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

June 13, 2026

This page compares Hilton Worldwide (HLT) with Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) using performance and risk, profitability, financial strength, growth, dividends, and valuation metrics.

Performance

Cumulative Growth

HLT

RCL

Hilton Worldwide (HLT) vs. Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL): 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 (HLT) and Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL). Returns over one year are annualized.

Performance at a Glance

Performance metrics for Hilton Worldwide (HLT) and Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL)
Metric	HLT	RCL
1-Year Return	38.36%	12.68%

Risk

Drawdown

HLT

RCL

Hilton Worldwide (HLT) vs. Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL): 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

Risk metrics for Hilton Worldwide (HLT) and Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL)
Metric	HLT	RCL
1-Year Volatility	23.17%	46.59%
Beta	1.04	1.77
3-Month Avg. Volume	1.62M	2.70M

Company Profile

Hilton Worldwide (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 (HLT) and Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL)
Profile Item	HLT	RCL
Name	Hilton Worldwide 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	78.75 billion USD	78.95 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
Listing Date	December 12, 2013	April 28, 1993
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Valuation

Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)

Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) at 17.95 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Hilton Worldwide (HLT) at 52.74 sits in the richer quartile — HLT needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.

HLT

Consumer Services industry group

52.74

Max: 71.36
HLT: 52.74
Q3: 40.24
Median: 22.08
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

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

Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)

Both look expensive on sales: Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) at 4.29 sits in the upper P/S ratio quartile, and Hilton Worldwide (HLT) at 15.53 prices even higher, above its industry range.

HLT

Consumer Services industry group

15.53

HLT: 15.53
Max: 6.59
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

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

Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)

Hilton Worldwide (HLT) reports a negative P/B ratio of -13.38, 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.

HLT

Consumer Services industry group

-13.38

Max: 13.42
Q3: 6.34
Median: 2.54
Q1: 1.07
Min: -5.84
HLT: -13.38

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

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

Valuation at a Glance

Valuation metrics for Hilton Worldwide (HLT) and Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL)
Metric	HLT	RCL
Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)	52.74	17.95
Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)	15.53	4.29
Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)	-13.38	8.05
Free Cash Flow Yield	2.14%	-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; Hilton Worldwide (HLT) has no ROE this period.

HLT

Consumer Services industry group

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

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%

Hilton Worldwide (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 Profit Margin (TTM)

Hilton Worldwide (HLT) at 30.41% keeps the most of each sales dollar — above its industry’s net margin range — and Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) at 24.36% also retains a top-quartile share.

HLT

Consumer Services industry group

30.41%

HLT: 30.41%
Max: 24.47%
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%

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

Operating Profit Margin (TTM)

Hilton Worldwide (HLT) at 57.36% shows unusually strong operating efficiency — above its industry’s operating margin range — and Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) at 26.17% also operates in the top quartile.

HLT

Consumer Services industry group

57.36%

HLT: 57.36%
Max: 44.25%
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%

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

Profitability at a Glance

Profitability metrics for Hilton Worldwide (HLT) and Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL)
Metric	HLT	RCL
Return on Equity (TTM)	--	49.58%
Return on Assets (TTM)	10.86%	8.08%
Net Profit Margin (TTM)	30.41%	24.36%
Operating Profit Margin (TTM)	57.36%	26.17%
Gross Profit Margin (TTM)	78.51%	50.91%

Growth

Revenue Growth

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

Revenue Growth at a Glance

Revenue growth metrics for Hilton Worldwide (HLT) and Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL)
Metric	HLT	RCL
1-Year Revenue Growth	7.74%	8.79%
3-Year Revenue CAGR	11.13%	26.59%

EPS Growth

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

EPS Growth at a Glance

EPS growth metrics for Hilton Worldwide (HLT) and Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL)
Metric	HLT	RCL
1-Year EPS Growth	-0.33%	41.91%
3-Year EPS CAGR	10.55%	--

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Hilton Worldwide (HLT) at 0.61 and Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) at 0.20 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

0.61

Max: 3.05
Q3: 1.72
Median: 0.99
Q1: 0.69
HLT: 0.61
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

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

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 Hilton Worldwide (HLT) reports no figure this period.

HLT

Consumer Services industry group

Max: 7.23
Q3: 3.20
Median: 1.27
Q1: 0.35
Min: 0.01
HLT: --

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

Hilton Worldwide (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 at a Glance

Financial strength metrics for Hilton Worldwide (HLT) and Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL)
Metric	HLT	RCL
Current Ratio (MRQ)	0.61	0.20
Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)	--	2.17
Net Debt / EBITDA	4.16	3.08

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Hilton Worldwide (HLT) at 0.17% 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

0.17%

Max: 4.72%
Q3: 1.94%
HLT: 0.17%
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%

Hilton Worldwide (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 (HLT) at 9.16% 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.

HLT

Consumer Services industry group

9.16%

Max: 86.96%
Q3: 34.83%
HLT: 9.16%
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%

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

Dividends at a Glance

Dividend metrics for Hilton Worldwide (HLT) and Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL)
Metric	HLT	RCL
Dividend Yield (TTM)	0.17%	1.70%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	9.16%	25.93%