Cruise ship operator goes public

Article Excerpt

VIKING HOLDINGS LTD. $28 is a hold. The company (New York symbol VIK; Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 431.5 million; Market cap: $12.1 billion; No dividend paid; Takeover Target Rating: Lowest; www.viking.com) is a Bermuda-based operator of luxury passenger cruise ships. It currently has 92 vessels, 80 of which can travel on major rivers such as the Nile. On May 1, 2024, Viking sold 11.0 million of its ordinary shares to the public at $24.00 a share for total proceeds of $264.0 million. The company’s controlling shareholders also sold 62.7 million shares at the IPO price. The proceeds will help Viking invest in new ships and tap into strong demand for cruises in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, elevated interest rates and inflation could dampen consumer spending for expensive cruises. Viking Holdings is a hold. hold…