Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (RCL) – What Are Investment Firms Thinking About This Stock?

Shares of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (NYSE:RCL) have been given an average rating of “Moderate Buy” by the twenty-eight ratings firms that are covering the stock, Marketbeat Ratings reports. Seven analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and twenty-one have issued a buy recommendation on the company. The average 12-month price objective among brokers that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $352.23.

A number of research analysts have recently weighed in on the company. UBS Group reissued a “buy” rating on shares of Royal Caribbean Cruises in a research note on Wednesday, September 23rd. Argus lifted their price objective on Royal Caribbean Cruises from $330.00 to $375.00 in a research note on Tuesday, July 28th. TD Cowen upped their price objective on Royal Caribbean Cruises from $337.00 to $340.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, October 20th. Freedom Capital downgraded Royal Caribbean Cruises from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Wednesday, July 29th. Finally, Bank of America raised Royal Caribbean Cruises from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $330.00 target price on the stock in a research note on Monday, September 28th.

Royal Caribbean Cruises News Roundup

Here are the key news stories impacting Royal Caribbean Cruises this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Q3 earnings beat expectations: Adjusted EPS was $6.57, above the $6.38 consensus and up from $5.75 a year earlier. Revenue rose 8.8% to $5.59 billion, broadly in line with estimates, while results exceeded the company’s own guidance. Royal Caribbean Group Reports Third Quarter Results Above Expectations and Raises Full Year Guidance
• Positive Sentiment: Full-year outlook raised: Royal Caribbean now expects 2026 adjusted EPS of $17.85 to $17.95, reflecting the quarterly outperformance despite higher anticipated fuel costs. This marked the company’s sixth consecutive quarterly EPS beat. RCL Q3 Earnings Beat Estimates on Strong Demand, Lower Costs
• Positive Sentiment: Demand remains robust: Strong close-in demand and mid-teens year-over-year booking growth, including improving bookings for 2027, point to continued pricing power and healthy consumer demand. Why Royal Caribbean Stock Climbed Today
• Positive Sentiment: Expansion supports the growth narrative: Royal Caribbean is investing $3 billion for a 50% stake in Sandals, broadening its vacation offering and potentially creating additional long-term market-share opportunities. Royal Caribbean: 3 Key Takeaways for Long-Term Investors
• Neutral Sentiment: Technical momentum improved as RCL moved above a reported buy point, although investors are watching whether the stock can sustain the breakout and remain above key moving averages. Royal Caribbean Tops Buy Point on Bullish Outlook
• Negative Sentiment: Higher fuel costs remain a risk to margins, and unusually heavy put-option activity suggests some investors are hedging against volatility or a pullback following the sharp move higher. Royal Caribbean Earnings Are Good News for Cruise Fuel Fears

Royal Caribbean Cruises Stock Performance

Royal Caribbean Cruises stock opened at $296.48 on Wednesday. The company’s 50-day moving average is $271.41 and its two-hundred day moving average is $286.77. Royal Caribbean Cruises has a 1 year low of $222.22 and a 1 year high of $356.39.

Royal Caribbean Cruises (NYSE:RCL) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, October 27th. The company reported $6.57 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $6.38 by $0.19. The business had revenue of $5.59 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.61 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $5.75 earnings per share. Royal Caribbean Cruises’s revenue was up 8.8% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities analysts expect that Royal Caribbean Cruises will post 17.78 earnings per share for the current year.

Royal Caribbean Cruises Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, October 8th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, September 17th were given a dividend of $1.50 per share. This represents a $6.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.0%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, September 17th.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. BlackRock Inc. acquired a new stake in Royal Caribbean Cruises in the second quarter worth $6,549,422,000. State Street Corp grew its holdings in shares of Royal Caribbean Cruises by 2.6% in the 2nd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 10,689,134 shares of the company’s stock valued at $3,409,971,000 after buying an additional 270,930 shares during the period. Primecap Management Co. CA bought a new stake in shares of Royal Caribbean Cruises in the 2nd quarter valued at $669,804,000. Jupiter Topco LLC bought a new stake in shares of Royal Caribbean Cruises in the 2nd quarter valued at $597,350,000. Finally, Dimensional Fund Advisors LP increased its position in shares of Royal Caribbean Cruises by 2.0% in the 1st quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 1,957,044 shares of the company’s stock valued at $538,393,000 after buying an additional 38,748 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 87.53% of the company’s stock.

About Royal Caribbean Cruises

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., doing business as Royal Caribbean Group (NYSE: RCL), is a global cruise company that operates vacation cruises and related travel experiences. Its fleet visits destinations across the Caribbean, Europe, Alaska, Asia, Australia, and other regions, with itineraries that typically include onboard entertainment, dining, accommodations, recreational activities, and shore excursions.

The company’s principal brands include Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, and Silversea Cruises.