Core Insights - Viking Therapeutics has seen a recovery in stock price following the release of positive phase 2 clinical trial results for its lead drug candidate VK2735, an oral weight loss formulation [1][2] Company Overview - VK2735 is a GLP-1 and GIP agonist weight loss drug being tested in both subcutaneous and oral formulations, with the subcutaneous version currently in phase 3 trials for obesity and type 2 diabetes, expected to yield results in 2027 [2] - The company has a market capitalization of $4 billion, with a current stock price of $36.76, and a 52-week price range of $18.92 to $68.87 [3] Clinical Trial Insights - The oral formulation of VK2735 has shown excellent efficacy, safety, and tolerability in phase 1 trials, and phase 2 results also demonstrated efficacy [4] - Despite a 20% discontinuation rate in the oral VK2735 group during phase 2 trials, the placebo group had a 13% discontinuation rate, indicating potential challenges with the trial cohort [5] Future Prospects - Management has initiated a phase 1 trial to explore the use of VK2735 (oral) as a maintenance dose in combination with VK2735 (subcutaneous), with results expected in 2026, indicating ongoing development and potential commercialization of the oral formulation [6]

Apple Inc. - Wedbush has become more bullish on Apple, raising the price target from 270 to 310 while maintaining an outperform rating, driven by the iPhone 17 launch [2][5] - Demand for the iPhone 17 is tracking 10% to 15% ahead of the iPhone 16, with production ramping up by about 20% for both base and pro models [3] - Analysts believe that AI monetization could add $75 to $100 per share to Apple's valuation over the next few years, indicating that there is currently no AI premium factored into the stock price [4][3] Pfizer Inc. - Pfizer is acquiring weight loss drug maker Metsa for up to $7.3 billion, with the deal contingent on reaching certain milestones [8][9] - Metsa has a pipeline of oral and injectable weight loss treatments, including a GLP-1 drug that shows an 8.4% weight loss in 36 days, which is significant in the weight loss drug market [10][11] - Pfizer has struggled to find success in the weight loss drug space, leading to this acquisition strategy [12] Semiconductor Industry - Morgan Stanley has upgraded ASML to overweight from equal weight, with a new price target of 950 euros, citing underestimated contributions from Intel and Samsung and increased memory chip demand [13][14] - Applied Materials has also been upgraded to overweight with a price target of 209, seen as the biggest beneficiary of a memory rebound [15] - KLA Corp has been downgraded to equal weight from overweight due to valuation concerns, despite strong fundamentals [16]