VIK
Viking Holdings Ltd
Travel Services
Market Cap$27.18B
5Y Perf.+174.0%
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Stock Comparison
VIK vs RCL
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
RCL
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.
Travel Services
Market Cap$77.66B
5Y Perf.+94.4%
VIK vs RCL — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | VIK | RCL |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Travel Services | Travel Services |
| Market Cap | $27.18B | $77.66B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $6.50B | $18.39B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $1.15B | $4.48B |
| Gross Margin | 39.0% | 47.2% |
| Operating Margin | 23.1% | 27.9% |
| Forward P/E | 25.9x | 16.8x |
| Total Debt | $5.74B | $22.64B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $3.80B | $825M |
VIK vs RCL — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
VIK
RCL
| Stock | May 24 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Viking Holdings Ltd (VIK) | 100 | 274.0 | +174.0% |
| Royal Caribbean Cru… (RCL) | 100 | 194.4 | +94.4% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: VIK 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. Viking Holdings Ltd 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.
VIK
Viking Holdings Ltd
The Growth Play
VIK is the clearest fit if your priority is growth exposure.
- Rev growth 21.9%, EPS growth 7.6%, 3Y rev CAGR 27.0%
- 21.9% revenue growth vs RCL's 8.8%
- +102.0% vs RCL's +29.1%
Best for: growth exposure
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 long-term compounding.
- Dividend streak 1 yrs, beta 1.69, yield 0.3%
- 304.9% 10Y total return vs VIK's 229.7%
- Lower volatility, beta 1.69, current ratio 0.18x
Best for: income & stability and long-term compounding
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | VIK | 21.9% revenue growth vs RCL's 8.8% |
| Value | RCL | Lower P/E (16.8x vs 25.9x) |
| Quality / Margins | RCL | 24.4% margin vs VIK's 17.7% |
| Stability / Safety | RCL | Beta 1.69 vs VIK's 1.85, lower leverage |
| Dividends | RCL | 0.3% yield; 1-year raise streak; the other pay no meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | VIK | +102.0% vs RCL's +29.1% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | RCL | 11.1% ROA vs VIK's 10.1%, ROIC 12.2% vs 37.1% |
VIK vs RCL — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2025
FY 2025
VIK vs RCL — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLRCLLAGGINGVIK
VIKViking Holdings Ltd
1leads
RCLRoyal Caribbean Cruis…
3leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs VIKMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
Tied
—
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
RCL4/6
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
VIK6/9
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
RCL4/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
Tied
—
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
RCL1/1
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
Evenly matched — VIK and RCL each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
RCL is the larger business by revenue, generating $18.4B annually — 2.8x VIK's $6.5B. RCL is the more profitable business, keeping 24.4% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to VIK's 17.7%. On growth, VIK holds the edge at +27.8% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | VIKViking Holdings L… | RCLRoyal Caribbean C… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $6.5B | $18.4B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $1.8B | $6.8B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $1.1B | $4.5B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $1.5B | $1.4B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +39.0% | +47.2% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +23.1% | +27.9% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +17.7% | +24.4% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +23.5% | +7.5% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +27.8% | +11.3% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +179.2% | +28.9% |
Evenly matched — VIK and RCL each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
RCL leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 18.4x trailing earnings, RCL trades at a 45% valuation discount to VIK's 33.5x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, RCL's 15.3x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than VIK's 16.3x.
| Metric | VIKViking Holdings L… | RCLRoyal Caribbean C… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $27.2B | $77.7B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $29.1B | $99.5B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 33.48x | 18.39x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 25.87x | 16.79x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 16.30x | 15.25x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 4.18x | 4.33x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 34.26x | 7.65x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 20.86x | 62.83x |
RCL leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
VIK leads this category, winning 6 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
VIK delivers a 2.4% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $2 in annual profit, vs $45 for RCL. RCL carries lower financial leverage with a 2.21x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to VIK's 5.12x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), VIK scores 8/9 vs RCL's 7/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | VIKViking Holdings L… | RCLRoyal Caribbean C… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +2.4% | +44.9% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +10.1% | +11.1% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +37.1% | +12.2% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +26.3% | +17.3% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 8 | 7 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 5.12x | 2.21x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $1.9B | $21.8B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $3.8B | $825M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $5.7B | $22.6B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 4.14x | 5.36x |
VIK leads this category, winning 6 of 9 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 $36,311 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $32,969 for VIK. Over the past 12 months, VIK leads with a +102.0% total return vs RCL's +29.1%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors RCL at 55.2% vs VIK's 48.8% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | VIKViking Holdings L… | RCLRoyal Caribbean C… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +19.1% | +1.9% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +102.0% | +29.1% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +229.7% | +274.0% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +229.7% | +263.1% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +229.7% | +304.9% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +48.8% | +55.2% |
RCL leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — VIK and RCL 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 VIK's 1.85 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. VIK currently trades 98.9% from its 52-week high vs RCL's 78.3% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | VIKViking Holdings L… | RCLRoyal Caribbean C… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.85x | 1.69x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $87.00 | $366.50 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $41.88 | $223.00 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +98.9% | +78.3% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 55.5 | 46.3 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 2.7M | 2.6M |
Evenly matched — VIK and RCL 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 VIK as "Buy" and RCL as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 23.2% upside for RCL (target: $354) vs -9.8% for VIK (target: $78). RCL is the only dividend payer here at 0.34% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | VIKViking Holdings L… | RCLRoyal Caribbean C… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $77.60 | $353.67 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 13 | 51 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | +0.3% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 0 | 1 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | $0.97 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | +1.5% |
RCL leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Key Takeaway
RCL leads in 3 of 6 categories (Valuation Metrics, Total Returns). VIK leads in 1 (Profitability & Efficiency). 2 tied.
Best OverallRoyal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (RCL)Leads 3 of 6 categories
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VIK vs RCL: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is VIK or RCL a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Viking Holdings Ltd (VIK) is the stronger pick with 21.
9% 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. 4x trailing P/E (16. 8x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Viking Holdings Ltd (VIK) 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 — VIK or RCL?
On trailing P/E, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.
(RCL) is the cheapest at 18. 4x versus Viking Holdings Ltd at 33. 5x. On forward P/E, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. is actually cheaper at 16. 8x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — VIK or RCL?
Over the past 5 years, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.
(RCL) delivered a total return of +263. 1%, compared to +229. 7% for Viking Holdings Ltd (VIK). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: RCL returned +304. 9% versus VIK's +229. 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 — VIK or RCL?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.
(RCL) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 69β versus Viking Holdings Ltd's 1. 85β — meaning VIK is approximately 10% 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 5% for Viking Holdings Ltd — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — VIK or RCL?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Viking Holdings Ltd (VIK) is pulling ahead at 21.
9% versus 8. 8% for Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (RCL). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Viking Holdings Ltd grew EPS 756. 7% year-over-year, compared to 42. 7% for Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.. Over a 3-year CAGR, VIK leads at 27. 0% 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 — VIK or RCL?
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.
(RCL) is the more profitable company, earning 23. 8% net margin versus 17. 7% for Viking Holdings Ltd — 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 23. 1% for VIK. 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 VIK or RCL more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.
(RCL) trades at 16. 8x forward P/E versus 25. 9x for Viking Holdings Ltd — 9. 1x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for RCL: 23. 2% to $353. 67.
08Which pays a better dividend — VIK or RCL?
In this comparison, RCL (0.
3% yield) pays a dividend. VIK does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
09Is VIK 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 (+304. 9% 10Y return). Viking Holdings Ltd (VIK) carries a higher beta of 1. 85 — 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: +304. 9%, VIK: +229. 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 VIK 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: VIK is a mid-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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Revenue Growth>
%
(VIK: 27.8% · RCL: 11.3%)Net Margin>
%
(VIK: 17.7% · RCL: 24.4%)P/E Ratio<
x
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