Norwegian Cruise Line Option Alert: Jun 20 $28 Calls at the Bid: 3450 vs 6542 OI; Earnings 2/27 Before Open 

Norwegian Cruise Line Option Alert: Jun 20 $28 Calls at the Bid: 3450 @ $1.92 vs 6542 OI; Earnings 2/27 Before Open Ref=$25.33

Norwegian Cruise Line Option Alert: Mar 21 $26 Calls at the Bid: 3250 vs 11286 OI; Earnings 2/27 Before Open 

Norwegian Cruise Line Option Alert: Mar 21 $26 Calls at the Bid: 3250 @ $2.23 vs 11286 OI; Earnings 2/27 Before Open Ref=$26.84

Norwegian Cruise Line (NYSE:NCLH) Stock

Norwegian Cruise Line

Norwegian Cruise Line is the world's third-largest publicly traded cruise company by berths (around 66,500). It operates 32 ships across three brands—Norwegian, Oceania, and Regent Seven Seas—offering both freestyle and luxury cruising. The company redeployed its entire fleet as of May 2022. With 13 passenger vessels on order among its brands through 2036, representing 41,000 incremental berths, Norwegian is increasing capacity faster than its peers, expanding its brand globally. Norwegian sails to around 700 global destinations.

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings

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NCLH

Cruise stocks such as Carnival Corporation (NYSE: CCL), Royal Caribbean Inc. (NYSE: RCL) and Norwegian Cruise Line (NYSE: NCLH) are trading lower Thursday after Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick suggested in an interview that those companies will have to start paying U.S. taxes.

Cruise Stocks Drop Amid U.S. Tax Crackdown Concerns: What&#39;s Going On?

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Stocks tumbled Thursday, with all major indices in the red, one day after the S&amp;P 500 notched another all-time high in Wednesday’s trading session.

Palantir Rally Loses Steam, Walmart Outlook Disappoints: What&#39;s Driving Markets Thursday?

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US stock market recovers losses as DeepSeek launches efficient AI platform. Fed Chair Powell&#39;s stance and strong earnings boost investor confidence.

Stocks Trim DeepSeek Losses, Fed Holds Steady, Trump Slaps 25% Tariffs On Canada, Mexico: This Week In The Markets

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. Ordinary Shares

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd

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Shares of cruise line stocks are trading lower after Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick recently suggested in an interview that those companies will have to start paying U.S. taxes.

Cruise stocks such as Carnival Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CCL#NYSE">CCL</a>), Royal Caribbean Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RCL#NYSE">RCL</a>) and Norwegian Cruise Line (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NCLH#NYSE">NCLH</a>) are <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/cruise-stocks">trading lower on Thursday</a>.
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick suggested in an interview that the companies will have to start <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/25/02/43858129/as-trump-pushes-for-reciprocal-tariffs-vietnam-looks-to-increase-us-farm-product-imports-to-ease-trade-risks">paying U.S. taxes.</a>
What To Know: Lutnick&#8217;s remarks, made in an interview on <a href="https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/business/money-report/cruise-stocks-tumble-after-commerce-secretary-lutnick-signals-tax-crackdown/4114422/">Fox News,</a> centered on the fact that many cruise ships are not paying U.S. taxes despite operating in U.S. waters. He pointed out that the cruise industry is exempt from paying taxes on foreign operations, including the sale of alcohol on board, and warned that this situation could change under the Trump administration. 
Despite the decline in share prices, analysts at Stifel Financial have described the market reaction as an overreaction. They highlighted that similar concerns have been raised multiple times in the past without leading to any significant policy changes. 
The cruise industry has long been classified under the cargo industry by the IRS, making any changes to the tax structure difficult to implement. Furthermore, analysts suggested that the cruise industry could move its corporate headquarters abroad to avoid potential tax implications.
While concerns about potential tax changes continue to affect the cruise stock sector, analysts are advising investors to view the current slump as an opportunity to buy into companies like Carnival, Royal Caribbean, and Norwegian. The cruise industry remains highly resilient and its tax structure remains largely unaffected by past political discussions on the matter.
Price Action: At the time of writing,<a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard?new_user=False&amp;backend=google-oauth2"> Benzinga Pro</a> shows:
<ul>
<li>Carnival were down 5.85% at $24.56</li>
<li>Royal Caribbean Cruise were down 7.62% at $243.89, and </li>
<li>Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings were down 4.89% at $25.68. </li>
</ul>
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</ul>
Image via Norwegian Cruise Line.

Cruise Stocks Drop Amid U.S. Tax Crackdown Concerns: What's Going On?

Shares of cruise line stocks are trading lower after Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick suggested in an interview that those companies will have to start paying U.S. taxes.

Stocks tumbled Thursday, with all major indices in the red, one day after the S&amp;P 500 notched another all-time high in Wednesday&#8217;s trading session. Investors are weighing uncertainty surrounding tariff policies and disappointing guidance from Walmart while digesting new<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/forex/25/02/43843332/global-markets-mixed-dollar-dips-as-traders-react-to-trumps-tariff-plans-global-markets-today-while-us-slept"> initial jobless claims data.</a>
Mega-retailer Walmart, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WMT#NYSE">WMT</a>)&#8217;s shares dropped after the company issued fiscal 2026 guidance below analyst expectations, despite fourth-quarter results beating expectations.
Retail investor darling Palantir Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PLTR#NASDAQ">PLTR</a>) added to Wednesday&#8217;s declines <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43849289/whats-going-on-with-palantir-stock-thursday">following a report </a>that the Trump administration told the Pentagon to prepare for sweeping budget cuts and CEO Alex Karp filed a new trading plan to sell up to $1.2 billion shares.
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Initial jobless claims rose by 5,000 to 219,000, above expectations of 215,000, while continuing claims rose to 186,900 in the first week of February.
WTI crude oil futures rose above $72 per barrel on Thursday, extending its streak of gains to four days as supply concerns outweighed a rise in U.S. stockpiles, according to TradingEconomics. 
Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) rose 1.09% to $97,695. The yield on the 10-year US Treasury note pulled back slightly to 4.5%.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Thursday's Performance In Major US Indices, ETFs</h2>
<figure class="wp-block-table"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Major Indices</td>
<td>Price</td>
<td>1 day % chg.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Nasdaq 100</td>
<td>19,911.27</td>
<td>-0.72%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>S&amp;P 500</td>
<td>6,101.27 </td>
<td>-0.7%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Dow Jones</td>
<td>44,036.44</td>
<td>-1.32%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Russell 2000</td>
<td>2,252.49</td>
<td>-1.31%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
According to Benzinga Pro data:
<ul>
<li>The SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) fell 0.67% to $608.82. </li>
<li>The SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DIA#NYSE">DIA</a>) was down 1.26% at $441.02</li>
<li>The tech-heavy Invesco QQQ Trust Series (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>) slipped 0.7% to $535.72. </li>
<li>The iShares Russell 2000 ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IWM#NYSE">IWM</a>) was down 1.17% to $223.79. </li>
<li>The Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLY#NYSE">XLY</a>) fell 1.39% to $223.10.</li>
<li>The Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLE#NYSE">XLE</a>)&nbsp;rose 0.6% to $92.57. </li>
</ul>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Thursday's Stock Movers:&nbsp;</h2>
Cruise stocks Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RCL#NYSE">RCL</a>), Carnival Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CCL#NYSE">CCL</a>) and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NCHL#NYSE">NCHL</a>) tumbled, leading consumer discretionary stocks lower. The SPDR Select Sector Fund &#8211; Consumer Discretionary (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLY#NYSE">XLY</a>) fell 1.44%. 
Stocks reacting to company earnings reports included:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>Carvana Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CVNA#NYSE">CVNA</a>)&nbsp;</li>
<li>Vale S.A. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VALE#NYSE">VALE</a>)&nbsp;</li>
<li>B2Gold Corp. (AMEX:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BTG#AMEX">BTG</a>)</li>
<li>Exact Sciences Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EXAS#NASDAQ">EXAS</a>)</li>
<li>Alamos Gold Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AGI#NYSE">AGI</a>)</li>
<li>Walmart, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WMT#NYSE">WMT</a>) </li>
<li>Taseko Mines, Ltd. (AMEX:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TGB#AMEX">TGB</a>)&nbsp;</li>
<li>Shake Shack, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SHAK#NYSE">SHAK</a>) </li>
<li>Materialise NV (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MTLS#NASDAQ">MTLS</a>) </li>
<li>Hasbro, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HAS#NASDAQ">HAS</a>) </li>
<li>Alibaba Group Holding Limited (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BABA#NYSE">BABA</a>) </li>
<li>Jumia Technologies AG (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JMIA#NYSE">JMIA</a>) </li>
<li>Birkenstock Holding Plc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BIRK#NYSE">BIRK</a>) </li>
<li>Sabre Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SABR#NASDAQ">SABR</a>) </li>
<li>Ardelyx, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARDX#NASDAQ">ARDX</a>) </li>
</ul>
Companies reporting after Thursday's closing bell include:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>Celsius Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CELH#NASDAQ">CELH</a>) </li>
<li>Dropbox, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DBX#NASDAQ">DBX</a>) </li>
<li>Iamgold Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IAG#NYSE">IAG</a>) </li>
<li>The RealReal, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/REAL#NASDAQ">REAL</a>) </li>
<li>Nu Holdings Ltd. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NU#NYSE">NU</a>) </li>
<li>Consolidated Edison, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ED#NYSE">ED</a>) </li>
<li>Rivian Automotive, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RIVN#NASDAQ">RIVN</a>) </li>
<li>Block, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XYZ#NYSE">XYZ</a>) </li>
<li>Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BKNG#NASDAQ">BKNG</a>) </li>
<li>MercadoLibre, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MELI#NASDAQ">MELI</a>) </li>
</ul>
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Image: Shutterstock.

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Norwegian Cruise Line's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NCLH#NYSE">NCLH</a>) short percent of float has fallen 9.64% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 21.74 million shares sold short, which is 6.56% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 2.44 days to cover their short positions on average.
<h3>Why Short Interest Matters</h3>
Short interest is the number of shares that have been sold short but have not yet been covered or closed out. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-short-a-stock/">Short selling</a> is when a trader sells shares of a company they do not own, with the hope that the price will fall. Traders make money from short selling if the price of the stock falls and they lose if it rises.
Short interest is important to track because it can act as an indicator of market sentiment towards a particular stock. An increase in short interest can signal that investors have become more bearish, while a decrease in short interest can signal they have become more bullish.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/short-interest">List of the most shorted stocks</a>
<h3>Norwegian Cruise Line Short Interest Graph (3 Months)</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1739973616_0.png" alt="short_fig" />
As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for Norwegian Cruise Line has declined since its last report. This does not mean that the stock is going to rise in the near-term but traders should be aware that less shares are being shorted.
<h3>Comparing Norwegian Cruise Line's Short Interest Against Its Peers</h3>
Peer comparison is a popular technique amongst analysts and investors for gauging how well a company is performing. A company's peer is another company that has similar characteristics to it, such as industry, size, age, and financial structure. You can find a company's peer group by reading its 10-K, proxy filing, or by doing your own similarity analysis.
According to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/">Benzinga Pro</a>, Norwegian Cruise Line's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 6.23%, which means the company has more short interest than most of its peers.
Did you know that increasing short interest can actually be bullish for a stock? <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-make-money-on-a-short-squeeze/">This post by Benzinga Money explains how you can profit from it.</a>
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and was reviewed by an editor.

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How Is The Market Feeling About Norwegian Cruise Line?

Loop Capital analyst Laura Champine initiates coverage on Norwegian Cruise Line (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NCLH#NYSE">NCLH</a>) with a Hold rating and announces Price Target of $26.

Price Target

Initiation

Analyst Ratings

Loop Capital Initiates Coverage On Norwegian Cruise Line with Hold Rating, Announces Price Target of $26

It took only four sessions for the U.S. stock market to recover most of the losses triggered earlier in the week after the Chinese startup DeepSeek launched a more efficient and cost-effective AI platform than OpenAI&#8216;sChatGPT, sparking a sharp <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/25/01/43239042/magnificent-seven-broadcom-lose-nearly-900-billion-in-value-as-deepseek-sparks-ai-carnage-why-this-expert-is-still-bullish-on-us-tech">selloff on Wall Street.</a>
Investors began questioning the need to allocate capital to higher-cost AI-related companies, sending shares of top chipmakers and data <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/25/01/43267966/deepseeks-low-cost-model-reshapes-ai-landscape-experts-predict-shift-to-application-layer">centers into a tailspin.</a>
Yet resilient quarterly earnings reports and a significantly less hawkish Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell compared to his stance in December gave bulls the confidence to buy the dip.
As widely expected, the Federal Reserve left interest rates <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/43316048/fed-holds-interest-rates-steady-halts-streak-of-consecutive-cuts-as-inflation-remains-elevated">unchanged at 4.25%–4.5%.</a> Surprisingly, Powell instilled greater hopes for potential rate cuts in the future, stating that monetary <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/25/01/43318325/a-different-powell-emerges-fed-chair-softens-hawkish-tone-on-interest-rates-bitcoin">policy remains "meaningfully restrictive."</a>
The scars remained visible for Nvidia Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>), which lost about 15% in a week, with the chipmaker falling again on Friday following reports that U.S. plans to levy a 10% tariff on China.
Risk sentiment deteriorated during Friday afternoon trading in New York amid escalating tariff concerns.
President Donald Trump said again he plans to introduce 25% tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada, though reports differed on when it would go into effect. 
On Friday, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said tariffs are coming Saturday.
&#8220;The President will implement 25% [tariffs] on Mexico, Canada and 10% on China,&#8221; Leavitt stated. 
Analysts warn that such a measure could cause significant economic disruptions in North America, with the U.S. automotive industry<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/25/01/43398182/trumps-25-tariffs-could-slaughter-canada-mexico-economies-hit-us-auto-industry-analysts-warn"> among the most affected.</a>
Cruise liners were among the best performers in the S&amp;P 500 for the week, with Royal Caribbean Cruise Ltd. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RCL#NYSE">RCL</a>), Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NCLH#NYSE">NCLH</a>) and Carnival Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CCL#NYSE">CCL</a>) all posting double-digit percentage gains following strong <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/travel/25/01/43312480/royal-caribbean-cruises-posts-q4-beat-a-compelling-long-term-strategy-says-analyst">earnings from Royal Caribbean.</a>
United Parcel Service Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UPS#NYSE">UPS</a>) was one of the worst laggards, plunging about 15% — its worst week since September 2008 — after the parcel service agreed with Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) to phase out more than 50% of the e-commerce giant&#8217;s volume by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/43389661/these-analysts-cut-their-forecasts-on-ups-following-q4-earnings">the second half of 2026.</a>
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Financial giants have made a conspicuous bullish move on Norwegian Cruise Line. Our analysis of options history for Norwegian Cruise Line (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NCLH#NYSE">NCLH</a>) revealed 16 unusual trades.
Delving into the details, we found 68% of traders were bullish, while 31% showed bearish tendencies. Out of all the trades we spotted, 2 were puts, with a value of $101,508, and 14 were calls, valued at $817,881.
<h3>Predicted Price Range</h3>
Analyzing the Volume and Open Interest in these contracts, it seems that the big players have been eyeing a price window from $20.0 to $35.0 for Norwegian Cruise Line during the past quarter. 
<h3>Volume &amp; Open Interest Development</h3>
Assessing the volume and open interest is a strategic step in options trading. These metrics shed light on the liquidity and investor interest in Norwegian Cruise Line's options at specified strike prices. The forthcoming data visualizes the fluctuation in volume and open interest for both calls and puts, linked to Norwegian Cruise Line's substantial trades, within a strike price spectrum from $20.0 to $35.0 over the preceding 30 days.
<h3>Norwegian Cruise Line Option Activity Analysis: Last 30 Days</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1738092644_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Significant Options Trades Detected:</h3>

<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Ask</th>
<th>Bid</th>
<th>Price</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th>Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>NCLH</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>02/21/25</td>
<td>$1.03</td>
<td>$1.0</td>
<td>$1.03</td>
<td>$28.00</td>
<td>$144.2K</td>
<td>7.8K</td>
<td>1.4K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>NCLH</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>03/21/25</td>
<td>$1.47</td>
<td>$1.44</td>
<td>$1.44</td>
<td>$30.00</td>
<td>$94.7K</td>
<td>5.1K</td>
<td>976</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>NCLH</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>02/28/25</td>
<td>$2.2</td>
<td>$1.97</td>
<td>$2.15</td>
<td>$27.00</td>
<td>$82.7K</td>
<td>159</td>
<td>520</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>NCLH</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>02/21/25</td>
<td>$1.25</td>
<td>$1.21</td>
<td>$1.25</td>
<td>$28.50</td>
<td>$82.5K</td>
<td>861</td>
<td>792</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>NCLH</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>02/28/25</td>
<td>$2.3</td>
<td>$2.07</td>
<td>$2.27</td>
<td>$27.00</td>
<td>$80.2K</td>
<td>159</td>
<td>870</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About Norwegian Cruise Line</h3>
Norwegian Cruise Line is the world's third-largest publicly traded cruise company by berths (around 66,500). It operates 32 ships across three brands—Norwegian, Oceania, and Regent Seven Seas—offering both freestyle and luxury cruising. The company redeployed its entire fleet as of May 2022. With 13 passenger vessels on order among its brands through 2036, representing 41,000 incremental berths, Norwegian is increasing capacity faster than its peers, expanding its brand globally. Norwegian sails to around 700 global destinations.
In light of the recent options history for Norwegian Cruise Line, it's now appropriate to focus on the company itself. We aim to explore its current performance.
<h3>Current Position of Norwegian Cruise Line</h3>
<ul>
<li>Currently trading with a volume of 14,132,488, the NCLH's price is up by 7.5%, now at $28.37. </li>
<li>RSI readings suggest the stock is currently may be approaching overbought.</li>
<li>Anticipated earnings release is in 28 days.</li>
</ul>
<h3>What Analysts Are Saying About Norwegian Cruise Line</h3>
In the last month, 1 experts released ratings on this stock with an average target price of $30.0.
Unusual Options Activity Detected: Smart Money on the Move
Benzinga Edge's Unusual Options board spots potential market movers before they happen. See what positions big money is taking on your favorite stocks. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-checkout/?t=Be8be9arja3be22bz20&amp;utm_source=benzinga-insights">Click here for access</a>. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Macquarie persists with their Outperform rating on Norwegian Cruise Line, maintaining a target price of $30. 
Trading options involves greater risks but also offers the potential for higher profits. Savvy traders mitigate these risks through ongoing education, strategic trade adjustments, utilizing various indicators, and staying attuned to market dynamics. Keep up with the latest options trades for Norwegian Cruise Line with <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a> for real-time alerts.

Options

Looking At Norwegian Cruise Line's Recent Unusual Options Activity

Shares of cruise stocks are trading higher in sympathy with Royal Caribbean, which rose after reporting Q4 financial results .

After a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/10/41634391/royal-caribbean-cruises-posts-q3-earnings-beat-but-analysts-say-all-is-not-well">successful third quarter</a>, one analyst is optimistic about the cruise line industry heading into fourth-quarter earnings.
The Cruise Analyst: Goldman Sachs analyst Lizzie Dove published a note on the cruise line industry ahead of earnings. Here are her ratings and price targets:
<ul>
<li>Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RCL#NYSE">RCL</a>), reiterating a Buy rating and lowering its price target from $275 to $270.</li>
<li>Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NCLH#NYSE">NCLH</a>), reiterating a Buy rating and lowering its price target from $35 to $34.</li>
</ul>
Royal Caribbean Takeaways: Dove noted potential foreign exchange and crude oil headwinds for Royal Caribbean, causing a 30-cent reduction in their EPS forecasts. Still, the analyst is optimistic.
&#8220;Though our investor conversations around this headwind have increased in recent days, we are confident than RCL can still maintain its current guidance for 2025 to have a $14 handle,&#8221; Dove said. &#8220;On a constant currency basis, we expect RCL to guide to moderate net yield growth on a constant currency basis, with somewhere close to a high 3%/low 4% handle possible by our math.&#8221;
The analyst is most looking forward to Royal Caribbean&#8217;s Investor Day presentation and new long-term targets. Dove is interested in the company&#8217;s progress in its private island investments in Mexico and the Caribbean and a potential stock buyback program.
Dove estimates that Royal Caribbean can buy back around $15 billion in shares from 2025 to 2027.
Norweigan Cruise Line Takeaways: The analyst noted concerns among investors in the company&#8217;s yield growth and 2025 guidance. Dove thinks such concerns are already priced in and the company has the opportunity for overperformance.
&#8220;Still, we believe this is now priced into the stock and well understood by investors, and don't see this as a reason to not own NCLH. In fact, we think NCLH has sufficiently lowered the bar and see potential for outperformance on both yield and costs.&#8221;
The analyst also listed several cost-reduction measures by the Miami, Florida-based company including onboard initiatives and fuel and energy savings.
Also Read:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/43190630/american-express-q4-record-spending-and-card-acquisitions-9-topline-growth-17-dividend-hike">American Express Q4 Earnings: Revenue Beat, Record Spending and Card Acquisitions, 17% Dividend Hike And More</a></li>
</ul>
Image Courtesy: Royal Caribbean Cruises

Reiteration

Travel

'Potential For Outperformance': Goldman Sachs Analyst Is Optimistic Ahead Of Royal Caribbean, Norweigan Cruise Earnings

Carnival Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CCL#NYSE">CCL</a>) is charting a multi-year growth path and JPMorgan analyst Matthew R. Boss sees <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/cruise-lines">the cruise giant</a> setting sail for stronger returns in 2025 and beyond.
After an exclusive shipboard chat with Carnival's top brass, Boss highlights key catalysts that could drive the next leg of the stock's performance.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Growth Beyond The Horizon</h2>
CEO Josh Weinstein sees Carnival's diversified portfolio of eight brands as a key advantage over smaller peers, with Carnival and AIDA already surpassing 2019 performance metrics. The real opportunity? The remaining six brands, many still trailing pre-pandemic levels, are now under Weinstein's direct oversight after organizational shifts. With a focus on marketing and execution, management is counting on a strong 2025-2026 ramp-up.
While the industry worries about overcapacity, Carnival is taking a disciplined approach, adding just 0-1% annual capacity growth, well below the pre-pandemic 3%. With only 2-3% of global hotel stays coming from cruises, the U.S. and Canada remain a largely untapped market.
Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42657003/analysts-see-smooth-sailing-for-carnival-as-q4-results-beat-expectations">After Carnival&#8217;s Q4 Performance, Analysts See Smooth Sailing</a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">AI, Yield Management &amp; A &#8216;Magic Kingdom&#8217; At Sea</h2>
Carnival's revenue play isn't just about record bookings, it's about smart pricing. Enter &#8216;YODA&#8217; the company's AI-driven yield management system, designed to maximize revenue. Early results look promising, with new-to-cruise guests up 13% year-over-year and repeat bookings climbing 10%.
Meanwhile, Carnival is expanding its strategic destination assets, with the upcoming Celebration Key, set to open in mid-2025. By 2030, the company aims to handle 11 million guests annually—nearly double the 6.5 million expected in 2024. Daily capacity across its destinations will rise to 95,000, rivaling the foot traffic of Disney's Magic Kingdom.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Balance Sheet Detox</h2>
Debt reduction remains a priority, with Carnival slashing $7.3 billion in debt since early 2023. Interest expenses are already down 15% year-over-year, with CFO David Bernstein targeting a return to sub-3.5x leverage by FY26, a significant improvement from 6.7x in FY23.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Industry Implications: FX, Fuel &amp; Competitive Positioning</h2>
While Carnival is executing its multi-year plan, foreign exchange and fuel volatility remain headwinds for the broader industry. JPMorgan has adjusted (lowered) its earnings models for key competitors Royal Caribbean Group (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RCL#NYSE">RCL</a>) and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NCLH#NYSE">NCLH</a>) based on recent currency shifts and fuel cost increases. 
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Investor Takeaway</h2>
Carnival is more than 80% of the way to its <a href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/carnival-corporation--plc-reports-second-quarter-2023-earnings-and-sets-sights-on-2026-sea-change-program-301862616.html">SEA Change</a> transformation targets, with long-term return on invested capital (ROIC) expected to land "at least in the teens" by 2026. With disciplined growth, AI-driven revenue strategies, and a revamped balance sheet, Carnival looks well-positioned to navigate the next phase of industry expansion. 
Investors betting on the cruise rebound might find Carnival's multi-year story compelling, especially as it leans into pricing power, brand execution and strategic destinations.
Read Next: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42490038/norwegian-cruise-line-benefits-from-re-energized-consumer-spending-and-cost-savings-program-analyst-says">Norwegian Cruise Line Benefits From Re-energized Consumer Spending And Cost Savings Program, Analyst Says</a></li>
</ul>

Entertainment

Long Ideas

Carnival's Transformation: AI-Driven Yields And A Balance Sheet Reset

17 analysts have shared their evaluations of Norwegian Cruise Line (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NCLH#NYSE">NCLH</a>) during the recent three months, expressing a mix of bullish and bearish perspectives.
Summarizing their recent assessments, the table below illustrates the evolving sentiments in the past 30 days and compares them to the preceding months.
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th></th>
<th align="right">Bullish</th>
<th align="right">Somewhat Bullish</th>
<th align="right">Indifferent</th>
<th align="right">Somewhat Bearish</th>
<th align="right">Bearish</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Total Ratings</td>
<td align="right">3</td>
<td align="right">4</td>
<td align="right">8</td>
<td align="right">2</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Last 30D</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">1</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1M Ago</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2M Ago</td>
<td align="right">2</td>
<td align="right">1</td>
<td align="right">1</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3M Ago</td>
<td align="right">1</td>
<td align="right">2</td>
<td align="right">7</td>
<td align="right">2</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
In the assessment of 12-month price targets, analysts unveil insights for Norwegian Cruise Line, presenting an average target of $29.0, a high estimate of $36.00, and a low estimate of $19.00. This upward trend is evident, with the current average reflecting a 18.08% increase from the previous average price target of $24.56.
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1737147637_0.png" alt="price target chart" />
<h2>Deciphering Analyst Ratings: An In-Depth Analysis</h2>
The perception of Norwegian Cruise Line by financial experts is analyzed through recent analyst actions. The following summary presents key analysts, their recent evaluations, and adjustments to ratings and price targets.
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Analyst</th>
<th>Analyst Firm</th>
<th>Action Taken</th>
<th>Rating</th>
<th>Current Price Target</th>
<th>Prior Price Target</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Paul Golding</td>
<td>Macquarie</td>
<td>Maintains</td>
<td>Outperform</td>
<td>$30.00</td>
<td>$30.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Matthew Boss</td>
<td>JP Morgan</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Neutral</td>
<td>$30.00</td>
<td>$29.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Brandt Montour</td>
<td>Barclays</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$32.00</td>
<td>$28.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Lizzie Dove</td>
<td>Goldman Sachs</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$35.00</td>
<td>$29.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Patrick Scholes</td>
<td>Truist Securities</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$35.00</td>
<td>$25.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Andrew Didora</td>
<td>B of A Securities</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Neutral</td>
<td>$29.00</td>
<td>$26.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Stephen Grambling</td>
<td>Morgan Stanley</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Underweight</td>
<td>$26.00</td>
<td>$19.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Ivan Feinseth</td>
<td>Tigress Financial</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Strong Buy</td>
<td>$36.00</td>
<td>$32.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Robin Farley</td>
<td>UBS</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Neutral</td>
<td>$29.00</td>
<td>$19.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Daniel Politzer</td>
<td>Wells Fargo</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Equal-Weight</td>
<td>$27.00</td>
<td>$21.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Ben Chaiken</td>
<td>Mizuho</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Outperform</td>
<td>$28.00</td>
<td>$26.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Brandt Montour</td>
<td>Barclays</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Equal-Weight</td>
<td>$28.00</td>
<td>$26.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Chris Woronka</td>
<td>Deutsche Bank</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Hold</td>
<td>$24.00</td>
<td>$21.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Lizzie Dove</td>
<td>Goldman Sachs</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Neutral</td>
<td>$29.00</td>
<td>$24.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Paul Golding</td>
<td>Macquarie</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Outperform</td>
<td>$30.00</td>
<td>$24.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Stephen Grambling</td>
<td>Morgan Stanley</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Underweight</td>
<td>$19.00</td>
<td>$17.50</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Brandt Montour</td>
<td>Barclays</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Equal-Weight</td>
<td>$26.00</td>
<td>$21.00</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h3>Key Insights:</h3>
<ul>
<li>Action Taken: Analysts frequently update their recommendations based on evolving market conditions and company performance. Whether they 'Maintain', 'Raise' or 'Lower' their stance, it reflects their reaction to recent developments related to Norwegian Cruise Line. This information provides a snapshot of how analysts perceive the current state of the company.</li>
<li>Rating: Analysts assign qualitative assessments to stocks, ranging from 'Outperform' to 'Underperform'. These ratings convey the analysts' expectations for the relative performance of Norwegian Cruise Line compared to the broader market.</li>
<li>Price Targets: Gaining insights, analysts provide estimates for the future value of Norwegian Cruise Line's stock. This comparison reveals trends in analysts' expectations over time.</li>
</ul>
Considering these analyst evaluations in conjunction with other financial indicators can offer a comprehensive understanding of Norwegian Cruise Line's market position. Stay informed and make well-informed decisions with our Ratings Table.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/NCLH/analyst-ratings?utm_source=Benzinga Insights">Stay up to date on Norwegian Cruise Line analyst ratings.</a>
<h2>Get to Know Norwegian Cruise Line Better</h2>
Norwegian Cruise Line is the world's third-largest publicly traded cruise company by berths (around 66,500). It operates 32 ships across three brands—Norwegian, Oceania, and Regent Seven Seas—offering both freestyle and luxury cruising. The company redeployed its entire fleet as of May 2022. With 13 passenger vessels on order among its brands through 2036, representing 41,000 incremental berths, Norwegian is increasing capacity faster than its peers, expanding its brand globally. Norwegian sails to around 700 global destinations.
<h3>Financial Milestones: Norwegian Cruise Line's Journey</h3>
Market Capitalization Analysis: Reflecting a smaller scale, the company's market capitalization is positioned below industry averages. This could be attributed to factors such as growth expectations or operational capacity.
Revenue Growth: Norwegian Cruise Line's remarkable performance in 3 months is evident. As of 30 September, 2024, the company achieved an impressive revenue growth rate of 10.67%. This signifies a substantial increase in the company's top-line earnings. As compared to its peers, the company achieved a growth rate higher than the average among peers in Consumer Discretionary sector.
Net Margin: Norwegian Cruise Line's net margin is below industry standards, pointing towards difficulties in achieving strong profitability. With a net margin of 16.92%, the company may encounter challenges in effective cost control.
Return on Equity (ROE): Norwegian Cruise Line's ROE excels beyond industry benchmarks, reaching 51.95%. This signifies robust financial management and efficient use of shareholder equity capital.
Return on Assets (ROA): The company's ROA is a standout performer, exceeding industry averages. With an impressive ROA of 2.38%, the company showcases effective utilization of assets.
Debt Management: Norwegian Cruise Line's debt-to-equity ratio is notably higher than the industry average. With a ratio of 11.81, the company relies more heavily on borrowed funds, indicating a higher level of financial risk.
<h2>Analyst Ratings: What Are They?</h2>
Benzinga tracks 150 analyst firms and reports on their stock expectations. Analysts typically arrive at their conclusions by predicting how much money a company will make in the future, usually the upcoming five years, and how risky or predictable that company's revenue streams are.
Analysts attend company conference calls and meetings, research company financial statements, and communicate with insiders to publish their ratings on stocks. Analysts typically rate each stock once per quarter or whenever the company has a major update.
Some analysts publish their predictions for metrics such as growth estimates, earnings, and revenue to provide additional guidance with their ratings. When using analyst ratings, it is important to keep in mind that stock and sector analysts are also human and are only offering their opinions to investors.
If you want to keep track of which analysts are outperforming others, you can view updated analyst ratings along withanalyst success scores in <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a>.
Breaking: Wall Street's Next Big Mover
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This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

Analyst Expectations For Norwegian Cruise Line's Future

Macquarie analyst Paul Golding maintains Norwegian Cruise Line (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NCLH#NYSE">NCLH</a>) with a Outperform and maintains $30 price target.

Macquarie Maintains Outperform on Norwegian Cruise Line, Maintains $30 Price Target

JBLU

MESA

RYAAY

TRIP

ULCC

Shares of travel-related companies are trading higher amid TSA traveler screening data which showed higher figures for the end of 2024.

Goldman Sachs research kicked off the new year with bold stock picks and a spotlight on five investment themes poised to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/biotech/24/12/42710358/veteran-investor-bets-big-on-sp-500-hitting-7000-by-end-of-2025-these-sectors-could-lead-the-charge">shape markets in 2025.</a>
What Happened: In a note shared Thursday, the analyst team led by Steven Kron shuffled its &#8220;Conviction List&#8221; — a carefully curated portfolio of top investment ideas.
Goldman Sachs added Belden Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BDC#NYSE">BDC</a>), Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NCLH#NYSE">NCLH</a>), and Uber Technologies Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UBER#NYSE">UBER</a>) to the list. These companies replaced Fox Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FOXA#NASDAQ">FOXA</a>), Parker Hannifin Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PH#NYSE">PH</a>), and TPG Inc. (TPG).
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/25/01/42777236/investors-dump-long-dated-treasury-etf-at-record-pace-ahead-of-trumps-white-house-return">Investors Dump Long-Dated Treasury ETF At Record Pace Ahead Of Trump&#8217;s White House Return</a>
Why It Matters: Industrial tech is back in vogue. Analyst Mark Delaney sees Belden riding a cyclical industrial recovery while expanding its high-margin software solutions business. Delaney models earnings per share (EPS) above consensus estimates for both 2025 and 2026, making this a standout pick in the industrial space.
Cruises are sailing into a stronger 2025. Analyst Lizzie Dove cites accelerating Net Purchase Intent (NPI) data and cost savings from a 2023 management shuffle. Dove expects Norwegian to widen its yield-to-unit-cost spread by 2.5 percentage points, bringing its valuation closer to peer Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RCL#NYSE">RCL</a>).
Analyst Eric Sheridan remains bullish on Uber despite skepticism over its mobility business and the rise of autonomous vehicles. He forecasts a robust 39% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) in adjusted EBITDA from 2023-2026. According to the bank, Uber is set to deliver $3.50 in GAAP EPS by 2026—a projection that sits 7% above consensus. Goldman Sachs holds a 12-month price target of $96 on Uber stock, implying a nearly 60% upside from current market levels.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Key Themes For 2025: AI, M&amp;A, Deglobalization, And More</h3>
The investment bank also outlined five key themes to track as we enter the new year.
<ul>
<li>Artificial Intelligence: Goldman's Kash Rangan expects AI investment to shift in 2025, moving from infrastructure spending to platforms and applications. In a recent note, Rangan highlighted the increasing integration of AI into enterprise software. Stocks with exposure to this trend include Nvidia Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>), Snowflake Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SNOW#NYSE">SNOW</a>) and Teradyne Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TER#NASDAQ">TER</a>).</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>De-regulation, M&amp;A, And Capital Markets Rebound: Regulatory changes under a potential second Trump administration could accelerate M&amp;A activity, Goldman analysts say. Financial firms like Citigroup Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/C#NYSE">C</a>), Evercore Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EVR#NYSE">EVR</a>), and S&amp;P Global (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPGI#NYSE">SPGI</a>) are positioned to benefit. Analyst Richard Ramsden recently indicated a more favorable environment for banks and financial advisors.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Re-powering America: Carly Davenport flagged the surging power demands of data centers and AI compute, noting this trend is driving sustained growth in utilities capex. Her team stressed the importance of energy infrastructure to support the transportation electrification. Stocks like DBA Sempra (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SRE#NYSE">SRE</a>) is Goldman&#8217;s top pick here.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Deglobalization: The era of tariff wars is far from over. Jan Hatzius and economics team expect a 20 percentage point hike in tariffs on Chinese imports and new duties on European autos and Mexican EVs. Companies like Vulcan Materials Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VMC#NYSE">VMC</a>) and Woodward Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WWD#NASDAQ">WWD</a>) are well-positioned to adapt to supply chain disruptions caused by these policies.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Resilient US Consumers: Despite macro concerns, Goldman Sachs continues to paint another strong year for U.S. consumers. Discretionary cash flow is expected to grow by 5.2% in 2025, up from 4.4% in 2024, supported by higher savings rates. Stocks to watch include Norwegian Cruise Line, Uber, Burlington Stores Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BURL#NYSE">BURL</a>), and Pinterest Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PINS#NYSE">PINS</a>).</li>
</ul>
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Risk sentiment returned to Wall Street on Friday, revitalized by softer-than-expected November inflation data leading to a strong market rebound following the selloff triggered by the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/24/12/42615908/feds-preferred-inflation-gauge-falls-more-than-expected-markets-breathe-sigh-of-relief">Federal Reserve&#8217;s recent meeting.</a>
The Personal Consumption Expenditure price index rose 2.4% year-over-year in November, falling short of the 2.5% increase forecasted. The core PCE, a key gauge closely watched by the Fed, also missed expectations, rising 2.8% compared to the anticipated 2.9%.
By midday Friday, all major indices were in rally mode, with broad-based gains across sectors. In the S&amp;P 500, 480 companies traded higher, and every sector advanced as investors welcomed the reprieve in inflationary pressures.
The real estate sector led the charge, rebounding sharply after being hit hardest in the aftermath of the Fed meeting. Small-cap stocks in the Russell 2000 also posted robust gains, powered by a strong recovery in regional banks.
The travel industry soared, driven by upbeat earnings and optimistic guidance from Carnival Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CCL#NYSE">CCL</a>), which fueled enthusiasm across the sector. The cruise line rose by 6%, eyeing the highest close since October 2021. 
In the bond market, yields dropped by approximately 5 basis points across the curve, boosting Treasury prices. The iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TLT#NASDAQ">TLT</a>) gained nearly 1%, recovering some ground after a 3% slide over the previous two sessions. The dollar softened, declining 0.6%, while gold gained over 1%. 
Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) attracted dip buyers after plunging to $92,118. Although the cryptocurrency pared its daily losses, it remains on track for its worst weekly performance in four months.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Friday&#8217;s Performance In Major US Indices, ETFs</h3>
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Major Indices</td>
<td>Price</td>
<td>1-day %chg</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Dow Jones</td>
<td>42,853.53</td>
<td>1.2%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>S&amp;P 500</td>
<td>5,934.51</td>
<td>1.1%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Russell 2000</td>
<td>2,246.04</td>
<td>1.1%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Nasdaq 100</td>
<td>21,339.90</td>
<td>1.1%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Updated at 1:30 p.m. ET</figcaption></figure>
According to&nbsp;<a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent121924&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1">Benzinga Pro</a>&nbsp;data:
<ul>
<li>The&nbsp;SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) rose 1.1% to $592.31.</li>
<li>The&nbsp;SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DIA#NYSE">DIA</a>)&nbsp;rose 1.2% to $429.61.</li>
<li>The tech-heavy Invesco QQQ Trust Series (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>) edged 1.4% higher to $521.53.</li>
<li>The&nbsp;iShares Russell 2000 ETF&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IWM#NYSE">IWM</a>) soared 1.2% to $222.59.</li>
<li>The&nbsp;Real Estate Select Sector SPDR Fund&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLRE#NYSE">XLRE</a>) outperformed, up by 2.3%; the&nbsp;Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR Fund&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLB#NYSE">XLB</a>) lagged, up 0.6%.</li>
</ul>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Friday&#8217;s Performance In Major US Indices, ETFs</h3>
<ul>
<li>Novo Nordisk A/S (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVO#NYSE">NVO</a>) plummeted 17%, marking its worst single-day drop since April 2002. after disappointing weight-loss trial data for<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/24/12/42623343/exclusive-weight-loss-market-experts-scoop-up-novo-nordisk-stock-after-worst-drop-since-2002-following-drug-trial-miss"> its obesity drug, CagriSema.</a></li>
<li>Enphase Energy Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ENPH#NASDAQ">ENPH</a>) rallied over 8% as analysts at OTR Research raised the stock rating from Negative to Mixed.</li>
<li>Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NCLH#NYSE">NCLH</a>) also rallied over 6% in reaction to Carnival Cruise&#8217;s upbeat results. Other travel-related companies seeing strong gains Friday included Airbnb Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ABNB#NASDAQ">ABNB</a>), up 3.9%, Hyatt Hotels Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/H#NYSE">H</a>), up 3.4%, and Royal Caribbean Cruise Ltd. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RCL#NYSE">RCL</a>), up 3.6%.</li>
<li>Nike Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NKE#NYSE">NKE</a>) fell 1.2% in reaction to its latest quarterly results and FedEx Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FDX#NYSE">FDX</a>) inched 0.6% higher. </li>
</ul>
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Norwegian Cruise Line's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NCLH#NYSE">NCLH</a>) short percent of float has risen 9.57% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 26.18 million shares sold short, which is 7.9% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 2.77 days to cover their short positions on average.
<h3>Why Short Interest Matters</h3>
Short interest is the number of shares that have been sold short but have not yet been covered or closed out. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-short-a-stock/">Short selling</a> is when a trader sells shares of a company they do not own, with the hope that the price will fall. Traders make money from short selling if the price of the stock falls and they lose if it rises.
Short interest is important to track because it can act as an indicator of market sentiment towards a particular stock. An increase in short interest can signal that investors have become more bearish, while a decrease in short interest can signal they have become more bullish.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/short-interest">List of the most shorted stocks</a>
<h3>Norwegian Cruise Line Short Interest Graph (3 Months)</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1734700517_0.png" alt="short_fig" />
As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for Norwegian Cruise Line has grown since its last report. This does not mean that the stock is going to fall in the near-term but traders should be aware that more shares are being shorted.
<h3>Comparing Norwegian Cruise Line's Short Interest Against Its Peers</h3>
Peer comparison is a popular technique amongst analysts and investors for gauging how well a company is performing. A company's peer is another company that has similar characteristics to it, such as industry, size, age, and financial structure. You can find a company's peer group by reading its 10-K, proxy filing, or by doing your own similarity analysis.
According to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/">Benzinga Pro</a>, Norwegian Cruise Line's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 5.84%, which means the company has more short interest than most of its peers.
Did you know that increasing short interest can actually be bullish for a stock? <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-make-money-on-a-short-squeeze/">This post by Benzinga Money explains how you can profit from it.</a>
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and was reviewed by an editor.

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Shares of several companies in the hotels, restaurants & leisure space are trading lower amid overall market weakness following the Fed's rate decision to cut rates by 25 basis points.

JP Morgan analyst Matthew Boss maintains Norwegian Cruise Line (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NCLH#NYSE">NCLH</a>) with a Neutral and raises the price target from $29 to $30.

JP Morgan Maintains Neutral on Norwegian Cruise Line, Raises Price Target to $30

Barclays analyst Brandt Montour highlights that the re-energized consumer and low tariff exposure will benefit the<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42369874/the-stocks-to-buy-to-make-2025-even-more-profitable-than-2024" rel="noreferrer noopener"> travel and experiences sectors in 2025.</a>
The analyst points out that the cruise industry has potential for growth, leading to a reshuffling of ratings for cruise and timeshare companies.
Amid such a scenario, the analyst upgraded Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NCLH#NYSE">NCLH</a>) to Overweight from Equal-Weight, boosting&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/NCLH/analyst-ratings" rel="noreferrer noopener">the price forecast from&nbsp;$28&nbsp;to&nbsp;$32.</a>
The analyst underscores the upgrade, citing its higher beta in a recovering macro environment, exposure to cross-Atlantic travel, and unique multi-year cost opportunities within the cruise industry.
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/12/42488220/broadcom-hits-1-trillion-milestone-the-next-magnificent-tech-giant" rel="noreferrer noopener">Broadcom Hits $1 Trillion Milestone: The Next Magnificent Tech Giant?</a>
In a recovering macro environment with a potentially extended cycle, the company is seeing strong demand in European and Alaska sailings for 2025, according to proprietary pricing data.
The analyst writes that the company&#8217;s multi-year cost savings program could drive earnings growth and balance sheet improvements, while concerns about pricing power in a more balanced cruise market are seen as minimal due to the cruise industry&#8217;s continued value compared to alternatives.
Despite short-term challenges, the analyst sees the company as an attractive entry point with strong long-term potential.
Montour also notes that, based on 2026 estimates, the company is particularly undervalued compared to its peers.
Price Action: NCLH shares are trading lower by 0.62% to $26.65 at last check Friday.
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Date	Put/Call	Strike Price	Exp Date	DTE	Trade Vol	Day Vol	Vol / OI	OI	Trade Type	Sentiment
01:44 PMFeb 20, 2025	CALL	$28.00	Jun 20, 2025	117	6630	3450	101	6542	TRADE	BEARISH
02:03 PMFeb 19, 2025	CALL	$26.00	Mar 21, 2025	26	4118	3250	36	11286	TRADE	BULLISH