Is Royal Caribbean Cruises Outperforming the Nasdaq?

Company Overview - Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. operates as a global cruise vacation company with a market cap of $93.8 billion, managing brands such as Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, Azamara, and Silversea Cruises, and holding interests in TUI Cruises, Pullmantur, and SkySea Cruises [1] Market Position - Royal Caribbean is classified as a large-cap stock, reflecting its substantial size, influence, and dominance in the cruise industry [2] Stock Performance - RCL reached an all-time high of $366.50 on August 29 and is currently trading 6.8% below that peak, with a stock price increase of 26.6% over the past three months, outperforming the Nasdaq Composite's 11% gains during the same period [3] - Year-to-date, RCL's stock has surged 48%, and over the past 52 weeks, it has increased by 115.7%, significantly outperforming the Nasdaq's 13.3% gains in 2025 and 28.6% over the past year [4] Financial Results - In Q2, RCL's overall topline grew by 10.4% year-over-year to $4.5 billion, driven by growth in ticket sales and onboard revenues, although it slightly missed market expectations [5] - The company's adjusted net income rose 36.3% year-over-year to $1.2 billion, with an adjusted EPS of $4.38 exceeding consensus estimates by 6.8%, and operating cash flows increased by 16.3% year-over-year to $3.4 billion [6] Competitive Performance - RCL has outperformed its peer, Carnival Corporation & plc, which recorded 25.8% gains year-to-date and a 94.3% surge over the past 52 weeks [7]