Royal Caribbean Cruises .(US:RCL) Zhi Tong Cai Jing·2025-10-28 15:21Core Viewpoint - Royal Caribbean's stock price fell over 8% despite better-than-expected Q3 earnings and an upward revision of annual guidance, primarily due to revenue and outlook for the next quarter and new fiscal year falling short of market expectations [1][2] Group 1: Q3 Performance - Royal Caribbean reported a 4.3% increase in total revenue to $5.14 billion, slightly below market consensus of $5.17 billion [1] - Key operational metrics improved, with passenger capacity, number of passengers, and average cruise days all rising compared to last year [1] - Earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter increased to $5.75, an 11% year-over-year growth, exceeding market expectations by $0.07 [1] - Adjusted EBITDA reached $2.3 billion, a 7% year-over-year increase [1] - Liquidity at the end of the quarter was $6.8 billion, down from $7.1 billion in the previous quarter, but sufficient to cover upcoming debt obligations [1] - The company raised its full-year interest expense guidance from $930-940 million to $945-955 million due to increased debt [1] Group 2: Q4 and Future Outlook - For Q4, Royal Caribbean expects a 10.3% increase in capacity driven by the delivery of the "Star of the Seas" and the inaugural sailing of "Celebrity Xcel" [2] - The company anticipates a year-over-year cost reduction of 5.7%-6.2% [2] - Adjusted EPS for Q4 is projected to be between $2.74 and $2.79, nearly doubling from last year but below market estimates of $2.90 [2] - Full-year earnings guidance has been raised to $15.58-$15.63, up from $15.41-$15.55, but still below market expectations of $15.69 [2] - CEO Jason Liberty expressed confidence in strong booking trends, projecting EPS of over $17 for 2026, although market consensus for 2026 is higher at over $18.21 [2]