A new cruise passenger tax will go into effect in Mexico on July 1 as the government negotiates with Royal Caribbean and other companies https://t.co/lcbwstMjwf ...

Industry Trends - US travel demand projections are down for almost every kind of travel this summer, except cruises [1] - The cruise industry's favorite ports are experiencing a mixed blessing [1] Regional Focus - Galveston, Texas is highlighted as a port city of interest [1]

Industry Trends - US travel demand projections are down for almost every kind of travel this summer, except cruises [1] Regional Impact - Galveston, Texas is an industry favorite port city [1]

Group 1 - Hyatt Hotels Corporation is currently undervalued with a price-to-earnings ratio of approximately 17x and an EV/EBITDA ratio of under 8x, indicating a premium hospitality brand transitioning to a high-margin, capital-light model [1] - The company has a credible execution strategy and a strong pipeline, suggesting potential for future growth and profitability [1] - The focus on shifting to a capital-light model positions Hyatt favorably in the hospitality industry, enhancing its competitive edge [1]

Core Insights - Carnival's shares have risen approximately 11% in the past month and nearly 40% over the last 12 months, driven by strong second-quarter results that exceeded expectations [2][3] - The company reported revenue of approximately $6.33 billion, a 9% increase year-over-year, and net income of $565 million, up from $92 million a year ago [2] - Carnival has raised its full-year forecast, projecting adjusted net income to be 40% greater compared to 2024, indicating strong demand for leisure cruising post-Covid-19 [2] Financial Performance - Carnival's revenues have shown significant growth, with a 12.7% increase from $23 billion to $25 billion in the last 12 months, compared to a 5.5% growth for the S&P 500 [6] - The company's quarterly revenues increased by 7.5% to $5.8 billion in the latest quarter from $5.4 billion the previous year, while the S&P 500 saw a 4.8% improvement [7] - Carnival's operating income over the past four quarters was $3.8 billion, reflecting a moderate operating margin of 15.1% [7] Valuation Metrics - Carnival's price-to-sales (P/S) ratio is 1.3 compared to 3.1 for the S&P 500, indicating it may be slightly undervalued [4][6] - The price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio for Carnival stands at 16.4, while the S&P 500's P/E is 26.9, suggesting a more attractive valuation [6] Financial Stability - Carnival's debt was $28 billion at the end of the most recent quarter, with a market capitalization of $34 billion, resulting in a debt-to-equity ratio of 84.4% [8] - The company's cash (including cash equivalents) is $833 million out of total assets of $49 billion, leading to a cash-to-assets ratio of 1.7% [8] Resilience in Downturns - CCL stock has historically performed worse than the S&P 500 during downturns, with significant declines during the Covid pandemic and the inflation shock [9][10][11] - The stock has not yet recovered to its pre-crisis peak values, indicating potential vulnerabilities in economic downturns [10][11]

Group 1 - Carnival Corporation & plc announced a private offering of new senior unsecured notes totaling €1.0 billion, maturing in 2031, aimed at repaying borrowings under existing senior secured term loan facilities maturing in 2027 and 2028 [1] - The indenture governing the notes is expected to include investment grade-style covenants [1] - The offering is targeted at qualified institutional buyers under Rule 144A and non-U.S. investors under Regulation S of the Securities Act [2] Group 2 - The notes will not be registered under the Securities Act or any state securities laws, and cannot be offered or sold in the U.S. without registration or an exemption [3] - The press release does not constitute an offer to sell or solicit offers to purchase the notes or any other securities [4] - Carnival Corporation & plc is recognized as the largest global cruise company and a major player in the leisure travel industry, operating several well-known cruise lines [5]

Core Viewpoint - Carnival is experiencing strong demand and financial recovery, making its stock an attractive investment opportunity despite high debt levels [1][10]. Group 1: Demand and Revenue Growth - Carnival is the largest cruise operator globally, with record demand for its cruises, surpassing pre-pandemic sales levels [2][4]. - In Q2 of fiscal 2025, revenue increased by 8.6% year over year, with total deposits reaching a record $8.5 billion [2][4]. - Operating income nearly doubled year over year to almost $1 billion, and adjusted net income more than tripled, with EPS of $0.35 exceeding expectations [5]. Group 2: Future Investments - Carnival is investing in new ships and upgrades to maintain strong demand, with one new ship scheduled for delivery this year and four more on order for 2027 to 2032 [6][7]. - The company is launching a new resort, Celebration Key, in the Bahamas, which can accommodate two million guests annually, enhancing its offerings [8]. - Additional experiences, RelaxAway and Isla Tropicale, are set to launch next year, along with a new membership program to drive repeat business [9]. Group 3: Debt Management and Financial Stability - Carnival's total debt stands at over $27 billion, down nearly $10 billion from its peak of $32 billion at the end of 2022, with efficient debt repayment strategies [10]. - The company received upgrades from Fitch and S&P Global, now just one notch away from an investment-grade rating, indicating improved financial health [11]. - Carnival's stock trades at a forward P/E ratio of 12 and a P/S ratio of just over 1, suggesting it is undervalued [11].

A new cruise passenger tax will go into effect in Mexico on July 1 as the government negotiates with Royal Caribbean and other companies https://t.co/s1Yn1cZfax ...

Bonds issued by The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, a yacht company backed by Oaktree, plunged after the cruise line said it's unlikely to generate positive earnings until 2027. Read it here in The Brink. https://t.co/oZFQNNTJYu ...

Group 1: Carnival - Carnival is experiencing strong demand and financial performance, with fiscal Q2 revenue reaching $6.3 billion, leading to a trailing-12-month revenue of $25.4 billion, surpassing pre-pandemic levels of $20.8 billion in fiscal 2019 [3][5] - The stock price has more than doubled in the past three years, and the current forward price-to-earnings multiple is 12.5, indicating potential for further shareholder returns through improved margins [4] - Adjusted net income for Carnival exceeded guidance at $470 million, with expectations to reach $2.7 billion for the full year, up from $1.9 billion last year [5] - The launch of Celebration Key as a new cruise destination is expected to drive profitable growth, with attractions designed to enhance guest experience and increase ticket prices and margins [6][7] - Wall Street is underestimating Carnival's transformation into a brand that offers exclusive destinations, which could lead to attractive returns for shareholders [8] Group 2: Nintendo - Nintendo's stock has seen significant appreciation, with a 338% increase since late 2016, outperforming the S&P 500's 172% return [9] - The video game industry is valued at $180 billion, with Nintendo owning valuable intellectual properties like Mario Bros and Zelda, and the Switch console achieving record sales of 152 million units [10] - The recent launch of Switch 2 has been successful, selling over 3.5 million units in the first four days, indicating strong market demand [10] - While hardware sales are low-margin, Nintendo expects to sell more games for Switch 2 than the original Switch sold in its first 10 months, setting the stage for strong earnings growth [11] - Analysts have a price target of $34.90 for Nintendo, suggesting a 52% upside from the current share price of $23, with sales expected to double this year [13]