Carnival Corporation logo

Carnival Corporation(CCL)

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ADVISORIES YOU CAN VERIFY
QUALITY SIGNAL
1-STAR RATING
PASS
LAST CLOSE
$22.25
09/25/2026
(24-hour delay)

Advisory History & Simulated Performance *

*as per simulation (see disclosures)
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Upturn Advisory & Investor View for CCL

09/25/2026: CCL (1-star) is currently NOT-A-BUY. Pass it for now.

Carnival Corporation is a global leader in the leisure travel sector, operating a large, diversified fleet of cruise ships under multiple well-known brands. The company's main strength lies in its significant scale and ability to offer diverse experiences across various price points, which has historically driven strong revenue. Its primary investment story centers on the ongoing recovery of the cruise industry and the potential for margin expansion through efficient capacity management. However, the company faces material risks from its substantial debt burden and the cyclical nature of travel demand. This stock may suit investors willing to accept volatility in exchange for potential recovery-led gains, though it is not currently a dividend-paying investment.

How to Read the Upturn Advisory

The Upturn Star Rating and the current BUY, SELL, or PASS advisory are generated by Upturn’s AI advisory engine based on proprietary signal analysis, price behavior, advisory history, and historical signal performance.

Company fundamentals, valuation, risks, and news provide supporting context about the business.

Investor Fit

Investor styleFitWhy
Growth investorMixed fitThe company offers potential for recovery-led growth but faces constraints from a heavy debt burden.
Momentum investorStrong fit while signal remains positiveThe stock can exhibit strong momentum during periods of positive travel industry sentiment and occupancy improvements.
Value investorMixed fitValuation may appear attractive following historical declines, but the underlying debt profile complicates the value proposition.
Dividend investorWeak fitThe company does not currently provide a dividend yield, making it unsuitable for immediate income-focused investors.
Low-risk investorWeak fitThe stock is subject to high volatility due to its cyclical nature and leverage profile.

Risk Profile

Risk factorLevelWhy it matters
Price volatilityHighThe stock often reacts sharply to macroeconomic data and consumer confidence shifts.
Valuation riskMedium / highMarket expectations for rapid recovery can lead to valuation premiums that may be vulnerable to earnings misses.
Competition risk (cruise industry rivalry)MediumIntense competition from RCL and NCLH can pressure pricing power and margins.
Business qualityMediumWhile the brand portfolio is strong, the high leverage impacts the overall financial quality of the business.
Dividend incomeLow / noneThere is currently no income component to the investment thesis.
Execution riskMedium / highSuccessfully managing a massive, global, capital-intensive fleet requires precise operational execution.

Price Behavior

Downtrend
PRICE PATH

Downtrend

The stock has experienced a sustained decline in price over recent periods.

Moderately Choppy
PRICE STABILITY

Moderately Choppy

The stock has experienced noticeable price swings while retaining some directional structure.

Analysis of Past Performance

Type Stock
Historic Profit -18.27%
Avg. Invested days 34
Today’s Advisory PASS
Upturn Advisory Rating upturn star rating icon
Upturn Advisory Performance Upturn Advisory Performance icon 2.0
Stock Returns Performance Upturn Returns Performance icon 1.0
Upturn Profits based on simulation icon Profits based on simulation
Upturn last close icon Last Close 09/25/2026

Upturn Scorecard

Upturn Star Rating

★★★★★
CCL receives a 4-star rating, supported by solid company fundamentals, and strong analyst coverage. The rating is constrained by weak price momentum.

Company Fundamentals

★★★★★
CCL has solid overall fundamentals (4 stars), with moderate financial health, solid growth momentum, and strong ownership. In FY2025 versus FY2024, strong earnings growth (+44.1%) and solid cash generation (FCF margin 9.8%) are partially offset by moderate revenue growth (+6.4%).

Financial Health Rating

★★★★★
CCL's financial health is supported by strong cash strength, including free-cash-flow generation of $2.6B (9.8% of revenue). Liquidity is moderate (3 stars), which helps explain the 3-star overall score.

Growth Momentum Score

★★★★★
Free-cash-flow growth is CCL's strongest growth driver at +101.0% FY2025 versus FY2024 (strong, 5 stars). By comparison, earnings growth (+44.1%, strong) is also strong, while revenue growth (+6.4%, moderate) holds the profile back, so recent growth is not broad-based across the business.

Ownership

★★★★★
Institutional ownership is 71.7% and approximately 92.8% of outstanding shares are publicly tradable, supporting liquidity and institutional participation. Insider ownership of 7.11% supports management-shareholder alignment.

Top 5 Institutional Investors

BlackRock Inc 6.57%
Vanguard Capital Management, LLC 5.36%
Vanguard Portfolio Management, LLC 4.00%
State Street Corp 3.67%
Causeway Capital Management LLC 2.71%

Unit Economics (Per $1K Revenue)

★★★★★
CCL generates approximately $296 of gross profit, $168 of operating income, and $98 of free cash flow for every $1,000 of revenue. Based on FY2025 results. Strong cash conversion and healthy margins support the rating, although capital efficiency remains below the highest tier.

Economic Dimensions

★★★★★
Effective Tax Rate: 0.43%

Quantitative Style Profile

★★★★★
CCL has a high-quality, large-cap, liquid profile. Weak momentum is the primary drawback, while elevated volatility.

Style Classification

Quality Focused

Value-OrientedQuality TiltHigh VolatilityLarge / Mega Cap StabilityHighly Liquid / Institution-Friendly

Key Highlights

Company Size Large-Cap Stock
Market Capitalization 29.84B USD
Price to earnings Ratio 9.82
1Y Target Price 33.99
Price to earnings Ratio 9.82
1Y Target Price 33.99
Volume (30-day avg) 20.9M shares
Beta 2.31
52 Weeks Range 21.45 - 33.49
Updated Date 09/25/2026
52 Weeks Range 21.45 - 33.49
Updated Date 09/25/2026
Dividends yield (FY) 1.38%
Basic EPS (TTM) 2.22

How Company Makes Money

Business areaWhat it includesRetail investor read
Cruise Passenger TicketsRevenue from base fare for cruises across all Carnival brands.This is the primary way they make money; the more passengers they fill, the better.
Onboard and Other RevenueExcursions, spa, beverage packages, and specialty dining.High-margin spending on the ship is a key driver of profitability.

Analyzing Revenue: Products, Geography and Growth

Revenue by Products

Product revenue - Year on Year

Revenue by Geography

Geography revenue - Year on Year

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Earnings Date

Report Date 2026-09-29
When Before Market
Estimate 1.36
Actual -

Profitability

Profit Margin 11.24%
Operating Margin (TTM) 12.79%

Management Effectiveness

Return on Assets (TTM) 5.37%
Return on Equity (TTM) 26.69%

Valuation

Trailing PE 9.82
Forward PE 8.43
Enterprise Value 53.79B
Price to Sales(TTM) 1.09
Enterprise Value 53.79B
Price to Sales(TTM) 1.09
Enterprise Value to Revenue 1.97
Enterprise Value to EBITDA 7.51
Shares Outstanding 1.37B
Shares Floating 1.27B
Shares Outstanding 1.37B
Shares Floating 1.27B
Percent Insiders 7.11
Percent Institutions 71.69

Icon representing Upturn AI-generated SWOT analysis summary Upturn AI Summary

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Financial Metrics

🧭 Investment Snapshot

Total Revenue (Scale)

Information icon Total money earned from selling products or services before any costs. It is needed to understand the scale of the business and its ability to generate income.

Net Income (Profit)

Information icon Final profit after all expenses, interest, and taxes are deducted. It is needed to determine the overall profitability available to shareholders.

Free Cash Flow (Cash Strength)

Information icon Cash remaining after operating activities and capital expenditures, showing cash available for growth. It is needed to evaluate the company’s ability to invest, pay dividends, or reduce debt.

📈 Growth & Strength

Operating Income (Core Profit)

Information icon Profit from core operations after deducting all operating expenses. It is needed to measure how efficiently the company runs its primary business activities.

EBITDA (Cash Earnings)

Information icon Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization, indicating operating cash potential. It is needed to compare operating performance across companies without accounting or financing differences.

Gross Profit (Unit Profitability)

Information icon Revenue minus cost of revenue, showing profit after direct production costs. It is needed to evaluate core business profitability before overhead expenses.

🛡️ Financial Safety

Cash (Liquidity Buffer)

Information icon Total cash and cash equivalents on hand. It is needed to evaluate immediate liquidity and financial flexibility.

Total Debt (Leverage Risk)

Information icon Total debt including both short-term and long-term components. It is needed to assess the company’s leverage and financial risk.

Net Working Capital (Short-Term Health)

Information icon Current assets minus current liabilities, indicating short-term liquidity strength. It is needed to assess whether the company can meet its short-term obligations.

🧱 Balance Sheet Strength

Stockholder Equity (Net Worth)

Information icon Total equity value held by shareholders. It is needed to understand the net worth of the company from the owners’ perspective.

Total Assets (Asset Base)

Information icon The full value of everything the company owns, including cash, inventory, equipment, and investments. It is needed to understand the resource base used to generate revenue.

Income Before Tax (Pre-Tax Earnings)

Information icon Income before provision for income taxes. It is needed to analyze profitability independent of tax structures.

⚙️ Cost & Drag Factors

Cost of Revenue (Production Cost)

Information icon Direct costs required to produce and deliver the products or services sold. It is needed to assess efficiency in production and service delivery.

Total Operating Expenses (Operating Cost)

Information icon Indirect costs of running the business such as salaries, marketing, and administration. It is needed to understand how much it costs to sustain ongoing business operations.

Income Tax Expense (Tax Drag)

Information icon Amount of taxes paid or payable to the government. It is needed to evaluate the impact of taxation on overall profitability.

About Carnival Corporation

Exchange NYSE
Headquarters Miami, FL, United States
IPO Launch date 1987-07-24
CEO & Director Mr. Joshua Ian Weinstein
Sector Consumer Cyclical
Industry Travel Services
Full time employees 160000
Full time employees 160000

Carnival Corporation Ltd., a cruise company, provides leisure travel services. The company operates through four segments: North America Cruise Operations, Europe Cruise Operations, Cruise Support, and Tour and Other. It operates port destinations and islands, as well as owns and operates hotels, lodges, glass-domed railcars, and motorcoaches. The company offers its services under the AIDA Cruises, Carnival Cruise Line, Costa Cruises, Cunard, Holland America Line, P&O Cruises (Australia), P&O Cruises (UK), Princess Cruises, and Seabourn brands. It sells its cruises through travel agents, tour operators, vacation planners, websites, and onboard future cruise consultants. Carnival Corporation Ltd. was founded in 1972 and is headquartered in Miami, Florida.