Best travel stocks to invest in 2026

The travel sector continues its strong recovery as global tourism rebounds and consumer spending on experiences increases. Are you looking for exposure to companies benefiting from renewed travel demand and digital booking platforms?

Booking Holdings operates leading online travel agencies including Booking.com and Priceline, connecting travelers with accommodations and transportation worldwide. Airbnb provides a global marketplace for short-term rentals and unique experiences, disrupting traditional hospitality with its community-driven platform. Expedia Group offers comprehensive travel booking services across multiple brands, serving both leisure and business travelers with flights, hotels, and vacation packages.

Travel companies offer compelling growth opportunities as tourism volumes return to pre-pandemic levels and digital adoption accelerates. These are among the best travel stocks for 2026.

Roboforex R-Trader gives you access to over 10,000 stocks, ETFs, commodities, and crypto. All of the stocks mentioned in this article are available for purchase there.

Before we dive into each company, let`s take a look at how your investment would have performed if you had invested in stocks mentioned in this article.

Now, let`s take a closer look at each of the companies:

  • Royal Caribbean Cruises (NYSE:RCL)

    Royal Caribbean Cruises is a major cruise vacation company headquartered in Miami, Florida, operating global itineraries through multiple brands serving leisure travelers. Founded in 1968, the company expanded from Caribbean routes into a broad portfolio spanning premium, luxury, and expedition offerings worldwide. Its scale and destination partnerships help it compete on ship innovation, guest experience, and itinerary variety across the cruise industry.

    Royal Caribbean sells cruise tickets and packaged vacations, targeting families, couples, and premium travelers across North America and international markets. Operations include fleet management, onboard dining and entertainment, shore excursions, and private destinations that lift guest satisfaction and spending per trip. Management focuses on new ship deployment, itinerary optimization, and digital services to strengthen loyalty, improve yields, and support efficient capacity planning.

    Royal Caribbean Cruises financial statements

    Analysts recommendation: 1.71

    Financial Health

    • Return on assets (ROA): 7.81%
    • Return on equity (ROE): 47.73%
    • Return on investment (ROI): 14.82%

    Profitability

    • Gross margin: 50.62%
    • Operating margin: 21.98%
    • Net profit margin: 23.8%

    Growth

    • EPS (past 5 years): N/A
    • EPS (current): 15.6
    • EPS estimate (next quarter): 3.13
    • EPS growth (this year): 37.1%
    • EPS growth (next year): 14.99%
    • EPS growth (next 5 years): 14.98%
    • EPS growth (quarter-over-quarter): 37.01%
    • Sales growth (past 5 years): 52.02%
    • Sales growth (quarter-over-quarter): 13.3%

    💡 Why invest in Royal Caribbean Cruises?

    Royal Caribbean Cruises has strengths in brand, ship innovation, and onboard monetization that can support resilient travel demand:

    • Premium Brand Portfolio: The company`s multi-brand lineup targets different traveler segments, supporting pricing power, repeat guests, and broader demand resilience than a single-brand operator across geographies and itinerary styles.
    • Fleet Scale Advantage: A modern fleet and large capacity base enable operating leverage, itinerary flexibility, and negotiating power with ports and suppliers, while spreading fixed costs across sailings and standardizing onboard service delivery.
    • Onboard Revenue Leverage: High-margin onboard revenue from dining, beverages, entertainment, and excursions can lift profitability per guest and diversify results beyond ticket pricing, supported by loyalty programs and targeted merchandising.
    • Destination Asset Strategy: Private islands and curated destinations strengthen differentiation, increase itinerary control, and create incremental onboard and shore revenue opportunities across premium itineraries for repeat guests.

    🐌 Key considerations before investing in Royal Caribbean Cruises

    Royal Caribbean Cruises faces cyclicality, fuel volatility, and operational complexity that can pressure margins in downturns:

    • Discretionary Demand Exposure: Cruises are discretionary purchases, so bookings and pricing can weaken during recessions, high inflation, or consumer confidence shocks that reduce travel budgets, especially for longer itineraries booked far ahead.
    • Fuel Cost Volatility: Fuel prices can move quickly, and even with hedging and efficiency efforts, higher bunker costs can pressure ticket pricing flexibility and onboard margins because voyages are planned months in advance for capacity planning.
    • Safety Incident Liability: Operational incidents, health events, or regulatory violations can damage brand trust, trigger legal costs, and lead to itinerary changes that disrupt guest experience and increase scrutiny from ports and authorities.
    • Debt Burden Sensitivity: Cruise operators carry high fixed costs and financing needs, so higher interest rates or weaker cash flow can limit fleet investment and reduce financial flexibility when newbuild schedules require sustained capital spending.

    Final thoughts on Royal Caribbean Cruises

    Royal Caribbean Cruises combines strong brands, a modern fleet, and onboard monetization to offer differentiated vacation experiences with global reach. At the same time, discretionary demand, fuel volatility, and operational risks can pressure bookings and margins when macro conditions weaken or incidents occur. Investors who accept travel cyclicality may find the company attractive when capacity discipline and customer demand remain balanced across key itineraries.

  • Scandic Hotels Group (ST:SHOT)

    Scandic Hotels Group AB is the largest hotel operator in the Nordic region, providing accommodation and hospitality services across Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, and Germany through a portfolio of approximately 280 hotels with over 58,000 rooms. Founded in 1963 and headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden, the company has established itself as the leading hospitality brand in Northern Europe by focusing on accessible, sustainable, and customer-centric hotel experiences that cater to both business and leisure travelers. Scandic Hotels has built a strong market position through strategic acquisitions, organic growth, and a commitment to environmental sustainability that resonates with Nordic values and customer preferences.

    The company`s core operations encompass hotel management, franchise operations, and hospitality services delivered through a network of owned, leased, and franchised properties that serve diverse customer segments including corporate travelers, conference organizers, and leisure guests. Scandic Hotels differentiates itself through its focus on accessibility for disabled guests, environmental sustainability initiatives, and Nordic design aesthetics that create distinctive brand experiences. With the recovery of travel demand post-pandemic, growing business travel activity, and increasing focus on sustainable tourism, Scandic Hotels is positioned to capitalize on the normalization of hospitality markets while leveraging its dominant Nordic market position and operational expertise.

    Scandic Hotels Group financial statements

    Analysts recommendation: 2.4

    Financial Health

    • Return on assets (ROA): 3.22%
    • Return on equity (ROE): 21.07%
    • Return on investment (ROI): 7.2%

    Profitability

    • Gross margin: 50.82%
    • Operating margin: 18.74%
    • Net profit margin: 3.35%

    Growth

    • EPS (past 5 years): -12.4%
    • EPS (current): 3.41
    • EPS estimate (next quarter): 9.8
    • EPS growth (this year): 4.4%
    • EPS growth (next year): 24.7%
    • EPS growth (next 5 years): 18.9%
    • EPS growth (quarter-over-quarter): 89.4%
    • Sales growth (past 5 years): 2.8%
    • Sales growth (quarter-over-quarter): 3.1%

    💡 Why invest in Scandic Hotels Group?

    352 presents fundamental strengths that position it well for investors seeking stable returns and growth prospects:

    • Nordic Market Dominance: Strong market positions across Nordic markets provide a stable revenue foundation and competitive advantages through established client relationships and deep local expertise across infrastructure sectors globally.
    • Environmental Sustainability Pioneer: Strong Nordic market presence and premium positioning support stable revenue generation and market share protection. creating operational difficulties that must be addressed business resilience.
    • Diversified Customer Segments: Sustainability initiatives and environmental leadership attract socially conscious investors seeking responsible hospitality exposure. across all operational segments. necessitating careful monitoring.
    • Travel Recovery Momentum: Digital innovation and technology investments enhance guest experience and operational efficiency supporting competitive positioning. in the competitive marketplace. requiring careful management.

    🐌 Key considerations before investing in Scandic Hotels Group

    Investors should consider Scandic's economic cycle exposure and regulatory pressures in the competitive hospitality sector:

    • Economic Cycle Vulnerability: Economic sensitivity impacts business performance during recessions as travel spending declines significantly. in the competitive marketplace. requiring careful strategic planning.
    • Regional Market Concentration: Labor cost pressures and union negotiations create operational challenges affecting profitability margins substantially. creating operational difficulties that must be addressed strategic objectives.
    • Fixed Cost Burden: Intense competition from global hotel chains pressures pricing power and market share in Nordic markets. which fundamentally shapes the company's strategic positioning and market dynamics.
    • Competitive Market Dynamics: Limited geographic diversification creates significant challenges for the company when regional economic conditions deteriorate or key market segments experience prolonged slowdowns and reduced investment activity.

    Final thoughts on Scandic Hotels Group

    Scandic Hotels Group`s Nordic market leadership, sustainability focus, diversified revenue base, and post-pandemic recovery positioning create compelling opportunities for investors seeking exposure to the hospitality sector recovery and Nordic travel market growth. However, the company`s economic sensitivity, geographic concentration, high fixed costs, and competitive pressures require careful evaluation of the cyclical nature of hospitality investing. Like a resilient hospitality leader who adapts to changing travel patterns, Scandic Hotels offers recovery potential for investors who understand both the opportunities and challenges of the evolving Nordic hospitality landscape.

  • DO & CO (VI:DOC)

    DO & CO Aktiengesellschaft is an Austrian company specializing in premium catering services for airlines, events, and upscale hospitality venues. The company was founded in 1981 in Vienna, Austria, and has since grown into a global leader in high-end culinary solutions. Known for its focus on quality, innovation, and luxury, DO & CO has built strong partnerships with top airlines, sports organizations, and gourmet restaurants worldwide.

    The company`s core business revolves around three main segments: airline catering, international event catering, and restaurant, hotel, and retail operations. DO & CO provides tailor-made dining experiences for some of the world`s most prestigious airlines, including Emirates and Turkish Airlines, while also handling catering for major events like Formula 1 and UEFA football tournaments. Its luxury-focused approach and commitment to high-quality ingredients set it apart in the global food service industry.

    DO & CO financial statements

    Analysts recommendation: 1.95

    Financial Health

    • Return on assets (ROA): 9.99%
    • Return on equity (ROE): 27.81%
    • Return on investment (ROI): -0.23%

    Profitability

    • Gross margin: 25.85%
    • Operating margin: 8.86%
    • Net profit margin: 4.35%

    Growth

    • EPS (past 5 years): 52.84%
    • EPS (current): 9.47
    • EPS estimate (next quarter): 0.06
    • EPS growth (this year): 4.2%
    • EPS growth (next year): 47.68%
    • EPS growth (next 5 years): -5.3%
    • EPS growth (quarter-over-quarter): -237.83%
    • Sales growth (past 5 years): 16.84%
    • Sales growth (quarter-over-quarter): -2.6%

    💡 Why invest in DO & CO?

    DO & CO's position in hospitality and catering offers advantages for investors seeking exposure to the luxury-oriented sector:

    • Diversified Revenue Portfolio: With operations spanning airline catering, international events, and hospitality venues, DO & CO maintains reduced reliance on any single market segment, providing operational stability and risk mitigation.
    • Global Market Presence: The company`s extensive international reach allows it to effectively tap into various geographic markets and cater to diverse customer preferences across multiple continents and cultural segments.
    • Premium Service Focus: DO & CO strategically positions itself as a luxury brand, catering to high-end clientele with sophisticated demands for exceptional culinary experiences and premium service quality standards.
    • Growth Market Exposure: The global tourism and events industries offer significant growth opportunities for DO & CO to expand its operations, particularly in emerging markets and premium hospitality segments.

    🐌 Key considerations before investing in DO & CO

    Before investing in DO & CO, consider these potential challenges facing the hospitality and catering business:

    • Economic Cycle Sensitivity: The hospitality and travel industries experience cyclical fluctuations, with economic downturns significantly impacting demand for premium services and luxury dining experiences across all market segments.
    • Hospitality Sector Volatility: Hospitality and catering sensitivity to travel demand, economic conditions, and spending patterns creates earnings volatility. which impacts overall business performance and business resilience.
    • Operational Management Complexity: Managing diverse operations across different countries, cultural contexts, and business segments creates significant complexity that requires sophisticated management systems and operational expertise.
    • Key Client Dependency: While DO & CO maintains a diversified client base, substantial reliance on major airline partnerships and large event contracts can create revenue volatility and concentration risk.

    Final thoughts on DO & CO

    DO & CO`s focus on premium culinary experiences, global reach, and exposure to growing hospitality and events industries create compelling opportunities for long-term investors seeking luxury sector exposure. However, the cyclical nature of the industry, competitive pressures, and operational complexities require careful evaluation of potential risks and market dynamics. Like a master chef creating exceptional dining experiences, DO & CO combines culinary artistry with strategic positioning to serve discerning clients across multiple premium market segments.

  • International Consolidated Airlines (L:IAG)

    International Consolidated Airlines Group is an airline holding company headquartered in London, United Kingdom, operating several major carriers across Europe and long-haul routes. Founded in 2011, the group combined legacy airlines to build scale, expand network coverage, and compete more effectively in global aviation markets. Its multi-brand strategy supports service differentiation and route flexibility, while leveraging shared procurement and operational systems across the portfolio today.

    The airlines provide passenger services, cargo capacity, and ancillary offerings, serving leisure travelers, business passengers, and logistics customers across key hubs. Operations depend on fleet planning, schedule management, and network optimization, with profitability influenced by load factors, yields, and seasonal demand patterns. Management targets cost efficiency, improved customer experience, and sustainability initiatives as it navigates regulation, competitive pricing, and volatile fuel costs.

    International Consolidated Airlines financial statements

    Analysts recommendation: N/A

    Financial Health

    • Return on assets (ROA): 7.33%
    • Return on equity (ROE): 58.3%
    • Return on investment (ROI): N/A

    Profitability

    • Gross margin: 29.64%
    • Operating margin: 22.26%
    • Net profit margin: 9.3%

    Growth

    • EPS (past 5 years): N/A
    • EPS (current): 0.56
    • EPS estimate (next quarter): N/A
    • EPS growth (this year): 3.1%
    • EPS growth (next year): N/A
    • EPS growth (next 5 years): N/A
    • EPS growth (quarter-over-quarter): N/A
    • Sales growth (past 5 years): N/A
    • Sales growth (quarter-over-quarter): 0%

    💡 Why invest in International Consolidated Airlines?

    International Consolidated Airlines has advantages in hub networks, brand breadth, and integration that can support route demand:

    • Multi Hub Connectivity: Multiple hubs and a broad route network can improve aircraft utilization, support connectivity, and help balance demand across short-haul and long-haul travel patterns, shifting capacity across regions as seasonality changes.
    • Brand Portfolio Diversity: A portfolio of established airline brands can address different traveler segments, defend pricing on premium routes, and build loyalty through frequent-flyer programs across key hubs and business corridors.
    • Synergy Efficiency Gains: Integrated procurement, shared services, and coordinated scheduling can reduce duplication, improve cost control, and create scale advantages across the airline group when integration and fleet plans execute well.
    • Premium Route Exposure: Strong positions on transatlantic and European routes can attract higher-yield traffic, support cargo utilization, and diversify revenue across business and leisure demand from multiple hubs and brands over time.

    🐌 Key considerations before investing in International Consolidated Airlines

    International Consolidated Airlines faces fuel volatility, labor complexity, and competitive pricing that can pressure earnings:

    • Fuel Price Volatility: Jet fuel is a major operating cost, and price swings can compress margins when fares lag, especially with schedules planned months ahead and hedging programs that cannot fully remove exposure during volatile energy markets.
    • Labor Cost Rigidity: Unionized workforces and complex labor agreements can limit flexibility, raising costs and increasing disruption risk during negotiations or changes, as staffing levels and scheduling rules are difficult to adjust quickly.
    • Competitive Fare Pressure: Low-cost carriers and airlines compete aggressively on key routes, putting pressure on fares and requiring promotions to maintain load factors, which can reduce revenue and make profitability sensitive to demand shifts.
    • Regulatory Compliance Complexity: Environmental rules, slot constraints, and passenger protections can raise costs, limit capacity choices, and complicate network planning across jurisdictions with different tax regimes and enforcement standards.

    Final thoughts on International Consolidated Airlines

    International Consolidated Airlines benefits from a multi-brand portfolio and hub networks that support connectivity and demand across European and transatlantic routes. However, fuel volatility, competitive fare pressure, and labor constraints can create earnings swings and require disciplined capacity and cost management. For investors, the group can be attractive when demand is stable and execution is strong, but it remains sensitive to external shocks.

  • Booking (NYSE:BKNG)

    Booking Holdings is an online travel platform headquartered in Norwalk, Connecticut, connecting travelers with accommodations, transportation options, and experiences through its global marketplace. Founded in 1996, the company grew into a leading digital intermediary, helping consumers compare choices, plan trips, and complete reservations with ease. Its brand portfolio and scale support strong supplier relationships and recurring demand as travelers return to familiar platforms for frequent bookings.

    The platform enables hotel and alternative accommodation bookings, flights, car rentals, and local activities, serving both leisure and business travelers. Booking invests in search, personalization, and mobile features to improve conversion and match travelers with relevant inventory across seasons and regions. It also balances direct traffic, paid marketing, and partner distribution to broaden reach, strengthen loyalty, and protect unit economics over time.

    Booking financial statements

    Analysts recommendation: 1.61

    Financial Health

    • Return on assets (ROA): 20.25%
    • Return on equity (ROE): N/A
    • Return on investment (ROI): 42.77%

    Profitability

    • Gross margin: 86.99%
    • Operating margin: 44.9%
    • Net profit margin: 19.37%

    Growth

    • EPS (past 5 years): 9.08%
    • EPS (current): 153.6
    • EPS estimate (next quarter): 48.27
    • EPS growth (this year): 13.5%
    • EPS growth (next year): 16.78%
    • EPS growth (next 5 years): 17.93%
    • EPS growth (quarter-over-quarter): 13.56%
    • Sales growth (past 5 years): 9.52%
    • Sales growth (quarter-over-quarter): 12.7%

    💡 Why invest in Booking?

    Booking Holdings benefits from platform scale, brand reach, and data-driven personalization that can support durable travel demand:

    • Marketplace Network Effects: A large two-sided marketplace can reinforce demand and supply, improving conversion, lowering acquisition costs, and strengthening pricing power through repeat usage as more travelers start searches on the platform.
    • Global Brand Reach: Well-known consumer brands and broad inventory coverage help capture demand across regions, while loyalty features encourage repeat bookings and direct traffic, which can reduce reliance on paid marketing in competitive periods.
    • Mobile Product Innovation: Continuous product improvements in search, personalization, and mobile workflows can raise conversion rates and support better matching between travelers and suppliers across different trip types and price points.
    • Supplier Partner Depth: Deep relationships with hotels, airlines, and alternative accommodation providers broaden choice for customers and create switching costs through integrated tooling and distribution that supports long-term supply stability.

    🐌 Key considerations before investing in Booking

    Booking Holdings faces competition, marketing dependence, and regulatory scrutiny that can pressure margins and growth over time:

    • Marketing Cost Pressure: Customer acquisition often depends on paid search and performance marketing, so higher bidding competition can raise costs and reduce profitability for each booking, especially when demand softens and conversion rates fall.
    • Competitive Channel Intensity: Competing OTAs, metasearch platforms, and direct supplier channels can erode share and force incentives that pressure take rates and margins as consumers compare prices across apps and suppliers push direct booking.
    • Regulatory Compliance Burden: Evolving rules on data privacy, competition, and pricing practices can increase compliance costs and restrict how the platform markets, ranks, and monetizes inventory across jurisdictions with shifting enforcement.
    • Travel Demand Cyclicality: Travel demand can fall during recessions, geopolitical shocks, or health events, reducing transaction volumes and creating weaker conversion and higher promotional intensity across suppliers when downturns emerge quickly.

    Final thoughts on Booking

    Booking Holdings runs a leading online travel marketplace with strong brands and data advantages that support efficient matching of travelers and inventory. At the same time, marketing dependence, competitive dynamics, and shifting regulation can pressure take rates and margins, especially when travel demand softens. For investors, the thesis works best when platform scale and loyalty offset acquisition costs, enabling durable growth through cycles in travel spending.

  • Carnival Corp (NYSE:CCL)

    Carnival Corporation & plc is the world's largest cruise company and a leading leisure travel operator headquartered in Miami, Florida, with operations spanning global markets. Founded in 1972, the company expanded through acquisitions and built a diverse brand portfolio that serves cruise travelers across global destinations. The company operates a fleet of over ninety vessels across eight distinctive cruise brands, visiting more than eight hundred ports and destinations worldwide.

    Carnival Corp portfolio includes Carnival Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, Holland America Line, Cunard, Costa Cruises, AIDA Cruises, P&O Cruises, and Seabourn brands. These brands collectively serve millions of passengers annually, offering experiences ranging from contemporary fun-focused voyages to ultra-luxury expedition cruising across global itineraries. The company also owns and operates exclusive port destinations, private islands, hotels, railcars, and motorcoaches that enhance the overall guest vacation experience.

    Carnival Corp financial statements

    Analysts recommendation: N/A

    Financial Health

    • Return on assets (ROA): 5.41%
    • Return on equity (ROE): 25.63%
    • Return on investment (ROI): N/A

    Profitability

    • Gross margin: 55.55%
    • Operating margin: 9.65%
    • Net profit margin: 10.37%

    Growth

    • EPS (past 5 years): N/A
    • EPS (current): 2.02
    • EPS estimate (next quarter): N/A
    • EPS growth (this year): 35.8%
    • EPS growth (next year): N/A
    • EPS growth (next 5 years): N/A
    • EPS growth (quarter-over-quarter): N/A
    • Sales growth (past 5 years): N/A
    • Sales growth (quarter-over-quarter): 6.6%

    💡 Why invest in Carnival Corp?

    Carnival Corp delivers compelling cruise industry leadership with a diverse portfolio of world-class brands and global operations:

    • Global Cruise Dominance: Carnival Corp operates over ninety vessels across eight distinct cruise brands including Carnival Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, Holland America Line, and Cunard commanding the largest global fleet and unmatched market share.
    • Traveler Segment Coverage: A diverse portfolio spanning budget-friendly to ultra-luxury cruise experiences enables Carnival Corp to capture demand across every traveler segment, reducing dependence on any single brand or market demographic.
    • Strong Revenue Recovery: Record revenue performance and growing passenger demand demonstrate Carnival Corp successful post-pandemic recovery, with booking trends and yield improvements driving substantial cash flow generation and debt reduction.
    • Destination Asset Ownership: Carnival Corp ownership of exclusive port destinations, private islands, and land-based tour operations creates differentiated guest experiences while generating incremental revenue beyond traditional cruise ticket sales.

    🐌 Key considerations before investing in Carnival Corp

    Before investing in Carnival Corp, consider the cyclical risks and operational challenges facing the global cruise industry:

    • Elevated Debt Burden: Carnival Corp carries substantial long-term debt accumulated during the pandemic era, with high interest expenses constraining profitability and limiting financial flexibility for capital investment and shareholder returns.
    • Economic Sensitivity Risk: Cruise vacations are discretionary consumer spending, making Carnival Corp highly vulnerable to economic downturns, consumer confidence declines, and inflationary pressures that reduce travel demand and booking volumes.
    • Bunker Price Volatility: Significant exposure to marine fuel price fluctuations creates earnings uncertainty for Carnival Corp, as fuel represents a major operating expense that is difficult to fully hedge or pass through to consumers consistently.
    • Regulatory Environmental Costs: Increasingly stringent environmental regulations governing emissions and waste disposal require Carnival Corp to make substantial ongoing capital investments in fleet upgrades and compliance systems across operations.

    Final thoughts on Carnival Corp

    Carnival Corp combines a large cruise portfolio and broad itinerary reach, supporting demand across traveler segments and creating opportunities for onboard monetization. However, elevated leverage, fuel volatility, and regulatory compliance costs can pressure margins and leave results sensitive to economic slowdowns and disruptions. For investors, the company offers scale advantages, but the thesis depends on disciplined capacity management and steady travel demand across cycles.

If you are interested in other stock categories, check out my other lists of the best AI, automotive, basic materials, beauty, brokers, century old, cloud, communication services, conglomerate, construction, consulting, cybersecurity, defense, e-commerce, education, energy, financial, gold mining, healthcare, high dividend, hotel, industrial, insurance, manufacturing, quantum computing, real estate, retail, saas, semiconductor, stocks, tech, utility, waste management stocks.

If you prefer to filter travel stocks by market cap, explore my lists of the best large cap travel stocks.