Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd logo

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd(RCL)

Top Performer Top performer
upturn advisory logo
ADVISORIES YOU CAN VERIFY
QUALITY SIGNAL
3-STAR RATING
PASS
LAST CLOSE
$249.3
09/15/2026
(24-hour delay)

Advisory History & Simulated Performance *

*as per simulation (see disclosures)
  • ALL
  • 1Y
  • 1M
  • 1W
  • BUY Advisory
  • SELL Advisory (Profit)
  • SELL Advisory (Loss)
  • Profit
  • Loss
  • PASS (Skip)
Upturn Stock price based on last close iconStock price based on last close

Advisory Performance History (Simulated)Advisory Performance History info

Upturn Advisory & Investor View for RCL

09/15/2026: RCL (3-star) is currently NOT-A-BUY. Pass it for now.

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd is a major operator in the global cruise industry, known for its diverse portfolio of brands and innovative large-ship fleet. The company has a leading position in the premium and luxury segments, bolstered by its high-margin private island destinations. Its primary investment story centers on operational recovery and fleet expansion. However, the company faces risks from high debt levels, sensitivity to economic downturns, and the capital-intensive nature of the industry. The stock may best suit growth-oriented investors looking for exposure to travel recovery, though it requires monitoring of debt reduction progress and the sustainability of consumer vacation spending.

How to Read the Upturn Advisory

The Upturn Star Rating and the current BUY, SELL, or PASS advisory are generated by Upturn’s AI advisory engine based on proprietary signal analysis, price behavior, advisory history, and historical signal performance.

Company fundamentals, valuation, risks, and news provide supporting context about the business.

Investor Fit

Investor styleFitWhy
Growth investorStrong fitRCL offers exposure to the rebounding travel sector with consistent capacity expansion plans.
Momentum investorStrong fit while signal remains positiveThe stock often benefits from strong upward price trends during travel demand cycles.
Value investorMixed fitValuation is often tied to cyclical demand, making timing a critical factor for value-oriented investors.
Dividend investorMixed fitDividend yields are still developing as the company prioritizes post-pandemic debt reduction.
Low-risk investorWeak fitThe cruise industry is inherently high-beta and sensitive to economic and health-related shocks.

Risk Profile

Risk factorLevelWhy it matters
Price volatilityHighThe stock is highly sensitive to consumer sentiment and macroeconomic headlines.
Valuation riskMediumPriced heavily on future growth expectations which may be impacted by changing economic cycles.
Competition risk (Leisure/Travel)MediumIntense competition from other cruise lines and alternative vacation options limits pricing power.
Business qualityMediumHigh operational fixed costs make the business quality dependent on sustained high occupancy rates.
Dividend incomeLowDividends are not the primary return driver for this equity.
Execution riskMediumManaging massive, complex, and expensive ship-building projects involves significant long-term execution risk.

Price Behavior

Rolling Over
PRICE PATH

Rolling Over

The price momentum is slowing down and beginning to turn downward.

Moderately Choppy
PRICE STABILITY

Moderately Choppy

The stock has experienced noticeable price swings while retaining some directional structure.

Analysis of Past Performance

Type Stock
Historic Profit 69.26%
Avg. Invested days 39
Today’s Advisory PASS
Upturn Advisory Rating upturn star rating icon
Upturn Advisory Performance Upturn Advisory Performance icon 4.0
Stock Returns Performance Upturn Returns Performance icon 3.0
Upturn Profits based on simulation icon Profits based on simulation
Upturn last close icon Last Close 09/15/2026

Upturn Scorecard

Upturn Star Rating

RCL receives a 4-star rating, supported by solid company fundamentals, and strong analyst coverage. The rating is constrained by weak price momentum.

Company Fundamentals

RCL has solid overall fundamentals (4 stars), with solid financial health, moderate growth momentum, and strong ownership. In FY2025 versus FY2024, strong earnings growth (+48.5%) and solid cash generation (FCF margin 6.9%) are partially offset by moderate revenue growth (+8.8%).

Financial Health Rating

RCL's financial health is supported by strong cash strength, including free-cash-flow generation of $1.2B (6.9% of revenue). Liquidity is moderate (3 stars), which helps explain the 4-star overall score.

Growth Momentum Score

Earnings growth is RCL's strongest growth driver at +48.5% FY2025 versus FY2024 (strong, 5 stars). By comparison, while revenue growth (+8.8%, moderate) and free-cash-flow growth (-38.1%, negative) hold the profile back, so recent growth is not broad-based across the business.

Ownership

Institutional ownership is 90.8% and approximately 90.5% of outstanding shares are publicly tradable, supporting liquidity and institutional participation. Insider ownership of 6.20% supports management-shareholder alignment.

Top 5 Institutional Investors

Capital Research Global Investors 12.81%
Capital Research & Mgmt Co - Division 3 9.16%
BlackRock Inc 8.25%
Capital World Investors 6.98%
Vanguard Capital Management, LLC 6.01%

Unit Economics (Per $1K Revenue)

RCL generates approximately $468 of gross profit, $274 of operating income, and $69 of free cash flow for every $1,000 of revenue. Based on FY2025 results. Strong cash conversion and healthy margins support the rating, although capital efficiency remains below the highest tier.

Economic Dimensions

Effective Tax Rate: 0.35%

Quantitative Style Profile

RCL has a high-quality, large-cap, liquid profile. Weak momentum is the primary drawback, while elevated volatility.

Style Classification

Quality Focused

Value-OrientedQuality TiltHigh VolatilityLarge / Mega Cap StabilityShort Squeeze RiskHighly Liquid / Institution-Friendly

Key Highlights

Company Size Large-Cap Stock
Market Capitalization 66.68B USD
Price to earnings Ratio 15.4
1Y Target Price 346.92
Price to earnings Ratio 15.4
1Y Target Price 346.92
Volume (30-day avg) 1.7M shares
Beta 1.75
52 Weeks Range 230.90 - 352.67
Updated Date 09/15/2026
52 Weeks Range 230.90 - 352.67
Updated Date 09/15/2026
Dividends yield (FY) 1.96%
Basic EPS (TTM) 16.19

How Company Makes Money

Business areaWhat it includesRetail investor read
Cruise OperationsTicket sales, onboard spending (dining, excursions, casino, spa).The company generates cash by selling vacations and maximizing spend once guests are onboard.
Private DestinationsExclusive access to islands like CocoCay.These high-margin destinations are a major competitive advantage for driving guest satisfaction and loyalty.

Analyzing Revenue: Products, Geography and Growth

Revenue by Products

Product revenue - Year on Year

Revenue by Geography

Geography revenue - Year on Year

Advertisement

Valuation

Trailing PE 15.4
Forward PE 12.39
Enterprise Value 90.93B
Price to Sales(TTM) 3.57
Enterprise Value 90.93B
Price to Sales(TTM) 3.57
Enterprise Value to Revenue 4.87
Enterprise Value to EBITDA 12.36
Shares Outstanding 267.45M
Shares Floating 241.97M
Shares Outstanding 267.45M
Shares Floating 241.97M
Percent Insiders 6.2
Percent Institutions 90.82

Icon representing Upturn AI-generated SWOT analysis summary Upturn AI Summary

Information icon for Upturn AI Summarization accuracy disclaimer AI Summarization is directionally correct and might not be accurate.

Information icon for Upturn AI Summarization data freshness disclaimer Summarized information shown could be a few years old and not current.

Information icon warning about Upturn AI Fundamental Rating based on potentially old data Fundamental Rating based on AI could be based on old data.

Information icon warning about potential inaccuracies or hallucinations in Upturn AI-generated summaries AI-generated summaries may have inaccuracies (hallucinations). Please verify the information before taking action.

Financial Metrics

🧭 Investment Snapshot

Total Revenue (Scale)

Information icon Total money earned from selling products or services before any costs. It is needed to understand the scale of the business and its ability to generate income.

Net Income (Profit)

Information icon Final profit after all expenses, interest, and taxes are deducted. It is needed to determine the overall profitability available to shareholders.

Free Cash Flow (Cash Strength)

Information icon Cash remaining after operating activities and capital expenditures, showing cash available for growth. It is needed to evaluate the company’s ability to invest, pay dividends, or reduce debt.

📈 Growth & Strength

Operating Income (Core Profit)

Information icon Profit from core operations after deducting all operating expenses. It is needed to measure how efficiently the company runs its primary business activities.

EBITDA (Cash Earnings)

Information icon Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization, indicating operating cash potential. It is needed to compare operating performance across companies without accounting or financing differences.

Gross Profit (Unit Profitability)

Information icon Revenue minus cost of revenue, showing profit after direct production costs. It is needed to evaluate core business profitability before overhead expenses.

🛡️ Financial Safety

Cash (Liquidity Buffer)

Information icon Total cash and cash equivalents on hand. It is needed to evaluate immediate liquidity and financial flexibility.

Total Debt (Leverage Risk)

Information icon Total debt including both short-term and long-term components. It is needed to assess the company’s leverage and financial risk.

Net Working Capital (Short-Term Health)

Information icon Current assets minus current liabilities, indicating short-term liquidity strength. It is needed to assess whether the company can meet its short-term obligations.

🧱 Balance Sheet Strength

Stockholder Equity (Net Worth)

Information icon Total equity value held by shareholders. It is needed to understand the net worth of the company from the owners’ perspective.

Total Assets (Asset Base)

Information icon The full value of everything the company owns, including cash, inventory, equipment, and investments. It is needed to understand the resource base used to generate revenue.

Income Before Tax (Pre-Tax Earnings)

Information icon Income before provision for income taxes. It is needed to analyze profitability independent of tax structures.

⚙️ Cost & Drag Factors

Cost of Revenue (Production Cost)

Information icon Direct costs required to produce and deliver the products or services sold. It is needed to assess efficiency in production and service delivery.

Total Operating Expenses (Operating Cost)

Information icon Indirect costs of running the business such as salaries, marketing, and administration. It is needed to understand how much it costs to sustain ongoing business operations.

Income Tax Expense (Tax Drag)

Information icon Amount of taxes paid or payable to the government. It is needed to evaluate the impact of taxation on overall profitability.

About Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd

Exchange NYSE
Headquarters Miami, FL, United States
IPO Launch date 1993-04-28
CEO & Chairman Mr. Jason T. Liberty
Sector Consumer Cyclical
Industry Travel Services
Full time employees 107950
Full time employees 107950

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. operates as a cruise company worldwide. The company operates cruises under the Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, and Silversea Cruises brands, which comprise a range of itineraries. As of December 31, 2025, it operated 69 ships. Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. was founded in 1968 and is headquartered in Miami, Florida.