Viking Holdings Ltd's stock rose by 3.30%, reaching a 52-week high, despite the Nasdaq-100 and S&P 500 experiencing declines of 0.40% and 0.16%, respectively.
The increase in Viking's stock price is attributed to Goldman Sachs upgrading the company from Neutral to Buy, highlighting its strong pricing power and lower exposure to the Caribbean cruise market. This upgrade comes amid challenges in the cruise industry, where competitors like Norwegian Cruise Line are facing pricing pressures due to increased capacity. Viking's strong brand loyalty and financial health further support its positive outlook, leading to a significant rise in its stock value.
This upgrade reflects confidence in Viking's ability to navigate industry challenges and capitalize on its unique market position, suggesting that investors are optimistic about its future performance.
Wall Street analysts forecast VIK stock price to fall over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for VIK is 71.93 USD with a low forecast of 59.00 USD and a high forecast of 85.00 USD. However, analyst price targets are subjective and often lag stock prices, so investors should focus on the objective reasons behind analyst rating changes, which better reflect the company's fundamentals.
12 Analyst Rating
Wall Street analysts forecast VIK stock price to fall over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for VIK is 71.93 USD with a low forecast of 59.00 USD and a high forecast of 85.00 USD. However, analyst price targets are subjective and often lag stock prices, so investors should focus on the objective reasons behind analyst rating changes, which better reflect the company's fundamentals.
8 Buy
3 Hold
1 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 74.290
Low
59.00
Averages
71.93
High
85.00
Current: 74.290
Low
59.00
Averages
71.93
High
85.00
Morgan Stanley
Stephen Grambling
Overweight
maintain
$70 -> $75
2026-01-16
Reason
Morgan Stanley
Stephen Grambling
Price Target
$70 -> $75
AI Analysis
2026-01-16
maintain
Overweight
Reason
Morgan Stanley analyst Stephen Grambling raised the firm's price target on Viking Holdings to $75 from $70 and keeps an Overweight rating on the shares. Gaming, lodging and leisure fundamentals were "muted" in 2025, with select areas of acceleration skewed to companies serving older, wealthier consumers, the analyst tells investors in a 2026 look ahead note on the group. For 2026, the firm expects "more of the same fundamentally," with the added wrinkle of rates boosting goods over services, the analyst added.
Jefferies
Hold
to
Buy
upgrade
$60 -> $80
2025-12-15
Reason
Jefferies
Price Target
$60 -> $80
2025-12-15
upgrade
Hold
to
Buy
Reason
Jefferies upgraded Viking Holdings to Buy from Hold with a price target of $80, up from $60. The firm cites the company's "continued strong growth and business model quality" along with its "beneficial positioning" in luxury for the upgrade. Jefferies expects Viking to post "industry-leading" net yield growth of 5% in fiscal 2026 despite capacity growing low-double-digits.
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Citi
Buy
maintain
$74 -> $85
2025-12-12
Reason
Citi
Price Target
$74 -> $85
2025-12-12
maintain
Buy
Reason
Citi raised the firm's price target on Viking Holdings to $85 from $74 and keeps a Buy rating on the shares. The firm believes theca cruise data points indicate that either the demand environment has decelerated or the supply environment in the Caribbean market has "gotten crowded." A combination of both is likely, the analyst tells investors in a research note. Citi expects the cruise companies to issue "more conservative" outlooks when reporting Q4. The firm thinks Viking will be the biggest beneficiary of a "K-shaped economy."
Goldman Sachs
Lizzie Dove
Neutral -> Buy
upgrade
$66 -> $78
2025-12-09
Reason
Goldman Sachs
Lizzie Dove
Price Target
$66 -> $78
2025-12-09
upgrade
Neutral -> Buy
Reason
Goldman Sachs analyst Lizzie Dove upgraded Viking Holdings to Buy from Neutral with a price target of $78, up from $66. The firm says the company's "differentiated" geographic exposure and higher-income demographic have offset "choppier" broader cruise trends. Viking is seeing an acceleration in 2026 pricing and as "insulation" given its low exposure to the Caribbean, the analyst tells investors in a research note. Goldman says the company's pricing power and mix shift into more exotic itineraries is underappreciated at current share levels.
About VIK
Viking Holdings Ltd provides destination-focused journeys on rivers, oceans, and lakes around the world. The Company offers travel experiences on all seven continents in all three categories of the cruise industry - river, ocean, and expedition cruising. Its cruise line offers experiences on all seven continents with itineraries across five oceans, 21 rivers and five lakes, and a focus primarily on destinations in Europe and the Mediterranean, rather than the Caribbean. The Company’s fleet includes 58 longships accommodating 190 passengers, 11 ocean ships, including the Viking Yi Dun, accommodating 930 or 998 passengers and two expedition ships accommodating 378 passengers. Its in-house operations include Nautical, Hotel Services and Land Operations Departments. Its fleet comprised of various ships, such as Viking Gymir, Viking Fjorgyn, Viking Radgrid, Viking Kari, Viking Vilhjalm, Viking Hermod, Viking Hemming, Viking Neptune, Viking Polaris, Viking Octantis, among others.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
