The Motley Fool·2026-02-24 02:05Core Viewpoint - Activist investors are targeting Norwegian Cruise Line and TripAdvisor, aiming to address operational inefficiencies and enhance shareholder value through strategic changes. Norwegian Cruise Line - Norwegian Cruise Line (NCLH) has a market cap of $11 billion and recently saw a 10% stake acquisition by activist investor Paul Singer of Elliott Management, who criticized the company's poor execution and cost controls [2][4] - Elliott Management is advocating for a new board with more travel experience and a stronger CEO, following the appointment of a new CEO with a background in the restaurant industry [3] - The company is projected to achieve over $4 billion in adjusted EBITDA by 2027, with potential for significant upside due to its modern fleet and favorable industry conditions [4] - Norwegian Cruise Line is the smallest of the major public cruise operators, focusing on the luxury market, which may allow for cost reductions through staff optimization [5] TripAdvisor - TripAdvisor (TRIP) has a market cap of $1.2 billion and has recently attracted a 9% stake from activist investor Starboard Value, which criticized the company's slow adoption of AI technologies [7][8] - Starboard Value plans to nominate its own board members at the upcoming annual meeting and suggests that TripAdvisor should consider a sale [8] - The stock has lost approximately 75% of its value over the past five years and over 80% in the last decade, indicating challenges in monetizing its platform effectively [9][10] - With a low forward P/E ratio of 7.5, TripAdvisor may be an attractive investment opportunity, although the risk of disruption from AI remains a significant concern [10]