Artia Global Partners LP Sells 442,600 Shares of Viking Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:VKTX)

Artia Global Partners LP lessened its holdings in shares of Viking Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:VKTX - Free Report) by 83.1% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 90,279 shares of the biotechnology company's stock after selling 442,600 shares during the quarter. Viking Therapeutics accounts for approximately 1.3% of Artia Global Partners LP's holdings, making the stock its 17th largest holding. Artia Global Partners LP owned 0.08% of Viking Therapeutics worth $3,633,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in VKTX. Sanctuary Advisors LLC raised its position in shares of Viking Therapeutics by 51.3% during the third quarter. Sanctuary Advisors LLC now owns 5,416 shares of the biotechnology company's stock worth $343,000 after purchasing an additional 1,836 shares during the period. World Investment Advisors LLC bought a new stake in Viking Therapeutics during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $240,000. Tidal Investments LLC raised its holdings in Viking Therapeutics by 296.8% during the 3rd quarter. Tidal Investments LLC now owns 15,190 shares of the biotechnology company's stock worth $962,000 after buying an additional 11,362 shares during the period. Principal Financial Group Inc. lifted its stake in Viking Therapeutics by 29.9% in the third quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 593,528 shares of the biotechnology company's stock valued at $37,576,000 after buying an additional 136,729 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Eagle Bay Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of Viking Therapeutics in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $92,000. 76.03% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Viking Therapeutics Stock Performance

Viking Therapeutics stock traded up $1.19 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $29.81. 3,202,389 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 4,091,419. The stock's 50-day simple moving average is $26.16 and its 200 day simple moving average is $39.64. The firm has a market cap of $3.35 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -29.83 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.

Viking Therapeutics (NASDAQ:VKTX - Get Free Report) last issued 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). During the same period in the prior year, the company posted ($0.26) earnings per share. Viking Therapeutics's quarterly revenue was up .0% compared to the same quarter last year. Research analysts forecast that Viking Therapeutics, Inc. will post -1.56 earnings per share for the current year.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities research analysts recently commented on the stock. Scotiabank started coverage on shares of Viking Therapeutics in a report on Thursday, February 13th. They set a "sector outperform" rating and a $102.00 price objective on the stock. B. Riley reissued a "buy" rating and issued a $96.00 price target (down previously from $109.00) on shares of Viking Therapeutics in a research note on Friday, February 7th. HC Wainwright reaffirmed a "buy" rating and set a $102.00 price objective on shares of Viking Therapeutics in a research report on Thursday, April 24th. Maxim Group dropped their target price on Viking Therapeutics from $120.00 to $70.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, February 7th. Finally, Piper Sandler reduced their price target on Viking Therapeutics from $74.00 to $71.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, February 6th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have given a hold rating, ten have given a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Viking Therapeutics presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $87.15.

Insider Buying and Selling at Viking Therapeutics

In other Viking Therapeutics news, Director Sarah Kathryn Rouan purchased 1,240 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 31st. The shares were acquired at an average cost of $24.15 per share, for a total transaction of $29,946.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the director now owns 1,240 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $29,946. The trade was a ∞ increase in their position. The purchase was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Insiders own 4.10% of the company's stock.

About Viking Therapeutics

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.