LIND
Lindblad Expeditions Holdings, Inc.
Travel Services
Market Cap$1.26B
5Y Perf.+197.3%
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Stock Comparison
LIND vs RCL
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
RCL
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.
Travel Services
Market Cap$77.00B
5Y Perf.+465.9%
LIND vs RCL — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot |  LIND |  RCL |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Travel Services | Travel Services |
| Market Cap | $1.26B | $77.00B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $591M | $18.39B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $-24M | $4.48B |
| Gross Margin | 34.4% | 47.2% |
| Operating Margin | 8.5% | 27.9% |
| Forward P/E | 205.5x | 16.4x |
| Total Debt | $664M | $22.64B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $257M | $825M |
LIND vs RCL — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
LIND
RCL
| Stock | Jun 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lindblad Expedition… (LIND) | 100 | 297.3 | +197.3% |
| Royal Caribbean Cru… (RCL) | 100 | 565.9 | +465.9% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: LIND vs RCL
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: RCL leads in 5 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for valuation and capital efficiency and profitability and margin quality. Lindblad Expeditions Holdings, Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for growth and revenue expansion and recent price momentum and sentiment. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
LIND
Lindblad Expeditions Holdings, Inc.
The Income Pick
LIND is the clearest fit if your priority is income & stability and growth exposure.
- Dividend streak 1 yrs, beta 1.88
- Rev growth 19.6%, EPS growth 6.0%, 3Y rev CAGR 22.3%
- 19.6% revenue growth vs RCL's 8.8%
Best for: income & stability and growth exposure
RCL
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.
The Long-Run Compounder
RCL carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for long-term compounding and sleep-well-at-night.
- 287.7% 10Y total return vs LIND's 129.5%
- Lower volatility, beta 1.72, current ratio 0.18x
- Beta 1.72, yield 0.3%, current ratio 0.18x
Best for: long-term compounding and sleep-well-at-night
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth |  LIND | 19.6% revenue growth vs RCL's 8.8% |
| Value |  RCL | Lower P/E (16.4x vs 205.5x) |
| Quality / Margins | RCL | 24.4% margin vs LIND's -4.1% |
| Stability / Safety | RCL | Beta 1.72 vs LIND's 1.88 |
| Dividends | RCL | 0.3% yield; 1-year raise streak; the other pay no meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | LIND | +118.8% vs RCL's +13.5% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | RCL | 11.1% ROA vs LIND's -2.5%, ROIC 12.2% vs 12.4% |
LIND vs RCL — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2025
FY 2025
LIND vs RCL — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLRCLLAGGINGLIND
LINDLindblad Expeditions …
1leads
RCLRoyal Caribbean Cruis…
3leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs LINDMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
RCL5/5
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
LIND3/5
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
RCL4/7
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
RCL4/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
Tied
—
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
—
—
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
RCL leads this category, winning 5 of 5 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
RCL is the larger business by revenue, generating $18.4B annually — 31.1x LIND's $591M. RCL is the more profitable business, keeping 24.4% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to LIND's -4.1%. On growth, RCL holds the edge at +11.3% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | LINDLindblad Expediti… | RCLRoyal Caribbean C… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $591M | $18.4B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $115M | $6.8B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$24M | $4.5B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $41M | $1.4B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +34.4% | +47.2% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +8.5% | +27.9% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | -4.1% | +24.4% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +6.9% | +7.5% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -100.0% | +11.3% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | — | +28.9% |
RCL leads this category, winning 5 of 5 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
LIND leads this category, winning 3 of 5 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
On an enterprise value basis, RCL's 15.2x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than LIND's 15.4x.
| Metric | LINDLindblad Expediti… | RCLRoyal Caribbean C… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $1.3B | $77.0B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $1.7B | $98.8B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -36.43x | 18.23x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 205.46x | 16.42x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 15.41x | 15.15x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 1.64x | 4.29x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | — | 7.58x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 19.26x | 62.30x |
LIND leads this category, winning 3 of 5 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
RCL leads this category, winning 4 of 7 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), RCL scores 7/9 vs LIND's 6/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | LINDLindblad Expediti… | RCLRoyal Caribbean C… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | — | +44.9% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -2.5% | +11.1% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +12.4% | +12.2% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +9.1% | +17.3% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 6 | 7 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | — | 2.21x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $407M | $21.8B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $257M | $825M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $664M | $22.6B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 0.54x | 5.36x |
RCL leads this category, winning 4 of 7 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
RCL leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in RCL five years ago would be worth $30,190 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $13,374 for LIND. Over the past 12 months, LIND leads with a +118.8% total return vs RCL's +13.5%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors RCL at 53.6% vs LIND's 34.1% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | LINDLindblad Expediti… | RCLRoyal Caribbean C… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +58.9% | +1.0% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +118.8% | +13.5% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +141.1% | +262.0% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +33.7% | +201.9% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +129.5% | +287.7% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +34.1% | +53.6% |
RCL leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — LIND and RCL each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
RCL is the less volatile stock with a 1.72 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than LIND's 1.88 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. LIND currently trades 96.5% from its 52-week high vs RCL's 77.7% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | LINDLindblad Expediti… | RCLRoyal Caribbean C… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.88x | 1.72x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $23.78 | $366.50 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $10.28 | $232.10 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +96.5% | +77.7% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 67.9 | 58.2 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 674K | 2.6M |
Evenly matched — LIND and RCL each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates LIND as "Buy" and RCL as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 22.4% upside for RCL (target: $348) vs 0.2% for LIND (target: $23). RCL is the only dividend payer here at 0.34% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | LINDLindblad Expediti… | RCLRoyal Caribbean C… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $23.00 | $348.42 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 13 | 52 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | +0.3% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 1 | 1 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | $0.97 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | +1.5% |
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Key Takeaway
RCL leads in 3 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Profitability & Efficiency). LIND leads in 1 (Valuation Metrics). 1 tied.
Best OverallRoyal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (RCL)Leads 3 of 6 categories
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LIND vs RCL: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is LIND or RCL a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Lindblad Expeditions Holdings, Inc.
(LIND) is the stronger pick with 19. 6% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 8. 8% for Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (RCL). Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (RCL) offers the better valuation at 18. 2x trailing P/E (16. 4x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Lindblad Expeditions Holdings, Inc. (LIND) a "Buy" — based on 13 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.
02Which has the better valuation — LIND or RCL?
On forward P/E, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.
is actually cheaper at 16. 4x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — LIND or RCL?
Over the past 5 years, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.
(RCL) delivered a total return of +201. 9%, compared to +33. 7% for Lindblad Expeditions Holdings, Inc. (LIND). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: RCL returned +287. 7% versus LIND's +129. 5%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — LIND or RCL?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.
(RCL) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 72β versus Lindblad Expeditions Holdings, Inc. 's 1. 88β — meaning LIND is approximately 9% more volatile than RCL relative to the S&P 500.
05Which is growing faster — LIND or RCL?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Lindblad Expeditions Holdings, Inc.
(LIND) is pulling ahead at 19. 6% versus 8. 8% for Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (RCL). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. grew EPS 42. 7% year-over-year, compared to 6. 0% for Lindblad Expeditions Holdings, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, RCL leads at 26. 6% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.
06Which has better profit margins — LIND or RCL?
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.
(RCL) is the more profitable company, earning 23. 8% net margin versus -3. 9% for Lindblad Expeditions Holdings, Inc. — meaning it keeps 23. 8% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: RCL leads at 27. 4% versus 5. 9% for LIND. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — RCL leads at 46. 8%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.
07Is LIND or RCL more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.
(RCL) trades at 16. 4x forward P/E versus 205. 5x for Lindblad Expeditions Holdings, Inc. — 189. 0x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for RCL: 22. 4% to $348. 42.
08Which pays a better dividend — LIND or RCL?
In this comparison, RCL (0.
3% yield) pays a dividend. LIND does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
09Is LIND or RCL better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.
(RCL) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (+287. 7% 10Y return). Lindblad Expeditions Holdings, Inc. (LIND) carries a higher beta of 1. 88 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (RCL: +287. 7%, LIND: +129. 5%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.
10What are the main differences between LIND and RCL?
Both stocks operate in the Consumer Cyclical sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.
In terms of investment character: LIND is a small-cap high-growth stock; RCL is a mid-cap quality compounder stock. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.
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