RCL
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.
Travel Services
Market Cap$75.99B
5Y Perf.+441.5%
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Stock Comparison
RCL vs HLT
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
HLT
Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc.
Travel Lodging
Market Cap$72.93B
5Y Perf.+303.9%
RCL vs HLT — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | RCL | HLT |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Travel Services | Travel Lodging |
| Market Cap | $75.99B | $72.93B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $18.39B | $12.28B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $4.48B | $1.54B |
| Gross Margin | 47.2% | 44.3% |
| Operating Margin | 27.9% | 23.1% |
| Forward P/E | 16.4x | 35.4x |
| Total Debt | $22.64B | $15.67B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $825M | $970M |
RCL vs HLT — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
RCL
HLT
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Royal Caribbean Cru… (RCL) | 100 | 541.5 | +441.5% |
| Hilton Worldwide Ho… (HLT) | 100 | 403.9 | +303.9% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: RCL vs HLT
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 valuation and capital efficiency. Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for capital preservation and lower volatility 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 0.3%
- Rev growth 8.8%, EPS growth 42.7%, 3Y rev CAGR 26.6%
- 8.8% revenue growth vs HLT's 7.7%
Best for: income & stability and growth exposure
HLT
Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc.
The Long-Run Compounder
HLT is the clearest fit if your priority is long-term compounding and sleep-well-at-night.
- 6.2% 10Y total return vs RCL's 291.7%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.94, current ratio 10.81x
- Beta 0.94, yield 0.2%, current ratio 10.81x
Best for: long-term compounding and sleep-well-at-night
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | RCL | 8.8% revenue growth vs HLT's 7.7% |
| Value | RCL | Lower P/E (16.4x vs 35.4x) |
| Quality / Margins | RCL | 24.4% margin vs HLT's 12.6% |
| Stability / Safety | HLT | Beta 0.94 vs RCL's 1.69 |
| Dividends | RCL | 0.3% yield, 1-year raise streak, vs HLT's 0.2% |
| Momentum (1Y) | HLT | +32.8% vs RCL's +25.1% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | RCL | 11.1% ROA vs HLT's 9.4%, ROIC 12.2% vs 24.7% |
RCL vs HLT — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2025
FY 2025
RCL vs HLT — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLRCLLAGGINGHLT
HLTHilton Worldwide Hold…
2leads
RCLRoyal Caribbean Cruis…
3leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs HLTMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
RCL4/6
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
RCL4/5
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
HLT4/6
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
Tied
—
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
HLT2/2
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
RCL2/2
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
RCL leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
RCL and HLT operate at a comparable scale, with $18.4B and $12.3B in trailing revenue. RCL is the more profitable business, keeping 24.4% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to HLT's 12.6%.
| Metric | RCLRoyal Caribbean C… | HLTHilton Worldwide … |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $18.4B | $12.3B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $6.8B | $3.0B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $4.5B | $1.5B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $1.4B | $2.2B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +47.2% | +44.3% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +27.9% | +23.1% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +24.4% | +12.6% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +7.5% | +17.8% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +11.3% | +9.0% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +28.9% | +35.0% |
RCL leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
RCL leads this category, winning 4 of 5 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 18.0x trailing earnings, RCL trades at a 66% valuation discount to HLT's 52.3x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, RCL's 15.0x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than HLT's 30.5x.
| Metric | RCLRoyal Caribbean C… | HLTHilton Worldwide … |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $76.0B | $72.9B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $97.8B | $87.6B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 17.99x | 52.34x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 16.43x | 35.37x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 14.99x | 30.53x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 4.24x | 6.06x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 7.48x | — |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 61.48x | 35.96x |
RCL leads this category, winning 4 of 5 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
HLT leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
| Metric | RCLRoyal Caribbean C… | HLTHilton Worldwide … |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +44.9% | — |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +11.1% | +9.4% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +12.2% | +24.7% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +17.3% | +19.0% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 7 | 7 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 2.21x | — |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $21.8B | $14.7B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $825M | $970M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $22.6B | $15.7B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 5.36x | 4.42x |
HLT leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
Evenly matched — RCL and HLT each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in RCL five years ago would be worth $34,029 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $26,146 for HLT. Over the past 12 months, HLT leads with a +32.8% total return vs RCL's +25.1%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors RCL at 54.1% vs HLT's 30.3% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | RCLRoyal Caribbean C… | HLTHilton Worldwide … |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -0.3% | +9.4% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +25.1% | +32.8% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +266.1% | +121.3% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +240.3% | +161.5% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +291.7% | +615.8% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +54.1% | +30.3% |
Evenly matched — RCL and HLT each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
HLT leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
HLT is the less volatile stock with a 0.94 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than RCL's 1.69 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. HLT currently trades 92.9% from its 52-week high vs RCL's 76.6% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | RCLRoyal Caribbean C… | HLTHilton Worldwide … |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.69x | 0.94x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $366.50 | $344.75 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $225.95 | $237.57 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +76.6% | +92.9% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 58.3 | 50.9 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 2.6M | 1.6M |
HLT leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
RCL leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates RCL as "Buy" and HLT as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 25.9% upside for RCL (target: $354) vs 5.7% for HLT (target: $338). For income investors, RCL offers the higher dividend yield at 0.34% vs HLT's 0.19%.
| Metric | RCLRoyal Caribbean C… | HLTHilton Worldwide … |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $353.67 | $338.45 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 51 | 49 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +0.3% | +0.2% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 1 | 0 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.97 | $0.60 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +1.5% | +4.5% |
RCL leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Key Takeaway
RCL leads in 3 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Valuation Metrics). HLT leads in 2 (Profitability & Efficiency, Risk & Volatility). 1 tied.
Best OverallRoyal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (RCL)Leads 3 of 6 categories
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RCL vs HLT: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is RCL or HLT 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 7. 7% for Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. (HLT). Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (RCL) offers the better valuation at 18. 0x trailing P/E (16. 4x 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 HLT?
On trailing P/E, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.
(RCL) is the cheapest at 18. 0x versus Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. at 52. 3x. On forward P/E, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. is actually cheaper at 16. 4x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — RCL or HLT?
Over the past 5 years, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.
(RCL) delivered a total return of +240. 3%, compared to +161. 5% for Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. (HLT). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: HLT returned +615. 8% versus RCL's +291. 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 HLT?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc.
(HLT) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 94β versus Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. 's 1. 69β — meaning RCL is approximately 79% more volatile than HLT relative to the S&P 500.
05Which is growing faster — RCL or HLT?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.
(RCL) is pulling ahead at 8. 8% versus 7. 7% for Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. (HLT). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. grew EPS 42. 7% year-over-year, compared to -0. 3% for Hilton Worldwide 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 — RCL or HLT?
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.
(RCL) is the more profitable company, earning 23. 8% net margin versus 12. 1% for Hilton Worldwide 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 22. 4% for HLT. 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 HLT more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.
(RCL) trades at 16. 4x forward P/E versus 35. 4x for Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. — 18. 9x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for RCL: 25. 9% to $353. 67.
08Which pays a better dividend — RCL or HLT?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (RCL) offers the highest yield at 0. 3%, versus 0. 2% for Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. (HLT).
09Is RCL or HLT better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc.
(HLT) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 94), +615. 8% 10Y return). Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (RCL) carries a higher beta of 1. 69 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (HLT: +615. 8%, RCL: +291. 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 HLT?
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: RCL is a mid-cap deep-value stock; HLT 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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Revenue Growth>
%
(RCL: 11.3% · HLT: 9.0%)Net Margin>
%
(RCL: 24.4% · HLT: 12.6%)P/E Ratio<
x
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