Carnival (US:CCL) The Motley Fool·2025-06-01 09:05Core Viewpoint - Carnival's stock has seen significant volatility in 2023, currently trading around $23, down from a 52-week high of $28.72, despite more than doubling since 2022 [1] Group 1: Financial Performance - Carnival reported record quarterly revenue of $5.8 billion in Q1, with operating income nearly doubling year over year to $543 million, driven by strong demand across its cruise brands [6] - Analysts expect Carnival's earnings per share to improve from $1.42 in fiscal 2024 to $1.86 in fiscal 2025, despite the company carrying $27 billion in debt [9] - The company saved $94 million in interest expense last quarter due to lower debt, which has positively impacted profitability [8] Group 2: Market Demand and Pricing - Demand for cruises is exceeding the limited availability of rooms, leading to higher pricing and historically high prices for 2025, with bookings extending into 2026 [7] - The consensus price target for Carnival's stock is $27.73, indicating a potential upside of 20% from current prices [3] Group 3: Risks and Challenges - Declining consumer confidence could weaken demand for cruise vacations, with consumer confidence down for five consecutive months as of April [2][10] - Potential new taxes on cruise lines could negatively impact Carnival's profitability, as indicated by comments from Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick [11] Group 4: Future Outlook - The upcoming launch of Celebration Key, an exclusive destination, is expected to drive strong demand through 2030, potentially offsetting risks and contributing to revenue growth [13] - If Carnival's earnings reach analyst estimates of $2.46 in 2027, with a fair P/E of 15, the share price could rise to nearly $37, implying a 60% upside over the next few years [13]