Carnival Corp vs Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd — how do they compare? Carnival Corp trades at $26.51 (market cap $36.30B), while Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd trades at $284.27 (market cap $75.92B). The key difference: Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd is far larger — about 2.1× Carnival Corp's market cap, and Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd pays the higher dividend (1.77%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| CCL | RCL | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $36.30B | $75.92B |
Sector | Consumer Cyclical | Consumer Cyclical |
52-Week High | $33.99 | $365.84 |
52-Week Low | $23.89 | $246.71 |
Enterprise Value | $60.22B | $97.20B |
Dividend Yield | 1.7% | 1.77% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Carnival Corporation (CCL) trades at $26.61, down 0.82% on the day, amid a bearish technical signal. The company demonstrates strong fundamental improvement with revenue growth to $26.62 billion in 2025 and net income of $2.76 billion, supported by three consecutive quarterly EPS beats. Positive analyst sentiment is evident with a $35.00 consensus price target and 59.57% buy ratings, while recent news highlights fleet expansion and strong bookings.
The outlook remains positive due to robust demand and cost controls, but risks include geopolitical tensions impacting fuel costs and softer European demand. The stock's current valuation metrics, such as a P/E of 11.99, suggest potential upside if execution continues, though investors must weigh debt levels and macroeconomic headwinds.
Royal Caribbean (RCL) trades at $288.61, up 1.14% today, with a bullish technical setup near key resistance at $292. The company demonstrates strong fundamental momentum, with 2025 revenue reaching $17.93 billion and net income surging to $4.27 billion, yielding a robust 24.36% net margin. Analyst consensus is positive, with a $328 price target implying 14% upside, supported by 25 buy ratings. Recent news highlights Caribbean demand strength offsetting European softness, with Q2 2026 earnings due July 28.
RCL's outlook is favorable, driven by earnings beats, expanding margins, and strategic destination investments. Key risks include Europe demand volatility, high debt levels, and competitive pressures. Institutional sentiment leans bullish, but macroeconomic sensitivity and execution on yield growth remain critical for sustained upside.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Latest headlines on both assets
Carnival is the largest global cruise company, with 91 ships in its fleet in October 2022, with eight of its nine brands set to be fully redeployed by the end of 2022. Its portfolio of brands includes Carnival Cruise Lines, Holland America, Princess Cruises, and Seabourn in North America.
Read more on CCL →Royal Caribbean is the world's second-largest cruise company, operating 64 ships across five global and partner brands in the cruise vacation industry, with 10 more ships on order. Brands the company operates include Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, and Silversea. The company also has a 50% investment in a joint venture that operates TUI Cruises and Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, allowing it to compete on the basis of innovation, quality of ships and service, variety of itineraries, choice of destinations, and price. The company completed the divestiture of its Azamara brand in the first quarter of 2021.
Read more on RCL →