Insider Trading February 18, 2026

Royal Caribbean Executive Sells $2.56 Million in Stock as Company Posts In-Line Q4 Results and Receives Credit Upgrade

Celebrity Cruises president sells shares amid a period of upgraded credit ratings, steady earnings, and a board addition

By Hana Yamamoto RCL
Royal Caribbean Executive Sells $2.56 Million in Stock as Company Posts In-Line Q4 Results and Receives Credit Upgrade
RCL

Laura H. Bethge, President of Celebrity Cruises at Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (RCL), disposed of 7,854 shares on February 17, 2026, raising $2.56 million. The transaction leaves her with direct ownership of 32,786 shares and indirect ownership of 87 shares through a spouse. The move comes as Royal Caribbean reported Q4 2025 results that met analyst expectations and received a Moody's credit rating upgrade, while appointing Christopher J. Wiernicki to its board.

Key Points

  • Laura H. Bethge sold 7,854 Royal Caribbean shares on February 17, 2026, at $326.21 per share, totaling $2,562,053; she now directly owns 32,786 shares and indirectly owns 87 through a spouse.
  • Royal Caribbean's Q4 2025 results matched expectations with EPS of $2.80 and revenue of $4.26 billion, reflecting alignment with analyst forecasts.
  • Moody's upgraded Royal Caribbean's long-term issuer rating to Baa2 (from Baa3) and raised its commercial paper rating to P-2 (from P-3), citing strong demand, pricing execution, and cost controls; the company also added Christopher J. Wiernicki to its board.

Laura H. Bethge, who serves as President of Celebrity Cruises within Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (NYSE: RCL), sold 7,854 shares of the company's common stock on February 17, 2026. The shares were transacted at a per-share price of $326.21, producing a total sale value of $2,562,053.

Following the sale, Bethge's direct holdings in Royal Caribbean amount to 32,786 common shares. In addition to that direct stake, she holds an indirect interest in 87 shares through a spouse.


These insider selling details arrive alongside several corporate and financial developments for Royal Caribbean. For the fourth quarter of 2025, the company reported earnings per share of $2.80 and revenue of $4.26 billion, results that matched analysts' expectations. The company’s reported Q4 2025 performance is therefore in line with market forecasts.

In a separate development, Moody's Ratings elevated Royal Caribbean's long-term issuer rating from Baa3 to Baa2. The rating agency also upgraded the company's commercial paper rating from P-3 to P-2. In its rationale, Moody's cited robust demand, effective pricing approaches, and measures to control costs. The agency indicated an expectation of continued earnings expansion and a stable debt-to-EBITDA ratio.

Corporate governance changes were also announced: Christopher J. Wiernicki, the former Chairman and CEO of the American Bureau of Shipping, has been appointed to Royal Caribbean's board of directors. Wiernicki brings more than 40 years of experience in marine and offshore design, operations, and safety management to the board.


Taken together, the insider transaction, the quarterly results that met consensus, the credit-rating upgrade by Moody's, and the appointment of an industry veteran to the board represent a bundle of disclosures that investors and market watchers can assess. The public record shows the exact size and timing of the insider sale and the precise figures for the company’s recent quarter and credit action; beyond those reported items, further developments will determine how these disclosures play out over time.

Risks

  • Moody's projection of continued earnings growth and a stable debt/EBITDA ratio is an expectation rather than a guaranteed outcome; actual future results will determine whether those expectations are met.
  • The insider sale documents a sizable immediate reduction in shares held by a senior company executive; while the transaction is explicit in size and timing, its implications for future insider activity or executive-level decisions are not stated.
  • Although Q4 2025 results met analysts' estimates, the article does not provide forward guidance or detailed segment performance, leaving uncertainty about near-term operational drivers across the travel and leisure sector.

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