Cruise Operator Viking’s Stock Jumps Close to 9% in First Day of Trading [Video]

Viking Holdings (VIK) shares sailed nearly 9% higher to $26.10 Wednesday in their first day of trading on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) after the cruise line held the second-largest U.S. initial public offering (IPO) so far this year behind Amer Sports.

Viking had priced its shares at $24 apiece in its IPO, at the higher end of its expected range of $21 to $25. Of the 64 million shares sold raising $1.54 billion, 11 million were from the company, and 53 million from shareholders.

Founder and CEO Torstein Hagen wrote in a letter to prospective shareholders in Viking’s registration statement that Viking views going public “as a natural move to further solidify our position as a great company.”

Hagen reportedly controls about half of Viking shares, with Bloomberg estimating the IPO brought his net worth above $5 billion.