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Royal Caribbean (RCL)
NYSE:RCL

Royal Caribbean (RCL) AI Stock Analysis

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Royal Caribbean

(NYSE:RCL)

Rating:75Outperform
Price Target:
$281.00
▲(8.88%Upside)
Royal Caribbean's overall stock score reflects a strong financial recovery and solid earnings performance, driven by significant revenue growth and strategic initiatives. Mixed technical indicators and moderate valuation temper the outlook. However, positive earnings guidance and enhanced financial flexibility improve the company's prospects, with careful management of leverage and macroeconomic uncertainties being essential considerations.
Positive Factors
Demand
Demand for cruising has not decelerated at all, suggesting strong interest in Royal Caribbean's offerings.
Financial Performance
RCL reported solid 1Q25 EPS of $2.71 that beat forecasts driven largely by expense timing and modest net yield upside.
Management
Royal Caribbean's management team is considered one of the best in the cruise industry, reinforcing confidence in future performance.
Negative Factors
Consumer Health
Concerns about consumer health and potential changes in corporate tax structures are impacting RCL shares.

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 Group generates revenue primarily through the sale of cruise tickets and onboard services. The company's revenue model includes two main streams: passenger ticket revenues and onboard revenues. Passenger ticket revenues stem from the sale of cruise tickets, which vary depending on the itinerary, cruise length, and type of accommodation. Onboard revenues are derived from various services and amenities offered on the ships, including dining, beverages, shore excursions, spa services, and retail sales. The company also benefits from strategic partnerships with travel agents and industry stakeholders, which help drive bookings and enhance guest experiences. Seasonal demand, economic conditions, and geopolitical factors can significantly impact Royal Caribbean's financial performance.

Royal Caribbean Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Apr 29, 2025
(Q1-2025)
|
% Change Since: 19.65%|
Next Earnings Date:Jul 24, 2025
Earnings Call Sentiment Positive
The earnings call reflects a strong first quarter performance with record-breaking bookings and strategic growth plans. Despite macroeconomic uncertainties, the company maintains a positive outlook for 2025, with an investment grade balance sheet and a focus on delivering high-quality vacation experiences. However, challenges such as a shorter booking window and yield headwinds in the third quarter due to new ship delivery timings are noted.
Q1-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Record-Breaking WAVE Season
The first quarter saw the best WAVE season in the company's history, with bookings outpacing last year across all products and close-in bookings trending particularly well.
Strong First Quarter Results
Yields grew 5.6% and adjusted earnings per share were $2.71, which was $0.23 higher than guidance. The quarter's performance was driven by better-than-expected close-in demand and favorable timing of expenses.
Positive Outlook and Growth Strategy
Capacity is expected to grow 5.5% in 2025 with yield growth projected between 2.6% to 4.6%. Full year adjusted earnings per share is expected to grow approximately 28% to between $14.55 and $15.55.
Investment Grade Balance Sheet
S&P Global Ratings upgraded the company's credit rating to investment grade, reflecting the strength of its financial position and consistent performance.
Successful New Ship Launches
The introduction of Star of the Seas, Celebrity Xcel, and other ships have driven strong pricing and load factors, supporting yield growth.
Negative Updates
Macro Environment Uncertainty
The company acknowledges heightened macroeconomic uncertainties, which could impact consumer behavior, although they have not seen a change yet.
Booking Window Compression
The booking window is about a week shorter, driven by strong close-in demand, indicating consumers might be booking more last-minute than in previous years.
Third Quarter Yield Headwinds
The timing of new ship deliveries, like Star of the Seas entering late in August, presents a headwind of approximately 140 basis points on yield growth in the second half of 2025.
Company Guidance
During Royal Caribbean Group's first-quarter 2025 earnings call, the company shared strong results and an optimistic outlook for the remainder of the year, with several key metrics highlighted. The company reported a net yield increase of 5.6% and adjusted earnings per share of $2.71, surpassing guidance by $0.23. The success of WAVE Season, the best in company history, contributed to a robust booking position for 2025 and 2026, with bookings in April outpacing last year. Royal Caribbean anticipates capacity growth of 5.5% in 2025, driven by new ships such as Star of the Seas and Celebrity Xcel, and expects yield growth to range between 2.6% and 4.6%. The company projects full-year adjusted earnings per share to grow approximately 28%, landing between $14.55 and $15.55. Additionally, Royal Caribbean emphasized strong cash flow generation, robust liquidity, and minimal near-term maturities, underscoring their financial strength and strategic focus on growth and shareholder returns.

Royal Caribbean Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Royal Caribbean shows a strong financial recovery, with notable improvements in profitability and cash flow metrics. Despite a high debt level, the company effectively manages its operations with strong revenue and profit growth.
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.
Breakdown
TTMDec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income StatementTotal Revenue
16.76B16.48B13.90B8.84B1.53B2.21B
Gross Profit
8.08B7.83B6.13B2.22B-1.21B-556.30M
EBIT
4.30B4.11B2.88B-766.00M-3.87B-4.60B
EBITDA
6.30B6.09B4.56B615.00M-2.67B-3.65B
Net Income Common Stockholders
3.25B2.88B1.70B-2.16B-5.26B-5.80B
Balance SheetCash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments
386.00M388.00M497.00M1.94B2.70B3.68B
Total Assets
37.45B37.07B35.13B33.78B32.26B32.47B
Total Debt
20.12B20.82B22.13B23.99B21.69B20.00B
Net Debt
19.73B20.43B21.63B22.06B18.99B16.31B
Total Liabilities
29.31B29.34B30.23B30.91B27.17B23.70B
Stockholders Equity
7.96B7.56B4.72B2.87B5.09B8.76B
Cash FlowFree Cash Flow
2.11B2.00B580.00M-2.23B-4.11B-5.70B
Operating Cash Flow
5.56B5.26B4.48B481.00M-1.88B-3.73B
Investing Cash Flow
-3.59B-3.45B-3.92B-2.99B-2.15B-2.18B
Financing Cash Flow
-2.02B-1.92B-1.99B1.74B3.04B9.35B

Royal Caribbean Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Positive
Last Price258.08
Price Trends
50DMA
229.84
Positive
100DMA
232.41
Positive
200DMA
220.23
Positive
Market Momentum
MACD
9.71
Positive
RSI
54.67
Neutral
STOCH
37.41
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 258.08 is below the 20-day moving average (MA) of 258.08, above the 50-day MA of 229.84, and above the 200-day MA of 220.23, indicating a neutral trend. The MACD of 9.71 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 54.67 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 37.41 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 (62)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
RCRCL
75
Outperform
$72.77B22.5049.55%1.12%13.66%49.86%
75
Outperform
$11.02B116.978.33%28.51%367.34%
74
Outperform
$22.03B20.42119.16%0.93%5.57%61.19%
71
Outperform
$40.48B17.5312.49%0.46%16.23%56.05%
VIVIK
66
Neutral
$21.15B37.8034.73%14.86%
63
Neutral
$8.53B11.4195.87%5.57%141.01%
62
Neutral
$6.90B11.052.80%4.27%2.67%-24.92%
* Consumer Cyclical Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
RCL
Royal Caribbean
258.08
111.20
75.71%
TCOM
Trip.com Group Sponsored ADR
59.98
9.94
19.86%
EXPE
Expedia
165.63
41.58
33.52%
MMYT
Makemytrip
98.72
22.28
29.15%
NCLH
Norwegian Cruise Line
17.78
1.22
7.37%
VIK
Viking Holdings Ltd
46.56
15.70
50.87%

Royal Caribbean Corporate Events

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.

The most recent analyst rating on (RCL) stock is a Buy with a $204.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Royal Caribbean stock, see the RCL Stock Forecast page.

Executive/Board ChangesShareholder Meetings
Royal Caribbean Elects Board at Annual Meeting
Neutral
May 28, 2025

At the Annual Meeting on May 28, 2025, Royal Caribbean‘s shareholders elected thirteen nominees to the Board of Directors, each receiving a majority of affirmative votes. Additionally, the compensation for the company’s named executive officers was approved on an advisory basis, and PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP was ratified as the independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2025.

The most recent analyst rating on (RCL) stock is a Hold with a $140.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Royal Caribbean stock, see the RCL Stock Forecast page.

Private Placements and FinancingBusiness Operations and Strategy
Royal Caribbean Expands Credit Facilities by $2.28 Billion
Positive
May 15, 2025

On May 14, 2025, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. announced amendments to its unsecured revolving credit facilities, increasing commitments by $2.28 billion and extending the maturity of one facility to October 2030. This move enhances the company’s financial flexibility and supports its strategic growth initiatives, reflecting strong support from lending partners and a robust credit profile.

The most recent analyst rating on (RCL) stock is a Hold with a $140.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Royal Caribbean stock, see the RCL Stock Forecast page.

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.