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HLT vs. RCL: Hilton Worldwide Hldgs Inc vs. Royal Caribbean Cruises Stock Comparison

How do Hilton Worldwide Hldgs Inc (HLT) 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

Hilton Worldwide Hldgs Inc (HLT) 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 Hilton Worldwide Hldgs Inc (HLT) and Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL)
Profile ItemHLTRCL
NameHilton Worldwide Holdings Inc.Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorConsumer DiscretionaryConsumer Discretionary
GICS Industry GroupConsumer ServicesConsumer Services
GICS IndustryHotels, Restaurants & LeisureHotels, Restaurants & Leisure
GICS Sub-IndustryHotels, Resorts & Cruise LinesHotels, Resorts & Cruise Lines
Market Capitalization83.78 billion USD87.51 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateDecember 12, 2013April 28, 1993
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

HLT
RCL
GSPC
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Hilton Worldwide Hldgs Inc (HLT) 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 Hilton Worldwide Hldgs Inc (HLT) and Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Hilton Worldwide Hldgs Inc (HLT) 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 Hilton Worldwide Hldgs Inc (HLT) and Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL)
MetricHLTRCL
Total Return (1Y)39.92%35.04%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)33.65%55.86%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)19.86%30.86%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

HLT
RCL
GSPC
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Hilton Worldwide Hldgs Inc (HLT) 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 Hilton Worldwide Hldgs Inc (HLT) 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 Hilton Worldwide Hldgs Inc (HLT) and Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL)
MetricHLTRCL
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)24.20%47.73%
Beta (5Y)1.051.82
Max Drawdown (5Y)-32.65%-65.76%
Avg. Volume (3M)1.80M2.35M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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HLT 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 Hilton Worldwide Hldgs Inc (HLT) and Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL)
MetricHLTRCL
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)1.470.64
Sortino Ratio (1Y)2.371.10

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Capital efficiency shows on one side only: Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) earns 41.29% on shareholders’ equity, ranked against its industry; Hilton Worldwide Hldgs Inc (HLT) has no ROE this period.

HLT

Consumer Services industry group

--

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

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%
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Hilton Worldwide Hldgs Inc (HLT) vs. Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL): HLT does not report ROE, so it has no value marker; RCL is benchmarked against the Consumer Services industry group.

Net Margin (TTM)

Hilton Worldwide Hldgs Inc (HLT) at 32.83% keeps the most of each sales dollar — above its industry’s net margin range — and Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) at 23.79% also retains a top-quartile share.

HLT

Consumer Services industry group

32.83%

HLT
32.83%
Max
25.52%
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%
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Hilton Worldwide Hldgs Inc (HLT) vs. Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL): A comparison of their net margin against the Consumer Services industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Hilton Worldwide Hldgs Inc (HLT) at 66.79% shows unusually strong operating efficiency — above its industry’s operating margin range — and Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) at 33.61% also operates in the top quartile.

HLT

Consumer Services industry group

66.79%

HLT
66.79%
Max
49.05%
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%
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Hilton Worldwide Hldgs Inc (HLT) vs. Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL): A comparison of their operating margin against the Consumer Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Hilton Worldwide Hldgs Inc (HLT) and Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL)
MetricHLTRCL
ROE (TTM)--41.29%
ROA (TTM)11.32%7.78%
Net Margin (TTM)32.83%23.79%
Operating Margin (TTM)66.79%33.61%
Gross Margin (TTM)79.46%50.25%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Hilton Worldwide Hldgs Inc (HLT) at 7.74% 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.

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Hilton Worldwide Hldgs Inc (HLT) vs. Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Hilton Worldwide Hldgs Inc (HLT) at -0.33% 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.

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Hilton Worldwide Hldgs Inc (HLT) vs. Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Hilton Worldwide Hldgs Inc (HLT) and Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL)
MetricHLTRCL
Revenue Growth (YoY)7.74%8.79%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)11.13%26.59%
EPS Growth (YoY)-0.33%41.91%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)10.55%--

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Hilton Worldwide Hldgs Inc (HLT) at 0.59 and Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) at 0.22 run current ratio in the tighter-liquidity quartile of industry peers, leaving thinner cushions against current liabilities than typical competitors.

HLT

Consumer Services industry group

0.59

Max
3.41
Q3
1.85
Median
1.06
Q1
0.72
HLT
0.59
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
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Hilton Worldwide Hldgs Inc (HLT) vs. Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL): A comparison of their current ratio against the Consumer Services industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Only one side’s leverage can be read here: Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) carries debt-to-equity ratio of 1.94 against its industry range, while Hilton Worldwide Hldgs Inc (HLT) reports no figure this period.

HLT

Consumer Services industry group

--

Max
6.12
Q3
2.93
Median
1.29
Q1
0.37
Min
0.01
HLT
--

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
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Hilton Worldwide Hldgs Inc (HLT) vs. Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL): HLT does not report debt-to-equity ratio, so it has no value marker; RCL is benchmarked against the Consumer Services industry group.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Hilton Worldwide Hldgs Inc (HLT) and Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL)
MetricHLTRCL
Current Ratio (MRQ)0.590.22
Debt / Equity (MRQ)--1.94
Net Debt / EBITDA4.093.12

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Hilton Worldwide Hldgs Inc (HLT) at 0.16% and Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) at 1.70% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.

HLT

Consumer Services industry group

0.16%

Max
4.10%
Q3
1.82%
HLT
0.16%
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%
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Hilton Worldwide Hldgs Inc (HLT) vs. Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Consumer Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both Hilton Worldwide Hldgs Inc (HLT) at 8.10% 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.

HLT

Consumer Services industry group

8.10%

Max
89.80%
Q3
36.83%
HLT
8.10%
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%
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Hilton Worldwide Hldgs Inc (HLT) vs. Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Consumer Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Hilton Worldwide Hldgs Inc (HLT) and Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL)
MetricHLTRCL
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.16%1.70%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)8.10%32.54%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) at 19.36 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Hilton Worldwide Hldgs Inc (HLT) at 50.81 sits in the richer quartile — HLT needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.

HLT

Consumer Services industry group

50.81

Max
71.70
HLT
50.81
Q3
37.12
Median
21.88
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
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Hilton Worldwide Hldgs Inc (HLT) vs. Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Consumer Services industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Both look expensive on sales: Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) at 4.57 sits in the upper P/S ratio quartile, and Hilton Worldwide Hldgs Inc (HLT) at 16.18 prices even higher, above its industry range.

HLT

Consumer Services industry group

16.18

HLT
16.18
Max
6.40
Q3
3.01
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
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Hilton Worldwide Hldgs Inc (HLT) vs. Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Consumer Services industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Hilton Worldwide Hldgs Inc (HLT) reports a negative P/B ratio of -12.74, meaning negative book equity — the multiple itself is not meaningful for valuation. Meanwhile Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) reports 7.47, ranking against industry peers normally.

HLT

Consumer Services industry group

-12.74

Max
12.02
Q3
5.58
Median
2.37
Q1
1.09
Min
-4.51
HLT
-12.74

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
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Hilton Worldwide Hldgs Inc (HLT) vs. Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Consumer Services industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Hilton Worldwide Hldgs Inc (HLT) and Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL)
MetricHLTRCL
P/E Ratio (TTM)50.8119.36
P/S Ratio (TTM)16.184.57
P/B Ratio (MRQ)-12.747.47
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)1.76%-0.06%