Carnival (US:CCL) ZACKS·2026-02-16 17:15Core Insights - Carnival Corporation & plc (CCL) anticipates a measurable earnings boost for fiscal 2026, primarily driven by fuel prices and currency fluctuations, contributing approximately $0.20 per share [1][8] Earnings Expectations - The company projects adjusted net income of around $3.45 billion for fiscal 2026, reflecting a year-over-year increase of over 12%, or $0.23 per share [3] - Adjusted EBITDA is expected to reach approximately $7.6 billion, up from $7.2 billion in fiscal 2025 [3] Cost Pressures - Cruise costs, excluding fuel, are expected to rise by approximately 3.25% in fiscal 2026 [4] - Regulatory expenses related to emissions allowances and Pillar 2 taxes are projected to reduce earnings by about $0.11 per share [4] Fuel and Currency Impact - Fuel prices are expected to provide a favorable impact of $0.17 per share, while foreign exchange rate changes are anticipated to add another $0.03 per share in fiscal 2026 [2][8] - The combined impact of fuel and foreign exchange is integrated into the broader earnings outlook, with adjusted earnings per share projected at approximately $2.48 for fiscal 2026, compared to $2.25 in fiscal 2025 [5] Stock Performance and Valuation - CCL shares have increased by 25.2% over the past three months, outperforming the industry growth of 10.9% [6] - The stock is currently trading at a forward 12-month price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 12.24, significantly below the industry average of 16.65 [9] Analyst Confidence - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for CCL's fiscal 2026 earnings per share has been revised upward from $2.40 to $2.54 over the past 60 days, indicating strong analyst confidence [11]