Royal Caribbean Gr (NYSE:RCL) Stock, Quote.Headers.trade-ideas

Royal Caribbean Gr

Royal Caribbean is the world's second-largest cruise company, operating 68 ships across five global and partner brands in the cruise vacation industry. Brands the company operates include Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, and Silversea. The company also has a 50% investment in a joint venture that operates TUI Cruises and Hapag-Lloyd Cruises. The selection of brands in the portfolio allows Royal to compete on the basis of innovation, quality of ships and service, variety of itineraries, choice of destinations, and price. The company completed the divestiture of its Azamara brand in 2021.

Earnings

Large Cap

Mid Cap

News

Retail Sales

Small Cap

Markets

Analyst Ratings

Trading Ideas

Brunswick Corporation&#39;s (NYSE: BC) Freedom Boat Club, the world&#39;s largest boat club network, acquired the South Florida franchise operations and territory.

BC&#39;s Freedom Boat Club Expands South Florida Operations

American Express Green Card

Analyst Color

Long Ideas

Travel

NCLH

Cruise stocks are rising with strong demand and pricing power. Royal Caribbean, Carnival, and Norwegian poised for success in FY25 according to JPMorgan analyst. Bookings already extending to 2027.

Cruise Stocks To Sail Smoothly Into 2025: Analyst Sees &#39;Zero Signs Of Softening&#39;

carnival cruise shutter

Consumers are eager to cruise as online interest in cruise lines has grown consistently since March, while other travel sectors have declined.

Cruise Industry Sees Steady Rise In Web Traffic While Other Travel Sectors Decline

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. Common Stock

Royal Caribbean Group

RCL Foods Ltd

Royal Caribbean Gr's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RCL#NYSE">RCL</a>) short percent of float has fallen 31.7% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 11.10 million shares sold short, which is 6.29% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 6.44 days to cover their short positions on average.
<h3>Why Short Interest Matters</h3>
Short interest is the number of shares that have been sold short but have not yet been covered or closed out. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-short-a-stock/">Short selling</a> is when a trader sells shares of a company they do not own, with the hope that the price will fall. Traders make money from short selling if the price of the stock falls and they lose if it rises.
Short interest is important to track because it can act as an indicator of market sentiment towards a particular stock. An increase in short interest can signal that investors have become more bearish, while a decrease in short interest can signal they have become more bullish.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/short-interest">List of the most shorted stocks</a>
<h3>Royal Caribbean Gr Short Interest Graph (3 Months)</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1726598711_0.png" alt="short_fig" />
As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for Royal Caribbean Gr has declined since its last report. This does not mean that the stock is going to rise in the near-term but traders should be aware that less shares are being shorted.
<h3>Comparing Royal Caribbean Gr's Short Interest Against Its Peers</h3>
Peer comparison is a popular technique amongst analysts and investors for gauging how well a company is performing. A company's peer is another company that has similar characteristics to it, such as industry, size, age, and financial structure. You can find a company's peer group by reading its 10-K, proxy filing, or by doing your own similarity analysis.
According to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/">Benzinga Pro</a>, Royal Caribbean Gr's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 6.86%, which means the company has less short interest than most of its peers.
Did you know that increasing short interest can actually be bullish for a stock? <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-make-money-on-a-short-squeeze/">This post by Benzinga Money explains how you can profit from it.</a>
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and was reviewed by an editor.

Short Sellers

Short Ideas

How Is The Market Feeling About Royal Caribbean Gr?

Financial giants have made a conspicuous bullish move on Royal Caribbean Gr. Our analysis of options history for Royal Caribbean Gr (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RCL#NYSE">RCL</a>) revealed 8 unusual trades.
Delving into the details, we found 75% of traders were bullish, while 0% showed bearish tendencies. Out of all the trades we spotted, 5 were puts, with a value of $361,785, and 3 were calls, valued at $202,292.
<h3>What's The Price Target?</h3>
Analyzing the Volume and Open Interest in these contracts, it seems that the big players have been eyeing a price window from $145.0 to $185.0 for Royal Caribbean Gr during the past quarter. 
<h3>Volume &amp; Open Interest Development</h3>
In terms of liquidity and interest, the mean open interest for Royal Caribbean Gr options trades today is 304.86 with a total volume of 380.00.
In the following chart, we are able to follow the development of volume and open interest of call and put options for Royal Caribbean Gr's big money trades within a strike price range of $145.0 to $185.0 over the last 30 days.
<h3>Royal Caribbean Gr Option Activity Analysis: Last 30 Days</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1726597827_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Largest Options Trades Observed:</h3>

<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Ask</th>
<th>Bid</th>
<th>Price</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>RCL</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>08/15/25</td>
<td>$25.5</td>
<td>$22.6</td>
<td>$23.75</td>
<td>$175.00</td>
<td>$237.5K</td>
<td>1</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">100</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>RCL</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>03/21/25</td>
<td>$36.4</td>
<td>$33.8</td>
<td>$35.0</td>
<td>$145.00</td>
<td>$119.0K</td>
<td>78</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">40</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>RCL</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>03/21/25</td>
<td>$13.0</td>
<td>$12.25</td>
<td>$12.68</td>
<td>$185.00</td>
<td>$48.1K</td>
<td>70</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">38</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>RCL</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>06/20/25</td>
<td>$20.4</td>
<td>$18.95</td>
<td>$19.75</td>
<td>$170.00</td>
<td>$35.5K</td>
<td>23</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">15</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>RCL</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>10/18/24</td>
<td>$2.68</td>
<td>$2.5</td>
<td>$2.68</td>
<td>$180.00</td>
<td>$35.1K</td>
<td>1.7K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">162</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About Royal Caribbean Gr</h3>
Royal Caribbean is the world's second-largest cruise company, operating 68 ships across five global and partner brands in the cruise vacation industry. Brands the company operates include Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, and Silversea. The company also has a 50% investment in a joint venture that operates TUI Cruises and Hapag-Lloyd Cruises. The selection of brands in the portfolio allows Royal to compete on the basis of innovation, quality of ships and service, variety of itineraries, choice of destinations, and price. The company completed the divestiture of its Azamara brand in 2021.
<h3>Royal Caribbean Gr's Current Market Status</h3>
<ul>
<li>With a volume of 751,028, the price of RCL is down -0.72% at $168.52. </li>
<li>RSI indicators hint that the underlying stock may be approaching overbought.</li>
<li>Next earnings are expected to be released in 37 days.</li>
</ul>
<h3>What Analysts Are Saying About Royal Caribbean Gr</h3>
Over the past month, 1 industry analysts have shared their insights on this stock, proposing an average target price of $213.0.
<ul>
<li>Maintaining their stance, an analyst from JP Morgan continues to hold a Overweight rating for Royal Caribbean Gr, targeting a price of $213. </li>
</ul>
Trading options involves greater risks but also offers the potential for higher profits. Savvy traders mitigate these risks through ongoing education, strategic trade adjustments, utilizing various indicators, and staying attuned to market dynamics. Keep up with the latest options trades for Royal Caribbean Gr with <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a> for real-time alerts.

Options

A Closer Look at Royal Caribbean Gr's Options Market Dynamics

The Company intends to use the proceeds from the sale of the Notes to redeem and/or repay certain of its indebtedness, including, but not limited to, (i) to redeem all of its outstanding&nbsp;7.250%&nbsp;Senior Notes due 2030, after which the Company will have no remaining guaranteed or secured notes outstanding; and (ii) to repay in full all outstanding obligations under its&nbsp;Silver Dawn&nbsp;finance lease (including to pay fees and expenses in connection with each of the foregoing). Pending such uses, the Company may apply some of the proceeds to temporarily repay borrowings under its revolving credit facilities.

Reported Earlier, Royal Caribbean Prices Upsized Offering Of $1.5B 5.625% Senior Unsecured Notes Due 2031 To Refinance Existing Indebtedness

Brunswick Corporation&#39;s (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/bc#NYSE">BC</a>) Freedom Boat Club, the world&#39;s largest boat club network, acquired the South Florida franchise operations and territory. The acquisition adds 13 corporate locations from Pompano Beach to Stuart, FL, accelerating the company&#39;s growth and expanding its corporate presence along the Southeast Florida coastline. Brunswick&#39;s shares moved up 4.4% during trading hours on Sept. 13, 2024.
Situated near Freedom Boat Club&#39;s existing corporate locations in Fort Lauderdale, Miami, and Islamorada, the acquisition enhances its operational efficiencies. This is one of the company&#39;s largest additions, covering Broward, Palm Beach, and Martin counties. It intends to build on the strong foundation laid by the former franchise owner while continuing to provide outstanding experiences for its members.
The addition of the South Florida franchise offers a key opportunity to accelerate growth in a year-round boating region while also leveraging synergies with Brunswick&#39;s family of brands.
<h2>FBC Expansion Drives BC&#39;s Growth</h2>
Brunswick Corporation leads the marine recreation industry with innovations that enhance water experiences. The company&#39;s Boat segment includes the Brunswick Boat Group, which manufactures and distributes recreational boats, and Business Acceleration. Brunswick significantly expanded FBC since acquiring it in 2019, growing from 170 to more than 415 locations across North America, Europe and Australia.
During second-quarter 2024, the Boat segment delivered steady results despite planned reductions in wholesale orders. Channel partners remain cautious with their orders, but the impact of modest model-year pricing and share gains offset some of the softness.
FBC contributed about 10% to the Boat segment&#39;s revenues and experienced steady membership growth despite macroeconomic uncertainty. The club also expanded with two new flagship locations in Denmark and the UK and recorded 200,000 member trips during the quarter. Discounting and promotional activities remain high, especially for prior model year products, to boost retail sales. Investments in digital platforms continue to benefit the company, with nearly 40% of FBC membership sales in the quarter being digitally assisted.
<h2>BC&#39;s Price Performance</h2>
<img alt="Zacks Investment Research" src="https://staticx-tuner.zacks.com/images/articles/charts/b0/77829.jpg?v=386916374" />
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Shares of Brunswick have increased 5.9% in the past three months compared with the industry&#39;s 6.3% rise. The company is likely to benefit from new model introductions and marketing and promotional activities. Also, the emphasis on expansion bodes well.
Continued slower retail sales and higher discounting and carrying costs are a concern. Owing to these headwinds, the company expects full-year unit retail sales to decline by approximately 10% compared with the original forecast of flat sales.
<h2>Zacks Rank &amp; Key Picks</h2>
Brunswick currently carries a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell).
Here are some better-ranked stocks from the Consumer Discretionary sector.
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/rcl#NYSE">RCL</a>) currently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy).
RCL has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 18.5%, on average. The stock has gained 75.1% in the past year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for RCL&#39;s 2024 sales and earnings per share indicates growth of 18.1% and 71.1%, respectively, from the year-ago levels.
DoubleDown Interactive Co., Ltd. (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ddi#NASDAQ">DDI</a>) currently sports a Zacks Rank of 1. DDI has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 22.1%, on average. The stock has increased 41.8% in the past year.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for DDI&#39;s 2024 sales and EPS indicates an increase of 12.6% and 15.8%, respectively, from the year-ago levels.
Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. currently sports a Zacks Rank of 1. NCLH has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 5.7%, on average. The stock has moved up 12.9% in the past year.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for NCLH&#39;s 2024 sales and EPS indicates an increase of 9.8% and 125.7%, respectively, from the year-ago levels.
<a href="https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2336688/bc-s-freedom-boat-club-expands-south-florida-operations?cid=CS-BENZ-FT-analyst_blog|company_news_corporate_actions-2336688">To read this article on Zacks.com click here.</a>

BC's Freedom Boat Club Expands South Florida Operations

JP Morgan analyst Matthew Boss maintains Royal Caribbean Gr (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RCL#NYSE">RCL</a>) with a Overweight and raises the price target from $210 to $213.

Price Target

JP Morgan Maintains Overweight on Royal Caribbean Gr, Raises Price Target to $213

Cruise stocks are cruising in the fast lane, and according to analysts, the seas ahead look crystal clear. Royal Caribbean Group (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RCL#NYSE">RCL</a>), Carnival Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CCL#NYSE">CCL</a>), and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NCLH#NYSE">NCLH</a>) are poised for a strong setup in 2025, backed by rising demand and pricing power, according to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/cruise-lines">JPMorgan analyst Matthew R. Boss</a>.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">&#8216;Zero Signs&#8217; Of Demand Softening For Cruise Lines</h2>
"Zero signs of softening in any lead indicator," said Boss after attending the Endless Summer Forum in Miami. That includes everything from booking curves to onboard spending – with Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line&#8217;s management confirming the industry's sturdy footing. 
With nearly half of 2025's capacity already booked, cruises are setting sail much earlier than usual, extending bookings as far as 2027.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Royal Caribbean &#8216;In A Very Good Spot&#8217;</h2>
RCL is leading the charge. CFO Naftali Holtz stated, &#8220;We're in a very good spot,&#8221; citing how 70% of passengers make pre-cruise purchases, which translates to a significant onboard spending boost. The company is banking on long-term drivers, including the arrival of new ships like &#8220;Utopia of the Seas&#8221; and &#8220;Star of the Seas&#8221; to fuel further growth.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Carnival Prepares For Q3 Earnings</h2>
Meanwhile, Carnival is ready to ride the wave, with its third quarter earnings expected to get a lift from the continued surge in demand, particularly in Europe and Alaska. 
The company remains optimistic about maintaining its pricing power, which remains about 25% lower than land-based alternatives – a strong selling point for thrifty travelers.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Norwegian&#8217;s Management Is &#8216;Very Confident&#8217;</h2>
Norwegian Cruise Line remains neutral in JPMorgan&#8217;s outlook but sees clear skies ahead. Management expressed "very confident" expectations of hitting a $300 million cost savings target, driven by initiatives such as optimizing fuel use and streamlining menus—all while keeping passengers satisfied.
Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/technicals/24/08/40471397/norwegian-cruise-line-sails-into-troubled-waters-as-financial-struggles-bearish-trends-p">Norwegian Cruise Line Sails Into Troubled Waters As Financial Struggles, Bearish Trends Persist</a>
As Royal Caribbean, Carnival, and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings navigate the post-pandemic recovery, each is showing unique strengths. 
Royal Caribbean&#8217;s focus on new ship launches and immersive experiences, Carnival's strong booking trends and cost-efficiency strategies, and Norwegian's premium offerings suggest that all three are well-positioned to benefit from increasing consumer demand. The cruise industry, with its multi-generational appeal and rising demand, seems to be taking a larger slice of the $1.9 trillion global vacation pie. 
However, challenges such as inflationary pressures and rising operational costs could impact profitability. Investors will need to weigh these factors as they consider which cruise line is best positioned to capitalize on the industry&#8217;s recovery and continue gaining market share.
Read Next: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/travel/24/09/40835139/cruise-industry-sees-steady-rise-in-web-traffic-while-other-travel-sectors-decline">Cruise Industry Sees Steady Rise In Web Traffic While Other Travel Sectors Decline</a></li>
</ul>
Image via Unsplash

Cruise Stocks To Sail Smoothly Into 2025: Analyst Sees 'Zero Signs Of Softening'

The Company intends to use the proceeds from the sale of the Notes to redeem and/or repay certain of its indebtedness, including, but not limited to, redeem all of its outstanding&nbsp;7.250%&nbsp;Senior Notes due 2030, after which the Company will have no remaining guaranteed indebtedness, and&nbsp;to repay in full all outstanding obligations under its&nbsp;Silver Dawn&nbsp;finance lease.
Pending such uses, the Company may apply some of the proceeds to temporarily repay borrowings under its revolving credit facilities.

Offerings

Royal Caribbean Cruises Commences Private Offering Of $1B Of Senior Unsecured Notes Due 2031

Consumers are apparently itching to go <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/technicals/24/08/40471397/norwegian-cruise-line-sails-into-troubled-waters-as-financial-struggles-bearish-trends-p">on a cruise</a> as online interest in cruise lines has shown consistent growth over the past several months, according to website analytics company Similarweb.
Website traffic to these companies has risen year over year nearly every two weeks from late March to late August, its data showed.
Traffic surged 15% year-over-year on April 26 and May 10, and 12% on May 24. It also increased by 8% on April 12 and June 7, and 5% on June 21. Additionally, traffic rose by 3% on March 29 and by 2% on Aug. 2, 16, and 20
Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/07/39919685/bank-of-america-raises-projections-for-cruise-line-stocks-more-insulated-from-the-a">Bank Of America Raises Projections For Cruise Line Stocks: &#8216;More Insulated From The Airline Trends</a>
It fell only once over the five -month period, dropping 3% on July 19 from a year ago.
Web traffic to other sectors within travel and entertainment—such as airlines, hotels, rental cars, entertainment, online travel agencies, and meta search engines—declined on the same days compared to a year earlier, according to Similarweb.
Entertainment saw the biggest drops in year-over-year web traffic in the past two months, registering declines of 27% on July 19, 24% on Aug. 2 and 23% on Aug. 16. Online visits to this sector dropped 17% from a year earlier on June 7 and Aug. 30, 14% on June 21 and 12% on May 24.
Other sectors that saw a 12% year-over-year drop include airlines on July 5 and rental cars on April 12.
Price Action: Cruise companies saw gains and losses during Thursday&#8217;s pre-market trading.
<ul>
<li>Carnival Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CCL#NYSE">CCL</a>) gained 0.12% to $16.56</li>
<li>Royal Caribbean Group Ltd. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RCL#NYSE">RCL</a>) edged up 0.52% to $163</li>
<li>Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NCLH#NYSE">NCLH</a>) dipped 0.21% to $18.66</li>
</ul>
Read Now:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/23/12/36302778/the-carnival-is-not-over-a-remarkable-bounceback-for-cruise-industry-after-punishing-2-years">The Carnival Is Not Over: A Remarkable Bounceback For Cruise Industry After Punishing 2 Years</a></li>
</ul>
Photo: Shutterstock

Columbia Sportswear Company (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/colm#NASDAQ">COLM</a>) is well-positioned for growth and profitability, owing to its strategic focus on key priorities such as accelerating profits, developing iconic and innovative products, boosting brand engagement and enhancing digital capabilities. Despite facing a challenging operating environment in the United States, characterized by slow consumer demand and cautious retailers, the company is set to improve operational efficiency and safeguard profits through its multi-year Profit Improvement Program.
Columbia Sportswear has demonstrated remarkable resilience over the past year, with its shares rising 16.5%. This performance stands in sharp contrast to the 11.4% decline in the Zacks Textile - Apparel industry. COLM&#39;s operational expertise has enabled it to surpass the broader Zacks Consumer Discretionary sector, which has grown just 5.2%.
<h2>Growth Factors for COLM Stock</h2>
Columbia Sportswear is boosting operational efficiency and protecting profits with its multi-year Profit Improvement Program, targeting $75-$90 million in cost savings for 2024. This program focuses on four main areas to enhance resources and streamline operations. The company is reducing costs related to surplus inventory and improving supply chain efficiency, with a notable 29% year-over-year drop in inventory levels by the end of Q2 2024. Columbia Sportswear plans to implement cost-saving measures through a reduction in its U.S. corporate workforce.
The program aims to refine decision-making processes and enhance efficiency by optimizing work methods and empowering teams. Efforts include reducing non-inventory spending through strategic sourcing and vendor rationalization while optimizing marketing expenditures to boost returns and support growth. By focusing on these areas, Columbia Sportswear is well-positioned to drive significant cost savings and operational improvements.
The company also focuses on brand-building and innovative marketing initiatives to strengthen its market presence. Recent innovations include Omni-Shade Broad Spectrum Air Flow for UV protection and Omni-MAX footwear for cushioning. Columbia Sportswear continues to introduce cutting-edge products like Omni-Heat Infinity and Omni-Heat Arctic, which position it for sustained growth in the competitive apparel industry.
Aligned with its strategic priorities, Columbia Sportswear is committed to ongoing demand creation investments, improving digital capabilities and exploring direct-to-consumer opportunities. The company is also investing in its workforce and optimizing its organizational structure across its brand portfolio, positioning itself for significant long-term growth.
<img alt="Zacks Investment Research" src="https://staticx-tuner.zacks.com/images/articles/charts/b3/77134.jpg?v=157609988" />
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
<h2>Challenges for COLM Stock</h2>
Columbia Sportswear is grappling with a challenging operating environment in the United States, marked by sluggish consumer demand and cautious retailers. This tough landscape negatively affected the company&#39;s second-quarter performance, with net sales falling 8% to $570.2 million, or down 7% at constant currency. The decline was driven by reduced wholesale net sales in the U.S., which saw a 15% drop to $340.2 million due to retailer hesitancy and a competitive market. Despite efforts to boost demand through product enhancements and marketing initiatives, persistent low consumer spending and retailer caution continue to impede growth.
Columbia Sportswear anticipates further challenges from ongoing issues in the outdoor industry, U.S. consumer trends, geopolitical conflicts and supply-chain disruptions. For 2024, the company expects net sales to decline 2-4% to between $3.35 billion and $3.42 billion, with projected earnings per share ranging from $3.65 to $4.05. The third quarter is expected to see a net sales decline of 3-6% to between $927 million and $959 million, with EPS anticipated to fall from $1.70 to a range of $1.27-$1.43 per share. Additionally, rising SG&amp;A costs and a contraction in gross margins have contributed to margin pressures, with SG&amp;A expenses increasing 280 basis points to 53.1% of sales in the second quarter.
<h2>Investors&#39; Guide for COLM Stock</h2>
Despite challenges, the Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company&#39;s strategic initiatives and market resilience stand out. Columbia Sportswear demonstrates potential with its operational improvements and innovative product offerings. However, issues like declining sales, rising costs, and market uncertainties suggest a cautious approach. Investors should closely observe how Columbia Sportswear addresses these challenges and meets its cost-saving goals before making any investment decisions.
<h2>Top Three Discretionary Stocks</h2>
Some top-ranked stocks in the Consumer Discretionary sector are G-III Apparel Group, Ltd. (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/giii#NASDAQ">GIII</a>), Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/rcl#NYSE">RCL</a>) and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/nclh#NYSE">NCLH</a>), each sporting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy).
G-III Apparel Group, Ltd. has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 118.2%, on average. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for GIII&#39;s current financial-year sales indicates growth of 3.3% from the year-ago figure.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Royal Caribbean&#39;s current financial-year sales indicates an increase of 18.1% from the year-ago reported level. RCL has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 18.5%, on average.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Norwegian Cruise&#39;s 2024 sales and EPS indicates an increase of 9.8% and 125.8%, respectively, from the year-ago levels. NCLH has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 5.7%, on average.
<a href="https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2334048/columbia-sportswear-s-stock-review-what-s-the-next-best-move?cid=CS-BENZ-FT-analyst_blog|rank_focused-2334048">To read this article on Zacks.com click here.</a>

COLM

GIII

Columbia Sportswear's Stock Review: What's the Next Best Move?

Financial giants have made a conspicuous bearish move on Royal Caribbean Gr. Our analysis of options history for Royal Caribbean Gr (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RCL#NYSE">RCL</a>) revealed 9 unusual trades.
Delving into the details, we found 11% of traders were bullish, while 44% showed bearish tendencies. Out of all the trades we spotted, 7 were puts, with a value of $240,230, and 2 were calls, valued at $194,468.
<h3>Expected Price Movements</h3>
After evaluating the trading volumes and Open Interest, it's evident that the major market movers are focusing on a price band between $135.0 and $160.0 for Royal Caribbean Gr, spanning the last three months.
<h3>Volume &amp; Open Interest Development</h3>
Examining the volume and open interest provides crucial insights into stock research. This information is key in gauging liquidity and interest levels for Royal Caribbean Gr's options at certain strike prices. Below, we present a snapshot of the trends in volume and open interest for calls and puts across Royal Caribbean Gr's significant trades, within a strike price range of $135.0 to $160.0, over the past month.
<h3>Royal Caribbean Gr Option Activity Analysis: Last 30 Days</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1725983132_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Biggest Options Spotted:</h3>

<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Ask</th>
<th>Bid</th>
<th>Price</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Open Interest</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>RCL</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>03/21/25</td>
<td>$28.15</td>
<td>$27.15</td>
<td>$27.62</td>
<td>$140.00</td>
<td>$111.1K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">120</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">41</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>RCL</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>03/21/25</td>
<td>$28.05</td>
<td>$27.4</td>
<td>$27.76</td>
<td>$140.00</td>
<td>$83.2K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">120</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">71</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>RCL</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>09/13/24</td>
<td>$1.23</td>
<td>$0.97</td>
<td>$1.04</td>
<td>$152.50</td>
<td>$54.6K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">73</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">542</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>RCL</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>09/20/24</td>
<td>$7.85</td>
<td>$7.55</td>
<td>$7.5</td>
<td>$160.00</td>
<td>$37.5K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">481</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">53</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>RCL</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>09/20/24</td>
<td>$2.7</td>
<td>$2.55</td>
<td>$2.7</td>
<td>$152.50</td>
<td>$34.0K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">70</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">236</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About Royal Caribbean Gr</h3>
Royal Caribbean is the world's second-largest cruise company, operating 68 ships across five global and partner brands in the cruise vacation industry. Brands the company operates include Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, and Silversea. The company also has a 50% investment in a joint venture that operates TUI Cruises and Hapag-Lloyd Cruises. The selection of brands in the portfolio allows Royal to compete on the basis of innovation, quality of ships and service, variety of itineraries, choice of destinations, and price. The company completed the divestiture of its Azamara brand in 2021.
After a thorough review of the options trading surrounding Royal Caribbean Gr, we move to examine the company in more detail. This includes an assessment of its current market status and performance.
<h3>Current Position of Royal Caribbean Gr</h3>
<ul>
<li>With a volume of 475,266, the price of RCL is down -2.4% at $156.42. </li>
<li>RSI indicators hint that the underlying stock may be approaching overbought.</li>
<li>Next earnings are expected to be released in 44 days.</li>
</ul>
Trading options involves greater risks but also offers the potential for higher profits. Savvy traders mitigate these risks through ongoing education, strategic trade adjustments, utilizing various indicators, and staying attuned to market dynamics. Keep up with the latest options trades for Royal Caribbean Gr with <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a> for real-time alerts.

Unpacking the Latest Options Trading Trends in Royal Caribbean Gr

On CNBC's &#8220;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/mad-money-lightning-round">Mad Money Lightning Round</a>,&#8221; Jim Cramer said he prefers Royal Caribbean (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RCL#NYSE">RCL</a>) over Carnival Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CCL#NYSE">CCL</a>) .
&#8220;Royal Caribbean has the best systems right now, it's got the best numbers. It's the one you want, not Carnival,&#8221; he added.
On Aug. 27, Carnival unveiled new itineraries for seven ships sailing in 2026 and 2027 from Miami, Port Canaveral, Galveston, and Baltimore.
EPR Properties (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EPR#NYSE">EPR</a>) has been<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/EPR/earnings"> &#8220;too rocky&#8221; for Cramer.</a> On July 31, EPR Properties posted better-than-expected sales for its second quarter.
Whirlpool Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WHR#NYSE">WHR</a>) is &#8220;too inconsistent,&#8221; Cramer said. &#8220;They don't get my buy with that level of inconsistency.&#8221;
On Aug. 19, Whirlpool declared a quarterly dividend of $1.75 per share on its common stock.
When asked about DexCom, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DXCM#NASDAQ">DXCM</a>), he said, &#8220;I did not really care for that last quarter or the explanation of why things had slowed.&#8221;
On Aug. 26, Piper Sandler analyst Matt O&#8217;Brien reiterated DexCom with an Overweight rating and maintained a $90 price target.
The &#8220;Mad Money&#8221; host said he really liked SpartanNash Company (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPTN#NASDAQ">SPTN</a>). &#8220;I like that dividend,&#8221; he added.
On Aug. 15, SpartanNash reported second-quarter adjusted earnings per share of 59 cents, beating the street view of 56 cents. Quarterly revenues of $2.23 billion missed the analyst consensus of $2.27 billion.
Price Action:
<ul>
<li>EPR Properties shares fell 0.5% to settle at $47.72 on Thursday.</li>
<li>Carnival shares closed at $16.15 during Thursday's session.</li>
<li>Whirlpool shares fell 1.3% to close at $97.53 during Thursday's session.</li>
<li>Dexcom shares fell 1.1% to settle at $69.05 on Thursday.</li>
<li>SpartanNash shares fell 1.9% to settle at $22.12 during the session.</li>
</ul>
Read Next:<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/top-stories/24/09/40730015/jim-cramer-oklo-is-losing-money-hand-over-fist-but-this-private-equity-stock-is-a-buy"> </a>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/top-stories/24/09/40730015/jim-cramer-oklo-is-losing-money-hand-over-fist-but-this-private-equity-stock-is-a-buy">Jim Cramer: Oklo Is Losing Money &#8216;Hand-Over-Fist,&#8217; But This Private Equity Stock Is A Buy</a></li>
</ul>
Image: Shutterstock

Media

DXCM

SPTN

Jim Cramer Doesn't Like Carnival Right Now: Royal Caribbean Is 'The One You Want'

Goldman Sachs Removes Royal Caribbean Cruises From Its U.S. Conviction List

This whale alert can help traders discover the next big trading opportunities.
Whales are entities with large sums of money and we track their transactions here at Benzinga on our options activity scanner.
Traders will search for circumstances when the market estimation of an option diverges heavily from its normal worth. High amounts of trading activity could push option prices to exaggerated or underestimated levels. 
Below are some instances of options activity happening in the Consumer Discretionary sector: 
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th>Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>AMZN</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>08/30/24</td>
<td>$175.00</td>
<td>$30.9K</td>
<td>17.6K</td>
<td>61.5K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>TSLA</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>09/06/24</td>
<td>$212.50</td>
<td>$26.2K</td>
<td>3.8K</td>
<td>21.2K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>BABA</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>08/30/24</td>
<td>$82.00</td>
<td>$29.9K</td>
<td>7.2K</td>
<td>5.4K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>IRBT</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>09/13/24</td>
<td>$6.50</td>
<td>$49.9K</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>2.5K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>PDD</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>10/18/24</td>
<td>$100.00</td>
<td>$26.7K</td>
<td>11.1K</td>
<td>2.2K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>DASH</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>10/18/24</td>
<td>$125.00</td>
<td>$104.5K</td>
<td>644</td>
<td>1.8K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ABNB</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>11/15/24</td>
<td>$110.00</td>
<td>$25.2K</td>
<td>1.2K</td>
<td>672</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>RCL</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>10/18/24</td>
<td>$175.00</td>
<td>$35.0K</td>
<td>628</td>
<td>254</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>LULU</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$300.00</td>
<td>$72.9K</td>
<td>1.0K</td>
<td>247</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>LI</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$37.00</td>
<td>$36.1K</td>
<td>1.0K</td>
<td>40</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h2>Explanation</h2>
These itemized elaborations have been created using the accompanying table. 
• For AMZN (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be neutral, expiring in 3 day(s) on August 30, 2024. This event was a transfer of 122 contract(s) at a $175.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 4 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $30.9K, with a price of $252.0 per contract. There were 17628 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 61522 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding TSLA (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>), we observe a call option trade with bullish sentiment. It expires in 4 day(s) on September 6, 2024. Parties traded 50 contract(s) at a $212.50 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $26.2K, with a price of $525.0 per contract. There were 3812 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 21234 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding BABA (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BABA#NYSE">BABA</a>), we observe a call option trade with bullish sentiment. It expires in 3 day(s) on August 30, 2024. Parties traded 229 contract(s) at a $82.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $29.9K, with a price of $131.0 per contract. There were 7262 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 5401 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For IRBT (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IRBT#NASDAQ">IRBT</a>), we notice a put option sweep that happens to be bearish, expiring in 11 day(s) on September 13, 2024. This event was a transfer of 2499 contract(s) at a $6.50 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 43 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $49.9K, with a price of $20.0 per contract. There were 0 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 2500 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For PDD (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PDD#NASDAQ">PDD</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bullish, expiring in 46 day(s) on October 18, 2024. This event was a transfer of 70 contract(s) at a $100.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 9 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $26.7K, with a price of $385.0 per contract. There were 11115 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 2289 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For DASH (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DASH#NASDAQ">DASH</a>), we notice a put option sweep that happens to be bearish, expiring in 46 day(s) on October 18, 2024. This event was a transfer of 268 contract(s) at a $125.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 40 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $104.5K, with a price of $390.0 per contract. There were 644 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 1842 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding ABNB (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ABNB#NASDAQ">ABNB</a>), we observe a put option sweep with bullish sentiment. It expires in 74 day(s) on November 15, 2024. Parties traded 60 contract(s) at a $110.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 14 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $25.2K, with a price of $420.0 per contract. There were 1265 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 672 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding RCL (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RCL#NYSE">RCL</a>), we observe a call option trade with bullish sentiment. It expires in 46 day(s) on October 18, 2024. Parties traded 100 contract(s) at a $175.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $35.0K, with a price of $350.0 per contract. There were 628 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 254 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding LULU (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LULU#NASDAQ">LULU</a>), we observe a call option sweep with bearish sentiment. It expires in 137 day(s) on January 17, 2025. Parties traded 60 contract(s) at a $300.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 3 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $72.9K, with a price of $1215.0 per contract. There were 1052 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 247 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For LI (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LI#NASDAQ">LI</a>), we notice a put option trade that happens to be neutral, expiring in 501 day(s) on January 16, 2026. This event was a transfer of 20 contract(s) at a $37.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $36.1K, with a price of $1805.0 per contract. There were 1040 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 40 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
Options Alert Terminology 
 - Call Contracts: The right to buy shares as indicated in the contract. 
 - Put Contracts: The right to sell shares as indicated in the contract. 
 - Expiration Date: When the contract expires. One must act on the contract by this date if one wants to use it. 
 - Premium/Option Price: The price of the contract. 
For more information, visit our <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/blog/how-to-understand-option-alerts/">Guide to Understanding Options Alerts</a> or read <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/options">more news on unusual options activity</a>. 
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

ABNB

AMZN

BABA

DASH

IRBT

LULU

Citigourp Global Markets 2% Protected Notes Linked To The Djia

TSLA

10 Consumer Discretionary Stocks Whale Activity In Today's Session

Airfares over the Labor Day holiday have fallen but <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/travel/24/08/40659277/labor-day-getaway-travelers-hit-the-road-as-gas-prices-drop">other travel costs</a> have risen from a year ago.
Domestic airfare is down 5% compared to last year's Labor Day airfares, and down 17% compared to 2019 levels, data from travel app Hopper reveals. 
&#8220;Prices are low due to high supply in the market from airlines and more favorable fuel prices in today's market compared to last year,&#8221; according to Hopper. 
Another source, the American Automobile Association, says domestic airfare is 2% cheaper this Labor Day weekend than a year ago, with an average price for a U.S. domestic roundtrip flight of $780. International flights cost 8% less at an average cost of $1,370, AAA said. 
Domestic car rentals are 16% cheaper this Labor Day weekend compared to last year, averaging $560 for a several-day booking, but international car rentals are 21% more expensive, averaging $1,100 for a several-day rental, AAA said.
Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/06/39288640/southwest-airlines-free-bag-policy-under-pressure-after-elliotts-1-9b-stake">Southwest Airlines&#8217; Free Bag Policy Under Pressure After Elliott&#8217;s $1.9B Stake</a>
Labor Day cruise fares have also risen.
Cruises departing from domestic cities are 5% more expensive this Labor Day weekend compared to last year, at an average cost of $2,600, AAA data shows.
Cruises departing from international cities are 17% more expensive this Labor Day weekend compared to last year. The average cost for international cruises is $3,500.
Places to stay for travelers who are keeping to land over Labor Day have also risen, according to AAA data.
Domestic hotels are 7% more expensive this Labor Day weekend than a year earlier. The average price for a few nights&#8217; stay comes to $560, while the average price for the same booking at an international hotel has gone up 2% to $600.
Price Action: Airlines, cruise companies and hotels mostly traded higher late Friday ahead of the holiday weekend. 
<ul>
<li>American Airlines Group Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAL#NASDAQ">AAL</a>) gained 1.98% to $10.60.</li>
<li>Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LUV#NYSE">LUV</a>) edged up 0.5% to $28.89.</li>
<li>Disney Cruises, owned by The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DIS#NYSE">DIS</a>), remained unchanged at $89.81.</li>
<li>Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RCL#NYSE">RCL</a>) dipped 2.26% to $163.07.</li>
<li>InterContinental Hotels Group (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IHG#NYSE">IHG</a>), which owns Holiday Inn, edged up 0.09% to $100.</li>
<li>Wyndham Hotels &amp; Resorts Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WH#NYSE">WH</a>), which owns Ramada Inn, gained 2.03% to $78.71.</li>
</ul>
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/07/39982129/this-southwest-airlines-analyst-is-no-longer-bullish-here-are-top-5-downgrades-for-friday">This Southwest Airlines Analyst Is No Longer Bullish; Here Are Top 5 Downgrades For Friday</a></li>
</ul>
Photo via Shutterstock.

What Labor Day Travelers Are Paying For Airfare, Cruises, Car Rentals, Hotels

Victoria&#39;s Secret &amp; Co. (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/vsco#NYSE">VSCO</a>) posted decent second-quarter fiscal 2024 results, with the top and the bottom line surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate. Earnings beat the consensus estimate for the third straight quarter.
Victoria&#39;s Secret posted positive business trends in North America in the third quarter, with encouraging early feedback on fall assortments for Victoria&#39;s Secret and PINK brands. The beauty segment performed well, driving customer traffic to stores. Going forward, the company emphasized key events including a major VSX sport launch and the return of the Victoria&#39;s Secret Fashion Show to drive growth.
While optimistic about the positive signs, the company acknowledges that the broader consumer environment remains challenging. Despite the hurdles, VSCO remains focused on controlling what it can &mdash; leveraging its market position in the intimates category and executing multiple growth initiatives to drive long-term growth.
<h2>Q2 in Detail</h2>
<div class="chart_embed">
<h3>Victoria&#39;s Secret &amp; Co. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise</h3>
<img alt="Victoria's Secret &amp; Co. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise" src="https://staticx-tuner.zacks.com/images/charts/d0/1724933162.png" style="height:268px; width:574px" title="" />
Victoria&#39;s Secret &amp; Co. price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | Victoria&#39;s Secret &amp; Co. Quote
Victoria&#39;s Secret reported adjusted earnings of 40 cents per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 38 cents. The figure increased 66.7% from 24 cents in the year-ago quarter.
</div>
Net sales dropped 0.7% year over year to $1.42 billion. However, the metric beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.41 billion. The company&#39;s comparable sales declined 3% on a year-over-year basis.
VSCO&#39;s net sales from the Stores &mdash; North America channel came in at $0.8 billion, down 2.1% year over year. Direct channel&#39;s net sales declined 0.9% year over year to $430.2 million. Net sales from the International channel rose 6.4% year over year to $187 million.
<h2>Margin &amp; Costs</h2>
The gross profit increased 3% year over year to $501.3 million. The gross margin expanded 130 basis points to 35.4% in the quarter under review. Cost of sales came in at $915.8 million, down 2.6% year over year.
General, administrative and store operating expenses declined 4.7% year over year to $439 million. It incurred interest expenses of $43.1 million, lower than $46.5 million in the prior-year quarter.
<h2>Outlook</h2>
For the third quarter of fiscal 2024, management expects net sales to increase in the low single-digit range. It registered net sales of $1.27 billion in the prior-year quarter. Adjusted operating loss for third-quarter 2024 is forecast to fall in the range of $40-$60 million. It anticipates adjusted net loss in the band of 60-80 cents per share.
The company projects net sales for the fiscal 2024 to decline 1% year over year compared with a previous projection of a low-single-digit decrease. Adjusted operating income for the fiscal 2024 is estimated between to be $275 million to $300 million compared with the previous projection of $250 million and $275 million.
<h2>Zacks Rank &amp; Other Key Picks</h2>
VSCO sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy).
Some other top-ranked stocks in the Zacks Consumer Discretionary sector are as follows:
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/rcl#NYSE">RCL</a>) currently sports a Zacks Rank of 1. RCL has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 18.5%, on average. The stock has rallied 68.7% in the past year.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for RCL&#39;s 2024 sales and earnings per share calls for growth of 18.1% and 69.9%, respectively, from the year-ago levels.
DoubleDown Interactive Co., Ltd. (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ddi#NASDAQ">DDI</a>) currently flaunts a Zacks Rank of 1. DDI has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 22.1%, on average. The stock has surged 42.1% in the past year.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for DDI&#39;s 2024 sales and EPS indicates an increase of 12.6% and 15.8%, respectively, from the year-ago levels.
Monarch Casino &amp; Resort, Inc. (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/mcri#NASDAQ">MCRI</a>) carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). MCRI has a trailing four-quarter negative earnings surprise of 3.5%, on average. The stock has increased 11.4% in the past year.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for MCRI&#39;s 2024 sales and EPS indicates an increase of 2.3% and 10%, respectively, from the year-ago levels.
<a href="https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2329103/victoria-s-secret-beats-q2-earnings-revenue-estimates?cid=CS-BENZ-FT-analyst_blog|earnings_article-2329103">To read this article on Zacks.com click here.</a>

Earnings Beats

MCRI

VSCO

Victoria's Secret Beats Q2 Earnings & Revenue Estimates

WIIM

Royal Caribbean Cruises shares are trading higher after the company announced it signed a deal with Finnish shipbuilder Meyer Turku for a fourth Icon Class Ship.

Wall Street remained relatively quiet during Tuesday morning trading as investors held their breath for key events <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/08/40570314/top-nvidia-analyst-sees-no-major-impact-from-blackwell-delay-but-flags-one-caveat-h">later in the week. </a>
The AI powerhouse Nvidia Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) is in the spotlight ahead of its Wednesday post-market earnings report, while traders also eagerly await the Federal Reserve's favorite inflation report on Friday.
Tech stocks slightly rebounded by 0.3%, after a 1% drop on Monday, while the S&amp;P 500 held broadly flat. Both blue chips and small caps fell, down 0.2% and 1% respectively. 
Industry-wise cruise lines led gains, with Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NCLH#NYSE">NCLH</a>), Carnival Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CCL#NYSE">CCL</a>) and Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RCL#NYSE">RCL</a>) rising 4%, 3.9% and 3.3% on positive investor sentiment toward the sector. 
Semiconductors rebounded, with the iShares Semiconductor ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SOXX#NYSE">SOXX</a>) up 0.9%, after tumbling 2.5% a day earlier.
Energy-related stocks fell, dragged down by the pullback in oil prices. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) light crude fell by 2% as geopolitical risks in the Middle East showed no significant escalation in recent hours, while Goldman Sachs analysts downplayed concerns over potential <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/08/40576919/goldman-sachs-lowers-oil-price-forecasts-says-us-supply-beating-expectations-downpl">disruptions in Libyan oil production.</a>
The U.S. dollar eased by 0.2%, reversing Monday&#8217;s gains. Treasury yields remained unchanged, with speculators continuing to assign a higher chance on smaller 25-basis-point rate cut in September. 
Gold prices slipped by 0.1%, while Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) fell by 2%, mimicking Monday&#8217;s drop. 
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Tuesday&#8217;s Performance In Major Indices, ETFs</h3>
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Major Indices</td>
<td>Price</td>
<td>1-day chg %</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Nasdaq 100</td>
<td>19,576</td>
<td>0.3%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>S&amp;P 500</td>
<td>5,621</td>
<td>0.1%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Dow Jones</td>
<td>41,154</td>
<td>-0.2%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Russell 2000</td>
<td>2,200</td>
<td>-1.0%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Updated at 1:00 p.m. ET</figcaption></figure>
<a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent082724&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1">According to Benzinga Pro data:</a>
<ul>
<li>The&nbsp;SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>)&nbsp;was flat at $560.92.</li>
<li>The&nbsp;SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DIA#NYSE">DIA</a>)&nbsp;eased 0.1% to $412.16.</li>
<li>The tech-heavy Invesco QQQ Trust Series (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>) rose 0.2% to $476.11.</li>
<li>The iShares Russell 2000 ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IWM#NYSE">IWM</a>) fell 1% to $218.35.</li>
<li>The Financials Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLF#NYSE">XLF</a>) outperformed, by 0.4%. The Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLE#NYSE">XLE</a>) lagged, down by 1.1%.</li>
</ul>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Tuesday&#8217;s Stock Movers</h3>
<ul>
<li>Paramount Global (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PARA#NASDAQ">PARA</a>) fell over 6% after media veteran&nbsp;Edgar Bronfman, Jr., <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/08/40568461/paramount-concludes-go-shop-period-as-edgar-bronfman-pulls-out-paving-way-for-8-4b-merger-with-o">withdrew his offer for the company</a> paving the way for it to combine with Skydance Media, LLC.</li>
<li>CAVA Group, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CAVA#NYSE">CAVA</a>) plunged over 5% after the company&#8217;s post-earnings spike on Monday, as the CEO and other insiders reduced their stakes. </li>
<li>PDD Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PDD#NASDAQ">PDD</a>) fell over 3% after Monday&#8217;s sharp 30% drop, as analysts slashed their price forecasts on <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/08/40575491/these-analysts-slash-their-forecasts-on-pdd-holdings-following-q2-results">the Chinese retail giant. </a></li>
<li>Ambarella, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMBA#NASDAQ">AMBA</a>), Box, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BOX#NYSE">BOX</a>), nCino, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NCNO#NASDAQ">NCNO</a>), Nordstrom, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JWN#NYSE">JWN</a>), PVH Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PVH#NYSE">PVH</a>), Semtech Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SMTC#NASDAQ">SMTC</a>) and SentinelOne, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/S#NYSE">S</a>) are among the companies due to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/calendars/earnings">release their quarterly results after the market close.</a></li>
</ul>
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/08/40581306/can-regional-banks-outperform-large-institutions-as-fed-rate-cuts-loom-small-banks-are-plenty-ch">Can Regional Banks Outperform Large Institutions As Fed Rate Cuts Loom? &#8216;Small Banks Are Plenty Cheap,&#8217; But&#8230;</a></li>
</ul>
Image created using artificial intelligence via Midjourney.

Equities

Macro Economic Events

Broad U.S. Equity ETFs

Commodities

Econ #s

Economics

Tech

ETFs

$BTC

AMBA

CAVA

SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF Trust

NCNO

NVDA

PARA

SMTC

iShares PHLX SOX Semiconductor Sector Index Fund

SOXX

Wall Street Mixed Ahead Of Week's Key Events, Cruise Lines Rally, Oil Slips: What's Driving Markets Tuesday?

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RCL#NYSE">RCL</a>) inked a deal with Finnish shipbuilder Meyer Turku to order a fourth Icon Class ship for Royal Caribbean <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/24/08/n40568186/royal-caribbean-group-signs-agreement-with-meyer-turku-for-the-next-ship-in-its-revolutionary-icon" rel="noreferrer noopener">International, set for delivery in 2027</a>.
The deal also includes options for a fifth and sixth Icon Class ship. The first Icon Class ship, launched in January 2024, offers a unique vacation experience blending beach retreats, resort escapes, and theme park adventures.
The next ship in this lineup will join Icon, Star of the Seas (launching in 2025), and a third unnamed Icon Class ship (launching in 2026).
Jason Liberty, president and CEO, Royal Caribbean Group, said, &#8220;Building on the incredible momentum and market response to the launch&nbsp;of Icon of the Seas and the excitement for its sister ship,&nbsp;Star of the Seas, coming in 2025, we&#8217;re thrilled to join with&nbsp;Meyer Turku&nbsp;once again to expand our roster of Icon Class ships and continue our future growth plans.&#8221;&nbsp;
&#8220;Since its debut,&nbsp;Icon has changed the game in vacation experiences and exceeded our expectations in both guest satisfaction and financial performance.&#8221;
In July, Royal Caribbean posted second-quarter sales of $4.11 billion, beating the analyst <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/07/39958903/royal-caribbean-cruises-ahead-q2-earnings-surge-dividends-return-solid-vacations-demand-more" rel="noreferrer noopener">consensus estimate of $4.041 billion</a>.
Investors can gain access to the stock via Defiance Hotel, Airline, and Cruise ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CRUZ#NYSE">CRUZ</a>) and AdvisorShares Hotel ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BEDZ#NYSE">BEDZ</a>).
Price Action: RCL shares are up 0.14% at $162.28 premarket at the last check Tuesday.
Photo by postcardtrip via Pixabay
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/07/39919685/bank-of-america-raises-projections-for-cruise-line-stocks-more-insulated-from-the-a" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bank Of America Raises Projections For Cruise Line Stocks: &#8216;More Insulated From The Airline Trends&#8217;</a></li>
</ul>
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Contracts

BEDZ

CRUZ

Royal Caribbean Orders Another Icon Class Ship: Details

Royal Caribbean And Meyer Turku Sign Deal For Fourth Icon Class Ship, With Additional Options For Future Vessels In The Icon Series

Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/mar#NASDAQ">MAR</a>) is likely to benefit from solid leisure demand, a loyalty program and unit-expansion efforts. The focus on hotel conversions bodes well. However, soft demand in China is a concern.
Let us discuss the factors that highlight why investors should retain the stock for now.
<h2>Growth Catalysts</h2>
Marriott has been gaining from pent-up leisure demand. In second-quarter 2024, the company posted RevPAR growth across all customer segments &mdash; group, leisure transient and business transient &mdash; with increases in room nights and ADR. Group business, accounting for 24% of worldwide room nights, remained the strongest segment, with group RevPAR up 10% year over year.
The company witnessed robust demand during second-quarter 2024. The company&#39;s net rooms grew 6% year over year. In comparison, global RevPAR increased nearly 5%, supported by a 3% rise in the average daily rate and an occupancy increase of approximately 150 basis points, reaching 73%.
MAR&#39;s global RevPAR index continues to rise, reflecting its strong position in the market. RevPAR in the United States and Canada saw a nearly 4% gain, aided by the shift of the Easter holiday, with all chain scales from select service to luxury reporting positive growth. Internationally, RevPAR rose more than 7%, led by a 13% increase in Asia Pacific (excluding China). The upside was backed by robust macro trends and increased cross-border travel, particularly from Mainland China. Japan, in particular, saw a 21% rise in RevPAR. The EMEA region reported nearly 10% growth, while CALA posted a 9% increase. The company expects global RevPAR to rise 3-4% year over year in the second quarter and full year in 2024.
The company continues to enhance its Bonvoy loyalty program, which now has more than 210 million members (as of second-quarter 2024). It launched Business Access by Marriott Bonvoy, a comprehensive online travel program targeting small- and medium-sized corporate clients. The initial adoption of the platform exceeded expectations. In addition, partnerships with Rakuten in Japan, Alibaba in China and Rappi in CALA continue to drive strong international Bonvoy enrollments. During the second quarter, the program&#39;s global room night penetration reached 71% in the United States and Canada and 65% worldwide.
Marriott&#39;s global portfolio continues to grow faster than the overall industry supply, adding approximately 15,500 net rooms in the second quarter. Signing activity remains strong, particularly in APEC and Greater China, contributing to a pipeline of more than 559,000 rooms. Conversions played a significant role, representing 37% of openings and 32% of signings. Construction starts in the United States and Canada rose 40% year over year in the second quarter, reflecting growing development momentum. It expects positive development trends to continue on the back of new development and multiunit conversion opportunities.
<h2>Concerns</h2>
<img alt="Zacks Investment Research" src="https://staticx-tuner.zacks.com/images/articles/charts/7b/75340.jpg?v=780158394" />
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Marriott&#39;s shares have declined 4.8% in the past three months compared with the industry&#39;s 0.8% fall. Softer domestic demand in China primarily caused the downside.
During the second quarter, the company posted dismal performance in China. RevPAR in Greater China dropped approximately 4% due to macroeconomic pressures that led to weaker domestic demand. Additionally, the region saw an uptick in outbound high-end travelers, which further impacted local markets. While there was positive RevPAR growth in Tier 1 cities like Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan, these gains were offset by declines across other areas, particularly in Hainan, which experienced a meaningful downturn. The company is cautious about persistent softness in demand and pricing trends in China for the remainder of 2024.
<h2>Our Thoughts</h2>
Marriott offers a balanced mix of growth opportunities and challenges, making it a stock worth holding. Its impressive global RevPAR growth, robust loyalty program and strategic room additions position it for long-term success. MAR&#39;s continued focus on high-growth regions and conversion deals underscores its ability to maintain market leadership and capitalize on leisure demand trends.
However, investors should remain cautious due to the company&#39;s exposure to weaker domestic demand in China, which could put pressure on overall performance. Additionally, Marriott&#39;s current valuation &mdash; with a forward P/E ratio of 22.05X compared with the industry&#39;s 21.80X &mdash; suggests premium pricing that might limit significant upside potential in the near term. While these risks warrant attention, the company&#39;s solid fundamentals and strategic growth initiatives provide enough reasons for investors to retain the stock. The Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) justifies our thesis.
<h2>Key Picks</h2>
Some better-ranked stocks in the Zacks Consumer Discretionary sector are as follows:
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/rcl#NYSE">RCL</a>) currently sports a Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy).
RCL has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 18.5%, on average. The stock has rallied 65.9% in the past year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for RCL&#39;s 2024 sales and earnings per share calls for growth of 18.1% and 69.9%, respectively, from the year-ago levels.
DoubleDown Interactive Co., Ltd. (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ddi#NASDAQ">DDI</a>) currently flaunts a Zacks Rank of 1. DDI has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 22.1%, on average. The stock has surged 52.3% in the past year.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for DDI&#39;s 2024 sales and EPS indicates an increase of 12.6% and 15.8%, respectively, from the year-ago levels.
Monarch Casino &amp; Resort, Inc. (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/mcri#NASDAQ">MCRI</a>) currently flaunts a Zacks Rank of 1. MCRI has a trailing four-quarter negative earnings surprise of 3.5%, on average. The stock has increased 11.1% in the past year.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for MCRI&#39;s 2024 sales and EPS indicates an increase of 2.3% and 10%, respectively, from the year-ago levels.
<a href="https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2327129/here-s-why-you-should-retain-marriott-mar-in-your-portfolio?cid=CS-BENZ-FT-analyst_blog|rank_focused-2327129">To read this article on Zacks.com click here.</a>

Here's Why You Should Retain Marriott in Your Portfolio

Two weeks ago we turned to a more bullish stance, which has proved to be correct, though we still await the explosive movement out of these consolidations.

Patchy But Still Bullish

Standouts among consumer categories amid shifting market dynamics

Fall Into Profits: Top 10 Stocks For A September Dip

Tracking John Rogers' Ariel Investments Portfolio - Q2 2024 Update

Royal Caribbean: Tailwind From Cruise Demand While Sailing Into Recession Uncertainty

Cruise industry coasts into the end of summer on another high note

Royal Caribbean Cruises intends to offer $1B senior notes

Royal Caribbean announces upsizing and pricing of $1.5B debt offering via issuance of senior notes

I have 33% of my account in cash reserves, and I won't deploy it until Thursday morning, once the FOMC insanity is done. In the meanwhile, here are my eight bearish positions in my secondary account:

Pushing Into Peril: Two

The 30 highest quant-ranked consumer discretionary stocks as Société Générale upgrades sector

AAPL

AMGN

APTV

ATGE

BAIDF

BIDU

BLBD

BOKF

CHKP

COIN

COST

DELL

DINO

DKNG

DORM

ENPH

EVLV

EXPE

FITB

FOUR

FSLR

FTDR

GILD

GNRC

GNTX

GRBK

LEGH

LOCO

LOPE

LSPD

MGRB

MGRD

MGRE

MSFT

MSGE

NTRS

NTRSO

ONON

PAGS

PANW

PARAA

POWL

PTON

QCOM

REZI

RSPD

RVLV

SAEF

SBUX

SHOP

SKYW

SOFI

SOLV

SPHR

TRUP

UBER

ULTA

UPBD

YETI

ZBRA

Press Releases

Royal Caribbean Group announces upsizing and pricing of $2.0 billion offering of senior unsecured notes to refinance certain series of its senior notes due 2029

Royal Caribbean Group announces entry into exchange agreements with certain holders of its outstanding 6.000% convertible senior notes due 2025

Entertainment

General

INTRODUCING ROYAL CARIBBEAN'S $100M-PLUS, ALL-OUT GLOW-UP OF ALLURE OF THE SEAS

Royal Caribbean Group announces completion of $2.0 billion offering of senior unsecured notes to refinance certain series of its senior notes due 2029

ROYAL CARIBBEAN'S STAR OF THE SEAS TAKES CENTER STAGE TO DELIVER ULTIMATE FAMILY VACATION

Royal Caribbean Group announces completion of private exchanges with certain holders of its 6.000% convertible senior notes due 2025

Royal Caribbean Group Signs Agreement with Meyer Turku for the Next Ship in its Revolutionary Icon Class; Adds Options for Additional Icon Class Ships

MarineMax Appoints Bonnie Biumi to Board of Directors

Royal Caribbean Group announces proposed offering of senior unsecured notes to refinance existing indebtedness

Royal Caribbean Group announces upsizing and pricing of $1.5 billion offering of senior unsecured notes to refinance existing indebtedness

Get Our Top Trade Ideas Delivered Daily - 65% Off Now

Get Our Top Trade Ideas Delivered Daily - 65% Off Now

Comments

Royal Caribbean Gr

Royal Caribbean Gr (RCL) Forecast

Royal Caribbean Gr (NYSE:RCL) Stock, Quote.Headers.trade-ideas