Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL)

Best among the cruise line stocks given its healthy balance sheet, better than Carnival. Tailwind comes from demand post-pandemic. The #3 S&P stock of 2023, up over 160%. There remains huge demand from Americans. Also, Wall Street no longer expects a hard landing to the economy, which a soft one which benefits the cruise lines.

It is close to where it was at the beginning of the pandemic but has issued substantial shares since then. Continue to hold but you could lighten up when the holiday season is over. People are spending more on basics like clothes and shoes this Christmas season and other spending is down.

Cruise lines have all done well because travel is booming. He'd pick this one, but they'll all do well. Q3 is generally their best quarter. Run up a lot already, so may see a pullback after Q3. Pent-up demand might even last into 2024.

Discouraged by Carnival's results today. A strong pass.

Shut down during Covid, but the cruise stocks are bouncing back. Life is too short thesis: people can't wait to experience things.

Royal Caribbean is a little better than Carnival, but all these stocks will benefit from the coming travel boom and economic reopening. Keeping ships at port is a big expense over all these months. There's 20-25% recovery left in the cruiselines. He bought at the bottom and has sold some. There's still upside here, but it's a higher risk stock. Sure, some travelers will never cruise again, but once vaccines are in place enough will come back. Cruiselines have recovered from past health scares.