Stifel Sees Cruise Industry Overcapacity 'Correcting' By 2015

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.'s

disappointing fourth-quarter outlook should be ignored by investors, an analyst said Thursday. The Doral Fla., company's outlook for the current period is roughly 20 percent below expectations but sees "ample upside" to 20015 bookings. Stifel's Steven Wiczynski thinks things will accelerate for the cruise industry next year, as over-capacity in the Caribbean basin gets corrected. Although opportunity for the industry in the near term may appear discouraging, Wieczynski's horizon is three-to-five years. Wieczynski reiterated a Buy on Royal Caribbean and predicted 2015 will be "a healthier year for the entire industry. Royal Caribbean traded recently down 2.25 percent at $61.99 a share. Carnival Corp.

gained 1 percent to $38.20 a share.