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Valued at a market cap of $11.4 billion, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NCLH) is a cruise company that provides itineraries to over 700 destinations worldwide. The Miami, Florida-based company offers a variety of dining and entertainment options, immersive shore excursions, and onboard amenities, including spas, casinos, and retail outlets.
Companies valued at $10 billion or more are typically classified as “large-cap stocks,” and NCLH fits the label perfectly, with its market cap exceeding this threshold, underscoring its size, influence, and dominance within the travel services industry. The company’s strength lies in its diverse three-brand portfolio, enabling it to serve mass-market, premium, and luxury travelers under one umbrella. It benefits from a modern, fuel-efficient fleet, a broad spectrum of cruise experiences, strong brand recognition, and an expanding global presence.
This cruise company is currently trading 13.9% below its 52-week high of $29.29, reached on Jan. 31. Shares of Norwegian Cruise Line have rallied 30.1% over the past three months, considerably outperforming the Invesco Dynamic Leisure and Entertainment ETF’s (PEJ) 10.2% return during the same time frame.
However, in the longer term, NCLH has gained 20.4% over the past 52 weeks, lagging behind PEJ's 28.4% uptick over the same time period. Moreover, on a YTD basis, shares of NCLH are down 1.9%, compared to PEJ’s 17.6% rise.
To confirm its bullish trend, NCLH has been trading above its 200-day moving average since early July, and has remained above its 50-day moving average since mid-May, with slight fluctuations.
NCLH delivered weaker-than-expected Q2 results on Jul. 31. While the company’s revenue grew 6.1% year-over-year to $2.5 billion, it missed the consensus estimates by 1.6%. Moreover, its adjusted EPS of $0.51 improved 30.8% from the year-ago quarter, but fell short of the Wall Street forecast by a penny. Yet, surprisingly, NCLH’s shares surged 9.2% following the release, as management reaffirmed its fiscal 2025 guidance, signaling confidence in its outlook. The company reiterated its adjusted EPS guidance of $2.05, representing a nearly 16% increase over 2024, which reassured investors despite the quarter’s shortfall.
NCLH has considerably underperformed its rival, Carnival Corporation & plc (CCL), which rallied 62.2% over the past 52 weeks and 21.9% on a YTD basis.
Given NCLH’s recent outperformance, analysts remain moderately optimistic about its prospects. The stock has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy” from the 22 analysts covering it, and the mean price target of $30.48 suggests a 20.8% premium to its current price levels.
On the date of publication, Neharika Jain did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. For more information please view the Barchart Disclosure Policy here.
