Royal Caribbean shares fall amid reported Sandals stake talks
Investors weighed the proposed deal’s valuation, financing implications and expansion into land-based resorts.
Royal Caribbean Group shares fell 6.99% on Sept. 22, 2026, as investors reacted to reports that the cruise company was in advanced discussions to buy a majority stake in Sandals Resorts International for more than $6 billion.
According to the reports, the transaction would be the largest acquisition in Royal Caribbean’s history. It would give the company control of a portfolio of all-inclusive, land-based resorts across the Caribbean.
The reports attributed the market’s cautious response to concerns about the proposed valuation, possible additional balance-sheet leverage and the challenges of moving further into land-based hospitality management. No transaction was confirmed in the supplied information.
The report also listed Royal Caribbean’s annual revenue at $17.93 billion and net profit at $4.27 billion. Those figures provided financial context for the potential acquisition and the market reaction.
