AES Corp vs Carnival Corp — how do they compare? AES Corp trades at $14.72 (market cap $10.51B), while Carnival Corp trades at $27.69 (market cap $39.71B). The key difference: Carnival Corp is far larger — about 3.8× AES Corp's market cap, and AES Corp pays the higher dividend (4.78%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| AES | CCL | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $10.51B | $39.71B |
Sector | Utilities | Consumer Cyclical |
52-Week High | $17.28 | $33.99 |
52-Week Low | $12.51 | $23.89 |
Enterprise Value | $40.77B | $63.63B |
Dividend Yield | 4.78% | 1.55% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
AES trades at $14.73, up 0.2% on the day, with a bullish technical signal supported by moving averages. The company reported strong profitability with a net income margin of 14.34% and ROE of 45.05% for 2025, though Q2 2026 EPS missed expectations. A pending $33.4 billion acquisition by a consortium led by Global Infrastructure Partners and EQT, approved by stockholders, dominates recent developments, alongside a consistent dividend payout.
The acquisition offers a near-term catalyst with a capped upside at the buyout price of $15 per share, presenting a low-risk arbitrage opportunity. Risks include deal completion uncertainty amid shareholder complaints and regulatory scrutiny. Analyst consensus is mixed with 43% buy ratings, reflecting cautious optimism tied to the acquisition's successful closure and the company's strategic shift toward renewable energy investments.
Carnival Corporation (CCL) trades at $28.99, up 0.69% today, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages and strong support at $28. The stock shows robust fundamentals, with revenue growing to $26.62B in 2025 and net income at $2.76B, while recent quarters have beaten EPS estimates. Analysts maintain a buy consensus with a $35.18 price target, and positive news highlights fleet expansion and sustainability initiatives.
The outlook for CCL is positive, driven by record travel demand, cost control, and debt reduction, offering potential upside to the consensus target. Risks include fuel price volatility, economic sensitivity, and high leverage, though improved cash flow and dividend reinstatement support investor confidence.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Latest headlines on both assets
AES is a global power company operating across 14 countries and 4 continents. Its current generation portfolio as of year-end 2021 consists of over 31 gigawatts of generation, with the generation mix composed of renewables (43%), gas (32%), coal (23%), and oil (2%). The company has 3.5 gigawatts of generation under construction. AES has majority ownership and operates six electric utilities distributing power to 2.6 million customers.
Read more on AES →Carnival is the largest global cruise company, with 91 ships in its fleet in October 2022, with eight of its nine brands set to be fully redeployed by the end of 2022. Its portfolio of brands includes Carnival Cruise Lines, Holland America, Princess Cruises, and Seabourn in North America.
Read more on CCL →