Carnival (CCL) vs Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 7, 2026.
Summary
Carnival (CCL) has outperformed Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) over the past year, losing 8.3% versus a loss of 8.8%. Over five years, RCL leads with a +232.5% price change compared with +11.3% for CCL. Royal Caribbean Cruises is the larger company by market cap ($75.51 billion vs $35.16 billion), about 2.1 times the size.
On valuation, Carnival trades at a lower forward P/E (10.2x vs 13.8x for Royal Caribbean Cruises). Royal Caribbean Cruises offers the higher dividend yield (1.77% vs 1.72%). Royal Caribbean Cruises converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 23.8% versus 10.4%.
Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology
Relative performance
Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.
Head-to-head
| Metric | CCL | RCL |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $26.15 | $282.32 |
| Market cap | $35.16B | $75.51B |
| 1-day change | -1.62% | -2.24% |
| YTD return | -13.75% | +2.89% |
| 1-year return | -8.26% | -8.82% |
| 5-year return | +11.28% | +232.47% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 11.52 | 17.43 |
| Forward P/E | 10.21 | 13.81 |
| EPS (TTM) | $2.27 | $16.20 |
| Dividend yield | 1.72% | 1.77% |
| Annual dividend | $0.45 | $5.00 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $26.62B | $17.93B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +6.40% | +8.80% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $2.76B | $4.27B |
| Gross margin | — | 49.36% |
| Operating margin | 16.84% | 27.38% |
| Net margin | 10.37% | 23.80% |
| 52-week high | $34.03 | $356.39 |
| 52-week low | $21.45 | $222.22 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -23.16% | -20.78% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +29.75% | +24.09% |
| Average volume | 21.27M | 2.43M |
| Shares outstanding | 1.34B | 267.45M |
| Employees | 160,000 | 107,950 |
| Sector | Consumer Discretionary | Consumer Discretionary |
| Industry | Marine Transportation | Marine Transportation |
Highlighted cells mark the higher value for growth, returns, margins and yield, and the lower value for P/E ratios. Highlighting is a mechanical comparison, not a recommendation.
Key differences
- Royal Caribbean Cruises is about 2.1 times larger than Carnival by market value ($75.51B vs $35.16B).
- Royal Caribbean Cruises trades at a higher earnings multiple (17.4x vs 11.5x trailing P/E).
- Royal Caribbean Cruises is more profitable, keeping 23.8 cents of every revenue dollar as net income versus 10.4 cents for Carnival.
About Carnival
CCL stock →Carnival Corporation Ltd., a cruise company, provides leisure travel services. The company operates through four segments: North America Cruise Operations, Europe Cruise Operations, Cruise Support, and Tour and Other.
Consumer Discretionary · Marine Transportation · 160,000 employees
About Royal Caribbean Cruises
RCL stock →Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. operates as a cruise company worldwide.
Consumer Discretionary · Marine Transportation · 107,950 employees
CCL vs RCL FAQ
Which is bigger, Carnival or Royal Caribbean Cruises?
Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) is larger, with a market capitalization of $75.51B compared with $35.16B for Carnival (CCL).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, CCL or RCL?
CCL returned -8.26% over the past 12 months, compared with -8.82% for RCL (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, CCL or RCL?
CCL has the lower trailing P/E at 11.5, versus 17.4 for RCL. A lower P/E is not by itself a sign of a better investment; it can reflect slower expected growth or higher risk.
Which pays a higher dividend, Carnival or Royal Caribbean Cruises?
Royal Caribbean Cruises has the higher yield at 1.77%, compared with 1.72% for Carnival.
Are Carnival and Royal Caribbean Cruises in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Marine Transportation industry within the Consumer Discretionary sector.