The excitement surrounding Viking Therapeutics (VKTX 3.49%) stock has been dying down significantly lately. In six months, the stock has lost more than 40% of its value. Many investors may have been hoping that another, larger healthcare company would acquire it for its promising GLP-1 treatment, VK2735 -- but that doesn't appear to be happening.And with a growing number of companies in the GLP-1 space, investors may be losing interest in the stock. Could Viking's rapidly declining valuation be a sign that ...

Company Overview - Viking Therapeutics, Inc. is hosting its Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2024 Financial Results Conference Call on February 5, 2025 [2] - Key participants include CEO Brian Lian and CFO Greg Zante, along with Investor Relations Manager Stephanie Diaz [3] Financial Results - The conference call will discuss Viking's financial results for the fourth quarter and the full year of 2024 [2] - A question-and-answer session will follow the management's prepared remarks [2] Forward-Looking Statements - The company will include forward-looking statements regarding its development activities, timelines, and milestones, which are subject to risks and uncertainties [4] - These statements are made under the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 [4]

Financial Performance - For the three months ended December 31, 2024, Viking reported a net loss of $35.4 million, or $0.32 per share, compared to a net loss of $24.6 million, or $0.25 per share, in the same period in 2023[25]. - For the year ended December 31, 2024, Viking reported a net loss of $110.0 million, or $1.01 per share, compared to a net loss of $85.9 million, or $0.91 per share, in 2023[28]. - Viking's total operating expenses for the year ended December 31, 2024, were $150.9 million, compared to $100.8 million in 2023, reflecting a 49.7% increase[36]. - General and administrative expenses rose to $15.3 million in Q4 2024 from $8.8 million in Q4 2023, driven by legal, patent services, and professional fees[24]. - General and administrative expenses for the year ended December 31, 2024, were $49.3 million, up 33% from $37.0 million in 2023[27]. - Research and development expenses increased to $31.0 million in Q4 2024 from $20.5 million in Q4 2023, primarily due to manufacturing and personnel costs[23]. - For the year ended December 31, 2024, research and development expenses were $101.6 million, an increase of 59% from $63.8 million in 2023[26]. - As of December 31, 2024, Viking held cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments of $903 million, significantly up from $362 million as of December 31, 2023[29]. - The company's total assets as of December 31, 2024, were $908.3 million, compared to $368.5 million as of December 31, 2023[38]. Clinical Development - The Phase 2 VENTURE study of VK2735 for obesity achieved statistically significant mean body weight reductions of up to 14.7% from baseline and 13.1% relative to placebo[6]. - The company plans to initiate Phase 3 studies for VK2735 in obesity in Q2 2025[5]. - In the Phase 2b VOYAGE trial, VK2809 demonstrated a median relative reduction in liver fat content ranging from 38% to 55% after 12 weeks[13]. - VK2809-treated patients showed MASH resolution rates of 63% to 75% compared to 29% for placebo[14]. - The Phase 1b study of VK0214 in X-ALD resulted in a 38% reduction in plasma levels of a key biomarker relative to placebo[20]. - Viking is developing VK2735, a dual agonist for metabolic disorders, which has shown positive signs of clinical benefit in Phase 1 and Phase 2 trials[31]. - VK2809, a small molecule for lipid and metabolic disorders, achieved both primary and secondary endpoints in a Phase 2b study for NASH and fibrosis[32]. - The company is also developing VK0214 for the treatment of X-ALD, which demonstrated significant reductions in plasma levels of VLCFAs in a Phase 1b trial[32]. - Viking plans to file an IND application for its dual amylin and calcitonin receptor agonist program later this year[22]. - The company expects to report data from the VENTURE-Oral Dosing trial in 2H25, evaluating VK2735 as an oral tablet[12].

Core Insights - Viking Therapeutics reported strong progress in its clinical pipeline, achieving positive data from multiple trials, including VK2735 for obesity and VK2809 for metabolic disorders [2][3][30] - The company ended 2024 with a robust cash position of $903 million, enabling it to pursue significant clinical goals [2][28] Clinical Pipeline Highlights - Viking's Phase 2 VENTURE study of VK2735 demonstrated statistically significant weight loss, with reductions up to 14.7% from baseline and 13.1% relative to placebo after 13 weeks [3][4] - The company plans to initiate Phase 3 studies for VK2735 in obesity in the second quarter of 2025 [5][6] - VK2809 completed its Phase 2b VOYAGE study, showing significant reductions in liver fat content and improvements in MASH resolution and fibrosis [11][13][16] Financial Performance - Research and development expenses for Q4 2024 were $31.0 million, up from $20.5 million in Q4 2023, primarily due to increased manufacturing and personnel costs [22] - General and administrative expenses rose to $15.3 million in Q4 2024 from $8.8 million in Q4 2023, driven by legal and professional fees [23] - The net loss for Q4 2024 was $35.4 million, or $0.32 per share, compared to a net loss of $24.6 million, or $0.25 per share, in Q4 2023 [24] Balance Sheet Overview - As of December 31, 2024, Viking held cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments totaling $903 million, a significant increase from $362 million at the end of 2023 [28] - The total liabilities were $28.0 million, with stockholders' equity amounting to $880.3 million [34]

Group 1: Brokerage Recommendations - Viking Therapeutics, Inc. (VKTX) has an average brokerage recommendation (ABR) of 1.00, indicating a Strong Buy based on recommendations from 14 brokerage firms, all of which are Strong Buy [2][4] - Despite the Strong Buy recommendation, relying solely on this information for investment decisions may not be advisable, as studies show brokerage recommendations often lack success in guiding investors towards stocks with significant price appreciation [4][9] - Brokerage analysts tend to exhibit a strong positive bias in their ratings, with five "Strong Buy" recommendations for every "Strong Sell" recommendation, which may mislead investors [5][9] Group 2: Zacks Rank and Earnings Estimates - Zacks Rank categorizes stocks into five groups, from Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy) to Zacks Rank 5 (Strong Sell), and is based on earnings estimate revisions, which correlate strongly with near-term stock price movements [7][10] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Viking Therapeutics has remained unchanged at -$0.97 over the past month, suggesting analysts have steady views on the company's earnings prospects [12] - The unchanged consensus estimate has resulted in a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold) for Viking Therapeutics, indicating a cautious approach despite the Buy-equivalent ABR [13]

Viking Therapeutics (VKTX) is set to report fourth-quarter and full-year 2024 earnings on Feb. 5, after market close. Since the company lacks a marketed drug in its portfolio, we do not expect it to record revenues. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings is pegged at a loss of 27 cents per share. Estimates for 2025 loss per share have improved slightly from $1.42 to $1.41 in the past 60 days.See the Zacks Earnings Calendar to stay ahead of market-making news. Image Source: Zacks Investment ResearchVKTX’s ...

Company Overview - Viking Therapeutics, Inc. is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing novel therapies for metabolic and endocrine disorders [3] - The company has three compounds currently in clinical trials, including VK2735, VK2809, and VK0214 [3] Clinical Programs - VK2735 is a dual agonist of GLP-1 and GIP receptors, showing an encouraging safety profile and positive clinical benefits in Phase 1 and Phase 2 trials for metabolic disorders [3] - VK2809 is an orally available small molecule selective thyroid hormone receptor beta agonist, which achieved primary and secondary endpoints in a Phase 2b study for NASH and fibrosis, and demonstrated significant reductions in LDL-C and liver fat in a Phase 2a trial for NAFLD [3] - VK0214 is being developed for X-ALD, showing safety and significant reductions in VLCFAs in a Phase 1b trial [3] Upcoming Events - The company will release its financial results for Q4 and year-end 2024 on February 5, 2025, after market close [1] - A conference call to discuss these results will take place at 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time on the same day [2]

Industry Overview - The obesity drug market is experiencing significant growth, driven by effective and safe drugs like Eli Lilly's Zepbound and Novo Nordisk's Wegovy, which have seen soaring demand [1][2] - The market is projected to exceed $100 billion by 2030, according to Morgan Stanley Research, indicating a robust future for obesity treatments [2] Company Analysis - Viking Therapeutics is emerging as a potential competitor in the obesity drug market, with promising data from its weight loss candidate VK2735, which showed a 14.7% reduction in mean body weight after 13 weeks in phase 2 trials [5][6] - Viking's market capitalization is under $4 billion, significantly smaller than Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly, which have market values exceeding $300 billion and $600 billion, respectively [7] - Despite the challenges of competing with established pharmaceutical giants, Viking could find a niche in the market if clinical trials continue to yield positive results [8] Clinical Trial Insights - Viking is also developing an oral formulation of VK2735, which has shown an 8.2% weight loss after 28 days in earlier trials, indicating potential versatility in delivery methods [6] - The company's stock has historically reacted positively to strong clinical trial results, with a notable 121% surge following the announcement of VK2735's phase 2 results [10] Market Dynamics - The demand for weight loss drugs remains high, and the market is expected to accommodate multiple players, suggesting opportunities for growth beyond the current leaders [8] - Viking's path to commercialization for VK2735 is not immediate, but upcoming clinical trial data could significantly impact its stock price and investor interest [9]

The latest trading session saw Viking Therapeutics, Inc. (VKTX) ending at $32.87, denoting a +0.67% adjustment from its last day's close. The stock's performance was behind the S&P 500's daily gain of 0.88%. At the same time, the Dow added 1.24%, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq gained 0.65%.The the stock of company has fallen by 22.85% in the past month, lagging the Medical sector's loss of 0.32% and the S&P 500's gain of 1.17%.Analysts and investors alike will be keeping a close eye on the performance of Viking ...

13-Week Study to Evaluate the Safety and Efficacy of Oral VK2735 Dosed Once Daily SAN DIEGO, Jan. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Viking Therapeutics, Inc. ("Viking") (NASDAQ: VKTX), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of novel therapies for metabolic and endocrine disorders, today announced the initiation of a Phase 2 clinical trial of the oral tablet formulation of VK2735, the company's dual agonist of the glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polyp ...