In this article, we will look at the Top 8 Travel Stocks to Buy Now. Since the beginning of June, oil prices have gone down 23%. The current WTI Crude price, hovering around $70, is where it was before the conflict in Iran began. With the war premium now mostly over, investors can finally return to investing their money with a bit more certainty. Inflation remains a concern despite lower oil prices, but investors have one fewer variable to deal with when trying to figure out its impact.
Susannah Streeter, the Chief Investment Strategist at Wealth Club, pointed out the above while talking to The Guardian:
Fears of a long-lasting global energy crunch induced by the Iran conflict are slinking away, with oil prices sinking back towards pre-crisis levels.
Analysts on Wall Street have a similar opinion. Gene Goldman, Chief Investment Officer at Cetera Investment Management, said the developments were easing inflation fears, which remain a major point of interest for investors even as the Iran conflict winds down.
Markets are higher on a classic relief rally. We have a US-Iran deal that’s driving oil sharply lower. This is easing inflation fears and basically pushing investors back into risk assets like technology.
With lower inflation or the perception of it, consumer spending is expected to continue at a healthy rate. This discretionary spending also trickles down to the travel industry, which sees increasing demand during peak summertime. As a result, this may be the best time to stay invested in travel stocks. This is also why we decided to create our list of the top 10 travel stocks to buy now.
Our Methodology
To come up with our list of top 10 travel stocks to buy now, we look at companies with a market cap of at least $2 billion associated with the travel industry. These companies are also popular among hedge funds and have recently reported investor-worthy news. We have ranked them by the number of hedge funds that hold them in their portfolios.
Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Insider Monkey’s quarterly newsletter’s strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 599.2% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 372 percentage points (see more details here).
Note: All share price data is as of market close on June 29, 2026.
8. Travel & Leisure Co. (NYSE:TNL)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 43
Simon Yarmak, an analyst at Stifel Nicolaus, reaffirmed a Buy rating on Travel & Leisure Co. (NYSE:TNL) along with the price target of $88 on June 26. The firm’s price target suggests a further 12% upside from current levels.
On a more bullish note, Goldman Sachs upgraded Travel & Leisure Co. (NYSE:TNL) to Buy from its previous Neutral rating on June 1. The firm also raised its price target on the stock from $73 to $85. It views TNL as one of the strongest companies in the travel sector. The company generates steady, recurring fee income without requiring large capital investments, the analyst told investors in a research note. Moreover, Goldman Sachs has a positive view of the timeshare industry, expecting companies to grow earnings through better execution. In addition, travel demand remains healthy in the US, which supports the analyst’s views.
Goldman Sachs analysts led by Lizzie Dove remarked,
TNL has avoided some of the mistakes of its peers and instead stuck to its bread and butter and focused on the execution of its core business. Additionally, we believe TNL’s 2026 guidance is too conservative.
Travel & Leisure Co. (NYSE:TNL) provides hospitality services and travel products in the United States and internationally. The company operates in two different segments: Vacation Ownership and Travel and Membership. The company was formerly known as Wyndham Destinations Inc. and changed its name to Travel & Leisure Co. in February 2021. Travel & Leisure Co. was founded in 1990 and is headquartered in Orlando, Florida.
7. Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (NYSE:RCL)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 53
On June 16, Citi analyst James Hardiman raised the firm’s price target on Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (NYSE:RCL) from $348 to $362 and reaffirmed a Buy rating on the stock. The upward price target revision reflects a further 13% upside from current levels.
Despite challenges ranging from geopolitical conflicts to volatile energy markets and severe weather, the cruise industry remained one of the travel sector’s most consistent outperformers. Earlier on May 28, UBS analysts led by Robin Farley highlighted that the cruise industry remains an attractive investment due to its strong value proposition. As a result, the industry appeals to both Baby Boomers and Millennials. They added that slower growth in cruise capacity and a widening price advantage over hotels and resorts make the sector an attractive area of investment.
UBS analyst team had this to say about the industry’s prospects:
In an industry that is almost entirely a fixed-cost business, where ships are therefore yielded to full occupancy, it can be difficult to protect the bottom line from fuel price increases. And if investors can look past the near-term spike in fuel prices, the cruise industry is well-positioned to continue capturing a strong demographic wave.
Moreover, the firm believes the cruise industry has significant room for growth, as a larger number of cruise passengers are first-time travelers. This suggests cruising has not reached as many consumers as other parts of the travel industry. As a result, operators like Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (NYSE:RCL) and Carnival Corp are building bigger and better private destinations to attract more customers.
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (NYSE:RCL) is a global travel services and cruise company that operates under several brand names, such as Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, and Silversea Cruises.
6. Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd (NYSE:NCLH)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 55
On June 16, Citi raised the firm’s price target on Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd (NYSE:NCLH) to $25 from $21 and reiterated a Buy rating. The firm believes that after the Iran deal, fuel prices have fallen, which can help cruise operators reduce costs and improve profits. As a result, Citi raised its forecasts and price target for NCLH.
For the full year 2026, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd (NYSE:NCLH) lowered its forecasts. The company expects net yields to fall by 3% to 5%. It also lowered its adjusted EPS guidance, which is now projected in the range of $1.45 to $1.79. For the second quarter, net yield is estimated to fall by 3.6%. This is due to escalating conflict in the Middle East, which will result in higher fuel prices. As a result, travel demand will face pressure, and the company’s operating expenses are expected to increase. On a positive front, the company is investing in its Great Stirrup Cay destination, with a new water park to drive future demand. The park is expected to open in late summer 2026.
Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd (NYSE:NCLH) operates as a cruise company in North America, Europe, the Asia Pacific, and internationally. The company provides itineraries to different destinations such as Europe, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, South America, Africa, Canada, Bermuda, the Caribbean, and Alaska. The company also provides amenities and activities, including various accommodations, dining venues, bars, and so on. The company was founded in 1966 and is headquartered in Miami, Florida.
While we acknowledge the potential of NCLH to grow, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and have limited downside risk. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than NCLH and that has 100x upside potential, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.
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