Key Takeaways CCL's Q2 EPS of $0.35 beat estimates by 45.8%, with revenues up 9.5% to $6.33B on strong demand. Carnival raised FY25 EPS guidance to $1.97 and EBITDA outlook to $6.9B. Advance bookings for 2025 and 2026 hit record levels, with historical high pricing and strong occupancy.Carnival Corporation & plc (CCL) reported impressive second-quarter fiscal 2025 (ended May 31, 2025) results, with adjusted earnings and revenues beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate and increasing year over year.This upsi ...

Operational Highlights - Occupancy in April was 69%, an increase of 4% compared to April 2024 [3] - Average Cabin Revenue (ACR) rose by nearly 30% year-over-year [3] - Total ticket revenue grew by over 20% year-over-year, despite reduced capacity due to Havila Castor being in dry-dock [3] Booking Position - As of the end of April, 60% of 2025 capacity is booked, representing about 80% of the full-year targeted cabin nights [3] - Occupancy for Q2 2025 is at 72%, compared to a final 69% in Q2 last year [3] - 21% of 2026 capacity is already booked at significantly higher average prices (ACR) than in 2025 [3] Revenue Growth and Margin Expansion - Forward bookings indicate continued revenue growth and EBITDA margin expansion into 2026 [3] - Booking distribution is more balanced across north and south routes than last year, allowing for further sales closer to departure [3] - Full year occupancy for 2025 is expected to trend higher moving forward due to Q4 campaigns starting about three months later [3]

Core Viewpoint - Carnival's stock, once a strong value investment, is recovering from pandemic-related setbacks, with revenue exceeding pre-pandemic levels and strong demand for cruises [1][3]. Financial Performance - Carnival's revenue has reached all-time highs, with adjusted net income of $174 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2025, surpassing guidance [3]. - The company has seen robust demand, with ticket sales at high prices and strong onboard spending [3]. Debt Situation - The company incurred significant debt of $27 billion to maintain operations during the pandemic, which continues to impact its financials [4]. - Carnival has been actively paying down debt, having reduced it by $0.5 billion in the first quarter and over $3 billion in 2024 [6]. Future Outlook - As interest rates decline, Carnival has been able to negotiate better terms on its debt, refinancing $5.5 billion in the first quarter, leading to annualized savings of $145 million [5]. - If the company continues its current pace of debt repayment, it could return to pre-pandemic debt levels in five years, positioning itself for potential stock price appreciation [6].