CUK
Carnival Corporation & plc
Leisure
Market Cap$38.51B
5Y Perf.+103.0%
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Stock Comparison
CUK vs CCL
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
CCL
Carnival Corporation & plc
Leisure
Market Cap$33.40B
5Y Perf.+68.4%
CUK vs CCL — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | CUK | CCL |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Leisure | Leisure |
| Market Cap | $38.51B | $33.40B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $26.62B | $26.62B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $2.76B | $2.76B |
| Gross Margin | 37.4% | 37.4% |
| Operating Margin | 16.8% | 16.8% |
| Forward P/E | 12.4x | 12.0x |
| Total Debt | $27.99B | $27.99B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $1.93B | $1.93B |
CUK vs CCL — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
CUK
CCL
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carnival Corporatio… (CUK) | 100 | 203.0 | +103.0% |
| Carnival Corporatio… (CCL) | 100 | 168.4 | +68.4% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: CUK vs CCL
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: CUK leads in 4 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and profitability and margin quality. Carnival Corporation & plc is the stronger pick specifically for valuation and capital efficiency and capital preservation and lower volatility. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
CUK
Carnival Corporation & plc
The Income Pick
CUK carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and growth exposure.
- Dividend streak 0 yrs, beta 2.27
- Rev growth 6.4%, EPS growth 40.3%, 3Y rev CAGR 29.8%
- Lower volatility, beta 2.27, current ratio 0.32x
Best for: income & stability and growth exposure
CCL
Carnival Corporation & plc
The Long-Run Compounder
CCL is the clearest fit if your priority is long-term compounding and defensive.
- -31.1% 10Y total return vs CUK's -31.6%
- Beta 2.27, current ratio 0.32x
- Lower P/E (12.0x vs 12.4x)
Best for: long-term compounding and defensive
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | CUK | 6.4% revenue growth vs CCL's 6.4% |
| Value | CCL | Lower P/E (12.0x vs 12.4x) |
| Quality / Margins | CUK | 10.4% margin vs CCL's 10.4% |
| Stability / Safety | CCL | Beta 2.27 vs CUK's 2.27 |
| Dividends | Tie | Neither stock pays a meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | CUK | +53.8% vs CCL's +37.9% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | CUK | 5.3% ROA vs CCL's 5.3%, ROIC 8.9% vs 8.9% |
CUK vs CCL — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2025
FY 2025
CUK vs CCL — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLCUKLAGGINGCCL
CCLCarnival Corporation …
1leads
CUKCarnival Corporation …
1leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs CCLMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
—
—
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
CCL6/6
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
—
—
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
CUK5/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
Tied
—
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
—
—
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
CUK and CCL operate at a comparable scale, with $26.6B and $26.6B in trailing revenue. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 10.4% (CUK) to 10.4% (CCL).
| Metric | CUKCarnival Corporat… | CCLCarnival Corporat… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $26.6B | $26.6B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $7.3B | $7.3B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $2.8B | $2.8B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $2.6B | $2.6B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +37.4% | +37.4% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +16.8% | +16.8% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +10.4% | +10.4% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +9.8% | +9.8% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +6.6% | +6.6% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +82.4% | +82.4% |
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Valuation Metrics
CCL leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 13.4x trailing earnings, CCL trades at a 2% valuation discount to CUK's 13.6x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, CCL's 8.2x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than CUK's 8.9x.
| Metric | CUKCarnival Corporat… | CCLCarnival Corporat… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $38.5B | $33.4B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $64.6B | $59.5B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 13.60x | 13.37x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 12.45x | 11.96x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 8.88x | 8.18x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 1.45x | 1.25x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 3.14x | 3.08x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 14.77x | 12.81x |
CCL leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Profitability & Efficiency
CUK delivers a 22.5% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $22 in annual profit, vs $22 for CCL. CUK carries lower financial leverage with a 2.28x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to CCL's 2.28x.
| Metric | CUKCarnival Corporat… | CCLCarnival Corporat… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +22.5% | +22.5% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +5.3% | +5.3% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +8.9% | +8.9% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +11.8% | +11.8% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 7 | 7 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 2.28x | 2.28x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $26.1B | $26.1B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $1.9B | $1.9B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $28.0B | $28.0B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 3.09x | 3.09x |
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
CUK leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in CUK five years ago would be worth $11,941 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $10,150 for CCL. Over the past 12 months, CUK leads with a +53.8% total return vs CCL's +37.9%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors CUK at 42.7% vs CCL's 36.8% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | CUKCarnival Corporat… | CCLCarnival Corporat… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -10.0% | -12.2% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +53.8% | +37.9% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +190.4% | +156.0% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +19.4% | +1.5% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -31.6% | -31.1% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +42.7% | +36.8% |
CUK leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — CUK and CCL each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
CCL is the less volatile stock with a 2.27 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than CUK's 2.27 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500.
| Metric | CUKCarnival Corporat… | CCLCarnival Corporat… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 2.30x | 2.28x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $33.72 | $34.03 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $17.73 | $19.44 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +81.5% | +79.4% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 44.4 | 53.4 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 3.3M | 27.1M |
Evenly matched — CUK and CCL each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates CUK as "Buy" and CCL as "Buy".
| Metric | CUKCarnival Corporat… | CCLCarnival Corporat… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | — | $36.17 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 36 | 47 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 0 | 0 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | 0.0% |
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Key Takeaway
CCL leads in 1 of 6 categories (Valuation Metrics). CUK leads in 1 (Total Returns). 1 tied.
Best OverallCarnival Corporation & plc (CUK)Leads 1 of 6 categories
Loading custom metrics...
CUK vs CCL: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is CUK or CCL a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Carnival Corporation & plc (CUK) is the stronger pick with 6.
4% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 6. 4% for Carnival Corporation & plc (CCL). Carnival Corporation & plc (CCL) offers the better valuation at 13. 4x trailing P/E (12. 0x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Carnival Corporation & plc (CUK) a "Buy" — based on 36 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.
02Which has the better valuation — CUK or CCL?
On trailing P/E, Carnival Corporation & plc (CCL) is the cheapest at 13.
4x versus Carnival Corporation & plc at 13. 6x. On forward P/E, Carnival Corporation & plc is actually cheaper at 12. 0x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — CUK or CCL?
Over the past 5 years, Carnival Corporation & plc (CUK) delivered a total return of +19.
4%, compared to +1. 5% for Carnival Corporation & plc (CCL). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CUK returned -31. 6% versus CCL's -32. 4%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — CUK or CCL?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Carnival Corporation & plc (CCL) is the lower-risk stock at 2.
28β versus Carnival Corporation & plc's 2. 30β — meaning CUK is approximately 1% more volatile than CCL relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Carnival Corporation & plc (CUK) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 2% versus 2% for Carnival Corporation & plc — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — CUK or CCL?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Carnival Corporation & plc (CUK) is pulling ahead at 6.
4% versus 6. 4% for Carnival Corporation & plc (CCL). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Carnival Corporation & plc grew EPS 40. 3% year-over-year, compared to 40. 3% for Carnival Corporation & plc. Over a 3-year CAGR, CUK leads at 29. 8% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.
06Which has better profit margins — CUK or CCL?
Carnival Corporation & plc (CUK) is the more profitable company, earning 10.
4% net margin versus 10. 4% for Carnival Corporation & plc — meaning it keeps 10. 4% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: CUK leads at 16. 8% versus 16. 8% for CCL. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — CUK leads at 29. 6%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.
07Is CUK or CCL more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Carnival Corporation & plc (CCL) trades at 12.
0x forward P/E versus 12. 4x for Carnival Corporation & plc — 0. 5x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis.
08Which pays a better dividend — CUK or CCL?
None of the stocks in this comparison currently pay a material dividend.
All are effectively zero-yield and should be held for capital appreciation rather than income.
09Is CUK or CCL better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Carnival Corporation & plc (CUK) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding.
Carnival Corporation & plc (CCL) carries a higher beta of 2. 28 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (CUK: -31. 6%, CCL: -32. 4%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.
10What are the main differences between CUK and CCL?
Both stocks operate in the Consumer Cyclical sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.
These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.
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Revenue Growth>
%
(CUK: 6.6% · CCL: 6.6%)Net Margin>
%
(CUK: 10.4% · CCL: 10.4%)P/E Ratio<
x
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