BKNG vs. RCL: Booking vs. Royal Caribbean Cruises Stock Comparison
This page compares Booking (BKNG) with Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) using performance and risk, profitability, financial strength, growth, dividends, and valuation metrics.
Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Performance at a Glance
| Metric | BKNG | RCL |
|---|---|---|
| 1-Year Return | -23.87% | 12.68% |
Risk
Drawdown
Risk at a Glance
| Metric | BKNG | RCL |
|---|---|---|
| 1-Year Volatility | 32.01% | 46.59% |
| Beta | 1.09 | 1.77 |
| 3-Month Avg. Volume | 7.48M | 2.70M |
Company Profile
Booking (BKNG) and Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) are both classified in the Hotels, Resorts & Cruise Lines sub-industry within the broader Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.
| Profile Item | BKNG | RCL |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Booking Holdings Inc. | Royal Caribbean Group |
| Country/Region | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Consumer Discretionary | Consumer Discretionary |
| GICS Industry Group | Consumer Services | Consumer Services |
| GICS Industry | Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure | Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Hotels, Resorts & Cruise Lines | Hotels, Resorts & Cruise Lines |
| Market Capitalization | 127.81 billion USD | 78.95 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | Nasdaq | NYSE |
| Listing Date | March 31, 1999 | April 28, 1993 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Valuation
Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)
Both Booking (BKNG) at 21.73 and Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) at 17.95 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.
BKNG
Consumer Services industry group
21.73
- Max
- 71.36
- Q3
- 40.24
- Median
- 22.08
- BKNG
- 21.73
- Q1
- 17.04
- Min
- 3.87
RCL
Consumer Services industry group
17.95
- Max
- 71.36
- Q3
- 40.24
- Median
- 22.08
- RCL
- 17.95
- Q1
- 17.04
- Min
- 3.87
Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)
Both Booking (BKNG) at 4.62 and Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) at 4.29 command a richer price per dollar of sales than most peers, sitting in the upper P/S ratio quartile of their industries.
BKNG
Consumer Services industry group
4.62
- Max
- 6.59
- BKNG
- 4.62
- Q3
- 3.16
- Median
- 1.68
- Q1
- 0.87
- Min
- 0.06
RCL
Consumer Services industry group
4.29
- Max
- 6.59
- RCL
- 4.29
- Q3
- 3.16
- Median
- 1.68
- Q1
- 0.87
- Min
- 0.06
Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)
Booking (BKNG) reports a negative P/B ratio of -14.75, meaning negative book equity — the multiple itself is not meaningful for valuation. Meanwhile Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) reports 8.05, ranking against industry peers normally.
BKNG
Consumer Services industry group
-14.75
- Max
- 13.42
- Q3
- 6.34
- Median
- 2.54
- Q1
- 1.07
- Min
- -5.84
- BKNG
- -14.75
RCL
Consumer Services industry group
8.05
- Max
- 13.42
- RCL
- 8.05
- Q3
- 6.34
- Median
- 2.54
- Q1
- 1.07
- Min
- -5.84
Valuation at a Glance
| Metric | BKNG | RCL |
|---|---|---|
| Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM) | 21.73 | 17.95 |
| Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) | 4.62 | 4.29 |
| Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ) | -14.75 | 8.05 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield | 5.54% | -0.25% |
Profitability
Return on Equity (TTM)
Capital efficiency shows on one side only: Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) earns 49.58% on shareholders’ equity, ranked against its industry; Booking (BKNG) has no ROE this period.
BKNG
Consumer Services industry group
--
- Max
- 52.89%
- Q3
- 29.07%
- Median
- 12.44%
- Q1
- 3.56%
- Min
- -26.11%
- BKNG
- --
RCL
Consumer Services industry group
49.58%
- Max
- 52.89%
- RCL
- 49.58%
- Q3
- 29.07%
- Median
- 12.44%
- Q1
- 3.56%
- Min
- -26.11%
Net Profit Margin (TTM)
For every dollar of sales, both Booking (BKNG) at 22.23% and Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) at 24.36% retain more as net profit than most peers, landing in the top net margin quartile of their industries.
BKNG
Consumer Services industry group
22.23%
- Max
- 24.47%
- BKNG
- 22.23%
- Q3
- 12.35%
- Median
- 6.13%
- Q1
- 1.16%
- Min
- -15.48%
RCL
Consumer Services industry group
24.36%
- Max
- 24.47%
- RCL
- 24.36%
- Q3
- 12.35%
- Median
- 6.13%
- Q1
- 1.16%
- Min
- -15.48%
Operating Profit Margin (TTM)
Both Booking (BKNG) at 25.04% and Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) at 26.17% convert sales into operating profit at a top-quartile rate, pointing to tighter cost discipline before financing and tax.
BKNG
Consumer Services industry group
25.04%
- Max
- 44.25%
- BKNG
- 25.04%
- Q3
- 20.10%
- Median
- 11.37%
- Q1
- 3.21%
- Min
- -20.31%
RCL
Consumer Services industry group
26.17%
- Max
- 44.25%
- RCL
- 26.17%
- Q3
- 20.10%
- Median
- 11.37%
- Q1
- 3.21%
- Min
- -20.31%
Profitability at a Glance
| Metric | BKNG | RCL |
|---|---|---|
| Return on Equity (TTM) | -- | 49.58% |
| Return on Assets (TTM) | 22.26% | 8.08% |
| Net Profit Margin (TTM) | 22.23% | 24.36% |
| Operating Profit Margin (TTM) | 25.04% | 26.17% |
| Gross Profit Margin (TTM) | 86.99% | 50.91% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Revenue Growth at a Glance
| Metric | BKNG | RCL |
|---|---|---|
| 1-Year Revenue Growth | 13.39% | 8.79% |
| 3-Year Revenue CAGR | 16.35% | 26.59% |
EPS Growth
EPS Growth at a Glance
| Metric | BKNG | RCL |
|---|---|---|
| 1-Year EPS Growth | -4.12% | 41.91% |
| 3-Year EPS CAGR | 29.44% | -- |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Booking (BKNG) at 1.06 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) at 0.20 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for RCL.
BKNG
Consumer Services industry group
1.06
- Max
- 3.05
- Q3
- 1.72
- BKNG
- 1.06
- Median
- 0.99
- Q1
- 0.69
- Min
- 0.20
RCL
Consumer Services industry group
0.20
- Max
- 3.05
- Q3
- 1.72
- Median
- 0.99
- Q1
- 0.69
- RCL
- 0.20
- Min
- 0.20
Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)
Only one side’s leverage can be read here: Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) carries debt-to-equity ratio of 2.17 against its industry range, while Booking (BKNG) reports no figure this period.
BKNG
Consumer Services industry group
--
- Max
- 7.23
- Q3
- 3.20
- Median
- 1.27
- Q1
- 0.35
- Min
- 0.01
- BKNG
- --
RCL
Consumer Services industry group
2.17
- Max
- 7.23
- Q3
- 3.20
- RCL
- 2.17
- Median
- 1.27
- Q1
- 0.35
- Min
- 0.01
Financial Strength at a Glance
| Metric | BKNG | RCL |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.06 | 0.20 |
| Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ) | -- | 2.17 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 0.30 | 3.08 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Both Booking (BKNG) at 0.97% and Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) at 1.70% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.
BKNG
Consumer Services industry group
0.97%
- Max
- 4.72%
- Q3
- 1.94%
- BKNG
- 0.97%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
RCL
Consumer Services industry group
1.70%
- Max
- 4.72%
- Q3
- 1.94%
- RCL
- 1.70%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Both Booking (BKNG) at 20.73% and Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) at 25.93% keep payout ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges — dividend policies that share earnings without consuming too much of them.
BKNG
Consumer Services industry group
20.73%
- Max
- 86.96%
- Q3
- 34.83%
- BKNG
- 20.73%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
RCL
Consumer Services industry group
25.93%
- Max
- 86.96%
- Q3
- 34.83%
- RCL
- 25.93%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividends at a Glance
| Metric | BKNG | RCL |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.97% | 1.70% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 20.73% | 25.93% |