Zacks Research Has Optimistic Outlook of RCL Q3 Earnings

Key Points

• Zacks Research raised its Q3 2026 EPS estimate for Royal Caribbean Cruises to $6.32 from $6.29, while maintaining a “Hold” rating. Its full-year 2026 estimate is $17.73, broadly in line with the company’s guidance of $17.73–$17.87.
• Royal Caribbean’s latest quarter exceeded expectations, with EPS of $4.21 versus the $3.98 consensus and revenue of $4.83 billion, up 6.5% year over year. The company guided to Q3 2026 EPS of $6.26–$6.36.
• Analyst sentiment remains positive overall, with MarketBeat reporting a “Moderate Buy” consensus and an average price target of $353.40, despite mixed individual ratings. Shares opened at $307.90, while CEO Michael Bayley recently sold approximately $4.05 million worth of stock.

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (NYSE:RCL - Free Report) - Research analysts at Zacks Research increased their Q3 2026 earnings estimates for shares of Royal Caribbean Cruises in a research note issued to investors on Tuesday, August 11th. Zacks Research analyst Team now expects that the company will earn $6.32 per share for the quarter, up from their previous forecast of $6.29. Zacks Research has a "Hold" rating on the stock. The consensus estimate for Royal Caribbean Cruises' current full-year earnings is $17.79 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for Royal Caribbean Cruises' Q4 2026 earnings at $3.60 EPS, FY2026 earnings at $17.73 EPS, Q1 2027 earnings at $3.66 EPS, Q3 2027 earnings at $5.99 EPS, Q4 2027 earnings at $4.49 EPS, FY2027 earnings at $19.10 EPS, Q1 2028 earnings at $4.92 EPS, Q2 2028 earnings at $5.49 EPS and FY2028 earnings at $22.09 EPS.

Royal Caribbean Cruises (NYSE:RCL - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, July 28th. The company reported $4.21 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $3.98 by $0.23. Royal Caribbean Cruises had a net margin of 23.54% and a return on equity of 43.33%. The business had revenue of $4.83 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $4.82 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $4.38 earnings per share. The business's revenue was up 6.5% compared to the same quarter last year. Royal Caribbean Cruises has set its FY 2026 guidance at 17.730-17.870 EPS and its Q3 2026 guidance at 6.260-6.360 EPS.

RCL has been the subject of a number of other research reports. Wells Fargo & Company raised their target price on Royal Caribbean Cruises from $361.00 to $388.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a report on Wednesday, July 29th. UBS Group reiterated a "buy" rating and issued a $367.00 price target on shares of Royal Caribbean Cruises in a report on Monday, August 3rd. Truist Financial reduced their price objective on shares of Royal Caribbean Cruises from $318.00 to $297.00 and set a "hold" rating for the company in a research note on Friday, May 22nd. BMO Capital Markets started coverage on shares of Royal Caribbean Cruises in a report on Tuesday, July 7th. They set an "outperform" rating and a $370.00 price objective on the stock. Finally, Morgan Stanley upped their target price on shares of Royal Caribbean Cruises from $280.00 to $300.00 and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a research report on Thursday, July 30th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fourteen have given a Buy rating and seven have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $353.40.

Royal Caribbean Cruises Trading Up 0.2%

Shares of RCL stock opened at $307.90 on Thursday. The business's fifty day moving average price is $302.02 and its 200 day moving average price is $291.90. The firm has a market capitalization of $82.35 billion, a PE ratio of 19.03, a P/E/G ratio of 1.05 and a beta of 1.77. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.03, a current ratio of 0.21 and a quick ratio of 0.19. Royal Caribbean Cruises has a 1-year low of $232.10 and a 1-year high of $366.50.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Royal Caribbean Cruises news, CEO Michael W. Bayley sold 12,811 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, July 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $315.99, for a total transaction of $4,048,147.89. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer directly owned 45,297 shares in the company, valued at approximately $14,313,399.03. This trade represents a 22.05% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Insiders own 6.44% of the company's stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the business. Montag A & Associates Inc. grew its holdings in Royal Caribbean Cruises by 184.4% during the 4th quarter. Montag A & Associates Inc. now owns 91 shares of the company's stock valued at $25,000 after buying an additional 59 shares during the last quarter. Ares Financial Consulting LLC acquired a new position in shares of Royal Caribbean Cruises in the fourth quarter worth $26,000. University of Texas Texas AM Investment Management Co. purchased a new stake in shares of Royal Caribbean Cruises in the fourth quarter valued at $26,000. IMG Wealth Management Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Royal Caribbean Cruises during the first quarter valued at $27,000. Finally, Kemnay Advisory Services Inc. acquired a new position in Royal Caribbean Cruises in the 4th quarter valued at about $27,000. 87.53% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About Royal Caribbean Cruises

Royal Caribbean Cruises NYSE: RCL, operating as part of the Royal Caribbean Group, is a global cruise company that develops, markets and operates passenger cruise ships. The company operates multiple consumer-facing cruise brands that offer short- and long-duration itineraries and a range of onboard experiences. Its core activities include itineraries and voyage operations, guest services and hospitality, onboard food and beverage, entertainment and recreation programming, and the commercial activities needed to sell and support cruises through both direct and travel‑agent channels.

Royal Caribbean's ships serve a broad set of geographies worldwide, regularly deploying vessels in the Caribbean, North America (including Alaska), Europe, Asia, Australia and South America.

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