SCHEDULE 13G/A: FMR LLC and Abigail P. Johnson Disclose 10.0% Stake in Viking Therapeutics Inc.

Sentiment:

Beneficial Ownership Report


FMR LLC and its affiliates, along with Abigail P. Johnson, have filed an amended Schedule 13G, reporting a beneficial ownership of 10.0% of Viking Therapeutics Inc.'s common stock as of March 31, 2025.

Summary

  • FMR LLC and Abigail P. Johnson, through various affiliated entities, collectively beneficially own 11,249,337.28 shares of Viking Therapeutics Inc. common stock.
  • This aggregate ownership represents 10.0% of the total outstanding common stock of Viking Therapeutics Inc.
  • FMR LLC holds sole voting power over 11,145,122.35 shares and sole dispositive power over 11,249,337.28 shares.
  • Abigail P. Johnson holds sole dispositive power over 11,249,337.28 shares, with no sole or shared voting power directly attributed.
  • The filing is an Amendment No. 2 to a Schedule 13G, indicating an update to a previously reported beneficial ownership.
  • The securities were acquired and are held in the ordinary course of business, not for the purpose of changing or influencing the control of Viking Therapeutics Inc.
  • Fidelity Management & Research Company LLC, a subsidiary of FMR LLC, is specifically noted as beneficially owning 5% or greater of the outstanding shares.
  • Members of the Johnson family, including Abigail P. Johnson, are the predominant owners of FMR LLC's Series B voting common shares, representing 49% of the voting power, and may be deemed to form a controlling group with respect to FMR LLC.

Sentiment

Score: 5

Explanation: The document is a factual disclosure of beneficial ownership and does not contain information that would inherently indicate a positive or negative sentiment regarding the company's operational performance or future prospects. It is a routine regulatory filing.

Risks

  • The document notes that members of the Johnson family, including Abigail P. Johnson, through their ownership of voting common shares and a shareholders' voting agreement, may be deemed to form a controlling group with respect to FMR LLC, which could indirectly influence the investment decisions related to Viking Therapeutics Inc.

Future Outlook

NA

Management Comments

  • "By signing below I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, the securities referred to above were acquired and are held in the ordinary course of business and were not acquired and are not held for the purpose of or with the effect of changing or influencing the control of the issuer of the securities and were not acquired and are not held in connection with or as a participant in any transaction having that purpose or effect, other than activities solely in connection with a nomination under ยงยง 240.14a-11."

Industry Context

This filing reflects a significant ownership stake by a major institutional investor (FMR LLC, parent of Fidelity Investments) in a biotechnology company, Viking Therapeutics Inc. Such disclosures are standard for large investment firms and provide transparency into their portfolio holdings, which can be a signal of institutional confidence in the company's long-term prospects within the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors.

Stakeholder Impact

  • Shareholders: Provides transparency regarding significant institutional ownership, which can influence investor confidence and market perception.
  • Regulatory Authorities: Fulfills SEC disclosure requirements for beneficial ownership exceeding 5%.

Key Dates

DateDescription
2023-01-03Effective date of Power of Attorney for FMR LLC and its direct and indirect subsidiaries.
2023-01-26Effective date of Power of Attorney for Abigail P. Johnson.
2025-03-31Date of event which requires filing of this statement (reporting period end date).
2025-05-09Signature date of the Schedule 13G filing.

Keywords

Viking Therapeutics Inc., FMR LLC, Abigail P. Johnson, Schedule 13G, Beneficial Ownership, Common Stock, Institutional Investor, SEC Filing, Ownership Disclosure, Investment Management

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