CUK
Carnival Corporation & plc
Leisure
Market Cap$38.51B
5Y Perf.+103.0%
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Stock Comparison
CUK vs HLT
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
HLT
Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc.
Travel Lodging
Market Cap$72.93B
5Y Perf.+308.6%
CUK vs HLT — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | CUK | HLT |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Leisure | Travel Lodging |
| Market Cap | $38.51B | $72.93B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $26.62B | $12.28B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $2.76B | $1.54B |
| Gross Margin | 37.4% | 44.3% |
| Operating Margin | 16.8% | 23.1% |
| Forward P/E | 12.4x | 35.4x |
| Total Debt | $27.99B | $15.67B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $1.93B | $970M |
CUK vs HLT — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
CUK
HLT
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carnival Corporatio… (CUK) | 100 | 203.0 | +103.0% |
| Hilton Worldwide Ho… (HLT) | 100 | 408.6 | +308.6% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: CUK vs HLT
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: HLT leads in 5 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 recent price momentum and sentiment. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
CUK
Carnival Corporation & plc
The Income Pick
CUK is the clearest fit if your priority is 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 P/E (12.4x vs 35.4x)
Best for: income & stability and growth exposure
HLT
Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc.
The Long-Run Compounder
HLT carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for long-term compounding and sleep-well-at-night.
- 6.2% 10Y total return vs CUK's -31.6%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.94, current ratio 10.81x
- Beta 0.94, yield 0.2%, current ratio 10.81x
Best for: long-term compounding and sleep-well-at-night
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | HLT | 7.7% revenue growth vs CUK's 6.4% |
| Value | CUK | Lower P/E (12.4x vs 35.4x) |
| Quality / Margins | HLT | 12.6% margin vs CUK's 10.4% |
| Stability / Safety | HLT | Beta 0.94 vs CUK's 2.27 |
| Dividends | HLT | 0.2% yield; the other pay no meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | CUK | +53.8% vs HLT's +32.8% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | HLT | 9.4% ROA vs CUK's 5.3%, ROIC 24.7% vs 8.9% |
CUK vs HLT — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2025
FY 2025
CUK vs HLT — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLHLTLAGGINGCUK
CUKCarnival Corporation …
1leads
HLTHilton Worldwide Hold…
3leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs CUKMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
HLT5/6
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
CUK5/5
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
HLT6/6
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
Tied
—
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
HLT2/2
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
—
—
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
HLT leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
CUK is the larger business by revenue, generating $26.6B annually — 2.2x HLT's $12.3B. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 12.6% (HLT) to 10.4% (CUK).
| Metric | CUKCarnival Corporat… | HLTHilton Worldwide … |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $26.6B | $12.3B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $7.3B | $3.0B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $2.8B | $1.5B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $2.6B | $2.2B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +37.4% | +44.3% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +16.8% | +23.1% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +10.4% | +12.6% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +9.8% | +17.8% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +6.6% | +9.0% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +82.4% | +35.0% |
HLT leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
CUK leads this category, winning 5 of 5 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 13.6x trailing earnings, CUK trades at a 74% valuation discount to HLT's 52.3x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, CUK's 8.9x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than HLT's 30.5x.
| Metric | CUKCarnival Corporat… | HLTHilton Worldwide … |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $38.5B | $72.9B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $64.6B | $87.6B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 13.60x | 52.34x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 12.45x | 35.37x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 8.88x | 30.53x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 1.45x | 6.06x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 3.14x | — |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 14.77x | 35.96x |
CUK leads this category, winning 5 of 5 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
HLT leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
| Metric | CUKCarnival Corporat… | HLTHilton Worldwide … |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +22.5% | — |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +5.3% | +9.4% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +8.9% | +24.7% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +11.8% | +19.0% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 7 | 7 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 2.28x | — |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $26.1B | $14.7B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $1.9B | $970M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $28.0B | $15.7B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 3.09x | 4.42x |
HLT leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
Evenly matched — CUK and HLT each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in HLT five years ago would be worth $26,146 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $11,941 for CUK. Over the past 12 months, CUK leads with a +53.8% total return vs HLT's +32.8%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors CUK at 42.7% vs HLT's 30.3% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | CUKCarnival Corporat… | HLTHilton Worldwide … |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -10.0% | +9.4% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +53.8% | +32.8% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +190.4% | +121.3% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +19.4% | +161.5% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -31.6% | +615.8% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +42.7% | +30.3% |
Evenly matched — CUK and HLT each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
HLT leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
HLT is the less volatile stock with a 0.94 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. HLT currently trades 92.9% from its 52-week high vs CUK's 81.5% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | CUKCarnival Corporat… | HLTHilton Worldwide … |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 2.27x | 0.94x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $33.72 | $344.75 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $17.73 | $237.57 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +81.5% | +92.9% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 44.4 | 50.9 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 3.3M | 1.6M |
HLT leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates CUK as "Buy" and HLT as "Buy". HLT is the only dividend payer here at 0.19% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | CUKCarnival Corporat… | HLTHilton Worldwide … |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | — | $338.45 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 36 | 49 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | +0.2% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 0 | 0 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | $0.60 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | +4.5% |
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Key Takeaway
HLT leads in 3 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Profitability & Efficiency). CUK leads in 1 (Valuation Metrics). 1 tied.
Best OverallHilton Worldwide Holdings I… (HLT)Leads 3 of 6 categories
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CUK vs HLT: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is CUK or HLT a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc.
(HLT) is the stronger pick with 7. 7% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 6. 4% for Carnival Corporation & plc (CUK). Carnival Corporation & plc (CUK) offers the better valuation at 13. 6x trailing P/E (12. 4x 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 HLT?
On trailing P/E, Carnival Corporation & plc (CUK) is the cheapest at 13.
6x versus Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. at 52. 3x. On forward P/E, Carnival Corporation & plc is actually cheaper at 12. 4x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — CUK or HLT?
Over the past 5 years, Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc.
(HLT) delivered a total return of +161. 5%, compared to +19. 4% for Carnival Corporation & plc (CUK). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: HLT returned +615. 8% versus CUK's -31. 6%. 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 HLT?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc.
(HLT) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 94β versus Carnival Corporation & plc's 2. 27β — meaning CUK is approximately 141% more volatile than HLT relative to the S&P 500.
05Which is growing faster — CUK or HLT?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc.
(HLT) is pulling ahead at 7. 7% versus 6. 4% for Carnival Corporation & plc (CUK). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Carnival Corporation & plc grew EPS 40. 3% year-over-year, compared to -0. 3% for Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc.. 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 HLT?
Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc.
(HLT) is the more profitable company, earning 12. 1% net margin versus 10. 4% for Carnival Corporation & plc — meaning it keeps 12. 1% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: HLT leads at 22. 4% versus 16. 8% for CUK. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — HLT leads at 41. 1%, 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 HLT more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Carnival Corporation & plc (CUK) trades at 12.
4x forward P/E versus 35. 4x for Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. — 22. 9x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis.
08Which pays a better dividend — CUK or HLT?
In this comparison, HLT (0.
2% yield) pays a dividend. CUK does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
09Is CUK or HLT better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc.
(HLT) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 94), +615. 8% 10Y return). Carnival Corporation & plc (CUK) carries a higher beta of 2. 27 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (HLT: +615. 8%, CUK: -31. 6%), 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 HLT?
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.
In terms of investment character: CUK is a mid-cap deep-value stock; HLT is a mid-cap quality compounder stock. 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% · HLT: 9.0%)Net Margin>
%
(CUK: 10.4% · HLT: 12.6%)P/E Ratio<
x
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