EXPE vs. RCL: Expedia vs. Royal Caribbean Cruises Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do Expedia (EXPE) and Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) 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

Expedia (EXPE) 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.

Company profile comparison for Expedia (EXPE) and Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL)
Profile Item	EXPE	RCL
Name	Expedia Group Inc.	Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.
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	30.74 billion USD	87.51 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	Nasdaq	NYSE
Listing Date	July 21, 2005	April 28, 1993
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

EXPE

RCL

GSPC

Expedia (EXPE) vs. Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL), 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 Expedia (EXPE) and Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Expedia (EXPE) and Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Expedia (EXPE) and Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL)
Metric	EXPE	RCL
Total Return (1Y)	0.42%	35.04%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	31.92%	55.86%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	6.78%	30.86%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

EXPE

RCL

GSPC

Expedia (EXPE) vs. Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL), 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 Expedia (EXPE) and Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Expedia (EXPE) and Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL)
Metric	EXPE	RCL
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	51.50%	47.73%
Beta (5Y)	1.41	1.82
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-60.86%	-65.76%
Avg. Volume (3M)	1.89M	2.35M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

EXPE and RCL 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 Expedia (EXPE) and Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL)
Metric	EXPE	RCL
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	-0.07	0.64
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	-0.10	1.10

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both Expedia (EXPE) at 76.75% and Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) at 41.29% sit in the top peer quartile for ROE, suggesting each generates more profit from shareholders’ equity than typical industry peers.

EXPE

Consumer Services industry group

76.75%

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

RCL

Consumer Services industry group

41.29%

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

Expedia (EXPE) vs. Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL): A comparison of their ROE against the Consumer Services industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

For every dollar of sales, both Expedia (EXPE) at 12.99% and Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) at 23.79% retain more as net profit than most peers, landing in the top net margin quartile of their industries.

EXPE

Consumer Services industry group

12.99%

Max: 25.52%
EXPE: 12.99%
Q3: 12.95%
Median: 6.63%
Q1: 1.46%
Min: -14.36%

RCL

Consumer Services industry group

23.79%

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

Expedia (EXPE) vs. Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL): A comparison of their net margin against the Consumer Services industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Expedia (EXPE) at 27.83% and Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) at 33.61% convert sales into operating profit at a top-quartile rate, pointing to tighter cost discipline before financing and tax.

EXPE

Consumer Services industry group

27.83%

Max: 49.05%
EXPE: 27.83%
Q3: 24.35%
Median: 14.23%
Q1: 5.67%
Min: -16.47%

RCL

Consumer Services industry group

33.61%

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

Expedia (EXPE) vs. Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL): A comparison of their operating margin against the Consumer Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Expedia (EXPE) and Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL)
Metric	EXPE	RCL
ROE (TTM)	76.75%	41.29%
ROA (TTM)	7.18%	7.78%
Net Margin (TTM)	12.99%	23.79%
Operating Margin (TTM)	27.83%	33.61%
Gross Margin (TTM)	90.48%	50.25%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Expedia (EXPE) at 7.61% and Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) at 8.79% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

Expedia (EXPE) vs. Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Expedia (EXPE) at 9.61% and Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) at 41.91% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

Expedia (EXPE) vs. Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Expedia (EXPE) and Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL)
Metric	EXPE	RCL
Revenue Growth (YoY)	7.61%	8.79%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	8.09%	26.59%
EPS Growth (YoY)	9.61%	41.91%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	65.35%	--

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Expedia (EXPE) at 0.77 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) at 0.22 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for RCL.

EXPE

Consumer Services industry group

0.77

Max: 3.41
Q3: 1.85
Median: 1.06
EXPE: 0.77
Q1: 0.72
Min: 0.22

RCL

Consumer Services industry group

0.22

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

Expedia (EXPE) vs. Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL): A comparison of their current ratio against the Consumer Services industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Expedia (EXPE) at 1.95 and Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) at 1.94 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.

EXPE

Consumer Services industry group

1.95

Max: 6.12
Q3: 2.93
EXPE: 1.95
Median: 1.29
Q1: 0.37
Min: 0.01

RCL

Consumer Services industry group

1.94

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

Expedia (EXPE) vs. Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Consumer Services industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Expedia (EXPE) and Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL)
Metric	EXPE	RCL
Current Ratio (MRQ)	0.77	0.22
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	1.95	1.94
Net Debt / EBITDA	0.04	3.12

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Expedia (EXPE) at 0.68% and Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) at 1.70% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.

EXPE

Consumer Services industry group

0.68%

Max: 4.10%
Q3: 1.82%
EXPE: 0.68%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

RCL

Consumer Services industry group

1.70%

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

Expedia (EXPE) vs. Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Consumer Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both Expedia (EXPE) at 10.79% and Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) at 32.54% keep payout ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges — dividend policies that share earnings without consuming too much of them.

EXPE

Consumer Services industry group

10.79%

Max: 89.80%
Q3: 36.83%
EXPE: 10.79%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

RCL

Consumer Services industry group

32.54%

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

Expedia (EXPE) vs. Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Consumer Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Expedia (EXPE) and Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL)
Metric	EXPE	RCL
Dividend Yield (TTM)	0.68%	1.70%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	10.79%	32.54%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Expedia (EXPE) at 15.20 and Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) at 19.36 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.

EXPE

Consumer Services industry group

15.20

Max: 71.70
Q3: 37.12
Median: 21.88
EXPE: 15.20
Q1: 13.00
Min: 5.72

RCL

Consumer Services industry group

19.36

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

Expedia (EXPE) vs. Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Consumer Services industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Expedia (EXPE) at 1.89 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) at 4.57 sits in the pricier quartile — RCL costs more per dollar of sales.

EXPE

Consumer Services industry group

1.89

Max: 6.40
Q3: 3.01
EXPE: 1.89
Median: 1.54
Q1: 0.74
Min: 0.08

RCL

Consumer Services industry group

4.57

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

Expedia (EXPE) vs. Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Consumer Services industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Both look rich against book: Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) at 7.47 sits in the upper P/B ratio quartile, and Expedia (EXPE) at 18.62 prices even higher, above its industry range.

EXPE

Consumer Services industry group

18.62

EXPE: 18.62
Max: 12.02
Q3: 5.58
Median: 2.37
Q1: 1.09
Min: -4.51

RCL

Consumer Services industry group

7.47

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

Expedia (EXPE) vs. Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Consumer Services industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Expedia (EXPE) and Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL)
Metric	EXPE	RCL
P/E Ratio (TTM)	15.20	19.36
P/S Ratio (TTM)	1.89	4.57
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	18.62	7.47
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	7.63%	-0.06%