Valued at $9.8 billion by market cap, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NCLH) is the world’s third-largest cruise operator, managing a portfolio of three brands—Norwegian Cruise Line (mainstream), Oceania Cruises (premium), and Regent Seven Seas Cruises (luxury). Headquartered in Miami, the company operates a fleet of 34 ships sailing to over 700 destinations globally, with plans to add 13 more vessels by 2036. 

The leading cruise operator is expected to announce its fiscal second-quarter earnings for 2025 on Wednesday, July 30. Ahead of the event, analysts expect NCLH to report a profit of $0.45 per share on a diluted basis, up 18.4% from $0.38 per share in the year-ago quarter. The company has beaten the consensus estimates in three of the last four quarters, while missing on another occasion. 

For the current year, analysts expect NCLH to report EPS of $1.77, up 7.9% from $1.64 in fiscal 2024. Its EPS is expected to rise 18.1% year over year to $2.09 in fiscal 2026. 

Norwegian Cruise shares have outpaced the broader market with a 23.5% surge over the past year, outperforming both the S&P 500’s ($SPX) 8.2% gains and the Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR Fund’s (XLY) 15.6% gains over the same period.

On June 26, NCHL shares popped 2.3% after announcing that it had successfully increased the size of its senior secured revolving credit facility from $1.7 billion to $2.49 billion, while keeping the original terms and 2030 maturity unchanged. CFO Mark A. Kempa stated the move boosts the company’s liquidity and reflects lenders’ confidence in its strategy and performance. 

Analysts’ consensus opinion on NCLH stock is fairly upbeat, with a “Moderate Buy” rating overall. Out of 22 analysts covering the stock, 15 advise a “Strong Buy” rating, and seven give a “Hold.” NCLH’s average analyst price target is $24.59, indicating an ambitious potential upside of 6.2% from the current levels.