Royal Caribbean Cruises' Quarterly Earnings Preview: What You Need to Know

Company Overview - Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (RCL) has a market capitalization of $77.2 billion and operates a diverse portfolio of brands, including Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, and Silversea Cruises, targeting both mass-market and luxury travelers [1] Earnings Expectations - Analysts anticipate RCL will report a profit of $2.79 per share for fiscal Q4 2025, representing a 71.2% increase from $1.63 per share in the same quarter last year [2] - For the current fiscal year ending in December, RCL is expected to report a profit of $15.64 per share, up 32.5% from $11.80 per share in fiscal 2024, with further growth projected to $17.91 per share in fiscal 2026, a 14.5% year-over-year increase [3] Stock Performance - RCL shares have increased by 23.7% over the past 52 weeks, outperforming the S&P 500 Index's 16.9% return and the State Street Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR ETF's 6.9% increase during the same period [4] Recent Developments - On December 11, RCL shares rose by 7.4% following the announcement of a new $2 billion share buyback program and a quarterly dividend of $1.00 per share. Additionally, consumer spending related to cruises increased by 11.2% year-over-year in November, despite a general decline in overall travel spending [5] Analyst Ratings - Wall Street analysts maintain a "Moderate Buy" rating for RCL, with 17 out of 25 analysts recommending "Strong Buy," one suggesting "Moderate Buy," and seven indicating "Hold." The mean price target for RCL is $330, suggesting a potential upside of 16.5% from current levels [6]