Are Wall Street Analysts Predicting Carnival Corporation Stock Will Climb or Sink?

Core Insights - Carnival Corporation & plc (CCL) is the largest cruise company globally, with a market cap of $34.3 billion, operating under brands like Carnival Cruise Line and Princess Cruises, and carrying nearly half of global cruise guests [1] Stock Performance - CCL shares have outperformed the broader market over the past 52 weeks, gaining 27.1% compared to the S&P 500 Index's 18.3% increase, but are up only 11.8% year-to-date, lagging behind the SPX's 17.2% rise [2] - Over the past 52 weeks, CCL shares have also outpaced the Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR Fund's (XLY) return of 19.8% [3] Financial Performance - In Q3 2025, Carnival Corp reported adjusted EPS of $1.43 and revenue of $8.15 billion, exceeding expectations, yet shares fell nearly 4% on Sept. 29 due to projected cruise costs rising 3.3% for the year and potential impacts from increased investments in 2026 [4] - For the fiscal year ending in November 2025, analysts expect CCL's adjusted EPS to increase by 52.8% year-over-year to $2.17, with a strong earnings surprise history [5] Analyst Ratings and Price Targets - Among 25 analysts covering CCL, the consensus rating is a "Strong Buy," with 19 "Strong Buy" ratings, one "Moderate Buy," and five "Holds" [5] - Citi raised its price target on Carnival to $38, maintaining a "Buy" rating, with a mean price target of $35.43 indicating a 27.2% premium to the current price, and a Street-high price target of $43 suggesting a potential upside of 54.3% [6]