In addition to these strong results, Carnival announced an ambitious $2.5 billion share buyback program, aimed at returning value to shareholders and reflecting the company's confidence in its financial position and future growth prospects. The buyback program is set to commence following the upcoming shareholder meetings on April 17, 2026, and does not have an expiration date.
Carnival's CEO, Josh Weinstein, emphasized the company's strong start to the year, attributing the success to healthy fundamentals and solid execution across the business. The company is also introducing PROPEL, a new set of long-term targets designed to reflect continued earnings growth momentum through 2029, which includes a commitment to return more than 40% of cash from operations to shareholders.
With nearly 85% of 2026 already booked and a record level of customer deposits nearing $8 billion, Carnival is well-positioned to deliver yield improvements in the latter half of the year. The company expects net yields to increase approximately 2.75% compared to record levels in 2025, further enhancing its financial outlook for the year. Overall, Carnival's strong performance and strategic initiatives are expected to have a noticeable positive effect on its stock price, reinforcing investor confidence in the company's future.
