RCL vs SPY: which was the better investment?
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. against SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust on real daily total-return data — every dividend reinvested, from Apr 28, 1993 to Aug 28, 2026.
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Frequently asked questions
Did RCL beat SPY?
Yes — measured from Apr 28, 1993 to Aug 28, 2026 with dividends reinvested, RCL came out ahead: $489,868 versus $318,690 from a $10,000 start. That gap compounds from a 12.4% annual return against 10.9%.
What would $10,000 in RCL be worth today?
$10,000 invested in Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (RCL) on Apr 28, 1993 would be worth about $489,868 as of Aug 28, 2026, a total return of 4798.7% (12.4% per year). The same $10,000 in SPY would be worth $318,690.
Which was riskier — RCL or SPY?
RCL swung with an annualized volatility of 47.9% and a worst peak-to-trough drop of -89.5%; SPY ran at 18.6% volatility with a -55.2% maximum drawdown. Risk-adjusted (Sharpe ratio), that is 0.22 for RCL vs 0.48 for SPY.
What data is this comparison based on?
Daily adjusted closing prices covering Apr 28, 1993 through Aug 28, 2026 — the full period where both assets have price history. Adjusted prices include dividends and splits, so these are total returns. The page refreshes with new market data every day.
Can I change the dates, amounts, or add monthly investing?
Yes — the interactive tool on this page is pre-loaded with RCL vs SPY. You can set any start and end date, change the starting amount, add monthly contributions, or build a multi-asset portfolio and compare it against any benchmark.