After a 13-year absence, I returned to write on Seeking Alpha in August. Writing forces me to lay out the facts, respond to readers who question my assumptions, and see whetherI am a corporate lawyer with an MBA and a long-standing interest in value investing. After spending 7 years practicing at several prestigious Wall Street and Silicon Valley law firms as a corporate transactional lawyer, I founded and have been operating my own boutique law firm for the last 10 years, focusing on investment transaction ...

Economic Impact of Tariffs - Trump's tariff policies are central to his economic strategy, with claims of strengthening the U.S. economy and curbing inflation, while the stock market has reportedly hit an "ALL-TIME HIGH for the 48th time in 9 months" [2][3] - A proposed $2,000 "tariff stimulus check" for middle-income Americans, funded by tariff revenues, raises skepticism among economists who argue that tariffs are typically paid by U.S. importers, leading to higher consumer prices [3][4] - Historical data shows that a significant increase in tariffs can negatively impact S&P 500 earnings, with Goldman Sachs estimating a 1-2% reduction in earnings per share for every five-percentage-point increase in tariff rates [4][6] Market Reactions and Volatility - Trump's announcements have led to significant market volatility, with major indices experiencing fluctuations despite achieving record highs, as seen on November 21, 2025, when the S&P 500 was down 2% despite a 0.92% rise in the US500 [5][12] - The VIX, a measure of market volatility, reached the mid-40s in April 2025, indicating extreme investor anxiety following tariff announcements [6][12] - The market's relationship with Trump's economic statements is characterized by unpredictability, with analysts noting that his pronouncements can trigger significant intraday market swings [11] Sector-Specific Impacts - Trump's directive for the Department of Justice to investigate the meatpacking industry over alleged price manipulation caused immediate stock price drops for major companies like JBS and Tyson Foods [8] - The pharmaceutical sector reacted sharply to Trump's price reduction promises for GLP-1 weight loss drugs, with stocks of companies like Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly experiencing declines following his announcements [9][10] - Subsequent agreements to set drug prices at around $350 per month for Medicare and Medicaid recipients indicate a significant shift in the market landscape, although initial reactions were negative [10] Overall Market Sentiment - As of late November 2025, major indices showed a mix of gains and losses, reflecting the ongoing volatility and uncertainty in the market, with the S&P 500 down 2% despite a 1% increase on the same day [12] - The market continues to grapple with the implications of Trump's policies, oscillating between moments of optimism and underlying concerns about potential policy shifts [12]

Core Viewpoint - The healthcare sector presents significant investment opportunities for long-term investors, particularly in stocks that demonstrate growth potential and resilience against market fluctuations [2]. Group 1: Pfizer - Pfizer has experienced a transformative period, shifting from slow growth to a surge in revenue due to the success of its COVID-19 vaccine developed with BioNTech [4]. - The company has strategically utilized profits from its COVID-19 products to acquire other firms, including a pivotal $43 billion acquisition of Seagen in 2023, enhancing its oncology portfolio with four approved cancer therapies [5][6]. - Pfizer's recent product launches include a range of treatments such as the RSV vaccine Abrysvo and the migraine treatment Nurtec, which are expected to drive future growth [7]. - The company reported total revenue of approximately $45 billion in the first nine months of 2025, with a 24% year-over-year increase in GAAP net income to $9.4 billion [10]. - Pfizer has a strong dividend history, delivering over $7 billion in cash dividends in the first nine months of 2025, with a current yield close to 7% [11]. - The company is focusing on non-COVID growth areas, including oncology and cardiometabolic treatments, while also pursuing acquisitions to counteract patent expirations [9][12]. Group 2: Viking Therapeutics - Viking Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company with its value largely dependent on successful clinical trials and regulatory approvals [13]. - The lead candidate, VK2735, has shown promising results in early trials for weight loss and diabetes improvement, targeting both GLP-1 and GIP receptors [14][15]. - The injectable formulation of VK2735 is in phase 3 trials and has demonstrated significant weight reduction, positioning it competitively against existing treatments [17]. - Viking has a diversified pipeline, including candidates for metabolic liver disease and a rare genetic condition, which may reduce reliance on a single product's success [18][19]. - The company ended Q3 2025 with over $715 million in cash, providing stability for ongoing research and development without immediate fundraising concerns [19][20].

The global weight loss drug market, perhaps ironically, is growing like gangbusters these days. Globally, it’s set to expand from $15 billion in 2024 to $150 billion by 2035, according to Morgan Stanley.The asset management giant reports that 11% of the global eligible population of 1.3 billion people are taking weight-loss drugs, including 20% of eligible patients in the U.S. and 10% in other countries. Morgan Stanley cites expanded supply and clinical benefits for other diseases, such as heart and kidney ...

A month has gone by since the last earnings report for Viking Therapeutics, Inc. (VKTX) . Shares have added about 1% in that time frame, outperforming the S&P 500.Will the recent positive trend continue leading up to its next earnings release, or is Viking Therapeutics due for a pullback? Well, first let's take a quick look at the latest earnings report in order to get a better handle on the recent catalysts for Viking Therapeutics, Inc. before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted as of late ...

Core Insights - The article discusses three mid-cap stocks with potential for significant growth, specifically CRISPR Therapeutics, Viking Therapeutics, and e.l.f. Beauty, which have market caps between $2 billion and $10 billion [1][2]. CRISPR Therapeutics - CRISPR Therapeutics has a market cap of approximately $5.2 billion and offers an approved gene therapy treatment, Casgevy, for sickle cell disease and transfusion-dependent beta thalassemia, valued at over $2 million per treatment [3][5]. - The rollout of Casgevy has been slow, with around 300 patients referred to treatment centers, leading to investor disappointment; the company has reported net losses of $451 million over the past nine months [5][6]. Viking Therapeutics - Viking Therapeutics, with a market cap of around $4.3 billion, is developing a GLP-1 weight loss drug, VK2735, which is currently in phase 3 trials [7][8]. - In earlier trials, VK2735 helped participants lose up to 14.7% of their body weight in 13 weeks; the potential market for GLP-1 drugs could reach $95 billion by 2030 [10][11]. - Viking has incurred losses exceeding $237 million over the past year and does not currently generate revenue, making it a higher-risk investment [11]. e.l.f. Beauty - e.l.f. Beauty has a market cap of approximately $4 billion and is popular among teens, ranking as the top cosmetics brand with a 36% mindshare in a recent survey [12]. - The company projects revenue of around $1.6 billion and adjusted net income of at least $165 million for the year, despite share prices dropping over 40% due to tariff exposure from manufacturing 80% of its products in China [13][14]. - e.l.f. has raised prices on many products by $1, which may help it navigate current challenges; if tariffs are resolved, the stock could see significant growth [14].

Company Highlights - Viking Therapeutics has completed enrollment of approximately 4,650 adults in the phase III VANQUISH-1 study for its obesity drug VK2735, surpassing its initial target of 4,500 patients [2][3][9] - The study evaluates the safety and efficacy of three subcutaneous dosing arms (7.5 mg, 12.5 mg, and 17.5 mg) against a placebo, with a primary endpoint of percent change in body weight after 78 weeks [2][9] - The company is also enrolling patients in the phase III VANQUISH-2 study, targeting nearly 1,100 obese or overweight adults with type II diabetes, with expected completion in Q1 2026 [5] Industry Context - The obesity market is projected to reach $100 billion in the United States by 2030, driven by the success of existing drugs from Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk [11] - Both companies are actively developing new oral weight-loss medications, with Novo Nordisk seeking FDA approval for an oral version of Wegovy by the end of this year [12] - Pfizer has re-entered the obesity market by acquiring Metsera for around $10 billion, adding four novel clinical-stage programs to its portfolio, which could generate significant peak sales [15]

Stocks To Watch: Viking Therapeutics Sees Relative Strength Rating Rise To 89 11/18/2025Viking Therapeutics sees its Relative Strength Rating enter the 80-plus level. BREAKING: Futures Rise After Market Sell-Off Viking Therapeutics (VKTX) stock tumbled Wednesday after the biotech company said it over-enrolled one of its final-phase studies for weight-loss shot VK2735. The company was angling to enroll 4,500 patients who are overweight or have obesity with at least one related condition. Instead, Viking sign ...

It’s been three months since my initial analysis on Viking Therapeutics, Inc. ( VKTX ), which coincided with the stock’s unprecedented one-day drop of over 40% — from around $42 to the mid-$20s. That sharp selloff was drivenI’ve managed my investments since 1999, gaining perspective across multiple market cycles. With a background in Economics and ongoing CFA certification, my focus is on uncovering mispriced assets that the market has overlooked. I conduct my analyses in a way that allows me to use them my ...

Corporate Presentation November 2025 Forward-Looking Statements This presentation contains statements about our future expectations, plans and prospects that constitute forward-looking statements for purposes of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by these forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors, including risks relating to: both our and our collaborators' ability to successf ...