Carnival Corp ( CCL ) shares are trading lower by 2.46% to $17.28 during Thursday’s session. Shares of travel and hotel-related stocks are trading lower amid heightening geopolitical tensions after Iran this week launched a missile attack on Israel, which could impact global travel demand.

Carnival stock is volatile this week after the company reported third-quarter earnings. The aftermath of Hurricane Helene has also impacted areas in the southeastern U.S., including Florida, a major hub for Carnival’s operations.

Ports in the region could be closed or inaccessible due to storm damage, causing delays, cancellations or rerouting of cruises. This could directly affect revenues and increase costs for managing these changes.

Consumer Behavior and Demand: The destruction and aftermath of a hurricane often cause a dip in consumer spending on discretionary items like vacations. Potential customers from affected regions may delay or cancel travel plans. Additionally, travelers may hesitate to book cruises during hurricane season due to future storm concerns.

What Happened: Carnival stock has dropped this week following escalating tensions in the Middle East after Iran launched a major missile strike on Israel, marking one of the largest attacks in Israeli history. The geopolitical crisis has triggered heightened concerns over global stability, oil price volatility and its potential impact on the travel and leisure sector.

The United Nations Security Council convened an emergency session Wednesday to discuss the escalating violence between Israel, Lebanon, and Iran, which threatens to spiral into a broader regional conflict.

Read Also: How Many EVs Has Tesla Delivered, Produced Each Quarter? A Look At The Results Since 2019

Israeli officials reported that hundreds of missiles were fired, with most intercepted by defense systems; ground operations against Hezbollah militants in Lebanon resulted in casualties on both sides. As markets react to this crisis, stocks across various sectors feel the shockwaves, including Carnival.

What Else: Carnival, one of the world's largest cruise operators, is highly sensitive to fluctuations in oil prices, which are spiking in response to the turmoil. The company’s fleet of over 90 ships heavily relies on fuel, making it vulnerable to rising energy costs.

Following the missile attack, oil prices surged as investors braced for potential disruptions to Middle East oil supplies. A prolonged conflict could drive higher fuel prices, severely impacting Carnival's operating costs and profit margins. Any sustained increase in oil prices may raise Carnival's expenses, thus squeezing profit margins and eroding investor confidence.

Additionally, geopolitical uncertainty tends to have a dampening effect on global travel demand. With the possibility of a wider war in the Middle East, coupled with increasing fears of terrorism and instability, consumer sentiment towards international travel may wane.

Read Also: China Stocks Are Cooling Off Thursday: What’s Going On?

Is CCL A Good Stock To Buy?

An investor can make a few decisions when deciding whether a stock is a good buy. In addition to valuation metrics and price action which you can find on Benzinga's quote pages – like Carnival‘s page for example – there are factors like whether or not a company pays a dividend or buys a large portion of its stock each quarter.

Buyback programs are obviously different and highly variable. A company can approve a buyback program and purchase shares as it sees fit over the course of time in which the buyback was authorized. Looking through the latest news on Carnival will often yield whether or not the company has approved a buyback program recently. Buyback programs usually serve as a support for share prices, serving as a backstop for demand.

According to data from Benzinga Pro, CCL has a 52-week high of $19.74 and a 52-week low of $10.84.