Carnival: A Millionaire’s Hope?

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Carnival. A big boat company. They had a rough patch, naturally. Everything does. The world stopped wanting to be crammed together on the ocean. So it goes. They borrowed money. Lots of it. That’s what you do when the party ends and you still have the bar tab.

They’ve been paying things back. A little at a time. They’re making money again, which is… nice. People still like floating around in the middle of nowhere, apparently. The stock’s gone up, but not enough to buy a small country. Yet.

Could this stock make you a millionaire? Let’s not get carried away. But let’s look, anyway.

Carnival’s Attempt at Not Sinking

A few years ago, Carnival was staring into the abyss. Debt was the problem, as it usually is. They started replacing old boats with newer, more sensible ones. Ones that don’t drink so much fuel. They also figured out how to get people to spend more money once they were already captive. Ingenious, really. And they paid down that debt. Variable-rate debt, even. Smart move. Interest rates have a way of ruining everything.

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They had a plan, called SEA Change. It sounded important. Sustainability, earnings, return on investment. All the usual buzzwords. They actually managed to hit their goals early. Eighteen months early, they said. As if time itself could be manipulated.

Last year was good. Record revenue. Over twenty-six billion dollars. A lot of money. They also announced record profits. And people are still booking cruises, even at high prices. Go figure. And the credit rating agencies finally said they weren’t completely doomed. A small victory, but a victory nonetheless.

Valuation: A Fleeting Hope

Things are looking up, for Carnival and its shareholders. But a millionaire? That’s a tall order. The stock currently trades at twelve times earnings. It used to be sixteen. A reasonable price, maybe. It might attract some investors. And that could push the price up. There’s always a chance.

Carnival has recovered, and they’re focusing on efficiency and profitability. Good signs. I’m optimistic, cautiously. One stock alone won’t make you rich, though. That’s just a fact. But as part of a diversified portfolio, it might help you get there. Eventually. Assuming the world doesn’t end first. So it goes.

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2026-02-07 14:52