Sterling Capital Management LLC Raises Stake in Carnival Corporation $CCL

Sterling Capital Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of Carnival Corporation (NYSE:CCL) by 65.7% during the 1st quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The fund owned 128,282 shares of the company’s stock after buying an additional 50,841 shares during the period. Sterling Capital Management LLC’s holdings in Carnival were worth $3,320,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the company. BOCHK Asset Management Ltd purchased a new position in shares of Carnival during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Measured Wealth Private Client Group LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Carnival in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $25,000. Lloyd Advisory Services LLC. bought a new position in Carnival during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $26,000. Newbridge Financial Services Group Inc. increased its position in Carnival by 381.0% during the 4th quarter. Newbridge Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 962 shares of the company’s stock valued at $29,000 after buying an additional 762 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Optima Capital LLC purchased a new position in Carnival during the fourth quarter valued at $32,000. Institutional investors own 67.19% of the company’s stock.

Insider Transactions at Carnival

In other Carnival news, insider Bettina Alejandra Deynes sold 43,058 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, May 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $28.10, for a total value of $1,209,929.80. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider owned 69,238 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,945,587.80. The trade was a 38.34% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, Director Sir Jonathon Band sold 11,988 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, April 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $26.19, for a total transaction of $313,965.72. Following the transaction, the director owned 52,601 shares in the company, valued at $1,377,620.19. This represents a 18.56% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. In the last three months, insiders sold 55,058 shares of company stock valued at $1,524,195. 7.90% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Carnival Stock Performance

Shares of CCL opened at $29.11 on Friday. The business’s fifty day simple moving average is $27.37 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $28.41. The company has a current ratio of 0.33, a quick ratio of 0.26 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.80. Carnival Corporation has a 12 month low of $23.45 and a 12 month high of $34.03. The company has a market cap of $36.06 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.11, a P/E/G ratio of 1.29 and a beta of 2.32.

Carnival (NYSE:CCL) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, June 23rd. The company reported $0.41 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.34 by $0.07. The firm had revenue of $6.66 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $6.69 billion. Carnival had a return on equity of 26.11% and a net margin of 11.24%.The company’s revenue was up 5.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $0.35 earnings per share. Carnival has set its FY 2026 guidance at 2.220-2.220 EPS and its Q3 2026 guidance at 1.350-1.350 EPS. Research analysts anticipate that Carnival Corporation will post 2.22 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Carnival Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, May 29th. Investors of record on Monday, May 18th were issued a $0.15 dividend. This represents a $0.60 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.1%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, May 18th. Carnival’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 27.03%.

Carnival News Summary

Here are the key news stories impacting Carnival this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Carnival reported a robust Q2 2026 with record net income, record net yields for the twelfth straight quarter, and record customer deposits, signaling resilient cruise demand and strong pricing power. Carnival Corporation Ltd (CCL) Q2 2026 Earnings Call Highlights: Record Profits and Strategic …
• Positive Sentiment: Analysts remain constructive overall, with some commentary pointing to upside potential as Wall Street stays bullish on cruise demand despite Europe-related headwinds. CCL stock gains premarket: Wall Street stays bullish on Carnival’s cruise demand despite Europe headwinds
• Positive Sentiment: Jefferies reiterated a Buy rating and a $35 price target, saying reduced fiscal 2026 guidance reflects near-term pressure rather than a change in Carnival’s longer-term trajectory. Carnival faces near-term headwinds, but long-term outlook remains intact, says Jefferies
• Neutral Sentiment: Carnival also drew attention for a community initiative expanding its surplus meal donation program to the Dominican Republic, a reputationally positive move but not a direct earnings driver. Carnival Corporation Expands Surplus Meal Donation Program to the Dominican Republic
• Neutral Sentiment: Several recent articles framed CCL as a stock with strong fundamentals but lingering debate over debt, fuel costs, booking trends, and geopolitical uncertainty, which helps explain why the shares remain volatile. Carnival’s Second Quarter: Is the Stock Still Complicated?
• Negative Sentiment: UBS said Carnival is unlikely to benefit much from any improvement in booking trends in 2026, suggesting limited near-term earnings upside. Carnival is Unlikely to Benefit From any Improvement in Booking Trends in 2026, UBS Says
• Negative Sentiment: Investor sentiment was also weighed down by reports that Carnival stock slipped after earnings and by separate headlines about onboard misconduct and a customs altercation, which can add reputational noise around the name. 3 Answers That Burned Carnival Stock Investors This Week

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities research analysts have recently commented on CCL shares. Susquehanna increased their target price on Carnival from $30.00 to $33.00 and gave the stock a “positive” rating in a research note on Wednesday. Mizuho lifted their price target on Carnival from $38.00 to $39.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Friday, March 27th. Argus set a $35.00 price target on shares of Carnival in a research note on Friday. Truist Financial cut their price objective on shares of Carnival from $30.00 to $29.00 and set a “hold” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, May 22nd. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus raised their price objective on shares of Carnival from $35.00 to $36.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, June 12th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty have issued a Buy rating and five have issued a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Carnival currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $35.13.

Carnival Company Profile

Carnival Corporation (NYSE: CCL) is a global cruise operator that provides leisure travel services through a portfolio of passenger cruise brands. The company’s core business is operating cruise ships that offer multi-night voyages and associated vacation services, including onboard accommodations, dining, entertainment, spa and wellness offerings, casinos, youth programs, and organized shore excursions. Carnival markets cruise vacations to a broad range of consumers, from value-focused travelers to premium and luxury segments, through differentiated brand positioning and onboard experiences.

Its operating structure comprises multiple well-known cruise brands that target distinct geographic and demographic markets.