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Anchors away, as Royal Caribbean fears nothing about stormy seas

Royal Caribbean’s earnings yesterday showed a company defiant to the economic burdens that has the rest of the business world hedging bets, yanking guidance, and dialing back expectations. We’ve seen company after company stare down a volatile trade situation and an American consumer whose financial security has been checked over the past several weeks, and what have we seen? Adjusted guidance, and not in a good direction.Just this week, UPS pulled its full-year guidance, as did Colgate-Palmolive. Other travel industry stalwarts Delta, American Airlines, and Frontier all pulled or hedged on their forecasts.Heck, even archrival Carnival tried to lower expectations for the year. Royal Caribbean scoffs at this! Based on what it’s seeing, the American consumer will spend their bottom dollar if that’s what it takes to get on a cruise ship this year. Bookings are on track, cancellation levels are normal, and close-in demand is great, the company says. Lower guidance? To Davy Jones’ Locker, go ye! No, Royal Caribbean saw the world for what it is and made the assessment that demand for frozen drinks in pools floating in the Caribbean will be existentially necessary to huge swaths of the American populace.

THE TAKEAWAY Damn the torpedoes and full speed ahead — Royal Caribbean raised guidance, now anticipating full-year earnings per share between $14.55 and $15.55, up from its prior forecast of $14.35 to $14.65.