17.66, reflecting management's optimistic outlook on future earnings.
- Debt Management: Royal Caribbean's debt-to-EBITDA ratio is below 3.0, back within management's target range, showcasing strong post-pandemic recovery and initiating stock buybacks, indicating robust financial health.
- Market Competitive Advantage: With a 37% adjusted EBITDA margin, Royal Caribbean outperforms peers by about 10 percentage points, benefiting from a streamlined brand portfolio and high-margin mega-ships, making it an attractive option for long-term investors despite its higher valuation.
See More
Princess Cruises Earns Ospitalità Italiana Certification
- Certification Honor: Princess Cruises' Alfredo's Pizzeria aboard Sun Princess and Star Princess has received the prestigious Ospitalità Italiana Certification, affirming its commitment to authentic Italian cuisine, enhancing brand image and attracting more food enthusiasts.
- Traditional Craftsmanship: This certification ensures the use of fresh ingredients and traditional cooking techniques, with hand-stretched pizzas baked in a stone oven, showcasing Italy's rich culinary heritage and solidifying Princess Cruises as a true Italian dining destination.
- Chef Collaboration: The cruise line partners with 13-time World Pizza Champion Tony Gemignani to create five unique pizzas that blend premium ingredients and innovative flavors, enhancing the dining experience and strengthening the brand's competitive position in the market.
- Market Recognition: Princess Cruises has been recognized by USA Today for offering the
See More
Carnival's Impressive Recovery and Growth Story
- Financial Recovery: Carnival achieved record full-year revenue exceeding $26 billion and adjusted net income of $3.1 billion in 2023, demonstrating strong post-pandemic recovery and improved profitability.
- Effective Debt Management: The company has aggressively paid down debt and successfully returned to an investment-grade credit rating, reducing vulnerability to interest rate increases and enhancing financial stability and growth potential.
- Operational Efficiency: By replacing older ships with more fuel-efficient vessels, Carnival has not only improved operational efficiency but also boosted profitability through increased onboard spending by travelers.
- Reasonable Market Valuation: Currently trading at 12x forward earnings estimates, down from over 16x a year ago, this reasonable valuation provides investors with ample room for further gains, potentially attracting more buyers into the stock.
See More
