Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) Stock Analysis

November 11, 2026

This is a peer-relative look at Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL): its performance, risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividend, and valuation are each measured against its Consumer Services peers, so every number reads in context rather than in isolation.

Company Profile

Company profile fields for Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL)
Profile Item	RCL
Name	Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.
Country/Region	United States
GICS Sector	Consumer Discretionary
GICS Industry Group	Consumer Services
GICS Industry	Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure
GICS Sub-Industry	Hotels, Resorts & Cruise Lines
Market Capitalization	87.51 billion USD
Currency	USD
Exchange	NYSE
Listing Date	April 28, 1993
Security Type	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

RCL

GSPC

Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) vs. S&P 500 (GSPC): Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

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Trailing total returns for Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) and S&P 500 (GSPC). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) and S&P 500 (GSPC). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) metric values compared with Consumer Services industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: RCL	Industry group median
Total Return (1Y)	35.04%	2.96%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	55.86%	9.94%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	30.86%	1.66%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

RCL

GSPC

Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) vs. S&P 500 (GSPC): Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

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Distribution of monthly total returns for Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) and S&P 500 (GSPC). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) metric values compared with Consumer Services industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: RCL	Industry group median
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	47.73%	42.89%
Beta (5Y)	1.82	1.05
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-65.76%	-59.81%

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

Each dot is a stock plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. RCL is highlighted; the dashed line is the Capital Allocation Line from the risk-free rate through the industry median — dots above it are stronger on a risk-adjusted basis.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) metric values compared with Consumer Services industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: RCL	Industry group median
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	0.64	-0.04
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	1.10	-0.08

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) posts ROE of 41.29%, in the upper peer quartile. That suggests the company earns more from each dollar of shareholders’ equity than most industry peers, a useful capital-efficiency signal.

RCL

Consumer Services industry group

41.29%

Group distribution

Max: 76.75%
RCL: 41.29%
Q3: 34.07%
Median: 15.90%
Q1: 3.23%
Min: -40.61%

Largest peers

RCL: 41.29%
ABNB: 35.79%
MCD: --
SBUX: --
BKNG: --
MAR: --
HLT: --

Where Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) stands on ROE within its Consumer Services peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Net Margin (TTM)

Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) keeps 23.79% of revenue as net profit, putting net margin in the upper peer quartile. After operating costs, interest, and taxes, more of each sales dollar reaches shareholders than it does at most industry peers.

RCL

Consumer Services industry group

23.79%

Group distribution

Max: 25.52%
RCL: 23.79%
Q3: 12.95%
Median: 6.63%
Q1: 1.46%
Min: -14.36%

Largest peers

MAR: 35.00%
HLT: 32.83%
MCD: 32.38%
BKNG: 25.52%
RCL: 23.79%
ABNB: 23.02%
SBUX: 6.67%

Where Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) stands on net margin within its Consumer Services peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) turns 33.61% of revenue into operating profit, putting operating margin in the upper peer quartile. Before financing and taxes enter the picture, the day-to-day business keeps more of each sales dollar than most industry peers.

RCL

Consumer Services industry group

33.61%

Group distribution

Max: 49.05%
RCL: 33.61%
Q3: 24.35%
Median: 14.23%
Q1: 5.67%
Min: -16.47%

Largest peers

HLT: 66.79%
MAR: 66.18%
MCD: 48.29%
ABNB: 41.51%
BKNG: 38.69%
RCL: 33.61%
SBUX: 12.76%

Where Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) stands on operating margin within its Consumer Services peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Profitability Metrics

Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) metric values compared with Consumer Services industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: RCL	Industry group median
ROE (TTM)	41.29%	15.90%
ROA (TTM)	7.78%	5.29%
Net Margin (TTM)	23.79%	6.63%
Operating Margin (TTM)	33.61%	14.23%
Gross Margin (TTM)	50.25%	44.51%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) grew revenue 8.79%, roughly around the peer group's normal range. Top-line momentum looks broadly typical for the industry.

Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL): Revenue Growth across different time periods, set against Consumer Services industry-group medians.

EPS Growth

Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) grew earnings per share 41.91%, roughly around the peer group's normal range. Bottom-line momentum looks broadly typical for the industry.

Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL): EPS Growth across different time periods, set against Consumer Services industry-group medians.

Growth Metrics

Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) metric values compared with Consumer Services industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: RCL	Industry group median
Revenue Growth (YoY)	8.79%	6.55%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	26.59%	10.51%
EPS Growth (YoY)	41.91%	10.50%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	--	14.33%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) has current ratio of 0.22, in the tighter-liquidity quartile for its industry. The short-term cushion is thinner than most peers carry, even if the absolute comfort level still depends on the business model.

RCL

Consumer Services industry group

0.22

Group distribution

Max: 3.41
Q3: 1.85
Median: 1.06
Q1: 0.72
RCL: 0.22
Min: 0.22

Largest peers

ABNB: 1.73
BKNG: 1.12
SBUX: 0.76
HLT: 0.59
MAR: 0.53
RCL: 0.22
MCD: --

Where Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) stands on current ratio within its Consumer Services peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) has debt-to-equity ratio of 1.94, roughly in line with the peer group’s normal leverage range. Its mix of debt and equity looks typical for the industry.

RCL

Consumer Services industry group

1.94

Group distribution

Max: 6.12
Q3: 2.93
RCL: 1.94
Median: 1.29
Q1: 0.37
Min: 0.01

Largest peers

RCL: 1.94
ABNB: 0.27
MCD: --
SBUX: --
BKNG: --
MAR: --
HLT: --

Where Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) stands on debt-to-equity ratio within its Consumer Services peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Financial Strength Metrics

Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) metric values compared with Consumer Services industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: RCL	Industry group median
Current Ratio (MRQ)	0.22	1.06
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	1.94	1.29
Net Debt / EBITDA	3.12	3.12

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) has dividend yield of 1.70%, in the industry’s normal income range. It provides a meaningful dividend without the red flag of an unusually high headline yield.

RCL

Consumer Services industry group

1.70%

Group distribution

Max: 4.10%
Q3: 1.82%
RCL: 1.70%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Largest peers

MCD: 2.68%
SBUX: 2.35%
RCL: 1.70%
BKNG: 0.98%
MAR: 0.67%
HLT: 0.16%
ABNB: 0.00%

Where Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) stands on dividend yield within its Consumer Services peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) has payout ratio of 32.54%, within the industry’s typical payout band. The dividend shares profits with investors while leaving earnings coverage that looks normal for the peer group.

RCL

Consumer Services industry group

32.54%

Group distribution

Max: 89.80%
Q3: 36.83%
RCL: 32.54%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Largest peers

SBUX: 142.77%
MCD: 58.86%
RCL: 32.54%
MAR: 27.92%
BKNG: 17.84%
HLT: 8.10%
ABNB: 0.00%

Where Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) stands on payout ratio within its Consumer Services peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Dividend Metrics

Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) metric values compared with Consumer Services industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: RCL	Industry group median
Dividend Yield (TTM)	1.70%	0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	32.54%	0.00%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) trades at P/E ratio of 19.36, near the industry’s usual earnings multiple. The stock is not showing a clear peer discount or premium on trailing earnings.

RCL

Consumer Services industry group

19.36

Group distribution

Max: 71.70
Q3: 37.12
Median: 21.88
RCL: 19.36
Q1: 13.00
Min: 5.72

Largest peers

HLT: 50.81
SBUX: 47.70
MAR: 41.52
ABNB: 35.65
MCD: 21.88
RCL: 19.36
BKNG: 17.43

Where Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) stands on P/E ratio within its Consumer Services peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) trades at 4.57 on P/S ratio, in the higher sales-valuation quartile. Investors are paying up for each dollar of revenue, so stronger margins, growth, or revenue quality need to carry that price.

RCL

Consumer Services industry group

4.57

Group distribution

Max: 6.40
RCL: 4.57
Q3: 3.01
Median: 1.54
Q1: 0.74
Min: 0.08

Largest peers

HLT: 16.18
MAR: 14.15
ABNB: 8.14
MCD: 7.02
RCL: 4.57
BKNG: 4.25
SBUX: 3.17

Where Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) stands on P/S ratio within its Consumer Services peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) trades at 7.47 on P/B ratio, in the higher book-value quartile. The market is paying a premium to book, so stronger ROE, cleaner assets, or a better growth profile need to justify it.

RCL

Consumer Services industry group

7.47

Group distribution

Max: 12.02
RCL: 7.47
Q3: 5.58
Median: 2.37
Q1: 1.09
Min: -4.51

Largest peers

ABNB: 12.02
RCL: 7.47
BKNG: -11.52
HLT: -12.74
SBUX: -15.67
MAR: -21.17
MCD: -191.23

Where Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) stands on P/B ratio within its Consumer Services peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Valuation Metrics

Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) metric values compared with Consumer Services industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: RCL	Industry group median
P/E Ratio (TTM)	19.36	21.88
P/S Ratio (TTM)	4.57	1.54
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	7.47	2.37
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	-0.06%	4.54%