General Dynamics (GD) vs Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.
Summary
General Dynamics (GD) has outperformed Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) over the past year, losing 4.8% versus a loss of 8.7%. Over five years, RCL leads with a +226.0% price change compared with +58.6% for GD. General Dynamics is the larger company by market cap ($89.26 billion vs $75.26 billion), about 1.2 times the size.
On valuation, Royal Caribbean Cruises trades at a lower forward P/E (13.8x vs 17.7x for General Dynamics). General Dynamics offers the higher dividend yield (1.87% vs 1.78%). Royal Caribbean Cruises converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 23.8% versus 8.0%.
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 | GD | RCL |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $329.90 | $281.41 |
| Market cap | $89.26B | $75.26B |
| 1-day change | +1.00% | -0.32% |
| YTD return | -2.01% | +0.89% |
| 1-year return | -4.77% | -8.72% |
| 5-year return | +58.56% | +226.01% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 20.13 | 17.37 |
| Forward P/E | 17.73 | 13.77 |
| EPS (TTM) | $16.39 | $16.20 |
| Dividend yield | 1.87% | 1.78% |
| Annual dividend | $6.18 | $5.00 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $52.55B | $17.93B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +10.13% | +8.80% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $4.21B | $4.27B |
| Gross margin | — | 49.36% |
| Operating margin | 10.19% | 27.38% |
| Net margin | 8.01% | 23.80% |
| 52-week high | $400.00 | $356.39 |
| 52-week low | $306.77 | $222.22 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -17.53% | -21.04% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +26.24% | +24.49% |
| Average volume | 1.13M | 2.43M |
| Shares outstanding | 270.56M | 267.45M |
| Employees | 117,000 | 107,950 |
| Sector | Industrials | 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 more profitable, keeping 23.8 cents of every revenue dollar as net income versus 8.0 cents for General Dynamics.
- The two companies sit in different sectors: General Dynamics in Industrials and Royal Caribbean Cruises in Consumer Discretionary.
About General Dynamics
GD stock →General Dynamics Corporation operates as an aerospace and defense company worldwide. It operates through four segments: Aerospace, Marine Systems, Combat Systems, and Technologies.
Industrials · Marine Transportation · 117,000 employees
About Royal Caribbean Cruises
RCL stock →Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. operates as a cruise company worldwide.
Consumer Discretionary · Marine Transportation · 107,950 employees
GD vs RCL FAQ
Which is bigger, General Dynamics or Royal Caribbean Cruises?
General Dynamics (GD) is larger, with a market capitalization of $89.26B compared with $75.26B for Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, GD or RCL?
GD returned -4.77% over the past 12 months, compared with -8.72% for RCL (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, GD or RCL?
RCL has the lower trailing P/E at 17.4, versus 20.1 for GD. 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, General Dynamics or Royal Caribbean Cruises?
General Dynamics has the higher yield at 1.87%, compared with 1.78% for Royal Caribbean Cruises.
Are General Dynamics and Royal Caribbean Cruises in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Marine Transportation industry within the Industrials sector.