Carnival (NYSE:CUK) Shares Gap Up Following Better-Than-Expected Earnings

Carnival Corporation (NYSE:CUK)’s share price gapped up before the market opened on Friday after the company announced better than expected quarterly earnings. The stock had previously closed at $26.32, but opened at $27.63. Carnival shares last traded at $29.6460, with a volume of 2,468,092 shares.

The company reported $0.34 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.25 by $0.09. The business had revenue of $6.33 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.37 billion. Carnival had a net margin of 10.07% and a return on equity of 27.86%. Carnival has set its FY 2026 guidance at 2.480-2.480 EPS and its Q1 2026 guidance at 0.170-0.17 EPS.

Carnival Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, February 27th. Investors of record on Friday, February 13th will be given a dividend of $0.15 per share. This represents a $0.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.9%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 13th.

Carnival News Summary

Here are the key news stories impacting Carnival this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Carnival reported quarterly EPS of $0.34, beating consensus ($0.25) and showing healthy margins and return on equity — the beat supports bullish sentiment on near‑term profitability. Carnival earnings report (MarketBeat)
• Positive Sentiment: The company raised FY 2026 EPS guidance to 2.48 (vs. consensus ~2.14), signaling stronger full‑year outlook and faster profit recovery — a key driver behind the stock move. CARNIVAL CORPORATION & PLC ACHIEVES RECORD FULL YEAR… (PR Newswire)
• Positive Sentiment: Carnival reported record adjusted net income for the full year and announced it is reinstating the dividend — both actions signal improving cash flow and management confidence. CARNIVAL CORPORATION & PLC ACHIEVES RECORD FULL YEAR… (PR Newswire)
• Positive Sentiment: Stabilis Solutions agreed a 10‑year LNG bunkering offtake with Carnival for the proposed Galveston facility — secures long‑term fuel supply, supports lower‑carbon fuel transition and reduces fuel‑sourcing risk for Galveston operations. Stabilis Solutions Announces Multi-Year Marine Bunkering Agreement with Carnival (Yahoo)
• Neutral Sentiment: Carnival set Q1 2026 EPS guidance at $0.17 (narrow range) — provides clarity but is modest in isolation; market reaction depends on how this compares to seasonal expectations. CARNIVAL CORPORATION & PLC ACHIEVES RECORD FULL YEAR… (PR Newswire)
• Negative Sentiment: Revenue for the quarter was slightly below estimates ($6.33B vs. $6.37B) and the company still shows stretched short‑term liquidity metrics in public snapshots — a reminder of exposure to cyclical travel demand and balance sheet risk. Carnival earnings and metrics (MarketBeat)

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Separately, Weiss Ratings reiterated a “hold (c+)” rating on shares of Carnival in a research report on Wednesday, October 8th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Hold rating, According to MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of “Hold”.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Carnival

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in CUK. Osaic Holdings Inc. raised its position in Carnival by 36.5% during the second quarter. Osaic Holdings Inc. now owns 1,717 shares of the company’s stock valued at $44,000 after purchasing an additional 459 shares in the last quarter. Vident Advisory LLC raised its stake in shares of Carnival by 3.1% in the third quarter. Vident Advisory LLC now owns 18,911 shares of the company’s stock worth $500,000 after purchasing an additional 568 shares during the last quarter. Creative Planning lifted its holdings in Carnival by 5.0% in the third quarter. Creative Planning now owns 12,032 shares of the company’s stock valued at $318,000 after acquiring an additional 577 shares during the period. Parallel Advisors LLC lifted its position in shares of Carnival by 51.1% during the 2nd quarter. Parallel Advisors LLC now owns 1,819 shares of the company’s stock valued at $46,000 after buying an additional 615 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Tower Research Capital LLC TRC increased its stake in shares of Carnival by 70.0% in the second quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 1,671 shares of the company’s stock worth $43,000 after purchasing an additional 688 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 23.80% of the company’s stock.

Carnival Stock Up 17.6%

The company has a current ratio of 0.34, a quick ratio of 0.30 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.10. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $24.96 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $25.84. The firm has a market capitalization of $5.84 billion, a P/E ratio of 16.13 and a beta of 2.57.

About Carnival

Carnival plc (NYSE: CUK) is one of the world’s leading cruise operators, offering leisure travel services to millions of passengers each year. Through its portfolio of brands, the company provides passenger cruises that combine accommodations, entertainment, dining, shore excursions and onboard amenities. Carnival’s vessels range from contemporary “fun ships” to premium and luxury experiences, catering to a broad spectrum of travelers from families and couples to solo adventurers.

Founded in 1972 by Ted Arison, the company has grown through organic fleet expansion and strategic acquisitions.