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 ...

This is a high-risk, high-reward stock.In this video, I will cover the recent updates regarding Viking Therapeutics (VKTX 0.56%). Watch the short video to learn more, consider subscribing, and click the special offer link below.*Stock prices used were from the trading day of Jan. 3, 2025. The video was published on Jan. 4, 2025. ...

Market Dynamics - Viking Therapeutics' share price declined by 24% in December 2024 due to intensified competition in the pharmaceutical market [1] - Merck entered into a licensing deal with Hansoh Pharma for an investigational weight-loss drug HS-10535, posing a threat to Viking's VK2735 program [3] - The weight-loss drug market is highly lucrative with only two GLP-1 drugs approved in the US, indicating significant growth potential [6] Competitive Landscape - Merck secured exclusive global licensing rights to HS-10535, committing $112 million upfront and up to $1.9 billion in milestone payments and royalties [5] - Viking's VK2735, an oral obesity drug, is relatively advanced in development and has shown promising results in clinical trials [3][8] - VK2735 has a competitive advantage over injectable treatments like Novo Nordisk's Wegovy and Eli Lilly's Zepbound [4] Development Progress - HS-10535 is still in development and its efficacy remains uncertain, while VK2735 is closer to commercialization [7][8] - Viking's VK2735 is positioned as a potential go-to treatment due to its oral administration format [8]

It's been an excellent year for Viking Therapeutics (VKTX 2.19%), a mid-cap biotech company. Thanks to impressive mid-stage clinical results, its stock skyrocketed in February. And although it's down from the all-time highs it hit earlier this year, it remains one of the better performers in the industry over the past 12 months.However, Viking's shares recently dropped massively -- by more than 10% -- in one day. And the stock is down 24% in the past month. What exactly caused this recent decline? Should in ...

Core Insights - Viking Therapeutics has $930.4 million in cash and equivalents, providing a buffer against current spending rates, while Merck's established revenue from commercialized medicines allows it to endure clinical setbacks longer if necessary [1] - Viking's VK2735 oral candidate may have a competitive edge in the market for about a year before facing Merck's product, with clinical data suggesting VK2735 could be more effective for weight loss compared to competitors from Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk [2][4] - The market for anti-obesity drugs is still growing and not saturated, making competition less intimidating for Viking [2] Company Developments - Viking's VK2735 is being developed in both injectable and oral formats, with the injectable version advancing to phase 3 trials after successful phase 2 results, while the oral version is in planning for phase 2 [6][7] - Viking's stock fell 18% following Merck's announcement of a licensing deal for a competing weight-loss drug, HS-10535, which includes an upfront payment of $112 million and potential milestone payments of up to $1.9 billion [9][15] - Despite the stock drop, Viking is not in immediate trouble, as the market's reaction is based on assumptions about the outcomes of its upcoming clinical trials [14] Market Context - The anti-obesity drug market is becoming increasingly competitive, with Merck's entry posing a challenge to smaller companies like Viking that have yet to establish a self-sustaining revenue model [16] - If VK2735 is successful, it could generate over $1 billion in sales within its first year, significantly benefiting shareholders [13] - The competitive landscape suggests that while Viking faces a formidable opponent in Merck, it still has opportunities to succeed if it can capitalize on its clinical trial results [18]