Why Royal Caribbean Stock Is Skyrocketing This Week

Shares of leading global cruise company Royal Caribbean Group (NYSE: RCL) are up 16% this week as of 2 p.m. ET on Thursday. The world's second-largest cruise provider reported record fourth-quarter earnings, leaving the market to take an optimistic view about the company's future. While Royal Caribbean technically "missed" Wall Street's Q4 earnings expectations, revenue and adjusted earnings per share (EPS) grew by 13% and 72%, respectively, during the quarter as the company realized streamlining efficiencies. However, what really stole the show was Royal Caribbean's 2026 guidance, where management projected double-digit sales and adjusted EPS growth, with capacity set to rise nearly 7%.In addition to this stellar guidance, Chief Executive Officer Jason Liberty announced, "We experienced the best seven booking weeks in the company's history since the last earnings call," highlighting the unprecedented demand Royal Caribbean is seeing at the start of 2026. These record bookings follow a year in which net cruise costs (excluding fuel expenses) declined by 6%, creating an undeniably powerful one-two punch for the cruise line operator. Buoyed by these results, the company announced plans to double its fleet of Celebrity River Cruises ships to 20 by 2031 and to spend $5 billion on new initiatives in 2026 to capitalize on its growing demand.Image source: Getty Images.Continue readingWeiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei MotleyFool Weiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei MotleyFool