RCL
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.
Travel Services
Market Cap$71.41B
5Y Perf.+408.9%
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Stock Comparison
RCL vs CCL
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
CCL
Carnival Corporation & plc
Leisure
Market Cap$31.89B
5Y Perf.+63.8%
RCL vs CCL — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | RCL | CCL |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Travel Services | Leisure |
| Market Cap | $71.41B | $31.89B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $18.39B | $26.62B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $4.48B | $2.76B |
| Gross Margin | 47.2% | 37.4% |
| Operating Margin | 27.9% | 16.8% |
| Forward P/E | 15.4x | 11.7x |
| Total Debt | $22.64B | $27.99B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $825M | $1.93B |
RCL vs CCL — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
RCL
CCL
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Royal Caribbean Cru… (RCL) | 100 | 508.9 | +408.9% |
| Carnival Corporatio… (CCL) | 100 | 163.8 | +63.8% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: RCL vs CCL
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 growth and revenue expansion and profitability and margin quality. Carnival Corporation & plc is the stronger pick specifically for valuation and capital efficiency and recent price momentum and sentiment. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
RCL
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.
The Income Pick
RCL carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and growth exposure.
- Dividend streak 1 yrs, beta 1.69, yield 0.4%
- Rev growth 8.8%, EPS growth 42.7%, 3Y rev CAGR 26.6%
- 270.0% 10Y total return vs CCL's -31.7%
Best for: income & stability and growth exposure
CCL
Carnival Corporation & plc
The Value Play
CCL is the clearest fit if your priority is value and momentum.
- Lower P/E (11.7x vs 15.4x)
- +32.6% vs RCL's +17.3%
Best for: value and momentum
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | RCL | 8.8% revenue growth vs CCL's 6.4% |
| Value | CCL | Lower P/E (11.7x vs 15.4x) |
| Quality / Margins | RCL | 24.4% margin vs CCL's 10.4% |
| Stability / Safety | RCL | Beta 1.69 vs CCL's 2.27, lower leverage |
| Dividends | RCL | 0.4% yield; 1-year raise streak; the other pay no meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | CCL | +32.6% vs RCL's +17.3% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | RCL | 11.1% ROA vs CCL's 5.3%, ROIC 12.2% vs 8.9% |
RCL vs CCL — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2025
FY 2025
RCL vs CCL — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLRCLLAGGINGCCL
CCLCarnival Corporation …
1leads
RCLRoyal Caribbean Cruis…
4leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs CCLMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
RCL4/6
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
CCL6/6
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
RCL8/8
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
RCL5/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
Tied
—
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
RCL1/1
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
RCL leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
CCL and RCL operate at a comparable scale, with $26.6B and $18.4B in trailing revenue. RCL is the more profitable business, keeping 24.4% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to CCL's 10.4%. On growth, RCL holds the edge at +11.3% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | RCLRoyal Caribbean C… | CCLCarnival Corporat… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $18.4B | $26.6B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $6.8B | $7.3B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $4.5B | $2.8B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $1.4B | $2.6B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +47.2% | +37.4% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +27.9% | +16.8% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +24.4% | +10.4% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +7.5% | +9.8% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +11.3% | +6.6% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +28.9% | +82.4% |
RCL leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
CCL leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 12.8x trailing earnings, CCL trades at a 25% valuation discount to RCL's 16.9x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, CCL's 8.0x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than RCL's 14.3x.
| Metric | RCLRoyal Caribbean C… | CCLCarnival Corporat… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $71.4B | $31.9B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $93.2B | $58.0B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 16.91x | 12.76x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 15.44x | 11.69x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 14.29x | 7.97x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 3.98x | 1.20x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 7.03x | 2.94x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 57.78x | 12.23x |
CCL leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
RCL leads this category, winning 8 of 8 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
RCL delivers a 44.9% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $45 in annual profit, vs $22 for CCL. RCL carries lower financial leverage with a 2.21x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to CCL's 2.28x.
| Metric | RCLRoyal Caribbean C… | CCLCarnival Corporat… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +44.9% | +22.5% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +11.1% | +5.3% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +12.2% | +8.9% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +17.3% | +11.8% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 7 | 7 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 2.21x | 2.28x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $21.8B | $26.1B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $825M | $1.9B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $22.6B | $28.0B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 5.36x | 3.09x |
RCL leads this category, winning 8 of 8 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
RCL leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in RCL five years ago would be worth $32,522 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $9,779 for CCL. Over the past 12 months, CCL leads with a +32.6% total return vs RCL's +17.3%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors RCL at 52.8% vs CCL's 37.3% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | RCLRoyal Caribbean C… | CCLCarnival Corporat… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -6.3% | -16.1% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +17.3% | +32.6% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +257.0% | +159.1% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +225.2% | -2.2% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +270.0% | -31.7% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +52.8% | +37.3% |
RCL leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — RCL and CCL each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
RCL is the less volatile stock with a 1.69 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than CCL's 2.27 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. CCL currently trades 75.8% from its 52-week high vs RCL's 72.0% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | RCLRoyal Caribbean C… | CCLCarnival Corporat… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.69x | 2.27x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $366.50 | $34.03 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $223.00 | $19.06 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +72.0% | +75.8% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 43.4 | 43.6 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 2.6M | 26.3M |
Evenly matched — RCL and CCL each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
RCL leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates RCL as "Buy" and CCL as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 40.3% upside for CCL (target: $36) vs 34.0% for RCL (target: $354). RCL is the only dividend payer here at 0.37% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | RCLRoyal Caribbean C… | CCLCarnival Corporat… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $353.67 | $36.17 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 51 | 47 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +0.4% | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 1 | 0 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.97 | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +1.6% | 0.0% |
RCL leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Key Takeaway
RCL leads in 4 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Profitability & Efficiency). CCL leads in 1 (Valuation Metrics). 1 tied.
Best OverallRoyal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (RCL)Leads 4 of 6 categories
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RCL vs CCL: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is RCL or CCL a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.
(RCL) is the stronger pick with 8. 8% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 6. 4% for Carnival Corporation & plc (CCL). Carnival Corporation & plc (CCL) offers the better valuation at 12. 8x trailing P/E (11. 7x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (RCL) a "Buy" — based on 51 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 — RCL or CCL?
On trailing P/E, Carnival Corporation & plc (CCL) is the cheapest at 12.
8x versus Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. at 16. 9x. On forward P/E, Carnival Corporation & plc is actually cheaper at 11. 7x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — RCL or CCL?
Over the past 5 years, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.
(RCL) delivered a total return of +225. 2%, compared to -2. 2% for Carnival Corporation & plc (CCL). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: RCL returned +270. 0% versus CCL's -31. 7%. 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 — RCL or CCL?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.
(RCL) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 69β versus Carnival Corporation & plc's 2. 27β — meaning CCL is approximately 34% more volatile than RCL relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (RCL) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 2% versus 2% for Carnival Corporation & plc — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — RCL or CCL?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.
(RCL) is pulling ahead at 8. 8% versus 6. 4% for Carnival Corporation & plc (CCL). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. grew EPS 42. 7% year-over-year, compared to 40. 3% for Carnival Corporation & plc. Over a 3-year CAGR, CCL leads at 29. 8% 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 — RCL or CCL?
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.
(RCL) is the more profitable company, earning 23. 8% net margin versus 10. 4% for Carnival Corporation & plc — 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 16. 8% for CCL. 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 RCL or CCL more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Carnival Corporation & plc (CCL) trades at 11.
7x forward P/E versus 15. 4x for Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. — 3. 8x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for CCL: 40. 3% to $36. 17.
08Which pays a better dividend — RCL or CCL?
In this comparison, RCL (0.
4% yield) pays a dividend. CCL does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
09Is RCL or CCL 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 (+270. 0% 10Y return). Carnival Corporation & plc (CCL) carries a higher beta of 2. 27 — 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: +270. 0%, CCL: -31. 7%), 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 RCL and CCL?
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.
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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Revenue Growth>
%
(RCL: 11.3% · CCL: 6.6%)Net Margin>
%
(RCL: 24.4% · CCL: 10.4%)P/E Ratio<
x
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