Tema Etfs LLC Takes Position in Viking Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:VKTX)

Tema Etfs LLC bought a new position in Viking Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:VKTX - Free Report) during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor bought 20,215 shares of the biotechnology company's stock, valued at approximately $813,000.

Other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Blue Trust Inc. lifted its holdings in Viking Therapeutics by 75.9% during the fourth quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 716 shares of the biotechnology company's stock worth $29,000 after buying an additional 309 shares during the period. YANKCOM Partnership bought a new stake in Viking Therapeutics during the fourth quarter valued at about $33,000. FIL Ltd boosted its position in Viking Therapeutics by 116.8% during the fourth quarter. FIL Ltd now owns 1,203 shares of the biotechnology company's stock valued at $48,000 after purchasing an additional 648 shares in the last quarter. CIBC Private Wealth Group LLC grew its stake in Viking Therapeutics by 170.2% in the fourth quarter. CIBC Private Wealth Group LLC now owns 1,351 shares of the biotechnology company's stock valued at $55,000 after purchasing an additional 851 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Kapitalo Investimentos Ltda bought a new position in Viking Therapeutics in the fourth quarter worth about $63,000. 76.03% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Insider Activity

In other news, Director Sarah Kathryn Rouan purchased 1,240 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 31st. The stock was acquired at an average cost of $24.15 per share, for a total transaction of $29,946.00. Following the acquisition, the director now owns 1,240 shares of the company's stock, valued at $29,946. The trade was a ∞ increase in their ownership of the stock. The acquisition was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Insiders own 4.10% of the company's stock.

Viking Therapeutics Stock Down 5.0%

Shares of VKTX traded down $1.42 on Wednesday, reaching $27.25. The stock had a trading volume of 2,521,685 shares, compared to its average volume of 4,083,179. Viking Therapeutics, Inc. has a twelve month low of $18.92 and a twelve month high of $81.73. The firm has a market capitalization of $3.06 billion, a PE ratio of -27.25 and a beta of 0.75. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $26.09 and a 200 day moving average of $35.74.

Viking Therapeutics (NASDAQ:VKTX - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, April 23rd. The biotechnology company reported ($0.41) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of ($0.31) by ($0.10). During the same quarter last year, the firm earned ($0.26) EPS. The business's revenue was up .0% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that Viking Therapeutics, Inc. will post -1.56 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of analysts have recently weighed in on VKTX shares. Morgan Stanley lowered their price target on shares of Viking Therapeutics from $105.00 to $102.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, April 24th. Citigroup began coverage on Viking Therapeutics in a research report on Friday, February 7th. They set a "neutral" rating and a $38.00 price target on the stock. B. Riley restated a "buy" rating and set a $96.00 target price (down from $109.00) on shares of Viking Therapeutics in a research note on Friday, February 7th. Scotiabank initiated coverage on Viking Therapeutics in a research note on Thursday, February 13th. They issued a "sector outperform" rating and a $102.00 price target for the company. Finally, HC Wainwright restated a "buy" rating and set a $102.00 price objective on shares of Viking Therapeutics in a report on Thursday, April 24th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have given a hold rating, ten have given a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Viking Therapeutics has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $87.15.

Viking Therapeutics 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.