CCL vs LULU: how the two businesses compare

  • Bigger business: CCL, with $26.6B of yearly revenue, about 2.4× LULU's $11.1B.
  • More profitable: LULU keeps 14 cents of each sales dollar as profit, against 10 cents at CCL.
  • More cash from each sale: CCL turns 23 cents of each sales dollar into operating cash flow, against 14 cents at LULU.

From each company's latest annual SEC filing. Fiscal years can end on different dates.

Carnival (CCL) is the larger business by reported revenue: $26.6B in its fiscal year ended Nov 2025, about 2.4× LULU's $11.1B (fiscal year ended Feb 2026). CCL's net margin was 10.4% and LULU's 14.2%. The SEC classifies them differently (Water Transportation; Apparel & Other Finishd Prods of Fabrics & Similar Matl); what connects them is shared exposure to the International markets research theme, not a common industry.

Figures come from each company's own SEC filings. This page compares the businesses; it is not a price target or a verdict.

Sector
Consumer Discretionary
SEC industry
Different
Separate classifications
Fiscal year ends
Different
CCL November 30 · LULU January 31
Reviewed
Mar 17, 2026

CCL vs LULU: quick comparison

Company factCCLLULU
CompanyCarnival Corporation & plclululemon athletica inc.
ExchangeNYSENASDAQ
SEC industryWater TransportationApparel & Other Finishd Prods of Fabrics & Similar Matl
Fiscal year-endNovember 30January 31
Latest annual filing10-K · 2026-01-2710-K · 2026-03-17

CCL vs LULU: audited financials

  • Scale: CCL's $26.6B of revenue is about 2.4× LULU's $11.1B.
  • Net margin: LULU kept 14.2% of revenue as net income versus 10.4% at CCL.
  • Cash conversion: operating cash flow equalled CCL 23.4% of revenue, or 2.25× net income; LULU 14.4% of revenue, or 1.01× net income. A ratio well above 1× usually reflects non-cash charges or working-capital release; well below 1× can reflect working-capital build or non-cash gains.
  • Periods: the fiscal years end about 2 months apart (2025-11-30 for CCL, 2026-02-01 for LULU), so each figure reflects somewhat different demand and cost conditions.

CCL: FY ending 2025-11-30 · LULU: FY ending 2026-02-01. Figures as tagged in each issuer's SEC XBRL filing; fiscal calendars may not align.

Where CCL and LULU overlap, and where they don't

Overlap

  • Shared research theme: International markets.

Differences

  • Different SEC industries: CCL files as Water Transportation; LULU as Apparel & Other Finishd Prods of Fabrics & Similar Matl.
  • Offset fiscal calendars: CCL's year ends November 30 and LULU's January 31, about 2 months apart.
  • Scale: CCL reported about 2.4× the annual revenue of LULU.

Overlap is drawn from SEC classifications and Yield Theory research themes. It is not evidence that the companies sell to the same customers or compete product for product.

Carnival Corporation & plc (CCL)

Carnival is the world's largest cruise operator, running multiple cruise brands on itineraries worldwide.

lululemon athletica inc. (LULU)

Lululemon designs and sells premium athletic apparel and accessories for yoga, running, and training.

What moves each company

Company-specific drivers maintained by Yield Theory. Use them to decide which filing deserves deeper work; they are not predictions.

What moves CCL

We have not yet published a company-specific driver list for CCL. The primary source is Item 1 (Business) and Item 1A (Risk Factors) of its 10-K filed 2026-01-27.

What moves LULU

We have not yet published a company-specific driver list for LULU. The primary source is Item 1 (Business) and Item 1A (Risk Factors) of its 10-K filed 2026-03-17.

The investment question

You now know CCL reports about 2.4× LULU's revenue, and LULU keeps more of each dollar as net income. Those are the facts. The investment question is what each share price already assumes about their exposure to international markets, and which evidence in the next filings would prove that assumption wrong.

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SEC filing comparison and disclosure evidence

Start with primary filings because fiscal calendars and accounting presentation can make superficially similar quarters incomparable. CCL's fiscal year ends November 30, while LULU's ends January 31. Normalize the reporting periods before comparing growth, margins, capital intensity, or guidance.

The current verified House and Senate snapshot contains 7 matched transaction rows for CCL and 16 matched transaction rows for LULU. These delayed, range-based disclosures can identify a filing to inspect; they do not establish motive, conviction, or a real-time trading signal.

What this comparison cannot tell you

This page does not contain licensed live prices, a valuation model, earnings estimates, portfolio constraints, or a forecast of future returns. SEC classifications can be broad, company descriptions can lag strategic change, and the latest annual filing may predate a material acquisition or divestiture. Read subsequent quarterly and current reports before making a decision.

A stronger business is not automatically the better stock. Starting valuation, expectations, capital structure, cyclicality, dilution, and the probability of each thesis determine the investment outcome. Use this comparison to frame the work, then verify the numbers in the linked filings and current company disclosures.

CCL vs LULU FAQs

Are CCL and LULU direct competitors?

Not necessarily. Carnival files as Water Transportation and lululemon athletica as Apparel & Other Finishd Prods of Fabrics & Similar Matl. The pair is compared because both map to the International markets research theme, not because the filings show head-to-head competition.

Is CCL or LULU the bigger company by revenue?

Carnival (CCL) is the larger business by reported revenue: $26.6B in its fiscal year ended Nov 2025, about 2.4× LULU's $11.1B (fiscal year ended Feb 2026). CCL's net margin was 10.4% and LULU's 14.2%. The SEC classifies them differently (Water Transportation; Apparel & Other Finishd Prods of Fabrics & Similar Matl); what connects them is shared exposure to the International markets research theme, not a common industry. Each figure is the annual amount tagged in the company's own SEC XBRL filing; market value depends on live prices, which this page does not publish.

Which is better, CCL or LULU?

There is no context-free winner. Compare the operating exposures, filing evidence, valuation, balance sheet, and risks against the specific thesis you are testing. This page deliberately does not turn a static profile into a buy or sell recommendation.

Does this CCL vs LULU comparison include live prices?

No. Yield Theory does not republish unlicensed real-time market data. The financial figures on this page are the audited annual numbers Carnival Corporation & plc and lululemon athletica inc. tagged in their SEC XBRL filings. Use a regulated broker or licensed quote provider for current prices and valuation multiples.

Where does the company information come from?

Company classifications, fiscal year-ends, and filing links come from the SEC EDGAR submissions API snapshot refreshed 2026-11-09. Business summaries and research themes are maintained by Yield Theory.

Data snapshot: SEC EDGAR submissions API, refreshed 2026-11-09. Independent educational research; not investment advice.

Which business differences matter to the investment thesis?

CCL vs LULU compares reported results. The reports below show how we connect operating evidence to an investment thesis, its assumptions, catalysts, and risks. $39/month or $249/year.

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