Stevens Capital Management LP Raises Stock Position in Carnival Corporation $CCL

Stevens Capital Management LP increased its holdings in shares of Carnival Corporation (NYSE:CCL) by 145.7% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 38,249 shares of the company’s stock after purchasing an additional 22,679 shares during the period. Stevens Capital Management LP’s holdings in Carnival were worth $1,106,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Several other hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Carnival by 6.0% during the second quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 126,663,493 shares of the company’s stock worth $3,561,777,000 after purchasing an additional 7,157,739 shares in the last quarter. Holocene Advisors LP lifted its position in Carnival by 184.3% during the 2nd quarter. Holocene Advisors LP now owns 10,289,947 shares of the company’s stock worth $289,353,000 after acquiring an additional 6,669,935 shares in the last quarter. 59 North Capital Management LP lifted its position in Carnival by 117.1% during the 2nd quarter. 59 North Capital Management LP now owns 7,704,185 shares of the company’s stock worth $216,642,000 after acquiring an additional 4,155,630 shares in the last quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA boosted its holdings in Carnival by 1,945.8% in the 3rd quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 4,170,268 shares of the company’s stock worth $120,562,000 after acquiring an additional 3,966,422 shares during the period. Finally, Sei Investments Co. grew its position in Carnival by 127.0% in the second quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 4,408,963 shares of the company’s stock valued at $123,980,000 after acquiring an additional 2,466,296 shares in the last quarter. 67.19% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research analysts have recently commented on CCL shares. Jefferies Financial Group boosted their target price on shares of Carnival from $34.00 to $37.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Monday, December 15th. Mizuho boosted their price objective on shares of Carnival from $37.00 to $38.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Monday, December 22nd. Argus restated a “buy” rating and set a $35.00 target price on shares of Carnival in a research note on Monday, December 22nd. TD Cowen reaffirmed a “buy” rating on shares of Carnival in a research report on Tuesday, January 13th. Finally, Truist Financial increased their price target on Carnival from $31.00 to $34.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a report on Thursday, January 22nd. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, nineteen have issued a Buy rating and eight have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $35.00.

Trending Headlines about Carnival

Here are the key news stories impacting Carnival this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Analysts note a 2026 fuel and foreign-exchange tailwind that could meaningfully boost Carnival’s margins and support its investment case if sustained; this is being cited as a medium-term positive for earnings. Is Carnival’s 2026 Fuel and FX Tailwind Meaningfully Altering The Investment Case For CCL?
• Positive Sentiment: Carnival was named to Zacks’ top lists (Rank #1) for growth and for value on Feb. 19, signaling positive analyst momentum and favorable quant rankings that can attract buying interest. Best Growth Stocks to Buy for February 19th Best Value Stocks to Buy for February 19th
• Positive Sentiment: Corporate sustainability initiatives — including food-waste reductions and ongoing fleet upkeep — were highlighted by Carnival, which can improve ESG perception and lower operating waste/costs over time. Carnival Highlights Food Waste Cuts And Fleet Upkeep In Sustainability Push
• Neutral Sentiment: Zacks and other outlets profile Carnival as a strong momentum/value stock based on style scores and relative strength; these are informational and can support flows but are not immediate catalysts. Here’s Why Carnival (CCL) is a Strong Momentum Stock
• Neutral Sentiment: Strong performances and strategic moves across the cruise sector (e.g., Royal Caribbean’s momentum) create a favorable backdrop for Carnival but are indirect — sector strength helps sentiment but doesn’t guarantee CCL will match peers.
• Negative Sentiment: Several market reports tied today’s weakness in CCL to crude oil trading near six‑month highs, reviving investor concerns about rising fuel expense for the cruise operator; that sent shares lower intraday. Carnival Stock Is Falling Thursday: What’s Driving The Action?
• Negative Sentiment: News roundups flagged a larger-than-market decline for CCL in recent sessions, driven by short-term selling pressure and macro volatility; with a high beta and significant leverage, Carnival is sensitive to cyclical headwinds. Why Carnival (CCL) Dipped More Than Broader Market Today

Carnival Stock Performance

Shares of Carnival stock opened at $31.97 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.96, a quick ratio of 0.28 and a current ratio of 0.32. Carnival Corporation has a 1 year low of $15.07 and a 1 year high of $34.03. The firm’s 50-day simple moving average is $30.82 and its 200-day simple moving average is $29.48. The firm has a market cap of $39.53 billion, a PE ratio of 15.98, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.15 and a beta of 2.49.

Carnival (NYSE:CCL) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Friday, December 19th. The company reported $0.34 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.25 by $0.09. Carnival had a return on equity of 28.39% and a net margin of 10.37%.The firm had revenue of $6.33 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.38 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $0.14 earnings per share. Carnival’s quarterly revenue was up 6.6% on a year-over-year basis. Carnival has set its Q1 2026 guidance at 0.170-0.170 EPS and its FY 2026 guidance at 2.480-2.48 EPS. Equities analysts forecast that Carnival Corporation will post 1.77 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Carnival Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, February 27th. Investors of record on Friday, February 13th will be given a dividend of $0.15 per share. This represents a $0.60 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.9%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 13th. Carnival’s dividend payout ratio is currently 30.00%.

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.