SG Americas Securities LLC Increases Stake in Viking Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:VKTX)

SG Americas Securities LLC raised its holdings in Viking Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:VKTX) by 177.0% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 23,552 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock after buying an additional 15,049 shares during the period. SG Americas Securities LLC’s holdings in Viking Therapeutics were worth $948,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the business. Janney Capital Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of Viking Therapeutics by 89.2% in the 4th quarter. Janney Capital Management LLC now owns 6,542 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock valued at $263,000 after purchasing an additional 3,085 shares in the last quarter. Royal Fund Management LLC raised its stake in Viking Therapeutics by 246.7% in the fourth quarter. Royal Fund Management LLC now owns 44,182 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock valued at $1,778,000 after buying an additional 31,438 shares in the last quarter. Shelton Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in Viking Therapeutics during the 4th quarter worth about $893,000. CNB Bank boosted its position in shares of Viking Therapeutics by 185.4% during the 4th quarter. CNB Bank now owns 2,206 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock worth $89,000 after acquiring an additional 1,433 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Profit Investment Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of Viking Therapeutics by 8.4% in the 4th quarter. Profit Investment Management LLC now owns 73,714 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock valued at $2,966,000 after acquiring an additional 5,713 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 76.03% of the company’s stock.

Insider Activity at Viking Therapeutics

In other news, COO Marianna Mancini sold 54,215 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, January 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $42.75, for a total transaction of $2,317,691.25. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief operating officer now directly owns 374,134 shares in the company, valued at approximately $15,994,228.50. The trade was a 12.66 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, CEO Brian Lian sold 194,490 shares of Viking Therapeutics stock in a transaction dated Monday, January 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $42.75, for a total transaction of $8,314,447.50. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 2,366,570 shares in the company, valued at approximately $101,170,867.50. This represents a 7.59 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last ninety days, insiders have sold 301,014 shares of company stock valued at $12,920,189. Corporate insiders own 4.70% of the company’s stock.

Viking Therapeutics Stock Performance

Shares of VKTX opened at $34.32 on Wednesday. Viking Therapeutics, Inc. has a one year low of $21.26 and a one year high of $99.41. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $43.29 and a 200 day moving average price of $55.04. The company has a market capitalization of $3.82 billion, a P/E ratio of -36.90 and a beta of 0.95.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities research analysts recently weighed in on the company. Piper Sandler began coverage on Viking Therapeutics in a research note on Monday, December 2nd. They set an “overweight” rating and a $74.00 target price for the company. B. Riley began coverage on shares of Viking Therapeutics in a report on Friday, November 22nd. They issued a “buy” rating and a $109.00 target price for the company. William Blair reiterated an “outperform” rating on shares of Viking Therapeutics in a research note on Wednesday, November 20th. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Viking Therapeutics to a “sell” rating in a research note on Tuesday, October 15th. Finally, HC Wainwright reiterated a “buy” rating and set a $102.00 target price on shares of Viking Therapeutics in a research report on Friday, January 17th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eleven have assigned a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Buy” and a consensus target price of $106.75.

Viking Therapeutics Company Profile

Viking Therapeutics, Inc, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, focuses on the development of novel therapies for metabolic and endocrine disorders. The company's lead drug candidate is VK2809, an orally available tissue and receptor-subtype selective agonist of the thyroid hormone receptor beta (TRß), which is in Phase IIb clinical trials to treat patients with biopsy-confirmed non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, as well as NAFLD.