Viking Q2 Earnings Meet Estimates, Revenues Beat, Both Rise Y/Y
ZACKS· 2025-08-19 18:46
Key Takeaways Viking posted Q2 EPS of 99 cents, matching estimates and improving year over year.Q2 revenues of $1.88 billion outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate and improved 18.5% year over year.Adjusted gross margin grew 19.2% year over year; vessel operating expenses rose 14.8% year over year.Viking Holdings (VIK) ) reported second-quarter 2025 results wherein earnings came in line with the Zacks Consensus Estimate and revenues surpassed the same.Quarterly earnings of 99 cents per share matched the Zack ...
Viking Obesity Pill Faces Steep Climb Against Lilly's Tirzepatide, Analyst Calls Downtrend Reaction 'Extreme'
Benzinga· 2025-08-19 18:44
Core Insights - Investors are disappointed with Viking Therapeutics Inc.'s VKTX data from its Phase 2 trial of an obesity pill, VK2735, which showed a mean body weight reduction of up to 12.2% after 13 weeks from baseline, but concerns over tolerability and higher discontinuation rates have led to a significant stock sell-off [1][3]. Group 1: Trial Results - Participants receiving VK2735 demonstrated a mean body weight reduction of up to 12.2% after 13 weeks from baseline [1]. - VK2735 showed up to a 10.9% reduction in body weight compared to the placebo, with no plateau observed for weight loss at 13 weeks [1]. - All doses of VK2735 greater than 15 mg demonstrated statistically significant differences relative to the placebo on key secondary endpoints, assessing the proportion of subjects who achieved at least 5% and 10% weight loss [2]. Group 2: Tolerability and Discontinuation - Concerns have arisen regarding the tolerability profile of VK2735, with higher rates of discontinuation compared to the Phase I study, which contributed to the stock sell-off [3]. - The 30 mg dose of VK2735 showed a placebo-like safety profile, while the 60 mg group reported higher adverse events and discontinuations [3]. - There is potential for improved tolerability in pivotal studies if the titration period is extended to four weeks instead of the two weeks used in the VENTURE-Oral study [4]. Group 3: Market Position and Future Outlook - Viking's obesity franchise is viewed favorably from an M&A perspective by big pharma, with William Blair previously naming Viking as a top pick for 2025 and reiterating an Outperform rating on its shares [4]. - The company is unlikely to pursue 90 mg or 120 mg doses due to cost-of-goods constraints, making the debate over their tolerability less relevant [4]. - Comparisons with Eli Lilly's tirzepatide indicate that VK2735's dose levels are inferior in terms of weight loss at 13 weeks, raising concerns about its competitive position in the market [5]. Group 4: Stock Performance - VKTX stock has experienced a significant decline, down 41.04% at $24.82 as of the last check on Tuesday [6].
AppLovin: Strong Growth And High Margins Should Continue To Drive The Stock Higher
Seeking Alpha· 2025-08-19 18:42
AppLovin (NASDAQ: APP ) reported strong results again in the second quarter, leading its share price to return to near all-time highs. While sequential revenue growth was softer, AppLovin is throttling ecommerce growth at the moment. This should begin to change in the coming quarters, asRichard Durant is the leader of Narweena, an asset manager focused on finding market dislocations that are the result of a poor understanding of a businesses long-term prospects. Narweena believes that excess risk adjusted r ...
Palo Alto Networks: Way Too Early To Conclude That CyberArk Was A Bad Acquisition
Seeking Alpha· 2025-08-19 18:41
Group 1 - The investor has a contrarian investment style, focusing on high-risk, illiquid options and shares, with a portfolio split of approximately 50%-50% [1] - The investment strategy involves buying stocks that have recently experienced sell-offs due to non-recurrent events, especially when insiders are purchasing shares at lower prices [1] - Fundamental analysis is employed to assess the health of companies, their leverage, and to compare financial ratios with sector and industry averages [1] Group 2 - Technical analysis is utilized to optimize entry and exit points, primarily using multicolor lines for support and resistance levels on weekly charts [1] - The investor conducts professional background checks on insiders who purchase shares after sell-offs to ensure credibility [1] - The investment timeframe typically ranges from 3 to 24 months, indicating a medium-term investment horizon [1]
DASH's Total Orders Growth Momentum Continues: A Sign of More Upside?
ZACKS· 2025-08-19 18:40
Key Takeaways DoorDash's Q2 total orders rose 20% year over year to 761M, topping the consensus estimate.Diversification into grocery, retail, and convenience drove faster growth than restaurants.Membership programs and international expansion boosted record-high order frequency.DoorDash (DASH) is benefiting from a large customer base and strong growth in average consumer engagement, which has enhanced its order volume. In the second quarter of 2025, total orders increased 20% year over year to 761 million. ...
Lazard Gains 19% in 3 Months: Should You Buy the Stock Now?
ZACKS· 2025-08-19 18:36
Key Takeaways Lazard shares rose 19% in three months, topping peers Franklin Resources and Invesco.Revenue growth, deal-making prospects, and the Arini alliance are driving Lazards momentum.AUM expansion, cost cuts, and 34.33% ROE strengthen Lazard's appeal for investors.Lazard Ltd. (LAZ) shares have gained 19% in the past three months, outperforming the industry’s growth of 7.4%. Shares of its peers, Franklin Resources (BEN) and Invesco Ltd. (IVZ) , have risen 12.7% and 38.5%, respectively, in the same tim ...
SentinelOne Stock Down 14% in a Month: Hold Tight or Time to Let Go?
ZACKS· 2025-08-19 18:36
Core Insights - SentinelOne (S) shares have decreased by 14% over the past month, underperforming the Zacks Computer & Technology sector's 3% return and the Zacks Security industry's decline of 12.1%, primarily due to challenging macroeconomic conditions affecting sales cycles and net new ARR growth [1][10][21] Company Performance - Despite recent stock performance, SentinelOne's long-term growth trajectory is supported by its innovative Singularity platform, which offers comprehensive AI-native security solutions across various levels [3][4] - The first quarter of fiscal 2026 saw significant growth in the adoption of AI-powered cybersecurity solutions, with Purple AI achieving triple-digit quarterly bookings growth year-over-year and an attach rate exceeding 25% for subscriptions sold [5][10] - SentinelOne's annualized recurring revenues (ARR) increased by 24% year-over-year to $948.1 million, with large enterprise customers generating over $100K in ARR rising by 22% year-over-year to 1,459 [10][13] Product Innovations - The launch of Purple AI Athena, the first true end-to-end Agentic AI platform for cybersecurity, and the general availability of Singularity Hyperautomation are key innovations driving growth [6][10] - Recent acquisitions, such as the agreement to acquire Prompt Security, are expanding the capabilities of the Singularity platform to secure generative and agentic AI use in enterprises [7] Strategic Partnerships - SentinelOne's expanding partner base, including notable companies like Amazon, CyberArk, Mimecast, and Lenovo, is enhancing platform functionality and attracting more customers [8][12] Financial Outlook - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for second-quarter fiscal 2026 earnings is 3 cents per share, indicating a 200% year-over-year increase, with expected revenues of approximately $242 million, reflecting 21.7% year-over-year growth [14][15] Competitive Landscape - The company faces stiff competition in the cybersecurity industry from established players like CrowdStrike and Microsoft, which may impact its market position [16][18]
Housing Starts Shine Light on 2 Homebuilding Stocks
Schaeffers Investment Research· 2025-08-19 18:32
The housing market is under scrutiny today, after privately owned starts for July came in well above analysts' estimates at an adjusted annual rate of 1.428 million, while building permits fell 2.8% from June and missed expectations. Despite the mixed data, Lennar Corp (NYSE:LEN) and Toll Brothers Inc (NYSE:TOL) are enjoying afternoon gains.LEN Breaks Above Technical ResistanceLEN was last seen 1.6% higher to trade at $133.52, following Friday's rally to its highest level since January. The stock sports a 2 ...
Natural Gas, WTI Oil, Brent Oil Forecasts – Oil Markets Pull Back As Geopolitical Risk Premium Declines
FX Empire· 2025-08-19 18:30
Core Viewpoint - The content emphasizes the importance of conducting personal due diligence and consulting competent advisors before making any financial decisions, particularly in relation to investments and financial instruments [1]. Group 1 - The website provides general news, personal analysis, and third-party content intended for educational and research purposes [1]. - It explicitly states that the information does not constitute any recommendation or advice for investment actions [1]. - Users are advised to perform their own research and consider their financial situation before making decisions [1]. Group 2 - The website includes information about complex financial instruments such as cryptocurrencies and contracts for difference (CFDs), which carry a high risk of losing money [1]. - It encourages users to understand how these instruments work and the associated risks before investing [1].
PatentVest Releases First-Ever Quantum Computing Rankings
Globenewswire· 2025-08-19 18:30
Core Insights - The PatentVest Pulse Report highlights the transition of quantum computing from R&D to commercialization, identifying key players in the $850 billion market [1][2] - The report evaluates 38 companies based on competitive progress and intellectual property defensibility, indicating that leadership is not yet established [2][3] Competitive Benchmarking - PatentVest analyzed 38 companies across various metrics including technology modality, funding history, and patent portfolio defensibility [3] - The top companies ranked by global patent publications include D-Wave Quantum Inc., Origin Quantum, and IonQ Inc., with D-Wave leading with 1,338 publications [4][5] Emerging Quantum Computing Companies - The report ranks companies based on their global patent publications and total patent families, showcasing a concentrated leadership group [5] - D-Wave, Origin Quantum, and IonQ are identified as frontrunners, while other challengers like PsiQuantum and Quantinuum are also making significant advancements [5] IP Landscape - The analysis covers 14,762 patent families from 1,743 assignees, mapping the intellectual property landscape in quantum computing [6] - IBM, Alphabet, and Microsoft are the top corporate assignees in terms of patent publications, while startups like D-Wave and Rigetti hold targeted portfolios [7] Conclusion - The combination of competitive benchmarking and IP landscape analysis suggests that success in quantum computing will depend on both intellectual property and commercialization capabilities [8]