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According to Yahoo! Finance, the consensus price target from analysts for Viking Therapeutics (VKTX +2.62%) is about $92, which indicates potential upside of 162% from its current stock price. It's a significant opportunity, but is it justified? Here's the lowdown from the skeptics' perspective. 

Viking Therapeutics' prospects The investment case for the stock rests on its lead drug candidate, VK2735, a dual GLP-1 and GIP agonist in development for obesity and type 2 diabetes. The two key advantages VK2735 may have over its rivals are a steeper rate of weight loss and the promise of a dual-formulation therapy (oral and subcutaneous). The combination of these two advantages would mean that patients could achieve significant weight loss with a subcutaneous (injectable) dose, followed by a more convenient oral maintenance dose.

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These properties mean VK2735 could win market share in a crowded field, and investors are looking forward to the results of its phase 3 trials of VK2735 in subcutaneous formulation (likely in the second half of 2027) and VK2735 in oral formulation (set to commence later this year with results likely in 2028/2029). In addition, investors are awaiting the imminent results of a small (180 adults) phase 1 maintenance trial designed to evaluate dosing regimens.

As with clinical-stage biopharmaceutical companies, there are two key considerations for investors to ponder, both of which pose risks for Viking Therapeutics. The first is competition from rival drugmakers and its possible impact on the market potential of Viking's pharmaceuticals. The second is Viking's success in its clinical trials, as that will also determine the value of its pipeline.

The obesity and type 2 diabetes treatment market is highly competitive, with drugs already within VK2735's class of drugs, including oral formulations. Moreover, much larger peers like Eli Lilly (LLY -0.88%), Novo Nordisk (NVO -1.92%), and Amgen are already developing next-generation or differentiated treatments.

Image source: Getty Images.

Focusing on the more lucrative obesity market, the list of already approved drugs includes Eli Lilly's Zepbound (tirzepatide), which has the same mechanism as VK2735, and an oral tablet, Foundayo (orforglipron). Novo Nordisk has semaglutide approved as an injectable (Wegovy) for obesity and as an oral tablet (Rybelsus) for diabetes, with additional oral formulations for obesity in development.

Looking ahead, Eli Lilly plans to file for FDA approval of its GLP-1, GIP, and glucagon agonist, retatrutide, in early 2027, following several successful phase 3 trials. Novo Nordisk has CagriSema (which combines semaglutide and another drug) and an experimental drug, Amycretin, in phase 3 trials.

This is a highly competitive market, and it could be even more competitive by the time Viking completes its phase 3 trials for VK2735.

Clinical trial data There is no end to reasons for trial failures. In the case of VK2735, it could come down to the safety and tolerability of the drug in oral form.

Image source: Getty Images.

The stock crashed last summer after phase 2 results for VK2735 (oral) revealed a 20% discontinuation rate due to adverse events in the treated group. Oral formulations always have to answer the questions around potential gastrointestinal issues.

Any issue with the tolerability of VK2735 (oral) will threaten not only the market potential of the oral formulation itself but also its use as a maintenance dose in Viking's dual-formulation approach.

Where next for Viking Therapeutics There's no doubt the company faces significant competitive and clinical trial risks, and investors are hoping Viking calibrates any titration issues with the oral formulation in the phase 3 trial. In the near term, the results from the phase 1 maintenance trial will provide indicative data on the potential dual-formulation strategy. A successful result may cause some skeptics to reconsider their position.

AXQ Capital LP grew its stake in shares of Viking Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:VKTX – Free Report) by 164.0% during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 91,437 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock after buying an additional 56,796 shares during the quarter. AXQ Capital LP owned approximately 0.08% of Viking Therapeutics worth $3,567,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Ballast Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of Viking Therapeutics during the first quarter worth about $33,000. Quattro Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of Viking Therapeutics in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $37,000. Fifth Third Bancorp raised its holdings in Viking Therapeutics by 169.2% in the 4th quarter. Fifth Third Bancorp now owns 1,077 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock valued at $38,000 after buying an additional 677 shares during the last quarter. Cassaday & Co Wealth Management LLC bought a new position in Viking Therapeutics in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $50,000. Finally, Allworth Financial LP bought a new position in Viking Therapeutics in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $53,000. Institutional investors own 76.03% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several brokerages recently issued reports on VKTX. Canaccord Genuity Group raised their target price on Viking Therapeutics from $107.00 to $114.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, July 30th. Lake Street Capital assumed coverage on Viking Therapeutics in a research report on Thursday, May 28th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $89.00 price target on the stock. Weiss Ratings reiterated a “sell (d-)” rating on shares of Viking Therapeutics in a research report on Friday, July 17th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price target on Viking Therapeutics from $75.00 to $65.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, August 11th. Finally, Zacks Research upgraded Viking Therapeutics from a “strong sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Tuesday, August 18th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eight have assigned a Buy rating, two have issued a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $96.62.

View Our Latest Stock Report on VKTX Insider Buying and Selling at Viking Therapeutics In related news, CFO Greg Zante sold 21,217 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, July 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $33.47, for a total transaction of $710,132.99. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer owned 212,204 shares in the company, valued at $7,102,467.88. The trade was a 9.09% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. The sale was made to cover tax withholding obligations related to the vesting of equity awards. Also, CEO Brian Lian sold 148,517 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, July 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $33.32, for a total transaction of $4,948,586.44. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer owned 2,572,441 shares in the company, valued at $85,713,734.12. This represents a 5.46% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. The sale was made to cover tax withholding obligations related to the vesting of equity awards. Over the last three months, insiders have sold 187,951 shares of company stock valued at $6,268,442. 5.30% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Viking Therapeutics Stock Performance NASDAQ:VKTX opened at $33.98 on Friday. Viking Therapeutics, Inc. has a 52 week low of $22.96 and a 52 week high of $43.15. The firm’s fifty day moving average is $35.48 and its 200-day moving average is $33.45. The firm has a market cap of $3.96 billion, a P/E ratio of -7.29 and a beta of 0.69.

Viking Therapeutics (NASDAQ:VKTX – Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, July 29th. The biotechnology company reported ($1.10) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of ($1.21) by $0.11. The business’s revenue was up .0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the company earned ($0.58) earnings per share. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that Viking Therapeutics, Inc. will post -4.47 earnings per share for the current year.

Viking Therapeutics Profile (Free Report)

Viking Therapeutics, Inc is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of novel therapies for metabolic and endocrine disorders. Headquartered in San Diego, California, the company’s pipeline leverages small-molecule approaches to target hormone signaling pathways implicated in conditions such as non‐alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), dyslipidemia, type 2 diabetes and muscle wasting disorders.

The company’s lead programs include VK2809, a thyroid hormone receptor‐beta agonist designed to reduce liver fat and improve lipid profiles in patients with NASH and dyslipidemia, and VK5211, a selective androgen receptor modulator (SARM) aimed at enhancing muscle mass and function in individuals with muscle wasting conditions.

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Viking Therapeutics' shares could soar as it makes progress with its leading candidates. However, the stock will only triple under the most optimistic assumptions.

Bank of New York Mellon Corp acquired a new position in shares of Viking Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:VKTX – Free Report) in the second quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund acquired 407,840 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock, valued at approximately $15,910,000. Bank of New York Mellon Corp owned approximately 0.35% of Viking Therapeutics as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Several other hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of VKTX. GSA Capital Partners LLP bought a new stake in Viking Therapeutics in the 2nd quarter worth about $1,014,000. Cornerstone Capital Inc. bought a new position in shares of Viking Therapeutics during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $3,334,000. Handelsbanken Fonder AB lifted its position in shares of Viking Therapeutics by 21.6% during the 2nd quarter. Handelsbanken Fonder AB now owns 43,400 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock worth $1,693,000 after buying an additional 7,700 shares in the last quarter. 180 Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of Viking Therapeutics in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $341,000. Finally, Ballast Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of Viking Therapeutics in the 1st quarter worth approximately $33,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 76.03% of the company’s stock.

Insiders Place Their Bets In other news, CEO Brian Lian sold 148,517 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, July 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $33.32, for a total value of $4,948,586.44. Following the sale, the chief executive officer owned 2,572,441 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $85,713,734.12. The trade was a 5.46% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. The sale was made to cover tax withholding obligations related to the vesting of equity awards. Also, CFO Greg Zante sold 21,217 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, July 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $33.47, for a total transaction of $710,132.99. Following the sale, the chief financial officer owned 212,204 shares in the company, valued at $7,102,467.88. The trade was a 9.09% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. The sale was made to cover tax withholding obligations related to the vesting of equity awards. Insiders sold 187,951 shares of company stock worth $6,268,442 over the last quarter. 5.30% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several research analysts have weighed in on the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their price objective on Viking Therapeutics from $75.00 to $65.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, August 11th. Lake Street Capital initiated coverage on Viking Therapeutics in a research note on Thursday, May 28th. They set a “buy” rating and a $89.00 target price on the stock. Zacks Research raised shares of Viking Therapeutics from a “strong sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Tuesday, August 18th. Truist Financial started coverage on shares of Viking Therapeutics in a research report on Wednesday, May 27th. They set a “buy” rating and a $83.00 price target for the company. Finally, Weiss Ratings restated a “sell (d-)” rating on shares of Viking Therapeutics in a report on Friday, July 17th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eight have given a Buy rating, two have issued a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Viking Therapeutics has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $96.62. Get Our Latest Stock Report on VKTX

Viking Therapeutics Price Performance Shares of NASDAQ VKTX opened at $32.78 on Tuesday. The stock has a market capitalization of $3.82 billion, a PE ratio of -7.03 and a beta of 0.69. Viking Therapeutics, Inc. has a one year low of $22.96 and a one year high of $43.15. The business’s fifty day moving average price is $35.65 and its 200-day moving average price is $33.36.

Viking Therapeutics (NASDAQ:VKTX – Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, July 29th. The biotechnology company reported ($1.10) earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of ($1.21) by $0.11. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted ($0.58) earnings per share. The company’s revenue for the quarter was up .0% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities analysts expect that Viking Therapeutics, Inc. will post -4.47 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Viking Therapeutics Profile (Free Report)

Viking Therapeutics, Inc is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of novel therapies for metabolic and endocrine disorders. Headquartered in San Diego, California, the company’s pipeline leverages small-molecule approaches to target hormone signaling pathways implicated in conditions such as non‐alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), dyslipidemia, type 2 diabetes and muscle wasting disorders.

The company’s lead programs include VK2809, a thyroid hormone receptor‐beta agonist designed to reduce liver fat and improve lipid profiles in patients with NASH and dyslipidemia, and VK5211, a selective androgen receptor modulator (SARM) aimed at enhancing muscle mass and function in individuals with muscle wasting conditions.

Featured Articles Five stocks we like better than Viking Therapeutics Securing AI: 5 Most-Upgraded Stocks From the Q2 Reporting Season Insiders Are Betting Big on These 3 Healthcare Stocks 3 Stocks for Investors Who Still Believe Cash Is King Dollar General and Dollar Tree Are Recovering, But Not for the Same Reason Want to see what other hedge funds are holding VKTX? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Viking Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:VKTX – Free Report).

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Viking Therapeutics (VKTX -5.02%) stock is down almost 66% from its early 2024 peak and down about 8.4% so far in 2026. While there's little the company can do regarding the drug development programs of larger peers like Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk, Viking has a mix of near- and long-term catalysts in its pipeline that could meaningfully rerate the stock.

Viking Therapeutics and VK2735 The company's lead drug candidate is VK2735, a dual GLP-1 and GIP agonist in development in subcutaneous and oral forms to treat obesity and type 2 diabetes. VK2735 has two potential advantages over rival drugs, including Eli Lilly's Zepbound/Mounjaro (tirzepatide), Foundayo (orforglipron), and Novo Nordisk's Ozempic/Wegovy (semaglutide).

Image source: Getty Images.

The first is that VK2735 is being developed as a dual-formulation therapy, allowing patients to take it as a subcutaneous (injectable) formulation, followed by a more convenient oral maintenance dose. The second is that clinical trial evidence suggests it can achieve a steeper rate of weight loss than tirzepatide or semaglutide. As such, it offers the prospect of swifter weight loss and the convenience of a rapid shift to an oral dose.

However, as ever with clinical trial data, it needs to be qualified and put into context. If you've read the linked article, you'll note that I'm comparing phase 2 data for VK2735 with phase 3 data from Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk offerings. These are not head-to-head trials, and it's the phase 3 data from the VK2735 trials that really matter. Still, the data is impressive and part of what investors are basing their hopes on.

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Viking Therapeutics' pipeline All of which leads me to the key catalysts for the stock, starting with the long-term catalysts:

The 78-week phase 3 trials of VK2735 (subcutaneous) are ongoing, with results unlikely until the third quarter of 2027. The phase 3 trials of VK2735 (oral), which are set to commence in the fourth quarter of 2026, aren't likely to yield results until 2028 or even 2029. Clearly, the key results from these trials are still some time away, and the stock is likely to remain volatile until they are released. Still, there are some near-term catalysts for the stock that investors need to be aware of.

Management needs to announce the initiation of the oral phase 3 program in the fourth quarter. Viking has a 180-subject phase 1 maintenance dosing trial that is due to report results imminently.

Image source: Getty Images.

The maintenance trial (a 19-week subcutaneous dose or placebo, followed by 12 weeks across a range of doses, including oral dosing) will provide data that could help support a dual-formulation strategy. For example, the phase 2 trial results for VK2735 (oral) included some disappointing safety and tolerability data, which caused the stock to crash in the summer of 2025. Some positive news on tolerability in the transition from subcutaneous to oral applications would improve sentiment toward the stock and VK2735.

What really matters is the phase 3 trial results relative to rivals', and they won't come for a while. As such, any disappointing news from the maintenance trial needs to be put into context, as does any positive news. The debate over Viking Therapeutics won't end with the phase 1 results, but they are likely to impact the stock price in the near term.

Lee Samaha has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk. The Motley Fool recommends Viking Therapeutics. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Viking Therapeutics (VKTX -5.02%) has two phase 3 trials (obesity and obesity/type diabetes) in progress for its key weight loss drug, VK2735 (subcutaneous formulation), and another phase 3 trial (oral formulation) set to start in the fourth quarter of 2026.

While results from those two trials are years away, and management maintains it has cash into 2028, there is a near-term catalyst that is directly relevant to how these trials might be conducted and, arguably more importantly, to the investment case for the stock.

The key benefit of VK2735 VK2735 is a dual GLP-1 and GIP agonist in trials for the treatment of obesity. It's a competitive market, but as previously discussed, VK2735 appears to have two benefits over its peers. First, it has demonstrated the ability to achieve a steeper rate of weight loss than its rivals in previous trials. Second, it's being developed as a dual-formulation therapy in which a more convenient oral maintenance dose will follow an initial subcutaneous (injection) dose. As such, the key benefit is steep weight loss followed by a convenient maintenance dose.

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Why the phase 1 maintenance dose matters VK2735 is already in a phase 3 trial as a subcutaneous formulation, but results won't be available until late 2027 at the earliest. It's also set to start a phase 3 trial (oral) in the fourth quarter of 2026, with results unlikely until 2028 -- as noted above, management maintains it's funded until 2028. While these critical results are some time away, the data from a 31-week phase 1 maintenance trial is due in the third quarter of 2026, and what it reveals will inevitably impact the stock.

The trial enrolled 180 patients who received weekly doses of VK2735 (injection) or placebo for 19 weeks, then transitioned to a range of dosing regimens, including weekly, biweekly, monthly (subcutaneous), and daily (oral), as well as placebo.

Image source: Getty Images.

As you might surmise by the size of the trial and the wide range of dosages, this is not an extensive, high-powered trial. Still, its results will matter to the investment case.

Management has acknowledged that the results during the last earnings call "could serve to inform the selection of doses in the upcoming VANQUISH extension studies expected to begin in late 2026 or early 2027." If the trial fails and the data show patients regaining weight after the initial subcutaneous dose, or reveal significant gastrointestinal issues after switching to oral or less frequent subcutaneous dosing, then this could weaken the case for a dual-formulation strategy. What could and couldn't happen after the results At this point, it's important to note that the data from the phase 1 study are extremely unlikely to kill the phase 3 trials, and they won't stop the dual-formulation strategy. However, it could affect sentiment about the strategy's benefits, which is likely to impact the share price.

Similarly, a "successful" phase 1 trial would further support the strategy. That would be particularly the case if the data indicate good safety and tolerability with the subcutaneous-to-oral dosage in patients. That would strengthen investor sentiment and support the share price.

The GLP-1 market may be one of the fastest-growing in the pharmaceutical industry right now. Many of the largest drugmakers are looking to capitalize on this and are developing promising GLP-1 candidates. The list includes Roche (RHHBY -1.75%), Regeneron Pharmaceuticals (REGN -0.31%), Amgen (AMGN -0.63%), and others. However, there are also smaller biotechs looking to tap into this market, such as Viking Therapeutics (VKTX +0.76%) and Kailera Therapeutics (KLRA -0.17%).

Investing in these less prominent players carries substantially more risk. They aren't as well-established as their larger peers and could lose significant market value overnight due to clinical setbacks. However, Viking Therapeutics and Kailera Therapeutics also arguably have more upside potential. Here's why these stocks could double investors' money by 2031.

Image source: The Motley Fool.

1. Viking Therapeutics The next 18 months will be critical for Viking Therapeutics as the drugmaker will release data from several ongoing clinical trials. Later this year, we should see results from a maintenance study the biotech company is running. Viking Therapeutics is testing whether administering its leading candidate, VK2735, to patients daily, weekly, or monthly (after an induction period) will help keep the weight off.

VK2735 is a dual GLP-1 and GIP agonist (it mimics the actions of both hormones). A subcutaneous version of the medicine is also undergoing a pair of phase 3 clinical trials, one of which enrolled patients who are overweight or obese with at least one weight-related comorbidity, and another one that enrolled overweight or obese patients with type 2 diabetes. Viking Therapeutics should complete these studies next year.

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Subcutaneous VK2735 posted a mean weight loss of up to 14.7% in 13 weeks in a phase 2 study. Those are excellent results. And if it can achieve a mean weight loss of 23% to 25% in its phase 3 trials (for patients who aren't diabetic), while maintaining reasonable tolerability, the stock will likely soar.

Meanwhile, Viking Therapeutics is also making progress with an oral version of VK2735, which should begin late-stage studies by the end of the year. And the company has other candidates in the early stages of development. Provided both versions of VK2735 ace phase 3 results, Viking Therapeutics could carve out a niche in the GLP-1 market and post market-beating returns through 2031.

2. Kailera Therapeutics Kailera Therapeutics, which went public earlier this year, licensed a portfolio of anti-obesity candidates from its Chinese partner, Jiangsu Hengrui Pharmaceuticals. Kailera's candidates include ribupatide injection, a dual GLP-1 and GIP agonist. Ribupatide injection is undergoing phase 3 studies for chronic weight management, and some higher doses of the medicine are also being tested in phase 2 clinical trials. Elsewhere, Kailera Therapeutics is developing an oral formulation of ribupatide.

The company has other candidates as well, such as KAI-4729, an investigational medicine that mimics the action of three separate hormones. This approach could lead to significantly more weight loss, as we are seeing with retatrutide, a triple agonist being developed by Eli Lilly (LLY -2.25%), a pharmaceutical giant and the leader in the field. Retatrutide has posted exceptional results in phase 3 studies.

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That's no guarantee that Kailera's own triple agonist will do the same, but the point is that the company has a fairly attractive, differentiated pipeline of anti-obesity (and diabetes) candidates for a biotech worth just $2.33 billion. Further, some of its candidates have also already performed well in clinical trials conducted in China.

While regulators in the U.S. may still require additional testing (preferably in the country) before granting approval, successes in clinical studies, even abroad, provide at least some evidence that Kailera's programs can succeed. Within a couple of years, we will know much more about Kailera's prospects as the company presents additional clinical trial data for ribupatide, KAI-4729, and other candidates.

If Kailera Therapeutics can impress the market, expect its share price to jump significantly and potentially sustain a solid run through 2031 as it becomes a notable player in the chronic weight management market.

Posted by Defense World Staff on Aug 8th, 2026

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP boosted its stake in Viking Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:VKTX – Free Report) by 18.0% in the first quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 542,516 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock after buying an additional 82,941 shares during the period. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP owned 0.47% of Viking Therapeutics worth $17,653,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Quattro Advisors LLC bought a new stake in Viking Therapeutics in the fourth quarter worth about $37,000. Fifth Third Bancorp raised its position in shares of Viking Therapeutics by 169.2% during the fourth quarter. Fifth Third Bancorp now owns 1,077 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock worth $38,000 after purchasing an additional 677 shares during the period. TD Waterhouse Canada Inc. boosted its position in shares of Viking Therapeutics by 250.0% in the 4th quarter. TD Waterhouse Canada Inc. now owns 1,400 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock valued at $49,000 after purchasing an additional 1,000 shares during the period. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. boosted its position in shares of Viking Therapeutics by 29.5% in the 2nd quarter. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. now owns 2,109 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock valued at $56,000 after purchasing an additional 481 shares during the period. Finally, Bessemer Group Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Viking Therapeutics in the 1st quarter valued at $78,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 76.03% of the company’s stock.

Insider Buying and Selling at Viking Therapeutics In other Viking Therapeutics news, CFO Greg Zante sold 21,217 shares of Viking Therapeutics stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, July 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $33.47, for a total transaction of $710,132.99. Following the sale, the chief financial officer directly owned 212,204 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $7,102,467.88. The trade was a 9.09% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. The sale was made to cover tax withholding obligations related to the vesting of equity awards. Also, CEO Brian Lian sold 148,517 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, July 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $33.32, for a total transaction of $4,948,586.44. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer directly owned 2,572,441 shares in the company, valued at approximately $85,713,734.12. The trade was a 5.46% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. The sale was made to cover tax withholding obligations related to the vesting of equity awards. Over the last ninety days, insiders have sold 187,951 shares of company stock valued at $6,268,442. 5.30% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Viking Therapeutics Stock Performance Shares of VKTX stock opened at $34.26 on Friday. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $34.33 and a 200-day moving average of $32.99. The stock has a market cap of $4.00 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -7.35 and a beta of 0.69. Viking Therapeutics, Inc. has a 52-week low of $22.96 and a 52-week high of $43.15.

Viking Therapeutics (NASDAQ:VKTX – Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, July 29th. The biotechnology company reported ($1.10) earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of ($1.21) by $0.11. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted ($0.58) earnings per share. Viking Therapeutics’s revenue was up .0% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, sell-side analysts predict that Viking Therapeutics, Inc. will post -4.5 earnings per share for the current year.

Analysts Set New Price Targets VKTX has been the topic of several recent analyst reports. Cantor Fitzgerald cut their price objective on Viking Therapeutics from $105.00 to $100.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, April 30th. Canaccord Genuity Group raised their target price on shares of Viking Therapeutics from $107.00 to $114.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, July 30th. Truist Financial began coverage on shares of Viking Therapeutics in a research report on Wednesday, May 27th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $83.00 target price on the stock. Zacks Research lowered shares of Viking Therapeutics from a “hold” rating to a “strong sell” rating in a report on Monday, July 20th. Finally, BTIG Research restated a “buy” rating and issued a $125.00 price target on shares of Viking Therapeutics in a research report on Friday, May 1st. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eight have issued a Buy rating, one has assigned a Hold rating and two have given a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Viking Therapeutics currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $97.88.

Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on VKTX

About Viking Therapeutics (Free Report)

Viking Therapeutics, Inc is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of novel therapies for metabolic and endocrine disorders. Headquartered in San Diego, California, the company’s pipeline leverages small-molecule approaches to target hormone signaling pathways implicated in conditions such as non‐alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), dyslipidemia, type 2 diabetes and muscle wasting disorders.

The company’s lead programs include VK2809, a thyroid hormone receptor‐beta agonist designed to reduce liver fat and improve lipid profiles in patients with NASH and dyslipidemia, and VK5211, a selective androgen receptor modulator (SARM) aimed at enhancing muscle mass and function in individuals with muscle wasting conditions.

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Shares in Viking Therapeutics (VKTX -0.60%) declined by 18.6% in July, according to data from S&P Global Market Intelligence. The decline came during a slow month for newsflow in its pipeline, as investors began to fret about the company's financial position.

Viking Therapeutics' quiet month The healthcare company delivered its second-quarter earnings report at the end of the month and confirmed that its phase 3 trials for its weight loss drug VK2735 in subcutaneous (injection) form were fully enrolled and proceeding in line with management's plans, and also that it continued to expect its phase 3 trials for VK2735 (oral) to begin in the fourth quarter. Finally, on VK2736, management confirmed that the phase 1 maintenance trial will report results this quarter.

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As a reminder, VK2735 is being developed as a dual-formulation therapy, in which an initial injectable dose can be followed by an oral maintenance dose. It's an exciting possibility because VK2735 has demonstrated the ability to produce a steeper velocity of weight loss than its peers in previous trials.

While all the above is good news, it's not really significant new news, and didn't serve as a catalyst to send the stock higher. Instead, the market focused on the cash needed to fund these trials. Viking's cash usage was about $96 million in the quarter, and it ended the quarter with $502 million in cash and equivalents, down from $706 million at the end of 2025.

Moreover, the company filed a registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) outlining that it had entered into an agreement to offer and sell up to $500 million of its common stock. In addition, it may offer preferred stock, debt securities, warrants, and other instruments to raise cash .

Image source: Getty Images.

What it means to investors The cash burn and SEC filing are a reminder to investors that lengthy phase 3 trials don't come free, and not only is there a risk that VK2735 trial data may disappoint, but also that commercial prospects may be blunted by competitors' success in trials. There's also a risk that existing shareholders' claims to future earnings and cash flow will be diluted by future equity raises.

That said, management did say it had "cash into 2028" on the earnings call, and the phase 3 trial for VK2735 subcutaneous should report results by then. As such, Viking Therapeutics doesn't necessarily need to raise cash before major catalysts occur, but given the SEC filing, it's safer to assume it will. Still, that shouldn't detract from the company's potential to become a significant player in the weight-loss drug market.

Viking Therapeutics Faces Timeline Risk—But Upside Could Be HugeViking Therapeutics NASDAQ: VKTX reported a wider second-quarter loss as the company increased spending to advance its obesity pipeline, including its lead dual GLP-1/GIP receptor agonist, VK2735, through Phase III development in injectable and planned oral formulations.

The company reported a net loss of $128.1 million, or $1.10 per share, for the three months ended June 30, compared with a net loss of $65.6 million, or $0.58 per share, a year earlier. Research and development expense rose to $115.8 million from $60.2 million, driven primarily by clinical-study costs, employee compensation, stock-based compensation and third-party consultants. General and administrative expense increased to $16.9 million from $14.4 million.

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3 Companies at the Forefront of the GLP-1 Pill WarsFor the first six months of 2026, Viking reported a net loss of $286.5 million, or $2.47 per share, versus a loss of $111.2 million, or $0.99 per share, in the prior-year period. The company ended the quarter with $502 million in cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments, down from $706 million at Dec. 31, 2025.

VK2735 Phase III Trials Fully Enrolled President and Chief Executive Officer Brian Lian said Viking’s Phase III VANQUISH program for subcutaneous VK2735 continued to progress as planned during the quarter. Both trials are fully enrolled.

Viking Therapeutics: The High-Stakes Weight Loss ContenderVANQUISH 1 is studying VK2735 in adults with obesity and enrolled about 4,500 participants by November 2025. VANQUISH 2, which is studying adults with obesity and type 2 diabetes, enrolled about 1,000 participants and completed enrollment in the first quarter of 2026.

The randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies are evaluating once-weekly subcutaneous doses of 7.5 milligrams, 12.5 milligrams and 17.5 milligrams over 78 weeks. The primary endpoint is the percentage change in body weight from baseline compared with placebo. Secondary and exploratory measures include the proportions of patients achieving at least 5%, 10%, 15% and 20% weight loss.

Each VANQUISH study also includes an extension period in which participants may continue treatment, including participants initially assigned to placebo.

Lian cited prior Phase II results from the VENTURE study, where weekly VK2735 produced mean body-weight reductions of up to 14.7% after 13 weekly doses, with no signs of a plateau, according to the company. Viking said the treatment was generally well tolerated in that study, with most treatment-emergent adverse events described as mild or moderate.

Oral Program Planned for Fourth Quarter Viking continues preparations to begin a Phase III program for its oral tablet formulation of VK2735 in the fourth quarter. Lian said the oral program will include two trials that generally mirror the injectable VANQUISH program, though the studies are expected to be smaller and shorter in duration.

In Phase II testing of oral VK2735, participants receiving once-daily tablets achieved mean body-weight reductions of up to 12.2% after 13 weeks, Viking said. The company reported that all doses above 15 milligrams showed statistically significant differences versus both baseline and placebo beginning at week one. Up to 80% of subjects in treatment groups achieved at least 10% weight loss, compared with 5% of placebo-treated subjects.

Lian said the company expects to disclose full details of the Phase III oral program, including dose selection, when the trials are initiated. He said Viking believes the program could position VK2735 as the first oral dual GLP-1/GIP agonist to reach the market, if successful.

Maintenance-Dosing Data Expected This Quarter Viking also expects to report results later this quarter from a maintenance-dosing study of injectable VK2735. The study is evaluating weekly, every-other-week and monthly regimens following an initial weekly treatment period.

The study is designed to assess safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics, while exploratory endpoints include changes in body weight from baseline and during the maintenance period. Lian said the trial is nearing completion and could help guide dose selection for VANQUISH extension studies expected to start in late 2026 or early 2027.

During the question-and-answer session, Lian said Viking would aim to provide separate tolerability data for the initial induction period and the maintenance period, though granular weekly data may not be available with the initial topline release. The company uses a compressed titration schedule in the maintenance study to reach the maintenance phase sooner than it would with less-frequent dosing from the outset.

After the injectable maintenance cohorts are completed, Viking plans to continue the study with oral maintenance regimens. That portion is expected to conclude in the first half of 2027.

Earlier-Stage Obesity Pipeline Expands During the quarter, Viking began a Phase I single-ascending-dose trial of VK3019, an investigational dual amylin and calcitonin receptor agonist for obesity. The randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study is enrolling healthy adults with a body mass index of at least 27 and is evaluating the safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics of single subcutaneous doses.

Lian said Viking views VK3019 as having potential both as a standalone treatment and, potentially, in combination with VK2735. However, he said decisions about advancing the program will require data from a multiple-ascending-dose Phase I study, which the company expects to have in the 2027 timeframe. A combination product would not enter clinical testing before next year at the earliest, he said.

The company also expanded its leadership and commercial infrastructure. Viking appointed Neil Aubuchon as chief commercial officer in the first quarter, named Hubert Chen, M.D., chief medical officer during the second quarter, and subsequently appointed Dorothy Gemmell to its board of directors.

Management said it expects cash use to taper from the current period as the company moves beyond the heaviest spending phase of its subcutaneous Phase III trials. Viking reiterated that it expects its cash position to fund operations into 2028.

About Viking Therapeutics (NASDAQ:VKTX)Viking Therapeutics, Inc is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of novel therapies for metabolic and endocrine disorders. Headquartered in San Diego, California, the company's pipeline leverages small-molecule approaches to target hormone signaling pathways implicated in conditions such as non‐alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), dyslipidemia, type 2 diabetes and muscle wasting disorders.

The company's lead programs include VK2809, a thyroid hormone receptor‐beta agonist designed to reduce liver fat and improve lipid profiles in patients with NASH and dyslipidemia, and VK5211, a selective androgen receptor modulator (SARM) aimed at enhancing muscle mass and function in individuals with muscle wasting conditions.

This instant news alert was generated by narrative science technology and financial data from MarketBeat in order to provide readers with the fastest reporting and unbiased coverage. Please send any questions or comments about this story to [email protected].

Should You Invest $1,000 in Viking Therapeutics Right Now?Before you consider Viking Therapeutics, you'll want to hear this.

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Conference call scheduled for 4:30 p.m. ET today -- Phase 3 VANQUISH 1 & 2 Trials for Subcutaneous VK2735 in Obesity Fully Enrolled and Advancing -- -- Oral Phase 3 VK2735 Trial Initiation Expected 4Q26 -- -- VK2735 Maintenance Dosing Data Expected 3Q26 -- -- Phase 1 Study of Amylin Agonist VK3019 Underway -- -- Strong Quarter-End Cash Position of $502 Million -- SAN DIEGO, July 29, 2026 /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 its financial results for the second quarter and six months ended June 30, 2026, and provided an update on its clinical pipeline and other corporate developments.

Shares of Viking Therapeutics (VKTX -2.90%), a clinical-stage biotech, have declined by 46% over the past two years. There are several reasons for this. First, longtime shareholders decided to pocket some profits after Viking Therapeutics reported excellent mid-stage results for its leading candidate, subcutaneous VK2735, an investigational weight-management medicine. Second, the drugmaker's phase 2 results for an oral formulation of VK2735 were somewhat disappointing due to high discontinuation rates linked to side effects.

However, Wall Street still has high hopes for Viking Therapeutics. The company's average price target of $92.58 (according to Yahoo! Finance) implies a nearly 161% upside from current levels. Why is the Street so bullish on Viking Therapeutics' prospects? Here's the bull case for the stock.

Image source: The Motley Fool.

Could Viking Therapeutics' stock more than double? Viking Therapeutics currently has a market cap of $4.1 billion. That means Wall Street thinks it could be worth almost $11 billion within 12 months (ignoring changes to its outstanding share count). That might be a fair price for a company with a late-stage pipeline candidate that could make it a leader in the rapidly growing anti-obesity market. Viking Therapeutics has two ongoing 78-week phase 3 studies for subcutaneous VK2735, including one that enrolled overweight and obese patients who are diabetic.

The company's shares may soar if it can post excellent results from these clinical trials. The market will expect VK2735 to show a mean weight loss at least in the high teens in patients without diabetes. That may sound like a high bar, considering Zepbound, the current GLP-1 weight loss leader, posted an average weight loss of about 20.2% over 72 weeks in one phase 3 study.

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However, the landscape will change significantly over the next year, with more mid and late-stage candidates posting results. It will become harder for Viking Therapeutics to impress investors, and anything substantially below a mean weight loss in the high teens probably won't cut it. The good news is that in a mid-stage study, subcutaneous VK2735 posted a placebo-adjusted mean weight loss of up to 13.1% in just 13 weeks of treatment.

It could perform significantly better in 78-week late-stage studies, perhaps even reaching an average weight loss of 25% (which isn't a stretch considering its phase 2 results), in which case, the stock will likely soar. And that's before we factor in the potential progress it could make with its oral candidate, which might move the needle as well. These wins should allow the stock to meet The Street's estimates, although perhaps not in the next 12 months -- but likely over the next two years. Does that make Viking Therapeutics' stock a buy? Hardly.

Even with the excellent mid-stage results it posted with subcutaneous VK2735, it's very possible that the medicine's efficacy will fall well short of expectations, or that it will come with too many side effects to make meaningful commercial progress. In either case, the stock will fall off a cliff. In short, Viking Therapeutics is risky, and only those comfortable with that should consider this biotech stock.

When deciding whether to buy, sell, or hold a stock, investors often rely on analyst recommendations. Media reports about rating changes by these brokerage-firm-employed (or sell-side) analysts often influence a stock's price, but are they really important?

Let's take a look at what these Wall Street heavyweights have to say about Viking Therapeutics, Inc. (VKTX - Free Report) before we discuss the reliability of brokerage recommendations and how to use them to your advantage.

Viking Therapeutics currently has an average brokerage recommendation (ABR) of 1.40, on a scale of 1 to 5 (Strong Buy to Strong Sell), calculated based on the actual recommendations (Buy, Hold, Sell, etc.) made by 20 brokerage firms. An ABR of 1.40 approximates between Strong Buy and Buy.

Of the 20 recommendations that derive the current ABR, 17 are Strong Buy, representing 85% of all recommendations.

Brokerage Recommendation Trends for VKTX

Check price target & stock forecast for Viking Therapeutics here>>>

The ABR suggests buying Viking Therapeutics, but making an investment decision solely on the basis of this information might not be a good idea. According to several studies, brokerage recommendations have little to no success guiding investors to choose stocks with the most potential for price appreciation.

Are you wondering why? The vested interest of brokerage firms in a stock they cover often results in a strong positive bias of their analysts in rating it. Our research shows that for every "Strong Sell" recommendation, brokerage firms assign five "Strong Buy" recommendations.

In other words, their interests aren't always aligned with retail investors, rarely indicating where the price of a stock could actually be heading. Therefore, the best use of this information could be validating your own research or an indicator that has proven to be highly successful in predicting a stock's price movement.

With an impressive externally audited track record, our proprietary stock rating tool, the Zacks Rank, which classifies stocks into five groups, ranging from Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) to Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell), is a reliable indicator of a stock's near-term price performance. So, validating the Zacks Rank with ABR could go a long way in making a profitable investment decision.

Zacks Rank Should Not Be Confused With ABRIn spite of the fact that Zacks Rank and ABR both appear on a scale from 1 to 5, they are two completely different measures.

The ABR is calculated solely based on brokerage recommendations and is typically displayed with decimals (example: 1.28). In contrast, the Zacks Rank is a quantitative model allowing investors to harness the power of earnings estimate revisions. It is displayed in whole numbers -- 1 to 5.

It has been and continues to be the case that analysts employed by brokerage firms are overly optimistic with their recommendations. Because of their employers' vested interests, these analysts issue more favorable ratings than their research would support, misguiding investors far more often than helping them.

In contrast, the Zacks Rank is driven by earnings estimate revisions. And near-term stock price movements are strongly correlated with trends in earnings estimate revisions, according to empirical research.

In addition, the different Zacks Rank grades are applied proportionately to all stocks for which brokerage analysts provide current-year earnings estimates. In other words, this tool always maintains a balance among its five ranks.

Another key difference between the ABR and Zacks Rank is freshness. The ABR is not necessarily up-to-date when you look at it. But, since brokerage analysts keep revising their earnings estimates to account for a company's changing business trends, and their actions get reflected in the Zacks Rank quickly enough, it is always timely in indicating future price movements.

Is VKTX a Good Investment?Looking at the earnings estimate revisions for Viking Therapeutics, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has remained unchanged over the past month at -$4.7.

Analysts' steady views regarding the company's earnings prospects, as indicated by an unchanged consensus estimate, could be a legitimate reason for the stock to perform in line with the broader market in the near term.

The size of the recent change in the consensus estimate, along with three other factors related to earnings estimates, has resulted in a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) for Viking Therapeutics. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>>

It may therefore be prudent to be a little cautious with the Buy-equivalent ABR for Viking Therapeutics.

Experienced Executive Brings Over Two Decades of Leadership Across Healthcare, Digital Health and Commercialization

, /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 appointment of Dorothy Gemmell to its Board of Directors, effective immediately.

Ms. Gemmell is a highly experienced executive and board advisor with over 25 years of leadership experience across healthcare, digital health, and commercialization. She has served as president or chief commercial officer at numerous companies, including GoodRx, Capsule, and Havas Life, leading growth initiatives, scaling organizations, and developing revenue models across payer, provider, employer, and pharmaceutical markets. Additionally, she advises venture- and private equity-backed companies on go-to-market strategies, enterprise sales, and commercialization. Ms. Gemmell holds a Bachelor of Science in biochemistry from McGill University.

"On behalf of the Board and management team, I am pleased to welcome Dorothy to Viking as a new director," said Brian Lian, Ph.D., chief executive officer of Viking Therapeutics. "Dorothy joins our Board as Viking advances its next-generation therapies, prepares for VK2735's potential launch, and strengthens our commercialization capabilities. At this critical time for the company, her proven ability to translate innovation into commercial success, build high-performing teams, and execute growth strategies in the healthcare sector makes her a valuable addition to our Board. We look forward to her insight as we continue working to deliver meaningful therapies to patients."

"Scientific innovation has rapidly reshaped one of healthcare's greatest challenges, creating unprecedented opportunities to improve the health and lives of millions of people living with obesity and other chronic metabolic diseases," said Ms. Gemmell. "I am excited to work with the Viking Board and management team to advance its portfolio of innovative therapies, starting with VK2735, which has the potential to change the standard of care for weight loss and help people achieve important associated cardiometabolic health benefits."

"Dorothy's commercial expertise strengthens and complements the Board's extensive depth in pharmaceutical development," said Lawson Macartney, D.V.M., Ph.D., Viking's chairman. "Her experience in implementing successful commercialization strategies enhances our Board and will be extremely valuable as we continue to execute on our long-term goals." 

About Viking Therapeutics, Inc.

Viking Therapeutics, Inc. is a clinical-stage biotechnology company advancing a next-generation portfolio of therapies for obesity and metabolic disease.  Guided by deep expertise in metabolic biology and rigorous science, Viking is developing innovative treatments to help people achieve meaningful, lasting health improvements by treating obesity first. The company's lead program, VK2735, is a dual glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) receptor agonist in development in both subcutaneous and oral formulations for obesity. VK2735 is currently being evaluated in Phase 3 clinical studies for obesity, and a Phase 1 study designed to evaluate maintenance dosing strategies to support long-term weight management. Viking's pipeline also includes additional obesity programs, including VK3019, an amylin receptor agonist, VK2809, an orally available thyroid hormone receptor beta agonist for metabolic and liver disease, and VK0214 for the rare genetic disorder X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy (X-ALD). For more information about Viking Therapeutics, please visit www.vikingtherapeutics.com.

SOURCE Viking Therapeutics, Inc.

Resources Investor Relations Journalists Agencies Client Login Send a Release News Products Contact , /PRNewswire/ -- Kuehn Law, PLLC, a shareholder litigation law firm, is investigating whether certain officers and directors of Viking Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: VKTX) breached their fiduciary duties to shareholders.  The investigation concerns potential self-dealing. Shareholders may be entitled to damages and corporate governance reforms.

If you are a long-term VKTX stockholder please contact Sophia Anne Silayan by email at [email protected] or call (833) 672-0814.  The consultation and case are free with no obligation to you.  Kuehn Law pays all case costs and does not charge its investor clients. Shareholders should contact the firm immediately as there may be limited time to enforce your rights. 

Why Your Participation Matters:

As a shareholder your voice matters, and by getting involved, you contribute to the integrity and fairness of the financial markets. Your investment. Your voice. Your future.™ 

For additional information, please visit Shareholder Derivative Litigation - Kuehn Law.

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Contacts:
Kuehn Law, PLLC
Justin Kuehn, Esq.
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[email protected]
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SOURCE Kuehn Law, PLLC

Also from this source

Following an excellent run in June, when the stock rose by more than 19%, Viking Therapeutics (VKTX +1.95%) stock recently dipped, potentially creating a buying opportunity for an exciting growth stock with huge potential in the weight-loss drug sector. Is the dip enough to make the stock a buy?

According to Visible Alpha, the Wall Street consensus price target for the stock is just below $91, representing a potential 150% return from the current price. The analyst's excitement about the stock stems from its lead drug candidate, VK2735, and its potential in the highly lucrative weight-loss market.

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VK2735 is being developed as a dual formulation therapy, whereby, for example, it can be initially taken by injection (subcutaneously) and later in oral form as a maintenance dose or to continue weight loss. Investors are also hoping the promising efficacy data (VK2735 appears to have a steeper velocity of weight loss than rival drugs) from the phase 2 trials (oral and subcutaneous) will be repeated in phase 3 trials. The subcutaneous phase 3 trial is in progress, while the oral phase 3 trial will begin in the fourth quarter of this year.

Is it a stock to buy? VK2735 is a potential game changer for the company, but risks remain, not least due to some questionable tolerability data from the phase 2 oral trial. Moreover, the phase 3 results from the subcutaneous VK2735 trial won't be available until late 2027 at the earliest, and the oral 2735 phase 3 results aren't due until 2028.

Image source: Getty Images.

That said, there is a phase 1 maintenance dosing trial (participants will take subcutaneous VK2735 for 19 weeks before switching to a range of subcutaneous and oral maintenance doses) in progress, with results from the subcutaneous period due in the current quarter and the oral maintenance results due in the first half of 2027.

Wall Street says "buy," but cautious investors may want to wait to monitor the maintenance trial results before buying in, as the phase 3 results won't come out for a while.

Lee Samaha has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Viking Therapeutics. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Key Takeaways Viking Therapeutics' Q2 report is expected to spotlight updates on its VK2735 obesity pipeline.VKTX is advancing late-stage VK2735 studies, with key data not expected before next year.VKTX plans SC maintenance results on VK2735 in Q3 2026 and late-stage oral program initiation in Q4 2026. We expect investors to focus on updates related to Viking Therapeutics’ (VKTX - Free Report) pipeline when it reports second-quarter 2026 earnings. In the last reported quarter, the company’s earnings missed expectations by more than 44%.

Since the company lacks a marketed drug in its portfolio, no revenues are expected to have been recorded. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings is pegged at a loss of $1.21 per share.

Factors Likely to Shape VKTX’s Upcoming ResultsInvestor focus will likely be on pipeline updates. Viking Therapeutics’ lead candidate is VK2735, which is being developed to treat obesity.

The company is conducting two late-stage studies (VANQUISH-1 and VANQUISH-2) on the subcutaneous (SC) formulation of VK2735. While VANQUISH-1 is evaluating the drug in obese adults with at least one weight-related co-morbid condition and without type II diabetes (T2D), VANQUISH-2 is assessing its efficacy in obese or overweight adults with T2D. Data from these studies is not expected before next year.

Investors will likely be seeking updates on the ongoing maintenance dosing study on VK2735, which was initiated last year. This study is evaluating multiple regimens — monthly SC, weekly oral and daily oral dosing — to determine whether the initial weight loss achieved with weekly SC dosing can be sustained. The company had previously announced that it would report SC maintenance results in the third quarter of 2026, followed by oral maintenance results in the first half of 2027.

Investors will also likely be interested in seeking updates from VKTX on the study design for the late-stage program on the oral version of VK2735. Viking Therapeutics had previously announced plans to start the program in the fourth quarter of 2026.

VKTX’s Earnings Surprise HistoryThe biotech firm’s performance has been dismal over the past four quarters. Its earnings missed estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, delivering a negative average surprise of 36.70%.

VKTX Stock PerformanceYear to date, shares of the company have gained more than 3% compared withthe industry’s nearly 2% growth.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

What Our Model Predicts for VKTXPer our proven model, companies with the combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), #2 (Buy) or#3 (Hold) have a good chance of delivering an earnings beat. This is not the case here. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they're reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.

Viking has an Earnings ESP of 0.00% and a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell) at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Stocks With Favorable CombinationsHere are some drug/biotech stocks that have the right combination of elements to beat on earnings this time around:

Absci Corporation (ABSI - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +15.22% and a Zacks Rank #2 at present.

Shares of ABSI have skyrocketed about 136% year to date. The company’s earnings beat estimates in one of the trailing four quarters, while missing the mark on the other three occasions. Agenus delivered an average negative surprise of 17.58%. Absci will report second-quarter 2026 earnings on Aug. 11, after market close.

Edgewise Therapeutics (EWTX - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +13.28% and a Zacks Rank #2 at present.

Shares of EWTX have surged 54% year to date. The company’s earnings beat estimates in three of the trailing four quarters while missing out on one occasion, delivering an average surprise of 5.06%.

Viking Therapeutics, Inc. (VKTX - Free Report) ended the recent trading session at $36.37, demonstrating a -3.81% change from the preceding day's closing price. This move lagged the S&P 500's daily loss of 0.51%. Meanwhile, the Dow experienced a drop of 0.2%, and the technology-dominated Nasdaq saw a decrease of 1.47%.

Shares of the company have appreciated by 24.83% over the course of the past month, outperforming the Medical sector's gain of 3.63%, and the S&P 500's gain of 0.53%.

The investment community will be paying close attention to the earnings performance of Viking Therapeutics, Inc. in its upcoming release. The company's upcoming EPS is projected at -$1.21, signifying a 108.62% drop compared to the same quarter of the previous year.

Regarding the entire year, the Zacks Consensus Estimates forecast earnings of -$4.7 per share and revenue of $0 million, indicating changes of -47.34% and 0%, respectively, compared to the previous year.

Investors should also take note of any recent adjustments to analyst estimates for Viking Therapeutics, Inc. Recent revisions tend to reflect the latest near-term business trends. Consequently, upward revisions in estimates express analysts' positivity towards the business operations and its ability to generate profits.

Our research suggests that these changes in estimates have a direct relationship with upcoming stock price performance. To take advantage of this, we've established the Zacks Rank, an exclusive model that considers these estimated changes and delivers an operational rating system.

The Zacks Rank system, running from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell), holds an admirable track record of superior performance, independently audited, with #1 stocks contributing an average annual return of +25% since 1988. Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate has witnessed an unchanged state. Viking Therapeutics, Inc. currently has a Zacks Rank of #4 (Sell).

The Medical - Biomedical and Genetics industry is part of the Medical sector. Currently, this industry holds a Zacks Industry Rank of 100, positioning it in the top 41% of all 250+ industries.

The Zacks Industry Rank is ordered from best to worst in terms of the average Zacks Rank of the individual companies within each of these sectors. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1.

Be sure to use Zacks.com to monitor all these stock-influencing metrics, and more, throughout the forthcoming trading sessions.

Viking Therapeutics is advancing its GLP-1 weight-loss pipeline, with Phase 3 trials progressing and oral formulation development accelerating. The consensus analyst price targets average $92.58, suggesting substantial upside. Recent biotech sector M&A highlights VKTX's potential valuation in a rapidly expanding GLP-1 market.

Viking Therapeutics (VKTX +2.48%) may be one of biotech's most tempting buyout targets, thanks to its weight loss drug pipeline and massive obesity market opportunity. But the stock also carries serious risk, especially as a better-funded rival gains a head start. The upside could be substantial, but only if the data, timing, and buyer interest line up.

Stock prices used were the market prices of June 26, 2026. The video was published on July 7, 2026.

Rick Orford has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Viking Therapeutics. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Rick Orford is an affiliate of The Motley Fool and may be compensated for promoting its services. If you choose to subscribe through their link, they will earn some extra money that supports their channel. Their opinions remain their own and are unaffected by The Motley Fool.

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The GLP-1 trade has matured from a single-stock story into a tiered opportunity set. Demand for obesity therapeutics keeps expanding as lower-cost, easier-to-administer oral pill versions of the current injectable GLP-1s are introduced to the market in 2026, and the field now spans an entrenched leader, a deep-value incumbent, and a clinical-stage challenger with multiple near-term catalysts. Heading into July, here are three US-listed GLP-1 names worth a closer look, each with a tool-verified data point, a bull case, and a clear risk.

Eli Lilly (LLY): The Category Killer Eli Lilly (NYSE:LLY | LLY Price Prediction) is the franchise stock of the GLP-1 era, and the price action reflects it. Shares are up nearly 15% year to date and more than 60% over the past year, with a market cap of roughly $1.16 trillion as of July 7.

Q1 2026 was a statement quarter. Lilly posted EPS of $8.55 versus the $6.79 consensus on revenue of $19.80 billion, up 56% year over year. Mounjaro generated $8.66 billion (+125% YoY) and Zepbound delivered $4.16 billion (+80% YoY). Management raised full-year guidance to $82.0 billion to $85.0 billion in revenue and $35.50 to $37.00 in non-GAAP EPS.

The bull case rests on a one-two punch: injectable dominance plus the only oral pill with no food/water restriction. CEO David Ricks said “A key milestone was the U.S. FDA approval of Foundayo, the only approved GLP-1 pill that can be taken any time of day, without food and water restrictions. Foundayo will meaningfully expand the number of people who can benefit from GLP-1s.”

Risk: Realized prices fell 13% in Q1 2026 due to rebate adjustments and market-access agreements, and Mounjaro’s NRDL addition in China is pressuring international pricing. Revenue concentration in two products remains the obvious vulnerability.

Novo Nordisk (NVO): The Beaten-Down Incumbent Novo Nordisk (NYSE:NVO) is the contrarian pick. The maker of Ozempic, Wegovy and Rybelsus is down nearly 28% over the past year, with a market cap of around $169 billion. Per writer context, shares trade at roughly 10x earnings and sit near 45% below their 52-week high. Note that NVO is an ADR, so dividends are subject to Danish withholding tax at source.

Sentiment is beginning to shift. Reddit’s aggregate score on NVO flipped to 63 (Bullish) on June 30, up from readings of 22-29 (Bearish) in early June, and shares have rebounded more than 2% over the past month.

The bull case is valuation-driven. NVO posts elite margins (gross margin near 81%, operating margin around 41%) and remains one of only two players with a commercial oral GLP-1 already on the market. If the company stabilizes US share against Lilly, mean reversion alone offers material upside.

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Risk: Novo has been steadily losing ground to Mounjaro and Zepbound, and Jim Cramer recently noted Lilly’s pipeline could deliver “the unassailable knockout punch against Novo Nordisk because it’s got fat busting without muscle crunch.” A value trap is the obvious failure mode.

Viking Therapeutics (VKTX): The High-Risk Wild Card Viking Therapeutics (NASDAQ:VKTX) is explicitly the speculative slot. Market cap sits at about $4.7 billion, and shares have rallied nearly 38% over the past month, with a one-year gain of nearly 47%.

Lead asset VK2735 is a dual GLP-1/GIP receptor agonist in both subcutaneous and oral formulations. The Phase 2 oral readout showed up to 12% mean body weight reduction after 13 weeks. VANQUISH-1 is fully enrolled with approximately 4,500 patients, and the Phase 3 oral program is expected to begin in Q3 2026, with maintenance dosing results also due that quarter. Cash and investments stood at roughly $706 million at year-end 2025.

CEO Brian Lian framed the differentiation as “the only dual agonist molecule with the potential to dose monthly or to allow transition from subcutaneous to oral administration for weight maintenance.”

Risk: Viking is pre-revenue, with a 2025 net loss of $359.64 million and a cash position that fell from $903 million at the start of 2025 to $706 million at year-end. Phase 3 readouts could land either way, and a single negative trial would reset the equity story.

What to Watch Next July’s setup is event-rich: Lilly’s Foundayo launch metrics, Novo’s competitive response, and Viking’s Q3 catalyst calendar. Position sizing matters across the three, because the risk profiles are not interchangeable. The GLP-1 trade is broadening, and the opportunity set looks wider than at any point in the last twelve months.

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The short, but glib, answer to the headline question posed for Viking Therapeutics (VKTX 0.32%) investors is "no," because the likelihood is that the $4.6 billion market cap company will be bought up by a larger pharmaceutical company if it has success in its clinical trials, and particularly with its lead drug candidate VK2735. Still, that doesn't mean the company can't deliver substantial value to investors. Here's why.

A competitive market for VK2735 VK2735 is a dual GLP-1/GIP agonist in development for weight loss and diabetes management. It's part of a growing and popular class of drugs that already dominate the weight loss market, thanks to blockbuster drugs like Eli Lilly's (LLY +1.35%) Zepbound (tirzepatide) and Novo Nordisk's (NVO +3.29%) Wegovy (semaglutide).

Image source: Getty Images.

At which point, investors are entitled to ask how Viking can hope to grab market share in a competitive market. It's a market where Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk already have blockbusters, have oral weight loss pills approved, and continue to develop new drugs in the GLP-1 class.

What makes VK2735 different Viking's VK2735 has a couple of qualities that set it apart from the competition.

First, it's in development as a dual-formulation therapy. This raises the potential for it to be initially administered as an injectable to rapidly lose weight, then shifted to a less intrusive, more convenient oral dose for maintenance.

Second, VK2735 has demonstrated, in both injectable and oral form, an ability to significantly reduce weight loss. Note that the mid-teens percentage baseline weight loss in the two phase 2 VK2735 trials occurred at 13 weeks, compared to much longer periods for the Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk oral offerings.

This raises the prospect of rapid weight loss over, say, a few months using the injectable form, before switching to the oral form for maintenance or to continue weight loss. This sort of option might be more attractive for many over taking oral pills for a year and a half to produce similar results.

Company

Clinical Trial

Drug Name

Formulation

Peak Weight Loss

Time to Peak Results

Current status

Novo Nordisk

Phase 3

Wegovy (semaglutide)

Oral

16.6%

64 weeks

Approved December 2025

Eli Lilly

Phase 3

Foundayo (orforglipron)

Oral

12.4%

72 weeks

Approved April 2026

Viking

Phase 2

VK2735

Subcutaneous

14.7%

13 weeks

Phase 3 results due mid to late 2027

Viking

Phase 2

VK2735

Oral

12.2%

13 weeks

Phase 3 results due late 2028 or early 2029

Data source: Company presentations.

To that end, Viking is conducting a phase 1 maintenance study in which participants will take injectable VK2735 for 19 weeks before moving to a maintenance dose, including weekly, biweekly, and monthly injectable dosing, as well as daily and weekly oral dosing. The results from the subcutaneous dosing are due for release in the third quarter of this year, but investors will have to wait until early 2027 for the oral dosing data.

The bears' viewpoint The glass-half-empty view holds that, aside from the phase 1 maintenance data, it won't be until late 2027 that Viking starts reporting phase 3 results for subcutaneous VK2735, and until 2028 for oral VK2735. Investors will need to be patient, and a lot can happen in that time.

In addition, the phase 2 oral trial has questionable safety and tolerability data, with a 20% discontinuation rate due to adverse events in the treated group, compared with 13% in the placebo group.

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A stock to buy? The bullish case argues that the titration in the phase 2 oral trial was too aggressive (note the 13-week dosing period) and that the phase 3 data will likely improve on it after management adjusts the titration. In addition, the phase 1 maintenance trial is expected to be successful and demonstrate the potential of the dual-formulation approach.

All told, there's a lot to like about Viking Therapeutics, and it wouldn't be surprising to see a larger company move in if the phase 1 maintenance trial data are good.

Viking Therapeutics (VKTX 0.11%) is a challenger in the obesity drugs gold rush, trailing Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk as they rake in cash from their highly successful medicines. Viking's lead candidate, VK2735, has shown in mid-stage clinical trials that it can take real weight off, but even good clinical data is a long way from owning market share, and Viking may never make that crossing.

So, how much would a $1,000 investment in the company today grow into by 2030 if VK2735 wins approval, and how much could evaporate if it falters?

This market is so big that a small player could make out like a bandit By 2030, the weight loss drugs market could be worth around $95 billion, per an estimate from Goldman Sachs. J.P. Morgan estimates the broader market for GLP-1 medicines, which includes diabetes treatments, at nearly $200 billion by the same year. Let's go with a $150 billion figure, a rough midpoint of those ranges, as our starting point for forecasting what a $1,000 investment in Viking would do.

The scenario here is that VK2735, sold as both a weekly shot and a daily pill, could capture 1% of the market. We calculate that 1% of $150 billion is $1.5 billion in annual sales. With a rich valuation multiple on those sales, say with a price-to-sales (P/S) ratio of about 10, the company would be worth around $15 billion; it's worth $4.4 billion today, so in this case, a $1,000 investment would grow to reach somewhere in the ballpark of $3,400.

That isn't the whole story, though, because Viking, like most clinical-stage biotechs, is burning its $603 million in cash and equivalents at a rapid pace and will almost certainly issue new shares of its stock to fund a phase 3 trial for the oral formulation of VK2735 as well as to fund its commercialization, assuming it gets approved by regulators. If the share count swells by more than 33% from today due to new fundraising, a $1,000 investment would then be roughly $2,500.

Image source: Getty Images.

To stretch an initial investment of $1,000 to an end value of $10,000, VK2735 would need to capture something like 3% to 5% of the market, plus having a premium multiple, and its shares would also need to experience minimal dilution from here.

That's certainly possible, but it's unlikely.

What VK2735 has to beat If a 1% slice of the weight-loss drug market sounds too small, it's because the competition is already fierce. It might be 2028 or 2029 before VK2735 gets approved and sold, assuming it does. By then, the playing field is more like a wall.

Lilly and Novo Nordisk already own the category with tirzepatide and semaglutide, and both now sell pills alongside their injections. Lilly's next-generation triple agonist retatrutide took an average of 28.3% of body weight off over 80 weeks in a phase 3 trial, a very high bar for any medicines that need to compete with it. Novo has its next combination therapy already under review by regulators, with more candidates lined up in the pipeline.

So, VK2735 will not be the fresh face when it lands; it will be the latecomer.

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With that said, Viking's data reads well in isolation. VK2735 led to up to 14.7% weight loss from the injectable in mid-stage testing. Again, to claim even 1% of the market, VK2735 needs a real edge in effectiveness, price, and/or tolerability, not just being a drug that also works.

The injectable's phase 3 program doesn't complete until 2027, and the oral trials are only now starting, though a phase 1 maintenance dosing readout is expected in the third quarter of 2026, which could shift near-term sentiment either way. The candidate may fail to reproduce their favorable data in a larger cohort. In that scenario, a pre-revenue biotech of this profile typically drops 60% to 80%, reducing a $1,000 investment to a couple of hundred dollars.

So, under the best-case scenario, a $1,000 investment in Viking could be worth $10,000 by 2030, but the most likely outcome is closer to $2,500, assuming most of what can go right does. It's a risky play and one that fits best as a small position for investors comfortable with a wide range of outcomes.

Viking Therapeutics (VKTX 0.32%) stock rose by 19.2% in June, according to data from S&P Global Market Intelligence. The move comes as optimism rises over the company's pipeline development program, notably in weight-loss drugs, and the initiation of a Phase 1 study in a new class of weight-loss drugs that offers a different mechanism from the current GLP-1/GIP class.

Viking Therapeutics and VK2735 Speaking of GLP-1/GIP class drugs, Viking's lead drug candidate, VK2735, is a GLP-1/GIP agonist. It's part of a crowded field that includes blockbuster weight loss drugs from Eli Lilly (LLY +1.35%) and Novo Nordisk (NVO +3.29%).

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That said, VK2735 does have some distinguishing characteristics that mark it out from rivals. As previously discussed, VK2735 has demonstrated a steeper rate of weight loss in the treated groups in Phase 2 clinical trials for both oral and injectable formulations. The hope is that Viking will demonstrate similar efficacy with no safety or tolerability issues in the ongoing Phase 3 trial for injectable VK2735, as well as in the Phase 3 trial for oral VK2735, which is due to start later this year. Investors will probably have to wait until 2027 and 2028, respectively, for the results of those trials.

The second major plus about VK2735 is that it's being developed as a dual-formulation therapy, with the potential for an initial injectable dose to achieve rapid weight loss, followed by an orally administered maintenance dose. In fact, Viking has an ongoing Phase 1 maintenance trial with initial results (for the 19-week injectable dose) due in the third quarter, followed by results for the oral maintenance dose, set for early 2027.

Investor optimism over these trials grew in June.

Image source: Getty Images.

Viking Therapeutics and VK3019 In addition, the company announced the initiation of a Phase 1 study of VK3019, an investigational dual amylin and calcitonin receptor agonist (DACRA). It represents a new class of drug with a different mechanism, and the trial is proof positive that Viking has more in its arsenal of weight-loss drugs than VK2735.

Where next for Viking Therapeutics History is littered with pharmaceutical companies that rode a wave of optimism only to disappoint investors, and that may happen again with Viking. That said, VK2735 clearly has a lot of potential, not least as an efficacious dual-formulation strategy, and if Phase 1 maintenance trial results are positive, investors will be more willing to price that potential in. Something for investors to hope for in 2026.

Lee Samaha has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk. The Motley Fool recommends Viking Therapeutics. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Shares of Viking Therapeutics (VKTX 4.54%) have climbed by 27% over the past month. The drugmaker is a serious candidate to make waves in the large and growing anti-obesity drug market. With several ongoing clinical trials, there could be important catalysts on the horizon. Viking's shares are currently trading at about $40 apiece. Could the stock soar over the next 18 months and reach $100?

Image source: The Motley Fool.

The bull case for Viking Therapeutics Viking Therapeutics' leading weight-loss candidate, VK2735, mimics the actions of two gut hormones, GLP-1 and GIP. The former helps control satiety, while the latter helps regulate blood glucose. Medicines that activate both pathways could deliver better weight loss than those that only mimic the GLP-1 hormone, as we have seen with Zepbound, a dual GLP-1 and GIP agonist that is currently the best-selling weight management drug. Viking Therapeutics' VK2735 is undergoing a pair of phase 3 studies in overweight or obese patients.

One of them has also enrolled those with diabetes. We could see results from these studies within 12 to 18 months. That's likely the biggest catalyst on the horizon for Viking Therapeutics. However, the company is working on other candidates, including an oral formulation of VK2735, which should also start phase 3 studies by year-end (the one currently in late-stage trials is administered via subcutaneous injection). What if Viking Therapeutics posts strong clinical trial results for subcutaneous VK2735, perhaps showing that it could rival -- or even exceed -- Zepbound's efficacy?

In that case, Viking Therapeutics' share price will soar. In the meantime, the company may also benefit if other drugmakers report disappointing clinical trial data for their weight-loss candidates. And elsewhere, Viking Therapeutics is running a study to test whether various doses and formulations of VK2735, given daily or weekly, can help patients keep the weight off.

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This is an important initiative for the company, since many who take anti-obesity medicines end up regaining much of the weight they lost. Positive results from this maintenance trial could also jolt the stock price. Finally, Viking Therapeutics recently launched a phase 1 study for a brand-new weight-loss medicine that mimics the actions of the amylin and calcitonin hormones, which help regulate blood sugar, appetite, and calcium levels.

Targeting different pathways could address some shortcomings of current weight loss options, including undesirable side effects. Viking Therapeutics has a multipronged strategy that could eventually position it as a leader in the weight loss market.

Reasons to be skeptical Viking Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biotech with no marketed products. That makes the stock inherently risky. Further, upcoming catalysts, especially phase 3 results for VK2735, will be binary events, where positive results will send the stock price soaring, while poor data will sink it. Also, progress in the industry over the next year will be important -- and more late-stage clinical trial weight loss successes will make it even harder for Viking Therapeutics to impress the market. What should investors do? My view is that Viking Therapeutics' VK2735 posted robust phase 2 results, and there is a reasonable chance it will impress investors with its late-stage studies. And if it does, reaching $100 by the end of 2027 is by no means unachievable. However, the stock is also on the risky side, and risk-averse investors should probably stay away.