Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE:CCL) is one of the stocks that was on Jim Cramer’s radar. Cramer explained why the stock is “exciting to people,” as he said: “The AI theme lost its luster, didn’t it? Buyers moved on to other, more exciting areas. That consumer’s resurgence out of nowhere, that’s an exciting story. For example, it’s ignited retail, anything connected to discretionary spending, and that’s what drove, say, the stock of Carnival, almost 10 points higher today on greater numbers that it relea ...

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported a net revenue of RMB4.7 billion, marking a 10% year-over-year increase from the same period in 2024 [26] - Adjusted net profit rose to RMB775 million, reflecting an 18% year-over-year growth, with adjusted net margin expanding to 16.6% compared to 15.5% in the same period last year [26] - Gross profit increased by 10.6% year-over-year to RMB3.0 billion, with gross margin rising slightly to 65% [29] - Adjusted EBITDA increased by 29.7% to RMB1.2 billion, with a 25.4% margin compared to a 21.5% margin in the same period last year [30] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The accommodation reservation business achieved RMB1.4 billion, representing a 15.2% increase from the same period in 2024 [27] - Transportation ticketing revenue reached RMB1.9 billion, marking a 7.9% year-over-year increase [28] - The hotel management business sustained healthy expansion, with over 2,700 hotels in operation and nearly 1,500 in the pipeline [16] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The international air ticketing volume reached a historical high, delivering nearly 30% year-over-year growth [14] - The cumulative number of passengers served on the platform reached 2 billion, suggesting a stable user purchase frequency of 8 times per year [20] - The twelve-month annual paying users climbed to over 250 million, representing a 10% year-over-year increase [20] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on expanding its core OTA business while enhancing its brand awareness and market share [34] - There is a commitment to leveraging technology, including AI, to drive growth and improve user experience [21][23] - The company aims to deepen its presence in the hotel management sector, targeting over 3,000 hotels in operation by the end of 2025 [73] Management Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the resilience of the Chinese travel market, anticipating steady year-over-year growth in both top line and bottom line [33] - The shift in consumer preferences towards experiential travel is seen as a significant opportunity for growth [56] - The company plans to maintain a disciplined approach to sales and marketing spending to ensure optimal returns [56] Other Important Information - The company announced the acquisition of a 100% stake in Wanda Hotel Management, which is expected to diversify brand metrics and strengthen market presence [17] - The balance of cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash, and short-term investments was RMB13.5 billion as of June 30, 2025 [32] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can management provide more color regarding the volume growth, ADR, and take rate in the accommodation business? - Management noted that the domestic ADR has stabilized year-over-year and is expected to continue growing, driven by a shift in user behavior towards higher quality products [41][43] Question: How does the company balance strategic resource allocation between core OTA and pursuing a diverse business portfolio? - Management emphasized that the OTA business remains the foundation and strategic focus, while also pursuing organic growth opportunities and selective M&A [46][48] Question: What are the reasons for the low growth in domestic airline ticketing volume? - Management indicated that the industry has returned to a normalized growth trajectory after two exceptional years, but expects the OTA business to outpace overall market growth [52][54] Question: Can management share more details on outbound travel performance? - Management reported significant growth in international air ticketing and accommodation volumes, with a focus on improving marketing efficiency and ROI [58][59] Question: How does management view the impact of JV and BaBa's investments in the OTA market? - Management believes that the competitive landscape remains stable, as new entrants face challenges in replicating established relationships and operational efficiencies [64][66] Question: What is the expected margin outlook for the OTA business? - Management expects steady year-over-year improvement in margins, driven by reduced sales and marketing expenses and improved operational efficiency [69][70] Question: What is the latest development plan for the hotel management business? - Management aims to operate over 3,000 hotels by the end of 2025, with a focus on enhancing quality and brand recognition [73][74] Question: Can management comment on the standalone app's user base and revenue contribution? - Management reported that the app accounted for over 8% of core OTA revenue in Q2, with ongoing efforts to grow the user base and engagement [82] Question: How is AI evolving within the company? - Management highlighted the integration of AI into the travel planning process, improving operational efficiency and user experience [85][86]