Norwegian Cruise Line charts record sales in 2024, but stock falls on choppy profit guidance

Shares of Norwegian Cruise Line initially climbed about 2% in premarket trading today after the cruise operator posted strong fourth-quarter and full-year earnings. Quarterly revenue hit a record $2.1 billion, in line with estimates, while adjusted earnings per share came in at $0.26 — more than doubling Wall Street’s expectations of $0.11. But as strong as the quarter was, Norwegian’s full-year results were even better.

For 2024, revenue jumped 11% to a record $9.5 billion, while GAAP net income surged to $910.3 million, more than quadrupling from 2023. The company has benefited from continued consumer demand for cruise getaways and plans to debut two new vessels this year.

Still, shares reversed course, dropping over 6% in the first 30 minutes after market open, as investors didn’t like Norwegian’s softer-than-expected profit guidance for 2025. The company now expects an adjusted profit of $2.05 per share, slightly below analysts’ estimate of $2.08. Despite the dip, Norwegian shares remain up about 23% over the past year.