Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) Stock Analysis

June 13, 2026

Here is a fundamental analysis of Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL), benchmarking its profitability, financial strength, dividend and valuation against its industry group peers.

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.

Performance at a Glance

Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) metric values compared with Consumer Services industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: RCL	Industry group median
1-Year Return	12.68%	1.05%

Risk

Drawdown

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.

Risk at a Glance

Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) metric values compared with Consumer Services industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: RCL	Industry group median
1-Year Volatility	46.59%	44.02%
Beta	1.77	1.03

Company Profile

Company profile fields for Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL)
Profile Item	RCL
Name	Royal Caribbean Group
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	78.95 billion USD
Currency	USD
Exchange	NYSE
Listing Date	April 28, 1993
Security Type	Common Stock

Valuation

Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)

Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) trades at P/E ratio of 17.95, 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

17.95

Group distribution

Max: 71.36
Q3: 40.24
Median: 22.08
RCL: 17.95
Q1: 17.04
Min: 3.87

Largest peers

SBUX: 78.66
HLT: 52.74
MAR: 42.19
ABNB: 32.66
MCD: 23.48
BKNG: 21.73
RCL: 17.95

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.

Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)

Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) trades at 4.29 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

4.29

Group distribution

Max: 6.59
RCL: 4.29
Q3: 3.16
Median: 1.68
Q1: 0.87
Min: 0.06

Largest peers

HLT: 15.53
MAR: 14.78
MCD: 7.37
ABNB: 6.21
BKNG: 4.62
RCL: 4.29
SBUX: 3.05

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.

Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)

Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) trades at 8.05 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

8.05

Group distribution

Max: 13.42
RCL: 8.05
Q3: 6.34
Median: 2.54
Q1: 1.07
Min: -5.84

Largest peers

ABNB: 10.31
RCL: 8.05
HLT: -13.38
SBUX: -13.87
BKNG: -14.75
MAR: -26.04
MCD: -157.35

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 at a Glance

Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) metric values compared with Consumer Services industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: RCL	Industry group median
Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)	17.95	22.08
Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)	4.29	1.68
Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)	8.05	2.54
Free Cash Flow Yield	-0.25%	4.08%

Profitability

Return on Equity (TTM)

Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) posts ROE of 49.58%, 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

49.58%

Group distribution

Max: 52.89%
RCL: 49.58%
Q3: 29.07%
Median: 12.44%
Q1: 3.56%
Min: -26.11%

Largest peers

RCL: 49.58%
ABNB: 32.33%
MCD: --
BKNG: --
SBUX: --
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 Profit Margin (TTM)

Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) keeps 24.36% 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

24.36%

Group distribution

Max: 24.47%
RCL: 24.36%
Q3: 12.35%
Median: 6.13%
Q1: 1.16%
Min: -15.48%

Largest peers

MAR: 35.97%
MCD: 31.62%
HLT: 30.41%
RCL: 24.36%
BKNG: 22.23%
ABNB: 19.90%
SBUX: 3.89%

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 Profit Margin (TTM)

Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) turns 26.17% 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

26.17%

Group distribution

Max: 44.25%
RCL: 26.17%
Q3: 20.10%
Median: 11.37%
Q1: 3.21%
Min: -20.31%

Largest peers

MAR: 59.01%
HLT: 57.36%
MCD: 44.25%
RCL: 26.17%
BKNG: 25.04%
SBUX: 8.42%
ABNB: 3.21%

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 at a Glance

Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) metric values compared with Consumer Services industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: RCL	Industry group median
Return on Equity (TTM)	49.58%	12.44%
Return on Assets (TTM)	8.08%	5.05%
Net Profit Margin (TTM)	24.36%	6.13%
Operating Profit Margin (TTM)	26.17%	11.37%
Gross Profit Margin (TTM)	50.91%	44.16%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) has current ratio of 0.20, 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

0.20

Group distribution

Max: 3.05
Q3: 1.72
Median: 0.99
Q1: 0.69
RCL: 0.20
Min: 0.20

Largest peers

ABNB: 1.44
MCD: 1.14
BKNG: 1.06
SBUX: 0.92
HLT: 0.61
MAR: 0.46
RCL: 0.20

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-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)

Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) has debt-to-equity ratio of 2.17, 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

2.17

Group distribution

Max: 7.23
Q3: 3.20
RCL: 2.17
Median: 1.27
Q1: 0.35
Min: 0.01

Largest peers

RCL: 2.17
ABNB: 0.33
MCD: --
BKNG: --
SBUX: --
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 at a Glance

Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) metric values compared with Consumer Services industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: RCL	Industry group median
Current Ratio (MRQ)	0.20	0.99
Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)	2.17	1.27
Net Debt / EBITDA	3.08	3.48

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: 4.72%
Q3: 1.94%
RCL: 1.70%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Largest peers

MCD: 2.61%
SBUX: 2.41%
RCL: 1.70%
BKNG: 0.97%
MAR: 0.73%
HLT: 0.17%
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 25.93%, 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

25.93%

Group distribution

Max: 86.96%
Q3: 34.83%
RCL: 25.93%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Largest peers

SBUX: 187.79%
MCD: 59.85%
MAR: 28.06%
RCL: 25.93%
BKNG: 20.73%
HLT: 9.16%
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.

Dividends at a Glance

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)	25.93%	0.00%