Bloomberg Surveillance: A Stellar Year for Equities
Dec 29, 2023
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Guests discuss a range of interesting topics, including investment strategies for the upcoming year, the ongoing legal saga with the Apple Watch, undervaluing geopolitical and US domestic risks, the latest in the Russia-Ukraine war, and a year of record demand for the international cruise line.
Carnival Corporation had a record-breaking year in 2023 with strong demand, bookings, and onboard spending levels, indicating a positive outlook for the future.
Carnival Corporation remains focused on providing exceptional service and maintaining high standards across its brands to meet customer expectations, despite geopolitical issues.
Deep dives
Record year for Carnival Corporation in 2023
Carnival Corporation had a record-breaking year in 2023 with record demand, yields, pricing, bookings, and onboard spending levels. The company expects this strong trend to continue into 2024, as bookings remain high and onboard spend continues to grow. Carnival Corporation is already two-thirds booked for 2024 and has not seen any signs of slowing down. The company's global portfolio of brands has seen success worldwide, and there is no end in sight for the strong demand.
No significant impact from geopolitical issues
Carnival Corporation has not experienced any significant impact from geopolitical issues such as conflicts in Israel and the Red Sea. The company made necessary adjustments to its itineraries and ship transits to ensure safety for its passengers. Carnival Corporation remains focused on providing exceptional service and maintaining high standards across its brands to meet customer expectations.
Continued focus on reducing debt and refinancing
Carnival Corporation is actively working on reducing its debt load and expects to continue doing so in the future. The company has managed to cut down its debt by $5 billion and plans to refinance on more favorable terms if opportunities arise. Carnival Corporation prioritizes its capital structure and is not looking to increase leverage.
Positive outlook on future growth
Carnival Corporation remains optimistic about future growth and sees a strong demand for memorable experiences and travel. The company believes that customers are seeking meaningful experiences and are willing to pay for unforgettable memories. It continues to see record bookings and onboard spending, indicating a positive outlook for the future.
Sam Stovall, CFRA Chief Investment Strategist, advises going for breadth in equity investments next year. Mark Gurman, Bloomberg News Chief Correspondent, recaps another robust year for Apple and discusses the ongoing legal saga with the Apple Watch. Terry Haines, Pangaea Policy Founder, says markets may be undervaluing geopolitical and US domestic risks. Angela Stent, Brookings Institution Senior Fellow, breaks down the latest in the Russia-Ukraine war amid Russia's largest missile barrage since the invasion began. Josh Weinstein, Carnival CEO, walks through a year that saw record demand for the international cruise line. Get the Bloomberg Surveillance newsletter, delivered every weekday. Sign up now: https://www.bloomberg.com/account/newsletters/surveillance