CCL vs. DRI: Carnival vs. Darden Restaurants Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do Carnival (CCL) and Darden Restaurants (DRI) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.

Company Profile

Carnival (CCL) and Darden Restaurants (DRI) both belong to the Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure industry, though CCL is classified under Hotels, Resorts & Cruise Lines while DRI falls under Restaurants.

Company profile comparison for Carnival (CCL) and Darden Restaurants (DRI)
Profile Item	CCL	DRI
Name	Carnival Corporation Ltd.	Darden Restaurants, Inc.
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	Restaurants
Market Capitalization	39.77 billion USD	25.61 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
Listing Date	July 24, 1987	May 9, 1995
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

CCL

DRI

GSPC

Carnival (CCL) vs. Darden Restaurants (DRI), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: 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 Carnival (CCL) and Darden Restaurants (DRI). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Carnival (CCL) and Darden Restaurants (DRI). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Carnival (CCL) and Darden Restaurants (DRI)
Metric	CCL	DRI
Total Return (1Y)	17.32%	33.36%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	36.57%	19.59%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	5.35%	11.78%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

CCL

DRI

GSPC

Carnival (CCL) vs. Darden Restaurants (DRI), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: 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 Carnival (CCL) and Darden Restaurants (DRI). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Carnival (CCL) has a highly aggressive beta of 2.42, indicating much higher sensitivity to broad-market moves, while Darden Restaurants (DRI) is defensive at 0.63 and tends to be less market-sensitive — a wide gap in beta profiles.

Risk profile metrics for Carnival (CCL) and Darden Restaurants (DRI)
Metric	CCL	DRI
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	49.89%	27.88%
Beta (5Y)	2.42	0.63
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-73.60%	-26.96%
Avg. Volume (3M)	21.48M	1.09M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

CCL and DRI are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for Carnival (CCL) and Darden Restaurants (DRI)
Metric	CCL	DRI
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	0.26	1.04
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	0.43	1.57

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Darden Restaurants (DRI) at 55.43% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Carnival (CCL) at 24.00% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for DRI.

CCL

Consumer Services industry group

24.00%

Max: 76.75%
Q3: 34.07%
CCL: 24.00%
Median: 15.90%
Q1: 3.23%
Min: -40.61%

DRI

Consumer Services industry group

55.43%

Max: 76.75%
DRI: 55.43%
Q3: 34.07%
Median: 15.90%
Q1: 3.23%
Min: -40.61%

Carnival (CCL) vs. Darden Restaurants (DRI): A comparison of their ROE against the Consumer Services industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both Carnival (CCL) at 11.37% and Darden Restaurants (DRI) at 8.85% keep about the typical share of revenue as profit for their industries — neither bottom line stands out from peers.

CCL

Consumer Services industry group

11.37%

Max: 25.52%
Q3: 12.95%
CCL: 11.37%
Median: 6.63%
Q1: 1.46%
Min: -14.36%

DRI

Consumer Services industry group

8.85%

Max: 25.52%
Q3: 12.95%
DRI: 8.85%
Median: 6.63%
Q1: 1.46%
Min: -14.36%

Carnival (CCL) vs. Darden Restaurants (DRI): A comparison of their net margin against the Consumer Services industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Carnival (CCL) at 26.43% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of Darden Restaurants (DRI) at 9.86%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

CCL

Consumer Services industry group

26.43%

Max: 49.05%
CCL: 26.43%
Q3: 24.35%
Median: 14.23%
Q1: 5.67%
Min: -16.47%

DRI

Consumer Services industry group

9.86%

Max: 49.05%
Q3: 24.35%
Median: 14.23%
DRI: 9.86%
Q1: 5.67%
Min: -16.47%

Carnival (CCL) vs. Darden Restaurants (DRI): A comparison of their operating margin against the Consumer Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Carnival (CCL) and Darden Restaurants (DRI)
Metric	CCL	DRI
ROE (TTM)	24.00%	55.43%
ROA (TTM)	5.40%	7.65%
Net Margin (TTM)	11.37%	8.85%
Operating Margin (TTM)	26.43%	9.86%
Gross Margin (TTM)	55.38%	21.66%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Carnival (CCL) at 6.39% and Darden Restaurants (DRI) at 9.39% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

Carnival (CCL) vs. Darden Restaurants (DRI): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Carnival (CCL) at 40.28% and Darden Restaurants (DRI) at 17.16% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

Carnival (CCL) vs. Darden Restaurants (DRI): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Carnival (CCL) and Darden Restaurants (DRI)
Metric	CCL	DRI
Revenue Growth (YoY)	6.39%	9.39%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	29.81%	8.00%
EPS Growth (YoY)	40.28%	17.16%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	--	9.11%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Carnival (CCL) at 0.27 and Darden Restaurants (DRI) at 0.30 run current ratio in the tighter-liquidity quartile of industry peers, leaving thinner cushions against current liabilities than typical competitors.

CCL

Consumer Services industry group

0.27

Max: 3.41
Q3: 1.85
Median: 1.06
Q1: 0.72
CCL: 0.27
Min: 0.22

DRI

Consumer Services industry group

0.30

Max: 3.41
Q3: 1.85
Median: 1.06
Q1: 0.72
DRI: 0.30
Min: 0.22

Carnival (CCL) vs. Darden Restaurants (DRI): A comparison of their current ratio against the Consumer Services industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Carnival (CCL) at 1.77 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while Darden Restaurants (DRI) at 4.15 uses more debt funding than most peers.

CCL

Consumer Services industry group

1.77

Max: 6.12
Q3: 2.93
CCL: 1.77
Median: 1.29
Q1: 0.37
Min: 0.01

DRI

Consumer Services industry group

4.15

Max: 6.12
DRI: 4.15
Q3: 2.93
Median: 1.29
Q1: 0.37
Min: 0.01

Carnival (CCL) vs. Darden Restaurants (DRI): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Consumer Services industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Carnival (CCL) and Darden Restaurants (DRI)
Metric	CCL	DRI
Current Ratio (MRQ)	0.27	0.30
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	1.77	4.15
Net Debt / EBITDA	3.28	3.91

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Darden Restaurants (DRI) at 2.68% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Carnival (CCL) at 1.53% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, DRI the richer one.

CCL

Consumer Services industry group

1.53%

Max: 4.10%
Q3: 1.82%
CCL: 1.53%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

DRI

Consumer Services industry group

2.68%

Max: 4.10%
DRI: 2.68%
Q3: 1.82%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Carnival (CCL) vs. Darden Restaurants (DRI): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Consumer Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Carnival (CCL) at 19.82% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while Darden Restaurants (DRI) at 59.42% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.

CCL

Consumer Services industry group

19.82%

Max: 89.80%
Q3: 36.83%
CCL: 19.82%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

DRI

Consumer Services industry group

59.42%

Max: 89.80%
DRI: 59.42%
Q3: 36.83%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Carnival (CCL) vs. Darden Restaurants (DRI): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Consumer Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Carnival (CCL) and Darden Restaurants (DRI)
Metric	CCL	DRI
Dividend Yield (TTM)	1.53%	2.68%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	19.82%	59.42%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Carnival (CCL) at 13.03 and Darden Restaurants (DRI) at 21.98 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.

CCL

Consumer Services industry group

13.03

Max: 71.70
Q3: 37.12
Median: 21.88
CCL: 13.03
Q1: 13.00
Min: 5.72

DRI

Consumer Services industry group

21.98

Max: 71.70
Q3: 37.12
DRI: 21.98
Median: 21.88
Q1: 13.00
Min: 5.72

Carnival (CCL) vs. Darden Restaurants (DRI): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Consumer Services industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

On P/S ratio, both Carnival (CCL) at 1.44 and Darden Restaurants (DRI) at 1.92 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.

CCL

Consumer Services industry group

1.44

Max: 6.40
Q3: 3.01
Median: 1.54
CCL: 1.44
Q1: 0.74
Min: 0.08

DRI

Consumer Services industry group

1.92

Max: 6.40
Q3: 3.01
DRI: 1.92
Median: 1.54
Q1: 0.74
Min: 0.08

Carnival (CCL) vs. Darden Restaurants (DRI): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Consumer Services industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Carnival (CCL) at 2.82 sits near its industry’s typical P/B ratio, while Darden Restaurants (DRI) at 12.40 prices above its benchmark range — DRI looks rich relative to book.

CCL

Consumer Services industry group

2.82

Max: 12.02
Q3: 5.58
CCL: 2.82
Median: 2.37
Q1: 1.09
Min: -4.51

DRI

Consumer Services industry group

12.40

DRI: 12.40
Max: 12.02
Q3: 5.58
Median: 2.37
Q1: 1.09
Min: -4.51

Carnival (CCL) vs. Darden Restaurants (DRI): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Consumer Services industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Carnival (CCL) and Darden Restaurants (DRI)
Metric	CCL	DRI
P/E Ratio (TTM)	13.03	21.98
P/S Ratio (TTM)	1.44	1.92
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	2.82	12.40
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	4.54%	3.10%