Barclays PLC Has $3.72 Million Holdings in Viking Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:VKTX)

Barclays PLC raised its position in shares of Viking Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:VKTX - Free Report) by 11.9% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 92,556 shares of the biotechnology company's stock after purchasing an additional 9,825 shares during the period. Barclays PLC owned 0.08% of Viking Therapeutics worth $3,723,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in VKTX. Norges Bank purchased a new stake in shares of Viking Therapeutics during the 4th quarter worth about $51,464,000. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA raised its stake in shares of Viking Therapeutics by 446.7% during the 4th quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 1,357,241 shares of the biotechnology company's stock worth $54,615,000 after purchasing an additional 1,108,972 shares in the last quarter. Raymond James Financial Inc. bought a new position in shares of Viking Therapeutics in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $24,888,000. Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd. raised its stake in shares of Viking Therapeutics by 137.0% in the 4th quarter. Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd. now owns 375,222 shares of the biotechnology company's stock valued at $15,099,000 after acquiring an additional 216,873 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Principal Financial Group Inc. raised its stake in shares of Viking Therapeutics by 29.9% in the 3rd quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 593,528 shares of the biotechnology company's stock valued at $37,576,000 after acquiring an additional 136,729 shares in the last quarter. 76.03% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Viking Therapeutics Price Performance

Shares of Viking Therapeutics stock traded down $0.26 during midday trading on Thursday, hitting $28.61. 3,453,730 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 4,094,456. The firm has a market cap of $3.21 billion, a P/E ratio of -28.61 and a beta of 0.84. Viking Therapeutics, Inc. has a 52 week low of $18.92 and a 52 week high of $81.86. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $26.17 and a 200-day simple moving average of $39.90.

Viking Therapeutics (NASDAQ:VKTX - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, April 23rd. The biotechnology company reported ($0.41) EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of ($0.31) by ($0.10). The business's revenue for the quarter was up .0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the company posted ($0.26) earnings per share. Equities research analysts expect that Viking Therapeutics, Inc. will post -1.56 earnings per share for the current year.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research analysts recently weighed in on the company. Truist Financial reissued a "buy" rating and issued a $75.00 price objective (down from $95.00) on shares of Viking Therapeutics in a research note on Monday. The Goldman Sachs Group assumed coverage on Viking Therapeutics in a research note on Tuesday, April 8th. They issued a "neutral" rating and a $30.00 price objective on the stock. B. Riley reissued a "buy" rating and issued a $96.00 price objective (down from $109.00) on shares of Viking Therapeutics in a research note on Friday, February 7th. Maxim Group cut their price objective on Viking Therapeutics from $120.00 to $70.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, February 7th. Finally, HC Wainwright reaffirmed a "buy" rating and issued a $102.00 target price on shares of Viking Therapeutics in a report on Thursday, April 24th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating, ten have assigned a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $87.15.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, Director Sarah Kathryn Rouan acquired 1,240 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on Monday, March 31st. The shares were purchased at an average price of $24.15 per share, with a total value of $29,946.00. Following the acquisition, the director now directly owns 1,240 shares in the company, valued at $29,946. The trade was a ∞ increase in their ownership of the stock. The purchase was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. 4.10% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

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.