Carnival Corp vs Global Payments Inc — how do they compare? Carnival Corp trades at $27.17 (market cap $36.30B), while Global Payments Inc trades at $80.47 (market cap $20.76B). The key difference: Carnival Corp is the larger of the two by market cap, and Carnival Corp pays the higher dividend (1.7%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| CCL | GPN | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $36.30B | $20.76B |
Sector | Consumer Cyclical | Industrials |
52-Week High | $33.99 | $90.01 |
52-Week Low | $23.89 | $62.47 |
Enterprise Value | $60.22B | $38.48B |
Dividend Yield | 1.7% | 1.32% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Carnival Corporation (CCL) trades at $26.61, down 0.82% on the day, amid a bearish technical signal. The company demonstrates strong fundamental improvement with revenue growth to $26.62 billion in 2025 and net income of $2.76 billion, supported by three consecutive quarterly EPS beats. Positive analyst sentiment is evident with a $35.00 consensus price target and 59.57% buy ratings, while recent news highlights fleet expansion and strong bookings.
The outlook remains positive due to robust demand and cost controls, but risks include geopolitical tensions impacting fuel costs and softer European demand. The stock's current valuation metrics, such as a P/E of 11.99, suggest potential upside if execution continues, though investors must weigh debt levels and macroeconomic headwinds.
GPN trades at $76.85, up 1.07% today, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages and recent earnings beats. The company reported Q1 2026 EPS of $2.96, exceeding expectations, and maintains strong cash flow from operations at $2.66B in 2025. However, net income margin turned negative at -7.97% for 2026, reflecting profitability challenges amid rising debt levels, with debt-to-asset ratio increasing to 41.57% in 2025.
The outlook is mixed: analyst consensus is bullish with a $81.56 price target and 58% buy ratings, supported by AI-driven POS expansions and the Worldpay integration. Key risks include margin pressure from fintech competition and high leverage, which could constrain equity returns if revenue growth falters.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Latest headlines on both assets
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 →Global Payments is a leading provider of payment processing and software solutions and focuses on serving small and midsize merchants. The company operates in 30 countries and generates about one fourth of its revenue from outside North America, primarily in Europe and Asia. In 2019, Global Payments merged with Total System Services in an all-stock deal that gave Total System Services shareholders 48% of the combined company's shares.
Read more on GPN →