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RCL vs. VIK: Royal Caribbean Cruises vs. Viking Stock Comparison

How do Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) and Viking (VIK) 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 Viking (VIK) 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.

Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) carries decades of public-market history since April 28, 1993, while Viking (VIK) listed on May 1, 2024 — long-window comparisons have far more historical data on the RCL side.

Company profile comparison for Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) and Viking (VIK)
Profile ItemRCLVIK
NameRoyal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.Viking Holdings Ltd.
Country/RegionUnited StatesBermuda
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 Capitalization87.51 billion USD39.07 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateApril 28, 1993May 1, 2024
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

RCL
VIK
GSPC
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Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) vs. Viking (VIK), 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 Viking (VIK). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) and Viking (VIK). 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 Viking (VIK)
MetricRCLVIK
Total Return (1Y)35.04%49.03%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)55.86%--
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)30.86%--

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

RCL
VIK
GSPC
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Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) vs. Viking (VIK), 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 Viking (VIK). 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 Viking (VIK)
MetricRCLVIK
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)47.73%41.04%
Beta (5Y)1.821.38
Max Drawdown (5Y)-65.76%-35.39%
Avg. Volume (3M)2.35M3.95M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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RCL and VIK 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 Viking (VIK)
MetricRCLVIK
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.641.09
Sortino Ratio (1Y)1.101.71

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both companies show strong equity returns, but Viking (VIK) at 139.62% is the standout with ROE above its industry range; Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) at 41.29% also sits in the top quartile.

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%

VIK

Consumer Services industry group

139.62%

VIK
139.62%
Max
76.75%
Q3
34.07%
Median
15.90%
Q1
3.23%
Min
-40.61%
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Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) vs. Viking (VIK): A comparison of their ROE against the Consumer Services industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

For every dollar of sales, both Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) at 23.79% and Viking (VIK) at 19.33% retain more as net profit than most peers, landing in the top net margin quartile of their industries.

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%

VIK

Consumer Services industry group

19.33%

Max
25.52%
VIK
19.33%
Q3
12.95%
Median
6.63%
Q1
1.46%
Min
-14.36%
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Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) vs. Viking (VIK): A comparison of their net margin against the Consumer Services industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) at 33.61% and Viking (VIK) at 29.40% convert sales into operating profit at a top-quartile rate, pointing to tighter cost discipline before financing and tax.

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%

VIK

Consumer Services industry group

29.40%

Max
49.05%
VIK
29.40%
Q3
24.35%
Median
14.23%
Q1
5.67%
Min
-16.47%
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Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) vs. Viking (VIK): A comparison of their operating margin against the Consumer Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) and Viking (VIK)
MetricRCLVIK
ROE (TTM)41.29%139.62%
ROA (TTM)7.78%8.14%
Net Margin (TTM)23.79%19.33%
Operating Margin (TTM)33.61%29.40%
Gross Margin (TTM)50.25%44.28%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Viking (VIK) at 21.89% sits in the top revenue growth quartile, while Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) at 8.79% is closer to the peer norm — faster top-line expansion for VIK.

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

EPS Growth

Viking (VIK) at 613.89% clears its industry range for EPS growth, a much stronger earnings trajectory than Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) at 41.91%, which is closer to a typical peer reading.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) and Viking (VIK)
MetricRCLVIK
Revenue Growth (YoY)8.79%21.89%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)26.59%26.97%
EPS Growth (YoY)41.91%613.89%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)----

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Viking (VIK) at 0.81 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.

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

VIK

Consumer Services industry group

0.81

Max
3.41
Q3
1.85
Median
1.06
VIK
0.81
Q1
0.72
Min
0.22
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Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) vs. Viking (VIK): A comparison of their current ratio against the Consumer Services industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) at 1.94 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while Viking (VIK) at 3.75 uses more debt funding than most peers.

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

VIK

Consumer Services industry group

3.75

Max
6.12
VIK
3.75
Q3
2.93
Median
1.29
Q1
0.37
Min
0.01
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Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) vs. Viking (VIK): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Consumer Services industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) and Viking (VIK)
MetricRCLVIK
Current Ratio (MRQ)0.220.81
Debt / Equity (MRQ)1.943.75
Net Debt / EBITDA3.121.15

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Viking (VIK) pays no dividend (yield 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) reports a yield of 1.70%, ranking against industry peers normally.

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%

VIK

Consumer Services industry group

0.00%

Max
4.10%
Q3
1.82%
VIK
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) vs. Viking (VIK): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Consumer Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Viking (VIK) pays no dividend (payout 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) reports a payout of 32.54%, ranking against industry peers normally.

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%

VIK

Consumer Services industry group

0.00%

Max
89.80%
Q3
36.83%
VIK
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) vs. Viking (VIK): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Consumer Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) and Viking (VIK)
MetricRCLVIK
Dividend Yield (TTM)1.70%0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)32.54%0.00%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) at 19.36 and Viking (VIK) at 29.06 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.

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

VIK

Consumer Services industry group

29.06

Max
71.70
Q3
37.12
VIK
29.06
Median
21.88
Q1
13.00
Min
5.72
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Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) vs. Viking (VIK): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Consumer Services industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Both Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) at 4.57 and Viking (VIK) at 5.61 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

4.57

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

VIK

Consumer Services industry group

5.61

Max
6.40
VIK
5.61
Q3
3.01
Median
1.54
Q1
0.74
Min
0.08
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Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) vs. Viking (VIK): 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 Viking (VIK) at 24.05 prices even higher, above its industry range.

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

VIK

Consumer Services industry group

24.05

VIK
24.05
Max
12.02
Q3
5.58
Median
2.37
Q1
1.09
Min
-4.51
Loading chart…
Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) vs. Viking (VIK): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Consumer Services industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) and Viking (VIK)
MetricRCLVIK
P/E Ratio (TTM)19.3629.06
P/S Ratio (TTM)4.575.61
P/B Ratio (MRQ)7.4724.05
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)-0.06%1.04%