Empirical Financial Services LLC d.b.a. Empirical Wealth Management Takes Position in Carnival Corporation $CCL

Empirical Financial Services LLC d.b.a. Empirical Wealth Management bought a new stake in Carnival Corporation (NYSE:CCL) in the third quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The institutional investor bought 44,662 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,291,000.

Several other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. State of Michigan Retirement System grew its position in shares of Carnival by 9.9% in the 2nd quarter. State of Michigan Retirement System now owns 312,244 shares of the company’s stock worth $8,780,000 after buying an additional 28,000 shares during the last quarter. AustralianSuper Pty Ltd purchased a new position in Carnival during the 2nd quarter valued at $37,880,000. National Pension Service raised its holdings in Carnival by 10.8% in the 3rd quarter. National Pension Service now owns 2,795,560 shares of the company’s stock worth $80,820,000 after purchasing an additional 272,452 shares in the last quarter. Oppenheimer Asset Management Inc. lifted its position in shares of Carnival by 30.9% in the 2nd quarter. Oppenheimer Asset Management Inc. now owns 100,983 shares of the company’s stock worth $2,840,000 after purchasing an additional 23,866 shares during the period. Finally, Convergence Investment Partners LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Carnival in the 2nd quarter worth about $734,000. 67.19% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Carnival Stock Performance

CCL stock opened at $31.97 on Monday. Carnival Corporation has a 1 year low of $15.07 and a 1 year high of $34.03. The company has a market cap of $39.53 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.98, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.17 and a beta of 2.49. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.96, a current ratio of 0.32 and a quick ratio of 0.28. The stock’s fifty day moving average price is $30.82 and its 200-day moving average price is $29.49.

Carnival (NYSE:CCL) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Friday, December 19th. The company reported $0.34 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.25 by $0.09. Carnival had a net margin of 10.37% and a return on equity of 28.39%. The firm had revenue of $6.33 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $6.38 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $0.14 EPS. The business’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. On average, equities analysts forecast that Carnival Corporation will post 1.77 earnings per share for the current year.

Carnival Dividend Announcement

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

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities analysts recently issued reports on the stock. Mizuho increased their price target on shares of Carnival from $37.00 to $38.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Monday, December 22nd. UBS Group upped their target price on Carnival from $37.00 to $38.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Monday, January 12th. Wells Fargo & Company raised their target price on Carnival from $35.00 to $38.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Monday, December 22nd. Jefferies Financial Group upped their price target on Carnival from $34.00 to $37.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Monday, December 15th. Finally, Wolfe Research reissued an “outperform” rating on shares of Carnival in a research report on Friday, December 19th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, nineteen have issued a Buy rating and eight have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $35.00.

Key Headlines Impacting 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 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.