Jason Liberty on Q1 2026 financial results
From RCL Stock | Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. Q1 2026 Earnings Call · · AlphaStreet
“Revenue grew 11% year-over-year. Earnings were 11% higher than guidance, and we returned $1.1 billion of capital through dividends and share buybacks.”
On , Jason Liberty, Chief Executive Officer & Chairman at Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd, spoke about Q1 2026 financial results during RCL Stock | Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. Q1 2026 Earnings Call on AlphaStreet.
About Jason Liberty
Jason Liberty, chairman and CEO of Royal Caribbean Group, reported first-quarter 2026 results that exceeded expectations, with revenue growing 11% year-over-year and earnings 11% higher than guidance. He stated that the company returned $1.1 billion to shareholders through dividends and share buybacks. Liberty noted that the company is on track to achieve a 20% compound annual growth rate in adjusted earnings per share through 2027 and a return on invested capital in the high teens. He attributed the performance to strong execution and consumer demand for experiences, adding that the company is seeing consistent engagement from guests and onboard spending well above prior years. Liberty said that approximately 40% of customers are repeat customers, up from a historical one-third, which he attributed to investments in loyalty programs, AI, and technology. He described the Mediterranean cruise market as doing "a little bit less well than we had anticipated" due to geopolitical events, but characterized this as a one-time situation. He also cited fuel costs as the most notable financial impact from the Middle East conflict, noting that the company is approximately 60% hedged for 2026 but expects fuel prices to increase costs by roughly 62 cents per share. Liberty said the company is focused on building a vacation platform through innovative ships, exclusive destinations, and technology to win more share of the $2 trillion vacation market.