Royal Caribbean Cruises .(US:RCL)2025-10-28 15:00Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported adjusted earnings per share of $5.75 for Q3 2025, an 11% increase year over year [10][25] - Net yields grew by 2.4% year over year, driven by strong demand across all key itineraries [10][23] - Full year adjusted earnings per share is now expected to be in the range of $15.58 to $15.63, reflecting a 32% year over year growth [12][29] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Capacity increased by 3% in Q3 2025, with nearly 2,500,000 vacations delivered, marking a 7% increase year over year [10][24] - The Caribbean represents 57% of the company's deployment for the year, with a 6% increase in capacity [26] - The company anticipates a 10% capacity growth in Q4 2025, driven by new ships and additional APCDs [11][26] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Book load factors for 2026 remain well within historical ranges at record rates, with booked APD growth at the high end of historical ranges [16][32] - The company expects Caribbean yields in Q4 to be up 37% compared to 2019 [26] - Europe is expected to account for 15% of capacity for the year, with strong booking positions as the European season wraps up [27] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on building a vacation platform that leads the leisure market through innovative ships and exclusive destinations [6][7] - Plans to expand the exclusive land-based destination portfolio from two to eight by 2028 [7] - The company aims to capture a greater share of the $2 trillion global vacation market by enhancing customer experiences and loyalty [18][19] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management noted strong consumer sentiment towards travel and leisure, with three-quarters of consumers intending to spend the same or more on vacations over the next twelve months [14] - The company is optimistic about the demand environment, with strong bookings and a powerful pipeline of strategic initiatives [13][15] - Despite some adverse weather impacts, the company expects total revenue to increase by approximately 13% year over year in Q4 [11][29] Other Important Information - The company ended the quarter with $6.8 billion in liquidity and adjusted leverage below 3x [35][36] - A 30% increase in the quarterly dividend to $1 per common share was authorized by the Board of Directors [37] - The company repurchased approximately 1.3 million shares during the quarter, with $345 million still available under the current authorization [37] Q&A Session Summary Question: Thoughts on 2026 guidance and yield growth - Management indicated that 2026 earnings are expected to have a $17 handle, with moderate yield growth anticipated [40][76] Question: Clarification on cost growth expectations - Management described cost growth as "anemic," including structural costs and new destination impacts [47][52] Question: Insights on global demand progression - Management noted strong demand across all markets, with a normalization in Canada and robust bookings from Europe [58][59] Question: Concerns about oversupply in the Caribbean - Management acknowledged increased supply but emphasized that it is manageable and that their differentiated assets help maintain demand [64] Question: Yield performance in 2025 - Management explained that yield deceleration in the second half of 2025 is influenced by tougher comparisons and fewer new hardware tailwinds [98]