Nel primo trimestre dell'anno finanziario 2004 Carnival Corporation ha totalizzato un utile netto di 203 milioni di dollari

Nel primo trimestre dell'anno finanziario 2004 il gruppo crocieristico Carnival Corporation & pcl ha registrato un utile netto di 203 milioni di dollari su un ricavo di 1,98 miliardi di dollari, contro un utile pro forma di 147 milioni di dollari su un ricavo pro forma di 1,62 miliardi di dollari nel corrispondente periodo dell'esercizio precedente. Il risultato operativo è ammontato a 260 milioni di dollari (172 milioni nel 2003).

Ricordiamo che il 17 aprile 2003 Carnival Corporation e P&O Princess hanno dato vita ad una dual listed company che ha determinato la costituzione dell'unica entità economica Carnival Corporation & plc (inforMARE del 16 aprile 2003). Pertanto i risultati del primo trimestre del 2003 (conclusosi il 28 febbraio 2003) non includono i risultati di Carnival plc (nuova denominazione assunta da P&O Princess).

Commentando oggi i dati relativo al primo trimestre 2004, il presidente e CEO di Carnival Corporation, : dopo l'ultima rilevazione dello scorso febbraio (inforMARE del 25 febbraio 2004), il livello delle prenotazioni si è mantenuto elevato sia per quanto riguarda i marchi crocieristici del gruppo che operano in Nord America sia per quelli attivi in Europa. La crescita delle prenotazioni - ha osservato Arison - è stata stimolata dagli sconti praticati all'inizio dell'anno. Se le prenotazioni continueranno con lo stesso ritmo - ha aggiunto - i prezzi aumenteranno. Nelle ultime 11 settimane - ha precisato Carnival - il livello di prenotazioni registrato dal gruppo è stato superiore del 62% rispetto a quello registrato lo scorso anno, in rapporto ad un incremento pro forma della capacità del 17,8%.

Carnival Corporation & plc
Consolidated statements of operations
(Source: Carnival Corporation)

	Three Months Ended February 29/28,
	Reported 2004⁽¹⁾	Pro Forma 2003⁽²⁾	Reported 2003⁽¹⁾⁽³⁾
	---------	---------	---------
	(in millions, except per share data)
Revenues
Cruise
Passenger tickets	$1,527	$1,263	$800
Onboard and other	445	352	232
Other	8	7	3
	------	------	------
	1,980	1,622	1,035
	------	------	------

Costs and Expenses
Operating
Cruise
Passenger tickets	384	312	174
Onboard and other	81	62	28
Payroll and related	236	192	130
Food	127	105	69
Other ship operating	378	335	212
Other	10	10	7
------	------	------
Total	1,216	1,016	620

Selling and administrative	316	283	177
Depreciation and amortization	188	151	106
	------	------	------
	1,720	1,450	903
	------	------	------
Operating Income	260	172	132
	------	------	------

Nonoperating
(Expense)
Income
Interest income	4	5	4
Interest expense, net of capitalized interest	(65)	(53)	(29)
Other income,
net		⁽⁴⁾18	⁽⁴⁾15
	------	------	------
	(61)	(30)	(10)
	------	------	------

Income Before Income Taxes	199	142	122

Income Tax Benefit, Net	4	5	5
	------	------	------
Net Income	$203	$147	$127
	====	====	====

Earnings Per Share
Basic	$0.25	$0.18	$0.22
	====	====	====
Diluted	$0.25	$0.18	$0.22
	====	====	====

Dividends Per Share	$0.125	$0.105	$0.105
	====	====	====

Weighted-Average
Shares
Outstanding
- Basic	800	795	587
	====	====	====
Weighted-Average
Shares
Outstanding
- Diluted	820	799	588
	====	====	====

⁽¹⁾	The reported results for 2004 included Carnival Corporation and Carnival plc and 2003 reported results only included Carnival Corporation.
⁽²⁾	See note (a) to the Carnival Corporation & plc "Reported and Pro Forma GAAP Reconciling Information."
⁽³⁾	Reclassifications have been made to certain 2003 amounts to conform to the current period presentation.
⁽⁴⁾	Included $19 million from net insurance proceeds, less certain other nonoperating expenses.
(a)	The pro forma information gives pro forma effect to the DLC transaction between Carnival Corporation and Carnival plc, which was completed on April 17, 2003, as if the DLC transaction had occurred on December 1, 2002. Management has prepared the pro forma information based upon the companies' reported financial information and, accordingly, the above information should be read in conjunction with the companies' financial statements, as well as pro forma information included in the companies' joint Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 5, 2004. The DLC transaction has been accounted for as an acquisition of Carnival plc by Carnival Corporation, using the purchase method of accounting. The Carnival plc accounting policies have been conformed to Carnival Corporation's policies. Carnival plc's reporting period has been changed to the Carnival Corporation reporting period and the pro forma information covers the same periods of time for both companies. The pro forma information has not been adjusted to reflect any net transaction benefits from the DLC transaction. In addition, it excludes $24 million of costs related to the completion of the DLC transaction with Carnival Corporation, which were expensed by Carnival plc prior to April 17, 2003. The exclusion of these nonrecurring costs is consistent with the requirements of Article 11 of Regulation S-X. The 2003 pro forma information is computed by adding Carnival plc's 2003 results, adjusted for acquisition adjustments (reductions of $4 million of depreciation expense and $2 million of interest expense), to the 2003 Carnival Corporation reported results. Finally, the pro forma information does not purport to represent what the results of operations actually could have been if the DLC transaction had occurred on December 1, 2002 or what those results will be for any future periods.

Carnival Corporation & plc
Selected statistical and segment information

	Three Months Ended February 29/28,
	Reported 2004⁽¹⁾	Pro Forma 2003⁽²⁾	Reported 2003⁽¹⁾⁽³⁾
	---------	---------	---------
	(in millions, except statistical information)
STATISTICAL
INFORMATION
Passengers carried	1,361,586	1,206,430	922,783
Available lower berth days	10,062,655	8,618,229	5,804,759
Occupancy percentage	102.0%	100.4%	102.8%

SEGMENT
INFORMATION
Revenues
Cruise	$1,972	$1,615	$1,032
Other	10	9	5
Intersegment elimination	(2)	(2)	(2)
	------	------	------
	$1,980	$1,622	$1,035
	====	====	====
Operating expenses
Cruise	$1,206	$1,006	$613
Other	12	12	9
Intersegment elimination	(2)	(2)	(2)
	------	------	------
	$1,216	$1,016	$620
	====	====	====

Selling and administrative expenses
Cruise	$302	$269	$170
Other	14	14	7
	------	------	------
	$316	$283	$177
	====	====	====

Operating income (loss)
Cruise	$281	$192	$143
Other	(21)	(20)	(11)
	------	------	------
	$260	$172	$132
	====	====	====

⁽¹⁾	The reported information for 2004 included Carnival Corporation and Carnival plc and 2003 reported results only included Carnival Corporation.
⁽²⁾	See note (a) to the Carnival Corporation & plc "Reported and Pro Forma GAAP Reconciling Information."
⁽³⁾	Reclassifications have been made to certain 2003 amounts to conform to the current period presentation.