Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. · NCLH · FY2025 Q4 · Calendar Q1 2026

NCLH Q4 2025: EPS Beat, Revenue Miss, New CEO Flags Execution Gaps

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings delivered a mixed Q4 2025 — beating EPS estimates by 5.8% while missing revenue by 4.2%. The stock sold off sharply (abnormal move of -10.6%), with the market reacting to flat 2026 net yield guidance and new CEO John Chidze's candid assessment of execution missteps, particularly around mistimed Caribbean capacity deployment. The longer-term growth story — 17 new ships ordered through 2037, private-island investments, and revenue-management technology — remains intact, but near-term results hinge on whether the operational review translates into improved pricing and deployment alignment.

Reported Before market openNYSEConsumer Cyclical $8.59B market cap
90quality score

Company context

Snapshot as of publication

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NCLH), along with its subsidiary companies, operates as a major global cruise enterprise. Its operations span North America, Europe, the Asia-Pacific region, and other international markets. The company manages a portfolio of three distinct cruise brands: Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises, and Regent Seven Seas Cruises. NCLH offers an extensive range of voyages, from brief three-day excursions to lengthy 180-day expeditions.…

Earnings scorecard

Reported versus consensus
Reported EPS $0.28 Consensus $0
EPS surprise +5.8% Reported versus consensus
Reported revenue $2.24B Consensus $2.34B
Revenue surprise -4.2% Reported versus consensus

Earnings History

Estimate Beat Miss Match
NCLH EPS earnings history estimate and actual scatter chart 9 reported fiscal quarters and 3 future estimate-only quarters. Q1 '24 estimate $0.12 Q1 '24 actual $0.16, beat Q2 '24 estimate $0.35 Q2 '24 actual $0.40, beat Q3 '24 estimate $0.94 Q3 '24 actual $0.99, beat Q2 '25 estimate $0.52 Q2 '25 actual $0.51, match Q3 '25 estimate $1.16 Q3 '25 actual $1.20, beat Q4 '25 estimate $0.26 Q4 '25 actual $0.28, beat Q1 '26 estimate $0.15 Q1 '26 actual $0.23, beat Q2 '26 estimate $0.40 Q2 '26 actual $0.48, beat Q3 '26 estimate $0.90 Q4 '26 estimate $0.13 Q1 '27 estimate $0.14
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Analyst Consensus ?

ConsensusBuy37 ratings
Bullish2054.1%
Neutral1643.2%
Bearish12.7%

Analyst 52W Price Targets

$18.53Current
$13Low
$24.05Average
$38High

Latest persisted target per named analyst; persisted current price from FN2's market snapshot as of Jul 31, 2026. Not an FN2 forecast.

Firm-level rating actions

FMP grade actions identify the grading firm, not a named analyst.

FirmRatingPrior ratingActionDate
Truist Securities Hold BuyDowngradeJul 23, 2026
Stifel Buy BuyMaintainJul 20, 2026
Jefferies Hold HoldMaintainJul 17, 2026
Goldman Sachs Neutral NeutralMaintainJul 14, 2026
Morgan Stanley Equal Weight Equal WeightMaintainJul 9, 2026
Wells Fargo Overweight OverweightMaintainJul 1, 2026
TD Cowen Buy BuyMaintainJun 23, 2026
Citigroup Buy BuyMaintainJun 16, 2026
UBS Neutral NeutralMaintainMay 19, 2026
Susquehanna Neutral NeutralMaintainMay 5, 2026
Mizuho Outperform OutperformMaintainMay 5, 2026
Barclays Equal Weight Equal WeightMaintainMay 5, 2026
JP Morgan Neutral NeutralMaintainApr 27, 2026
Tigress Financial Strong Buy Strong BuyMaintainApr 17, 2026
B of A Securities Neutral NeutralMaintainMar 3, 2026
Macquarie Outperform OutperformMaintainMay 9, 2025
Loop Capital Buy BuyMaintainMay 1, 2025
Argus Research Buy HoldUpgradeNov 4, 2024
Deutsche Bank Hold HoldMaintainNov 1, 2024
Redburn Partners Buy NeutralUpgradeSep 14, 2023
Credit Suisse Neutral NeutralMaintainMay 2, 2023
Wolfe Research Outperform Peer PerformUpgradeJun 16, 2021
Berenberg Hold BuyDowngradeFeb 12, 2021
SunTrust Robinson Humphrey Hold BuyDowngradeJul 14, 2020
Redburn Neutral BuyDowngradeJun 22, 2020
Nomura Buy BuyMaintainApr 8, 2020
CFRA Sell Strong SellMaintainMar 2, 2020
Wedbush Outperform OutperformMaintainFeb 21, 2020
Stifel Nicolaus Buy BuyMaintainFeb 21, 2020
Buckingham Research Buy BuyMaintainNov 8, 2019
Buckingham Buy BuyMaintainNov 8, 2019
Bank of America Buy BuyMaintainAug 9, 2019
Bernstein Outperform Market PerformUpgradeJan 8, 2019
Argus Buy BuyMaintainOct 25, 2017
Sterne Agee CRT Buy BuyMaintainJun 7, 2016
DNB Markets Hold BuyDowngradeDec 18, 2014
Longbow Research Neutral BuyDowngradeJun 4, 2014
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Named analyst price targets

Upside is calculated against the persisted current price $18.53. FMP does not supply a rating on these named-analyst rows.

FirmAnalyst52W targetPrice when postedUpsideDate
JefferiesAnalyst unavailable$18$19.61 -2.9%Jul 17, 2026
Goldman SachsLizzie Dove$16$19.63 -13.7%Jul 14, 2026
Morgan StanleyAnalyst unavailable$22$19.14 +18.7%Jul 9, 2026
BMO CapitalTristan Thomas-Martin$21$18.83 +13.3%Jul 7, 2026
Wells FargoAnalyst unavailable$25$21.11 +34.9%Jul 1, 2026
BernsteinRichard Clarke$18$18.13 -2.9%Jun 3, 2026
Loop Capital MarketsAnalyst unavailable$22$18.34 +18.7%Jun 1, 2026
UBSRobin Farley$17$14.94 -8.3%May 19, 2026
Deutsche BankAnalyst unavailable$18$17.34 -2.9%May 5, 2026
SusquehannaAnalyst unavailable$15$17.2 -19.1%May 5, 2026
Morgan StanleyAnalyst unavailable$20$17.2 +7.9%May 5, 2026
Goldman SachsAnalyst unavailable$14$17.2 -24.4%May 5, 2026
BarclaysAnalyst unavailable$19$17.2 +2.5%May 5, 2026
Wells FargoAnalyst unavailable$26$21.09 +40.3%Apr 15, 2026
BarclaysAnalyst unavailable$21$19.76 +13.3%Apr 10, 2026
Morgan StanleyStephen Grambling$23$19.96 +24.1%Apr 9, 2026
Mizuho SecuritiesAnalyst unavailable$27$20.16 +45.7%Apr 8, 2026
Wolfe ResearchGreg Badishkanian$25$22.18 +34.9%Mar 3, 2026
Stifel NicolausSteven Wieczynski$30$22.18 +61.9%Mar 3, 2026
Morgan StanleyStephen Grambling$25$22.18 +34.9%Mar 3, 2026
NeedhamAnalyst unavailable$27$22.18 +45.7%Mar 3, 2026
Goldman SachsLizzie Dove$20$22.18 +7.9%Mar 3, 2026
Mizuho SecuritiesBen Chaiken$28$22.18 +51.1%Mar 2, 2026
Stifel NicolausSteven Wieczynski$31$23.56 +67.3%Feb 11, 2026
Wells FargoAnalyst unavailable$33$24.34 +78.1%Jan 13, 2026
BarclaysAnalyst unavailable$23$21.54 +24.1%Dec 17, 2025
JefferiesAnalyst unavailable$20$20.86 +7.9%Dec 15, 2025
Mizuho SecuritiesAnalyst unavailable$32$20.56 +72.7%Dec 12, 2025
Goldman SachsAnalyst unavailable$21$19.11 +13.3%Dec 9, 2025
Truist FinancialAnalyst unavailable$26$18.57 +40.3%Dec 2, 2025
SusquehannaChristopher Stathoulopoulos$21$18.82 +13.3%Nov 12, 2025
Goldman SachsAnalyst unavailable$27$18.4 +45.7%Nov 5, 2025
BarclaysBrandt Montour$28$18.79 +51.1%Nov 5, 2025
Truist FinancialPatrick Scholes$31$25.41 +67.3%Sep 19, 2025
Tigress FinancialIvan Feinseth$38$24.74 +105.1%Aug 27, 2025
UBSAnalyst unavailable$27$24.45 +45.7%Aug 26, 2025
Goldman SachsLizzie Dove$34$26.42 +83.5%Jan 23, 2025
Truist FinancialPatrick Scholes$35$28.4 +88.9%Dec 2, 2024
Tigress FinancialIvan Feinseth$36$27.82 +94.3%Nov 11, 2024
MacquariePaul Golding$30$24.88 +61.9%Nov 1, 2024
Morgan StanleyStephen Grambling$19$23.96 +2.5%Oct 30, 2024
BarclaysBrandt Montour$26$23.71 +40.3%Oct 22, 2024
CitigroupJames Hardiman$30$23.07 +61.9%Oct 9, 2024
Stifel NicolausSteven Wieczynski$29$20.39 +56.5%Oct 4, 2024
Mizuho SecuritiesBen Chaiken$26$17.94 +40.3%Sep 11, 2024
Truist FinancialPatrick Scholes$21$16.56 +13.3%May 29, 2024
Mizuho SecuritiesBen Chaiken$24$16 +29.5%May 28, 2024
Deutsche BankChris Woronka$20$16.94 +7.9%May 21, 2024
BarclaysBrandt Montour$20$16.94 +7.9%May 21, 2024
UBSRobin Farley$19$16.94 +2.5%May 21, 2024
Wells FargoDaniel Politzer$20$16.94 +7.9%May 21, 2024
Stifel NicolausSteven Wieczynski$26$16.94 +40.3%May 21, 2024
Wells FargoDaniel Politzer$19$16.08 +2.5%May 2, 2024
Stifel NicolausSteven Wieczynski$25$19.17 +34.9%Apr 9, 2024
Mizuho SecuritiesBen Chaiken$21$20.54 +13.3%Mar 25, 2024
Goldman SachsLizzie Dove$19$19.87 +2.5%Mar 13, 2024
Redburn PartnersAlex Brignall$25$15.18 +34.9%Sep 25, 2023
Morgan StanleyAnalyst unavailable$11.5$13.75 -37.9%Jan 10, 2023
UBSAnalyst unavailable$13$13.8 -29.8%Jan 9, 2023
UBSAnalyst unavailable$19$15.46 +2.5%Dec 13, 2022
J.P. MorganAnalyst unavailable$30$15.64 +61.9%Dec 6, 2022
Truist FinancialAnalyst unavailable$21$16.12 +13.3%Nov 22, 2022
Credit SuisseAnalyst unavailable$14$17.59 -24.4%Nov 17, 2022
UBSAnalyst unavailable$24$17.87 +29.5%Nov 14, 2022
Tigress FinancialIvan Feinseth$32$14.62 +72.7%Oct 21, 2022
Morgan StanleyThomas Allen$13$14.16 -29.8%Aug 12, 2022
Morgan StanleyThomas Allen$14$11.43 -24.4%Jun 20, 2022
SusquehannaChristopher Stathoulopoulos$20$11.43 +7.9%Jun 18, 2022
Morgan StanleyThomas Allen$18$16.14 -2.9%May 13, 2022
CitigroupAnalyst unavailable$24$22.22 +29.5%Apr 19, 2022
Truist FinancialPatrick Scholes$20$19.86 +7.9%Mar 25, 2022
MacquariePaul Golding$23$17.39 +24.1%Mar 4, 2022
CitigroupJames Ainley$25$22.63 +34.9%Feb 10, 2022
J.P. MorganBrandt Montour$37$24.66 +99.7%Aug 9, 2021
UBSRobin M. Farley$29$27.66 +56.5%May 11, 2021
Goldman SachsStephen Grambling$37$26.75 +99.7%Apr 20, 2021
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Market reaction

prior-close to event-session close
Stock move -10.5% Event window
SPY move +0.1% Same window
Abnormal move -10.6% Stock minus SPY
Volume 2.0× Versus trailing sessions
Subsequent drift -20.4% Up to 20 sessions
NCLHSPY benchmark

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Transcript intelligence

What changed

Q4 EPS of $0.28 topped the $0.265 consensus by 5.8%, while revenue of $2.24B fell short of the $2.34B estimate by 4.2%. The market reaction was severe: shares dropped 10.6% on the session with double normal volume, and subsequently drifted another 20% lower. New CEO John Chidze, on the job only two weeks, launched a comprehensive business review and openly identified execution gaps, cultural siloing, and Caribbean capacity misalignment as primary challenges. 2026 guidance calls for flat net yield growth versus the modest gains achieved in 2025.

Guidance delta

Guidance sentiment was lowered. 2026 net yield growth guided to flat, a deceleration from 2025's modest gains. Unit cost growth expected to remain sub-inflationary with a $300M+ savings program. Leverage projected to stay around 5.2x. Management expects improvement later in 2026 and into 2027 as deployment and commercial strategy realign.

Key takeaways

  • Execution and cultural siloing identified as the biggest short-term obstacles; new leadership focused on accountability and cohesion.
  • Cost discipline yielded sub-inflationary unit cost growth and a $300M+ savings program.
  • 2026 guidance shows flat net yield growth, modest cost increase, and leverage flat at ~5.2x, reflecting near-term headwinds.
  • Caribbean capacity increase was mistimed and misaligned with commercial support, prompting corrective actions.
  • Long-term growth underpinned by new ship deliveries, private-island investments, and improved revenue-management capabilities.

Management priorities

  • Comprehensive business review to align deployment, pricing, marketing, and revenue management.
  • Implementation of a new revenue-management system across brands.
  • Opening of Great Tides Waterpark on Great Stirrup Cay in summer 2026.
  • Continued shipbuilding program with deliveries through 2037.
  • Further SG&A cost reductions and cultural initiatives to improve execution.

Related earnings events

Consumer Cyclical

Sources

  1. Earnings call transcript and parsed analysis · 2026-05-11T10:29:34.698584+00:00
  2. FN2 earnings calendar · 2026-07-26T00:37:12.209961+00:00
  3. Polygon adjusted daily market bars · 2026-07-31T19:31:18.252688+00:00
  4. Financial Modeling Prep analyst price-target consensus and quote snapshot · 2026-07-31T19:31:18.249716+00:00

Methodology

Reported and consensus figures come from FN2's earnings event records. Market reaction and volume are calculated from daily adjusted bars around the event; abnormal move subtracts the SPY move over the same window.

Analyst target low, average, and high values are derived at request time from each named analyst's latest persisted FMP target. The current-price marker comes from FN2's persisted market snapshot. They are sell-side estimates, not an FN2 valuation or recommendation.

Transcript intelligence is a structured synthesis of the current and prior earnings-call analyses. Missing values stay missing and are never estimated.

By FN2 Research · Updated . For educational purposes only; not investment advice.