MAR vs. RCL: Marriott vs. Royal Caribbean Cruises Stock Comparison

September 7, 2026

How do Marriott (MAR) 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

Marriott (MAR) 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 Marriott (MAR) and Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL)
Profile Item	MAR	RCL
Name	Marriott International, Inc. Class A Common Stock	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	87.75 billion USD	70.93 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	Nasdaq	NYSE
Listing Date	March 23, 1998	April 28, 1993
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

MAR

RCL

GSPC

Marriott (MAR) 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 Marriott (MAR) and Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Marriott (MAR) 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 Marriott (MAR) and Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL)
Metric	MAR	RCL
Total Return (1Y)	26.21%	-25.09%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	18.91%	40.80%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	21.42%	27.98%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

MAR

RCL

GSPC

Marriott (MAR) 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 Marriott (MAR) 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 Marriott (MAR) and Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL)
Metric	MAR	RCL
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	27.35%	46.83%
Beta (5Y)	1.18	1.82
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-30.50%	-67.64%
Avg. Volume (3M)	1.59M	2.21M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

MAR 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 Marriott (MAR) and Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL)
Metric	MAR	RCL
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	0.81	-0.62
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	1.28	-0.97

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Capital efficiency shows on one side only: Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) earns 44.67% on shareholders’ equity, ranked against its industry; Marriott (MAR) has no ROE this period.

MAR

Consumer Services industry group

Max: 59.09%
Q3: 31.70%
Median: 14.44%
Q1: 2.11%
Min: -37.58%
MAR: --

RCL

Consumer Services industry group

44.67%

Max: 59.09%
RCL: 44.67%
Q3: 31.70%
Median: 14.44%
Q1: 2.11%
Min: -37.58%

Marriott (MAR) vs. Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL): MAR does not report ROE, so it has no value marker; RCL is benchmarked against the Consumer Services industry group.

Net Margin (TTM)

Marriott (MAR) at 35.03% keeps the most of each sales dollar — above its industry’s net margin range — and Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) at 23.54% also retains a top-quartile share.

MAR

Consumer Services industry group

35.03%

MAR: 35.03%
Max: 28.43%
Q3: 13.02%
Median: 5.92%
Q1: 1.17%
Min: -15.39%

RCL

Consumer Services industry group

23.54%

Max: 28.43%
RCL: 23.54%
Q3: 13.02%
Median: 5.92%
Q1: 1.17%
Min: -15.39%

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

Operating Margin (TTM)

Marriott (MAR) at 65.28% shows unusually strong operating efficiency — above its industry’s operating margin range — and Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) at 27.07% also operates in the top quartile.

MAR

Consumer Services industry group

65.28%

MAR: 65.28%
Max: 46.49%
Q3: 22.12%
Median: 13.10%
Q1: 5.81%
Min: -12.94%

RCL

Consumer Services industry group

27.07%

Max: 46.49%
RCL: 27.07%
Q3: 22.12%
Median: 13.10%
Q1: 5.81%
Min: -12.94%

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

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Marriott (MAR) and Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL)
Metric	MAR	RCL
ROE (TTM)	--	44.67%
ROA (TTM)	9.76%	7.68%
Net Margin (TTM)	35.03%	23.54%
Operating Margin (TTM)	65.28%	27.07%
Gross Margin (TTM)	79.24%	50.28%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Marriott (MAR) at 4.33% 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.

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

EPS Growth

Both Marriott (MAR) at 14.17% 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.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Marriott (MAR) and Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL)
Metric	MAR	RCL
Revenue Growth (YoY)	4.33%	8.79%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	8.02%	26.59%
EPS Growth (YoY)	14.17%	41.91%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	9.52%	--

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Marriott (MAR) at 0.54 and Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) at 0.21 run current ratio in the tighter-liquidity quartile of industry peers, leaving thinner cushions against current liabilities than typical competitors.

MAR

Consumer Services industry group

0.54

Max: 3.37
Q3: 1.83
Median: 1.03
Q1: 0.69
MAR: 0.54
Min: 0.20

RCL

Consumer Services industry group

0.21

Max: 3.37
Q3: 1.83
Median: 1.03
Q1: 0.69
RCL: 0.21
Min: 0.20

Marriott (MAR) 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 2.25 against its industry range, while Marriott (MAR) reports no figure this period.

MAR

Consumer Services industry group

Max: 7.30
Q3: 3.36
Median: 1.29
Q1: 0.38
Min: 0.01
MAR: --

RCL

Consumer Services industry group

2.25

Max: 7.30
Q3: 3.36
RCL: 2.25
Median: 1.29
Q1: 0.38
Min: 0.01

Marriott (MAR) vs. Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL): MAR 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 Marriott (MAR) and Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL)
Metric	MAR	RCL
Current Ratio (MRQ)	0.54	0.21
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	--	2.25
Net Debt / EBITDA	3.60	3.27

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) at 1.88% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Marriott (MAR) at 0.82% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, RCL the richer one.

MAR

Consumer Services industry group

0.82%

Max: 3.85%
Q3: 1.76%
MAR: 0.82%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

RCL

Consumer Services industry group

1.88%

Max: 3.85%
RCL: 1.88%
Q3: 1.76%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

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

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both Marriott (MAR) at 28.36% and Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) at 30.88% keep payout ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges — dividend policies that share earnings without consuming too much of them.

MAR

Consumer Services industry group

28.36%

Max: 86.96%
Q3: 36.18%
MAR: 28.36%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

RCL

Consumer Services industry group

30.88%

Max: 86.96%
Q3: 36.18%
RCL: 30.88%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

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

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Marriott (MAR) and Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL)
Metric	MAR	RCL
Dividend Yield (TTM)	0.82%	1.88%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	28.36%	30.88%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) at 16.37 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Marriott (MAR) at 34.84 sits in the richer quartile — MAR needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.

MAR

Consumer Services industry group

34.84

Max: 60.39
MAR: 34.84
Q3: 34.17
Median: 21.32
Q1: 16.01
Min: 3.46

RCL

Consumer Services industry group

16.37

Max: 60.39
Q3: 34.17
Median: 21.32
RCL: 16.37
Q1: 16.01
Min: 3.46

Marriott (MAR) 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 3.80 sits in the upper P/S ratio quartile, and Marriott (MAR) at 11.88 prices even higher, above its industry range.

MAR

Consumer Services industry group

11.88

MAR: 11.88
Max: 6.53
Q3: 3.09
Median: 1.69
Q1: 0.72
Min: 0.08

RCL

Consumer Services industry group

3.80

Max: 6.53
RCL: 3.80
Q3: 3.09
Median: 1.69
Q1: 0.72
Min: 0.08

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

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Marriott (MAR) reports a negative P/B ratio of -19.47, meaning negative book equity — the multiple itself is not meaningful for valuation. Meanwhile Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) reports 6.93, ranking against industry peers normally.

MAR

Consumer Services industry group

-19.47

Max: 11.22
Q3: 5.58
Median: 2.56
Q1: 1.11
Min: -3.99
MAR: -19.47

RCL

Consumer Services industry group

6.93

Max: 11.22
RCL: 6.93
Q3: 5.58
Median: 2.56
Q1: 1.11
Min: -3.99

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

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Marriott (MAR) and Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL)
Metric	MAR	RCL
P/E Ratio (TTM)	34.84	16.37
P/S Ratio (TTM)	11.88	3.80
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	-19.47	6.93
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	2.35%	-2.14%