Carnival Profit Cruises Up 43 Percent

[Flip2cruise]

http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=businessNews&storyID=7114774

 

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Carnival Corp. (CCL.N: Quote, Profile, Research) (CCL.L: Quote, Profile, Research) , the world's biggest cruise group, on Thursday posted a 43 percent rise in quarterly earnings as it benefited from a merger with P&O Princess Cruises last year.

 

 

Net profit in the fiscal fourth quarter ended Nov. 30 rose to $294 million, or 36 cents a share, from $205 million, or 26 cents a share, a year earlier.

 

Analysts' average forecast was 31 cents a share, according to Reuters Estimates. Carnival shares rose 1.5 percent in early trading.

 

The Miami-based operator of Cunard, Princess and 10 other lines said a spate of hurricanes disrupted cruise schedules in the quarter and reduced earnings by 4 cents a share.

 

Revenue rose 23.4 percent to $2.24 billion, above analysts' average estimate of $2.13 billion.

 

Net revenue yields, a key measure of ticket prices and occupancy, that excludes travel agent commissions and air fares, rose 10.1 percent, driven by higher cruise ticket prices.

 

Looking ahead, Carnival said advance bookings are "significantly ahead" of year-earlier levels when adjusted for capacity increases. The company expects net revenue yields to increase five to seven percent in the first quarter 2005, and three to five percent for the full year. It expects net cruise costs to be flat from year-ago levels.

 

Carnival also said it is "comfortable" with analysts' full-year 2005 earnings estimates of $2.70 a share. The average estimate for full-year 2005 earnings on Reuters Estimates is $2.72 a share. Carnival shares were up about 1.5 percent, or 81 cents, at $55.66, in morning trading on the New York Stock Exchange.

[MyImagination]

Very Impressive! I wonder how the other lines did 4Q