SG Americas Securities LLC Sells 26,191 Shares of Viking Therapeutics, Inc. $VKTX

SG Americas Securities LLC lessened its holdings in shares of Viking Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:VKTX) by 27.3% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 69,613 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock after selling 26,191 shares during the period. SG Americas Securities LLC owned 0.06% of Viking Therapeutics worth $2,449,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Norges Bank bought a new position in Viking Therapeutics during the second quarter worth $46,846,000. Two Sigma Investments LP raised its position in shares of Viking Therapeutics by 58.7% in the 3rd quarter. Two Sigma Investments LP now owns 2,085,487 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock worth $54,807,000 after acquiring an additional 771,704 shares in the last quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. raised its position in shares of Viking Therapeutics by 41.8% in the 3rd quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. now owns 2,092,840 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock worth $55,000,000 after acquiring an additional 616,526 shares in the last quarter. Cubist Systematic Strategies LLC lifted its stake in shares of Viking Therapeutics by 6,315.6% in the 2nd quarter. Cubist Systematic Strategies LLC now owns 596,650 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock valued at $15,811,000 after purchasing an additional 587,350 shares during the period. Finally, Duquesne Family Office LLC bought a new stake in shares of Viking Therapeutics during the 2nd quarter valued at about $14,556,000. 76.03% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Viking Therapeutics Price Performance

Shares of NASDAQ VKTX opened at $34.80 on Friday. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $32.01 and a 200-day moving average price of $33.27. The stock has a market capitalization of $4.02 billion, a P/E ratio of -10.94 and a beta of 0.83. Viking Therapeutics, Inc. has a 1 year low of $18.92 and a 1 year high of $43.15.

Viking Therapeutics (NASDAQ:VKTX) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, February 11th. The biotechnology company reported ($1.38) earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of ($0.89) by ($0.49). During the same period in the prior year, the business posted ($0.32) EPS. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that Viking Therapeutics, Inc. will post -1.56 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities research analysts have weighed in on VKTX shares. Morgan Stanley reiterated an “overweight” rating and issued a $99.00 target price on shares of Viking Therapeutics in a report on Thursday, February 12th. Zacks Research raised shares of Viking Therapeutics from a “strong sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 18th. BTIG Research upgraded shares of Viking Therapeutics to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, February 26th. Wolfe Research initiated coverage on shares of Viking Therapeutics in a research report on Thursday, March 26th. They set a “peer perform” rating on the stock. Finally, HC Wainwright reissued a “buy” rating and set a $102.00 target price on shares of Viking Therapeutics in a research note on Monday, March 23rd. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, five have issued a Buy rating, four have issued a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $87.80.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, insider Neil William Aubuchon bought 4,475 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, March 10th. The shares were bought at an average price of $33.50 per share, with a total value of $149,912.50. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider directly owned 4,475 shares in the company, valued at approximately $149,912.50. This represents a ∞ increase in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, CFO Greg Zante sold 57,661 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, January 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $32.90, for a total value of $1,897,046.90. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer directly owned 189,891 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $6,247,413.90. The trade was a 23.29% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. In the last ninety days, insiders sold 348,731 shares of company stock valued at $11,491,867. 4.10% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Viking Therapeutics Company Profile

Viking Therapeutics, Inc is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of novel therapies for metabolic and endocrine disorders. Headquartered in San Diego, California, the company’s pipeline leverages small-molecule approaches to target hormone signaling pathways implicated in conditions such as non‐alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), dyslipidemia, type 2 diabetes and muscle wasting disorders.

The company’s lead programs include VK2809, a thyroid hormone receptor‐beta agonist designed to reduce liver fat and improve lipid profiles in patients with NASH and dyslipidemia, and VK5211, a selective androgen receptor modulator (SARM) aimed at enhancing muscle mass and function in individuals with muscle wasting conditions.