Here’s Why Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NCLH) Surged in Q3

Core Insights - Ariel Investments reported a strong performance for its Small Cap Concentrated Value Strategy in Q3 2025, with a gross return of +15.08%, outperforming both the Russell 2000 Value Index and the Russell 2000 Index [1] - Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NCLH) showed resilience with strong quarterly results, driven by consumer demand and improved booking trends, despite a recent decline in stock value [2][3] Performance Summary - The Ariel Small Cap Concentrated Value Composite achieved a gross return of +15.08% and a net return of +14.93% in Q3 2025 [1] - The Russell 2000 Value Index and Russell 2000 Index returned +12.60% and +12.39%, respectively, indicating a strong relative performance by Ariel's strategy [1] Company Focus: Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NCLH) - NCLH's stock experienced a one-month return of -17.51% and a 52-week decline of 31.91%, closing at $18.33 with a market cap of $8.345 billion on November 27, 2025 [2] - The company is enhancing its Caribbean capacity and improving its private island, Great Stirrup Cay, while also focusing on de-leveraging its balance sheet [3] - NCLH is positioned to exceed its long-range EPS target for 2026, benefiting from its Bermuda tax domicile exemption amidst global tax concerns [3] Investment Sentiment - NCLH is included in the portfolios of 58 hedge funds, an increase from 45 in the previous quarter, indicating growing interest [4] - Despite the potential of NCLH, some analysts suggest that certain AI stocks may offer greater upside potential with less downside risk [4]