CARNIVAL CORP (CCL) Stock Analysis — April 2026 Rating, Price, and Forecast
Company Overview — What Does CARNIVAL CORP Do?
Carnival Corporation & plc operates as a leisure travel company. Its ships visit approximately 700 ports under the Carnival Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, Holland America Line, P&O Cruises (Australia), Seabourn, Costa Cruises, AIDA Cruises, P&O Cruises (UK), and Cunard brand names. The company also provides port destinations and other services, as well as owns and owns and operates hotels, lodges, glass-domed railcars, and motor coaches. It sells its cruises primarily through travel agents, tour operators, vacation planners, and websites. The company operates in the United States, Canada, Continental Europe, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Asia, and internationally. It operates 87 ships with 223,000 lower berths. Carnival Corporation & plc was founded in 1972 and is headquartered in Miami, Florida. CARNIVAL CORP (CCL) is classified as a large-cap stock in the Industrials sector, specifically within the Transportation industry. The company is led by CEO Josh Weinstein and employs approximately 40,000 people, headquartered in Miami, Florida. With a market capitalization of $36.8B, CCL is one of the prominent companies in the Industrials sector.
CARNIVAL CORP (CCL) Stock Rating — Reduce (April 2026)
As of April 2026, CARNIVAL CORP receives a Reduce rating with a composite score of 41.4/100 and 2 out of 5 stars from the Blank Capital Research quantitative model.CCL ranks #3,290 out of 4,446 stocks in our coverage universe. Within the Industrials sector, CARNIVAL CORP ranks #560 of 752 stocks, placing it in the lower half of its Industrials peers. The rating is generated by a multi-factor model that weighs quality (30%), momentum (25%), value (15%), investment (10%), stability (10%), and short interest (10%).
CCL Stock Price and 52-Week Range
CARNIVAL CORP (CCL) currently trades at $27.71. The stock lost $0.14 (0.5%) in the most recent trading session. The 52-week high for CCL is $34.03, which means the stock is currently trading -18.6% from its annual peak. The 52-week low is $15.07, putting the stock 83.9% above its annual trough. Recent trading volume was 13.0M shares, indicating strong institutional interest and high liquidity.
Is CCL Overvalued or Undervalued? — Valuation Analysis
CARNIVAL CORP (CCL) carries a value factor score of 44/100 in the Blank Capital model, indicating fair valuation relative to historical norms. The trailing price-to-earnings ratio is 13.41x, compared to the Industrials sector average of 28.33x — a discount of 53%. The price-to-book ratio stands at 2.67x, versus the sector average of 2.23x. The price-to-sales ratio is 1.32x, compared to 0.50x for the average Industrials stock. On an enterprise value basis, CCL trades at 8.56x EV/EBITDA, versus 5.70x for the sector.
Overall, CCL's valuation appears roughly in line with sector benchmarks, suggesting the market is pricing the stock fairly given its current fundamentals and growth trajectory. Neither deep value nor significantly overpriced, the stock occupies a middle ground on valuation.
CARNIVAL CORP Profitability — ROE, Margins, and Quality Score
CARNIVAL CORP (CCL) earns a quality factor score of 34/100, signaling below-average profitability metrics relative to the broader market. The return on equity (ROE) is 19.9%, compared to the Industrials sector average of 8.9%, which is within a healthy range. Return on assets (ROA) comes in at 5.1% versus the sector average of 3.3%.
On a margin basis, CARNIVAL CORP reports gross margins of 40.0%, compared to 35.8% for the sector. The operating margin is 15.5% (sector: 6.2%). Net profit margin stands at 8.6%, versus 3.9% for the average Industrials stock. Revenue growth is running at -21.9% on a trailing basis, compared to 6.4% for the sector. Profitability is below benchmark levels, which may reflect industry headwinds, elevated reinvestment, or structural challenges.
CCL Debt, Balance Sheet, and Financial Health
CARNIVAL CORP has a debt-to-equity ratio of 199.0%, compared to the Industrials sector average of 70.0%. This elevated leverage warrants close monitoring, as it increases the company's sensitivity to rising interest rates and economic downturns. The current ratio is 0.30x, which may signal near-term liquidity tightness. Total debt on the balance sheet is $26.00B. Cash and equivalents stand at $1.93B.
CCL has a beta of 1.75, meaning it is more volatile than the broader market — a $10,000 investment in CCL would be expected to move 75.2% more than the S&P 500 on any given day. The stability factor score for CARNIVAL CORP is 45/100, reflecting average volatility within the normal range for its sector.
CARNIVAL CORP Revenue and Earnings History — Quarterly Trend
In TTM 2026, CARNIVAL CORP reported revenue of $26.46B and earnings per share (EPS) of $0.19. Net income for the quarter was $2.60B. Gross margin was 40.0%. Operating income came in at $4.36B.
In Q1 2026, CARNIVAL CORP reported revenue of $6.17B and earnings per share (EPS) of $0.19. Net income for the quarter was $263M. Revenue grew 6.1% year-over-year compared to Q1 2025. Operating income came in at $607M.
In FY 2025, CARNIVAL CORP reported revenue of $26.62B and earnings per share (EPS) of $2.10. Net income for the quarter was $2.76B. Revenue grew 6.4% year-over-year compared to FY 2024. Operating income came in at $4.48B.
In Q3 2025, CARNIVAL CORP reported revenue of $8.15B and earnings per share (EPS) of $1.41. Net income for the quarter was $1.85B. Gross margin was 46.2%. Revenue grew 3.3% year-over-year compared to Q3 2024. Operating income came in at $2.27B.
Over the past 8 quarters, CARNIVAL CORP has demonstrated a growth trajectory, with revenue expanding from $7.90B to $26.46B. Investors analyzing CCL stock should weigh these quarterly trends alongside the valuation and quality metrics discussed above.
CCL Dividend Yield and Income Analysis
CARNIVAL CORP (CCL) does not currently pay a dividend. This is common among growth-oriented companies in the Transportation industry that prefer to reinvest cash flows into business expansion rather than returning capital to shareholders. Income-focused investors looking for Industrials dividend stocks may want to explore other Industrials stocks or use the stock screener to filter by dividend yield.
CCL Momentum and Technical Analysis Profile
CARNIVAL CORP (CCL) has a momentum factor score of 49/100, reflecting neutral trend characteristics. The stock is neither significantly outperforming nor underperforming the broader market on a momentum basis. The investment factor score is 38/100, which measures capital allocation efficiency and asset growth patterns. The short interest score of 42/100 reflects moderate short selling activity.
CCL vs Competitors — Industrials Sector Ranking and Peer Comparison
Within the Industrials sector, CARNIVAL CORP (CCL) ranks #560 out of 752 stocks based on the Blank Capital composite score. This places CCL in the lower half of all Industrials stocks in our coverage universe. Key competitors and sector peers include South Bow Corp (SOBO) with a score of 56.5/100, TSAKOS ENERGY NAVIGATION LTD (TEN) with a score of 61.4/100, Great Lakes Dredge & Dock CORP (GLDD) with a score of 56.7/100, Tri Pointe Homes, Inc. (TPH) with a score of 57.3/100, and Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings, Inc. (CCO) with a score of 52.2/100.
Comparing CCL against the S&P 500 benchmark is also instructive for understanding relative performance. Investors can view the full CCL vs S&P 500 (SPY) comparison to assess how CARNIVAL CORP stacks up against the broader market across all factor dimensions.
CCL Next Earnings Date
No upcoming earnings date has been announced for CARNIVAL CORP (CCL) at this time. Check the earnings calendar for the latest scheduling updates across all stocks in our coverage universe.
Should You Buy CCL? — Investment Thesis Summary
The quantitative profile for CARNIVAL CORP suggests caution. The quality score of 34/100 flags below-average profitability.
In summary, CARNIVAL CORP (CCL) earns a Reduce rating with a composite score of 41.4/100 as of April 2026. The rating is derived from the Blank Capital Research methodology, which combines six factor dimensions into a single quantitative ranking. Investors should consider these quantitative signals alongside their own fundamental research, risk tolerance, and investment time horizon before making buy or sell decisions on CCL stock.
Related Resources for CCL Investors
Explore more research and tools: CCL vs S&P 500 comparison, top Industrials stocks, stock screener, our methodology, quality factor explained, value factor explained, momentum factor explained. Compare CCL head-to-head with peers: CCL vs SOBO, CCL vs TEN, CCL vs GLDD.