Carnival Seen Undervalued As 6 To 12 Month Catalysts Line Up

Core Viewpoint - Carnival Corporation (CCL) shares are experiencing an upward trend, with positive expectations for upcoming earnings results and strong demand in the market [1][2]. Group 1: Earnings and Analyst Predictions - Carnival is set to release its third-quarter results on September 29, 2025, with expectations of a "beat-and-raise" setup due to strong close-in demand and pricing [1]. - Stifel analyst Steven M. Wieczynski has reiterated a Buy rating on CCL, raising the price forecast from $34 to $38, indicating confidence in the company's performance [1]. - Wieczynski predicts that 2025 yields could exceed 5.5%, which would result in EBITDA slightly above company guidance, estimating $6.99 billion compared to the guidance of around $6.9 billion [4]. Group 2: Market Trends and Financial Health - Booking trends for Carnival remain healthy, with no observed weakening in onboard spending, countering recent concerns about pricing and demand for 2026 [2]. - The analyst believes that Carnival shares are currently undervalued, with several positive catalysts expected in the next six to twelve months [3]. - There is a viable path for Carnival to regain an investment-grade rating by the end of the year, which could facilitate capital returns through dividends or buybacks [4]. Group 3: Cost Management and Financial Strategy - Carnival has the potential to reduce higher-cost borrowings and refinance into lower-cost debt, leading to significant interest savings and enhancing the equity story [5]. - As of the publication date, Carnival shares are trading higher by 0.59% at $30.89, reflecting positive market sentiment [5].