RCL vs. SBUX: Royal Caribbean Cruises vs. Starbucks Stock Comparison

September 7, 2026

How do Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) and Starbucks (SBUX) 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

Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) and Starbucks (SBUX) both belong to the Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure industry, though RCL is classified under Hotels, Resorts & Cruise Lines while SBUX falls under Restaurants.

Company profile comparison for Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) and Starbucks (SBUX)
Profile Item	RCL	SBUX
Name	Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.	Starbucks Corp.
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	70.93 billion USD	119.10 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	Nasdaq
Listing Date	April 28, 1993	June 26, 1992
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

RCL

SBUX

GSPC

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

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) and Starbucks (SBUX)
Metric	RCL	SBUX
Total Return (1Y)	-25.09%	23.13%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	40.80%	4.76%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	27.98%	0.07%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

RCL

SBUX

GSPC

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

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) and Starbucks (SBUX)
Metric	RCL	SBUX
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	46.83%	27.68%
Beta (5Y)	1.82	0.97
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-67.64%	-40.74%
Avg. Volume (3M)	2.21M	7.12M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

RCL and SBUX 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 Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) and Starbucks (SBUX)
Metric	RCL	SBUX
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	-0.62	0.69
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	-0.97	1.09

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

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

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%

SBUX

Consumer Services industry group

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

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

Net Margin (TTM)

Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) at 23.54% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Starbucks (SBUX) at 5.17%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

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%

SBUX

Consumer Services industry group

5.17%

Max: 28.43%
Q3: 13.02%
Median: 5.92%
SBUX: 5.17%
Q1: 1.17%
Min: -15.39%

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

Operating Margin (TTM)

Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) at 27.07% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of Starbucks (SBUX) at 12.92%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

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%

SBUX

Consumer Services industry group

12.92%

Max: 46.49%
Q3: 22.12%
Median: 13.10%
SBUX: 12.92%
Q1: 5.81%
Min: -12.94%

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

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) and Starbucks (SBUX)
Metric	RCL	SBUX
ROE (TTM)	44.67%	--
ROA (TTM)	7.68%	8.02%
Net Margin (TTM)	23.54%	5.17%
Operating Margin (TTM)	27.07%	12.92%
Gross Margin (TTM)	50.28%	22.34%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) at 8.79% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while Starbucks (SBUX) at 2.79% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.

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

EPS Growth

Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) at 41.91% is around its peer norm for EPS growth, while Starbucks (SBUX) at -50.76% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker earnings momentum.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) and Starbucks (SBUX)
Metric	RCL	SBUX
Revenue Growth (YoY)	8.79%	2.79%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	26.59%	4.86%
EPS Growth (YoY)	41.91%	-50.76%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	--	-16.80%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Starbucks (SBUX) at 0.76 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) at 0.21 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for RCL.

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

SBUX

Consumer Services industry group

0.76

Max: 3.37
Q3: 1.83
Median: 1.03
SBUX: 0.76
Q1: 0.69
Min: 0.20

Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) vs. Starbucks (SBUX): 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 Starbucks (SBUX) reports no figure this period.

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

SBUX

Consumer Services industry group

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

Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) vs. Starbucks (SBUX): SBUX 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 Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) and Starbucks (SBUX)
Metric	RCL	SBUX
Current Ratio (MRQ)	0.21	0.76
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	2.25	--
Net Debt / EBITDA	3.27	3.34

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) at 1.88% and Starbucks (SBUX) at 2.34% offer top-quartile dividend income relative to share price within their industries.

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%

SBUX

Consumer Services industry group

2.34%

Max: 3.85%
SBUX: 2.34%
Q3: 1.76%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

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

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Starbucks (SBUX) reports payout ratio above 100% at 142.77%, meaning dividends exceeded current-period earnings and sustainability needs extra context. Meanwhile Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) reports 30.88%, ranking against industry peers normally.

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%

SBUX

Consumer Services industry group

142.77%

SBUX: 142.77%
Max: 86.96%
Q3: 36.18%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

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

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) and Starbucks (SBUX)
Metric	RCL	SBUX
Dividend Yield (TTM)	1.88%	2.34%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	30.88%	142.77%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) at 16.37 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Starbucks (SBUX) at 60.39 sits in the richer quartile — SBUX needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.

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

SBUX

Consumer Services industry group

60.39

SBUX: 60.39
Max: 60.39
Q3: 34.17
Median: 21.32
Q1: 16.01
Min: 3.46

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

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Both Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) at 3.80 and Starbucks (SBUX) at 3.11 command a richer price per dollar of sales than most peers, sitting in the upper P/S ratio quartile of their industries.

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

SBUX

Consumer Services industry group

3.11

Max: 6.53
SBUX: 3.11
Q3: 3.09
Median: 1.69
Q1: 0.72
Min: 0.08

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

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Starbucks (SBUX) reports a negative P/B ratio of -15.52, 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.

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

SBUX

Consumer Services industry group

-15.52

Max: 11.22
Q3: 5.58
Median: 2.56
Q1: 1.11
Min: -3.99
SBUX: -15.52

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

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) and Starbucks (SBUX)
Metric	RCL	SBUX
P/E Ratio (TTM)	16.37	60.39
P/S Ratio (TTM)	3.80	3.11
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	6.93	-15.52
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	-2.14%	2.57%