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Royal Caribbean (RCL)
NYSE:RCL
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Royal Caribbean (RCL) AI Stock Analysis

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RCL

Royal Caribbean

(NYSE:RCL)

Rating:77Outperform
Price Target:
$371.00
▲(5.32% Upside)
Royal Caribbean's strong financial performance and positive earnings call outlook are the most significant factors driving the score. The technical analysis suggests a positive trend, though short-term caution is advised. Valuation is moderate, with some concerns about leverage and geopolitical risks.
Positive Factors
Earnings
RCL reported record results driven by a combination of exceptionally strong demand, record onboard spending, premium pricing, and disciplined cost control, which continue to drive its compelling investment.
Strategic Investments
RCL's cash flow growth will continue to fund strategic capital investments and ongoing fleet expansion, along with the development of new land-based properties and the return of cash to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases.
Technological Advancements
RCL is increasingly leveraging AI to maximize pricing, capture demand quality, maximize yield, optimize marketing initiatives, and improve onboard and pre-board passenger experiences.
Negative Factors
Earnings Guidance
3Q25 EPS guidance of $5.55-5.65 missed Street estimates of $5.72/$5.83.
Yield Guidance
Management lowered the 25E yield high end by 60 bps, reflecting some combination of aggressive prior guidance and slower-than-expected ramp-up.
Yield Performance
Net yield outperformance has eased in 2025.

Royal Caribbean (RCL) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

Royal Caribbean Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionRoyal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. operates as a cruise company worldwide. The company operates cruises under the Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, Azamara, and Silversea Cruises brands, which comprise a range of itineraries that call on approximately 1,000 destinations. As of February 25, 2022, it operated 61 ships. The company was founded in 1968 and is headquartered in Miami, Florida.
How the Company Makes MoneyRoyal Caribbean makes money primarily through ticket sales for cruise vacations, which represent a significant portion of its revenue. The company also generates income from onboard spending by passengers, which includes purchases such as specialty dining, shore excursions, spa services, and retail shopping. Additionally, Royal Caribbean earns revenue from beverage packages, Wi-Fi access, and other ancillary services offered during the cruise experience. The company has established partnerships with various travel agencies and online travel platforms to enhance its distribution channels, and it may also engage in promotional partnerships with brands that align with its target markets. Seasonal promotions and loyalty programs further enhance customer retention and drive repeat business, contributing to the company's overall financial success.

Royal Caribbean Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Jul 29, 2025
(Q2-2025)
|
% Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:Oct 30, 2025
Earnings Call Sentiment Positive
The earnings call presented a generally positive outlook with significant achievements in demand and financial performance, leading to increased earnings guidance. However, some challenges remain, such as cost increases and uncertainties from geopolitical factors.
Q2-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Exceeding Expectations in Q2 2025
The second quarter results exceeded expectations with stronger-than-expected close-in demand and lower interest costs. Adjusted EPS was $4.38, 36% higher than last year and exceeded guidance by $0.33.
Increased Earnings Guidance
The company has increased its earnings guidance for fiscal year 2025, expecting adjusted EPS growth of 31% year-over-year.
Capacity and Demand Growth
Capacity increased by 6%, delivering over 2 million vacations, a 10% increase year-over-year. Load factor reached 110%, 2 percentage points higher than last year.
Rising Digital Engagement
Nearly 50% of onboard purchases are made through the mobile app, up from 33% at the end of 2023.
Expanding Portfolio and Future Growth
Plans to introduce 7 new ships and expand destination portfolio with several Royal Beach Clubs and Perfect Day locations by 2028.
Strong Liquidity Position
The company ended Q2 with $7.1 billion in liquidity, supporting strategic investments and shareholder returns.
Negative Updates
Cost Increases and Timing Shifts
Net cruise costs, excluding fuel, increased by 2.1% in constant currency due to shifting of the timing of expenses to the second half of the year.
Challenges with New Ship Contributions
The launch of new ships, Star of the Seas and Celebrity Xcel, are expected to create headwinds for yield growth in the third and fourth quarters due to operational ramp-up periods.
Geopolitical and Economic Uncertainty
The company widened its guidance range earlier in the year due to geopolitical noise and economic uncertainties.
Company Guidance
During the Royal Caribbean Group's second-quarter 2025 earnings call, the company reported robust financial performance, driven by stronger-than-expected close-in demand and favorable adjustments in expense timing. The company achieved a 5.2% increase in net yield, with a capacity growth of 6% and a 110% load factor. Adjusted earnings per share rose to $4.38, 36% higher than the previous year. The company has revised its full-year earnings guidance, now expecting adjusted EPS growth of 31% year-over-year, ranging between $15.41 and $15.55. Looking ahead, Royal Caribbean anticipates continued strong demand, supported by new ship launches and exclusive destination experiences. The company expects net yield growth of 3.5% to 4% for 2025, driven by these initiatives and ongoing enhancements in guest experience.

Royal Caribbean Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Royal Caribbean's financial performance indicates a strong recovery with significant improvements in profitability and cash flow metrics. The income statement is particularly robust with high gross and net profit margins, while the balance sheet shows reduced leverage. However, the relatively high level of liabilities compared to assets poses a potential risk.
Income Statement
85
Very Positive
Royal Caribbean's income statement shows a strong recovery with a notable improvement in profitability metrics. The TTM gross profit margin stands at 48.23%, indicating robust cost management. Net profit margin has increased to 19.38% in TTM, reflecting enhanced operational efficiency. Revenue growth rate is impressive at 20.57% from 2023 to 2024, demonstrating strong demand recovery post-pandemic. EBIT and EBITDA margins are also strong at 25.67% and 37.43% respectively, highlighting effective cost control and operational leverage.
Balance Sheet
70
Positive
The balance sheet shows improvement in equity with a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.53, reflecting a significant decrease in leverage compared to previous years. Return on equity has improved to 40.79% in TTM, indicating efficient use of shareholder funds. However, the equity ratio remains low at 21.26%, suggesting a relatively high level of liabilities compared to assets, which could pose risks if not managed properly.
Cash Flow
78
Positive
Cash flow metrics indicate solid performance with a strong free cash flow growth rate of 5.66% in TTM. The operating cash flow to net income ratio is 1.71, suggesting healthy cash generation relative to net income. Free cash flow to net income ratio stands at 0.65, showing positive cash flow after capital expenditures. This reflects effective cash management and supports ongoing investments and debt reduction.
BreakdownTTMDec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income Statement
Total Revenue17.18B16.48B13.90B8.84B1.53B2.21B
Gross Profit8.38B7.83B6.13B2.22B-1.21B-556.30M
EBITDA6.62B6.09B4.56B615.00M-2.67B-3.65B
Net Income3.60B2.88B1.70B-2.16B-5.26B-5.80B
Balance Sheet
Total Assets38.54B37.07B35.13B33.78B32.26B32.47B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments735.00M388.00M497.00M1.94B2.70B3.68B
Total Debt19.74B20.82B22.13B23.99B21.69B20.00B
Total Liabilities29.18B29.34B30.23B30.91B27.17B23.70B
Stockholders Equity9.17B7.56B4.72B2.87B5.09B8.76B
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow3.59B2.00B580.00M-2.23B-4.11B-5.70B
Operating Cash Flow5.74B5.26B4.48B481.00M-1.88B-3.73B
Investing Cash Flow-2.10B-3.45B-3.92B-2.99B-2.15B-2.18B
Financing Cash Flow-3.30B-1.92B-1.99B1.74B3.04B9.35B

Royal Caribbean Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Positive
Last Price352.27
Price Trends
50DMA
333.19
Positive
100DMA
287.41
Positive
200DMA
259.79
Positive
Market Momentum
MACD
10.11
Negative
RSI
59.42
Neutral
STOCH
66.98
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For RCL, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 352.27 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 336.05, above the 50-day MA of 333.19, and above the 200-day MA of 259.79, indicating a bullish trend. The MACD of 10.11 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 59.42 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 66.98 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for RCL.

Royal Caribbean Risk Analysis

Royal Caribbean disclosed 36 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Royal Caribbean reported the most risks in the "Macro & Political" category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 0 New Risks

Royal Caribbean Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (61)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
77
Outperform
$95.69B26.5547.48%0.70%12.10%37.89%
73
Outperform
$48.37B20.1412.94%0.38%17.73%27.95%
72
Outperform
$26.59B26.30129.04%0.56%5.69%47.33%
70
Outperform
$11.60B18.4763.57%5.23%66.94%
67
Neutral
$27.86B33.7534.73%17.72%
66
Neutral
$9.56B113.9522.38%18.13%-55.21%
61
Neutral
$17.95B12.83-3.20%2.97%1.18%-14.28%
* Consumer Cyclical Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
RCL
Royal Caribbean
352.27
193.76
122.24%
TCOM
Trip.com Group Sponsored ADR
72.79
25.74
54.71%
EXPE
Expedia
214.95
82.93
62.82%
MMYT
Makemytrip
100.45
6.63
7.07%
NCLH
Norwegian Cruise Line
25.66
8.16
46.63%
VIK
Viking Holdings Ltd
62.83
30.39
93.68%

Royal Caribbean Corporate Events

Private Placements and FinancingBusiness Operations and Strategy
Royal Caribbean Secures Financing for New Edge-Class Ship
Neutral
Jun 27, 2025

On June 25, 2025, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. entered into a credit agreement to finance its sixth Edge-class ship, set for delivery in late 2028. The agreement involves a US dollar-denominated term loan, fully guaranteed by BpiFrance Assurance Export, with a floating interest rate and a twelve-year maturity, impacting the company’s financial strategy and stakeholder relations.

Executive/Board Changes
Royal Caribbean Announces Leadership Transition for Board
Neutral
Jun 6, 2025

On June 6, 2025, Royal Caribbean Group announced a leadership transition for its Board of Directors. Richard Fain, who has been the Chair since 1988, will step down in Q4 2025, with Jason Liberty, the current President and CEO, succeeding him as Chairman and CEO. John Brock will take on the role of Independent Lead Director, bringing his extensive experience to support the company’s growth and governance. This transition marks a significant shift in leadership aimed at continuing the company’s trajectory of delivering exceptional vacation experiences and long-term value for shareholders.

Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.Date of analysis: Aug 19, 2025