Carnival Corporation (NYSE: CUK) achieved a new 52-week high during midday trading on Saturday, driven by the release of its better-than-expected quarterly earnings. The stock reached a peak of $31.24 before settling at $30.96, with a trading volume of 9,433,801 shares. This marked a significant increase from its previous closing price of $26.32.
The company reported earnings per share (EPS) of $0.34 for the quarter, surpassing analysts’ expectations of $0.25 by $0.09. Carnival also noted a robust return on equity of 27.86% and a net margin of 10.07%. While its quarterly revenue of $6.33 billion was slightly below the anticipated $6.37 billion, the overall performance reflects strong operational momentum.
Dividend Announcement and Future Guidance
In addition to the earnings report, Carnival declared a quarterly dividend of $0.15 per share, set to be paid on February 27, 2026. Shareholders on record as of February 13, 2026 will receive this dividend, with an annualized total of $0.60 and a yield of 1.9%. This focus on returning value to shareholders illustrates Carnival’s commitment to maintaining investor confidence.
Looking ahead, Carnival has provided guidance for its fiscal year 2026, projecting an EPS of $2.48. For the first quarter of 2026, the company expects an EPS of $0.17, indicating continued optimism about its future performance.
Market Response and Institutional Investments
Following the earnings announcement, Carnival’s stock experienced a notable increase of 17.6%, reflecting positive market sentiment. The company now boasts a market capitalization of $5.84 billion, a price-to-earnings (PE) ratio of 15.48, and a beta of 2.57. With a 50-day simple moving average of $24.96 and a 200-day average of $25.87, the stock’s performance suggests growing investor confidence.
Institutional investors are also taking a keen interest in Carnival. Recent data indicates that 23.80% of the stock is held by institutional investors and hedge funds. Notably, Norges Bank acquired a new position valued at approximately $152.13 million during the second quarter. Additionally, Bank of Montreal Can increased its holdings by 417%, now owning 1,611,280 shares worth $41.1 million after adding over 1.29 million shares during this period.
Other significant investments include NINE MASTS CAPITAL Ltd, which purchased shares valued at around $17.6 million, and Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership, which raised its holdings by 35%, resulting in ownership of 2,426,923 shares worth $61.91 million.
As Carnival continues to navigate the evolving travel landscape, the combination of strong earnings, a proactive dividend strategy, and heightened institutional interest positions the company favorably for future growth.
