Carnival Stock News

Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE:CCL ) Q1 2025 Earnings Conference Call March 21, 2025 10:00 AM ET Company Participants Beth Roberts - SVP, IR Josh Weinstein - CEO David Bernstein - CFO Conference Call Participants Ben Chaiken - Mizuho Securities Robin Farley - UBS Steve Wieczynski - Stifel Brandt Montour - Barclays James Hardiman - Citi Patrick Scholes - Truist Jaime Katz - Morningstar Conor C...

Carnival Corporation (CCL) reported better-than-expected fiscal first-quarter profit and record-setting revenue Friday, although its current-quarter outlook came up shy of estimates.

Carnival (CCL -1.27%), the largest cruise line operator in the world, delivered impressive fiscal 2025 first-quarter results on March 21. It recorded $5.81 billion in revenue, surpassing estimates by $64 million (or about 1.1%), and delivered adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $0.13, far exceeding analysts' consensus expectation of $0.02.

Carnival Corp (NYSE:CCL) reported better-than-expected financial results for the first quarter and raised its full-year profit guidance. The cruise operator expects net income to be up 30% compared to 2024, better than its December guidance by $185 million.

The cruise operator's earnings will provide an update on the health of the travel industry but they could be equally important as an indicator about the broader economy.

Carnival's leading market share in the cruise industry sets it up to benefit the most from the forecasted industry growth. I expect Carnival to outperform its FY 2025 guidance, potentially generating $7.49 billion in EBITDA. I'm forecasting Carnival to reduce its debt balance by $3.78 billion in FY 2025, allowing it to exit the year as investment grade, a year ahead of guidance.

Carnival (CCL 4.75%) (CUK 5.06%) suffered during the early days of the pandemic, but this cruise giant has proven its ability to weather tough times -- and go on to recover and grow. The company has soared past analysts' earnings estimates quarter after quarter and reported various records, from revenue levels to bookings.

Last year was great for investors in cruise line stocks, but the water has been a little more choppy in 2025. Shares of Carnival (CCL 5.02%) (CUK 4.41%), the world's largest cruise line operator by revenue, have declined 16% so far this year.