Topic: How To Invest

Dear Pat: I’d like to invest in a cruise line stock. Do you have any recommendations? Also, I’d like to invest in a casino stock. Do you have any recommendations? Thanks and ciao.

Article Excerpt

We haven’t found any cruise line or casino companies that we want to recommend as buys, but here’s a look at two of the most prominent cruise operators, as well as two casino stocks. Carnival Corp., $37.38, symbol CCL on New York (Shares outstanding: 592.2 million; Market cap: $22.1 billion; www.carnival.com), operates a fleet of 101 cruise ships worldwide. In North America, these vessels operate under the Carnival Cruise Lines, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises and Seabourn banners. Other global brands include AIDA Cruises, Costa, Cunard, Ibero Cruises and P&O Cruises. The company also offers vacations at various cruise destinations; it owns and operates 11 hotels or lodges, 300 motor coaches and 20 glass-domed railcars. Carnival sells its vacations through travel agents (including wholesalers) and tour operators. The shares have dipped from over $40 in late March to today’s price after Carnival lowered its 2014 profit forecast. That’s because it cut its ticket prices to attract customers who may be hesitant after recent incidents…