Cruising through the icebergs
Back in October 2020, in the depths of the COVID-19 pandemic, in a blog titled “why cruise lines could be worth buying again,” we proffered an investment thesis that the sharp drops in the share prices of the major listed cruise line companies did not reflect the then fast-advancing technology that would facilitate a reopening of global activity even in the absence of a vaccine, and that pent-up demand (82 per cent of passengers are repeat cruisers) for travel would see a surge in cruising activity exceeding the expectations then implied in share prices.
Figure 1., displays the share price charts we published in that blog post (the embedded chart references refer to the blog post of October 21, 2020).
Figure 1. Cruising for a bruising? Share price charts as of 21 October 2020.
Today, just three and half years later, the performances of the major cruise lines’ shares haven’t fully shaken off the effects of the pandemic. While Royal Caribbean (NYSE:RCL) is up 116 per cent, Norwegian Cruise Line (NYSE:NCLH) is up only 14 per cent and the highly indebted Carnival Corporation (NYSE:CCL) is just six per cent higher.
Given that Carnival has performed the least impressively, it’s worth examining its current circumstances to help determine whether a recovery is possible.
It seems navigating the high seas of the stock market has been a voyage fraught with risk and relatively unimpressive returns. That is certainly the case for investors who cast their lot with Carnival, the cruise industry titan then known for its vast fleet and now known for its equally vast debt.
Recent developments have seen the company’s shares generally register modest gains, and these follow a setback triggered by the company’s latest financial disclosures.
Carnival’s fiscal first-quarter performance offered a beacon of hope, with strong figures and optimistic projections for the remainder of 2024. However, these forecasts hadn’t accounted for an unexpected challenge: the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, necessitating the rerouting of several cruises to alternative harbours along the East Coast of the United States.
The anticipated financial impact of this event was capped at a seemingly minor “up to U.S.$10 million”, equivalent to one cent per share. The figure gains significance, however, when viewed against Carnival’s financial position, which includes the revelation that a mere one per cent fluctuation in net yields could sway its financial outlook by as much as U.S.$135 million.
Despite the lingering shadow of the pandemic, which had once pushed Carnival’s finances to the brink and plunged its debt to sub-investment grade, the company has been charting a steady, albeit long, ‘cruise’ toward recovery. Noteworthy are the significant debt prepayments. The roadmap for 2024 and 2025 now includes manageable debt maturities, laying the groundwork for Carnival’s potential return to a more stable financial position.
Over the horizon, Carnival’s prospects are reported to be brightening. Thanks to a resurgence in occupancy rates, helped along by compelling pricing strategies, customer deposits have surged to around U.S.$7 billion, a marked increase from the pre-pandemic figure of less than U.S.$5 billion.
Meanwhile, travellers are booking voyages further in advance and are reported to be indulging in higher-margin onboard luxuries at a significantly higher rate than before the pandemic. This uptick in consumer spending behaviour, especially evident during the peak cruise booking season known as “wave season,” suggests a strong sales period for Carnival.
Of course, the journey ahead remains uncertain, with Carnival’s debt levels still a critical factor. As Carnival charts a course through its financial currents, its voyage towards stability and growth continues, and as the debt continues to decline, it will inevitably capture the attention of investors.
The timeline for Carnival to fully retire its extra debt remains uncertain. Investors currently expect it should be cleared before 2034. Carnival generated U.S.$4.3 billion in cash from operations and U.S.$2.1 billion in adjusted free cash flow in 2023, and it plans to use these cash flows to continue paying off the debt.
With the company’s market capitalisation less than five times cash flow from operations and just ten times adjusted free cash flow, investors with a patient disposition should keep the company’s shares on their watchlist. When the market becomes confident the debt will imminently be paid down, the share price could surge.
Roger Montgomery is the Founder and Chairman of Montgomery Investment Management. Roger has over three decades of experience in funds management and related activities, including equities analysis, equity and derivatives strategy, trading and stockbroking. Prior to establishing Montgomery, Roger held positions at Ord Minnett Jardine Fleming, BT (Australia) Limited and Merrill Lynch.
This post was contributed by a representative of Montgomery Investment Management Pty Limited (AFSL No. 354564). The principal purpose of this post is to provide factual information and not provide financial product advice. Additionally, the information provided is not intended to provide any recommendation or opinion about any financial product. Any commentary and statements of opinion however may contain general advice only that is prepared without taking into account your personal objectives, financial circumstances or needs. Because of this, before acting on any of the information provided, you should always consider its appropriateness in light of your personal objectives, financial circumstances and needs and should consider seeking independent advice from a financial advisor if necessary before making any decisions. This post specifically excludes personal advice.
