Norwegian Cruise Line Shares Surge 13% After Q3 Earnings Beat
Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings (NYSE: NCLH) sent Wall Street into a frenzy on October 29, 2026, after reporting stronger-than-expected third-quarter results and raising its full-year 2026 financial guidance. Shares soared as much as 13% in a single session.
The Miami-based cruise operator reported strong quarterly results:
- Revenue: $2.95 billion, topping analyst expectations of $2.88 billion.
- Adjusted earnings per share: $1.12, ahead of the company’s guidance of $0.90 and analyst consensus of $0.94.
- Adjusted EBITDA: $937 million, exceeding prior guidance of $874 million.
- GAAP net income: $491 million, or $1.07 per share, up from $419 million a year earlier.
Following the strong quarter, Norwegian raised its full-year 2026 outlook to approximately $2.55 billion in adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EPS of about $1.70—a notable increase from its previous forecast of $1.50 per share, issued in July.
CEO John W. Chidsey credited improvements in commercial capabilities, operating efficiency, and the guest experience for the outperformance. However, the company acknowledged that first-half 2027 bookings still trail last year’s levels. As part of its ongoing turnaround strategy, Norwegian plans to sharpen its brand positioning and improve marketing effectiveness.
Analysts and investors welcomed the progress, though some cautioned that ticket revenue fell 5% year over year as capacity grew, underscoring that the company’s full recovery remains a work in progress.
Source: CNBC – Norwegian shares surge 13% on earnings beat, guidance raise