Kirby (KEX) vs Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 9, 2026.
Summary
Kirby (KEX) has outperformed Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) over the past year, gaining 68.0% versus a loss of 8.7%. Over five years, RCL leads with a +226.0% price change compared with +152.9% for KEX. Royal Caribbean Cruises is the larger company by market cap ($75.25 billion vs $7.19 billion), about 10.5 times the size.
On valuation, Royal Caribbean Cruises trades at a lower forward P/E (13.8x vs 16.5x for Kirby). Royal Caribbean Cruises pays a dividend yielding 1.78%, while Kirby does not currently pay one. Royal Caribbean Cruises converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 23.8% versus 10.5%.
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 | KEX | RCL |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $136.18 | $281.35 |
| Market cap | $7.19B | $75.25B |
| 1-day change | -1.40% | -0.02% |
| YTD return | +25.35% | +0.89% |
| 1-year return | +67.96% | -8.72% |
| 5-year return | +152.86% | +226.01% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 20.92 | 17.37 |
| Forward P/E | 16.47 | 13.77 |
| EPS (TTM) | $6.51 | $16.20 |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | 1.78% |
| Annual dividend | $0.00 | $5.00 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $3.36B | $17.93B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +3.01% | +8.80% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $354.57M | $4.27B |
| Gross margin | — | 49.36% |
| Operating margin | 14.75% | 27.38% |
| Net margin | 10.54% | 23.80% |
| 52-week high | $157.69 | $356.39 |
| 52-week low | $79.52 | $222.22 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -13.64% | -21.06% |
| Analyst consensus | strong_buy | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +20.93% | +24.52% |
| Average volume | 492.76K | 2.44M |
| Shares outstanding | 52.80M | 267.45M |
| Employees | 5,233 | 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 10.5 times larger than Kirby by market value ($75.25B vs $7.19B).
- KEX has outperformed RCL by 76.7 percentage points over the past year.
- Royal Caribbean Cruises offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (1.78% vs 0.00%).
- Royal Caribbean Cruises is more profitable, keeping 23.8 cents of every revenue dollar as net income versus 10.5 cents for Kirby.
- Royal Caribbean Cruises grew revenue faster in its latest fiscal year (+8.80% vs +3.01%).
About Kirby
KEX stock →Kirby Corporation operates domestic tank barges in the United States. Its Marine Transportation segment provides marine transportation service and towing vessels transporting bulk liquid product, as well as operates tank barges throughout the Mississippi River System, on the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, and coastwise along three United States coasts, Alaska, and Hawaii.
Consumer Discretionary · Marine Transportation · 5,233 employees
About Royal Caribbean Cruises
RCL stock →Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. operates as a cruise company worldwide.
Consumer Discretionary · Marine Transportation · 107,950 employees
KEX vs RCL FAQ
Which is bigger, Kirby or Royal Caribbean Cruises?
Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) is larger, with a market capitalization of $75.25B compared with $7.19B for Kirby (KEX).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, KEX or RCL?
KEX returned +67.96% 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, KEX or RCL?
RCL has the lower trailing P/E at 17.4, versus 20.9 for KEX. 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, Kirby or Royal Caribbean Cruises?
Royal Caribbean Cruises pays a dividend yielding 1.78%, while Kirby does not currently pay a regular dividend.
Are Kirby and Royal Caribbean Cruises in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Marine Transportation industry within the Consumer Discretionary sector.