Stock Market Today, Oct. 29: Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Beats Q3 Estimates, Raises Full-Year Guidance

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings(NYSE:NCLH), a global cruise operator with Norwegian, Oceania, and Regent brands, closed at $18.22, up 13.45%. Pre-market earnings beat estimates, and a raised full-year outlook drove the gain. Investors are watching booking trends and pricing next.
Trading volume reached 63.0 million shares, coming in about 241% above its three-month average of 18.5 million shares. Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings IPO'd in 2013 and has fallen 27% since going public.

How the markets moved today

The S&P 500(SNPINDEX:^GSPC) closed at 7,720, down 0.31%, while the Nasdaq Composite(NASDAQINDEX:^IXIC) closed at 26,185, down 1.38%. Within leisure travel services, global cruise line operator Royal Caribbean Cruisesclosed at $310.54, up 4.10%, and Carnivalclosed at $28.84, up 2.78%, after stronger cruise demand and higher guidance kept the group in focus.

What this means for investors

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings beat estimates and raised guidance in its Q3 report. Investors cheered the results, especially after the company said bookings remain below the "optimal range." That news came as the stock started the day near its 52-week low, helping spur today's rally.

The company has been managing high fuel prices and relatively slow bookings well, and has plans to attract new guests . It recently opened a new waterpark attraction on its private Great Stirrup Cay in the Bahamas, for example.

The company also has a new finance chief beginning in January. Its longtime CFO will step down and be replaced by the current chief strategy officer, Meghan Montana.

Investors are sensing a bottom in the stock, with shares still down more than 18% this year, even after today's surge.

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