Latest news with #VKTX
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
VKTX Stock Down on Wider-Than-Expected Loss in Q2, Nil Sales
Viking Therapeutics VKTX reported second-quarter 2025 loss of 58 cents per share, wider than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of a loss of 44 cents. The company had incurred a loss of 20 cents per share in the year-ago quarter. Currently, Viking Therapeutics does not have any approved products in its portfolio. Hence, it it yet to generate revenues. More on VKTX's Q2 Earnings Research and development (R&D) expenses amounted to $60.2 million, compared with $23.8 million incurred in the year-ago period. This significant increase was primarily due to higher costs associated with clinical studies and manufacturing for the company's drug candidates, as well as increased employee-related expenses. General and administrative expenses amounted to $14.4 million, up 40% year over year, primarily due to higher employee-related expenses. Shares of VKTX were down 8% in after-market trading yesterday, likely due to a wider-than-expected loss incurred in the quarter on higher operating expenses. The stock has outperformed the industry so far this year, as seen in the chart below. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research As of June 30, 2025, Viking Therapeutics had cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments worth $808 million compared with $852 million as of March 31, 2025. 2025 Guidance While Viking did not provide hard numbers, it indicated on the conference call that R&D expenses are expected to rise sequentially by approximately 25% to one-third in the third and fourth quarters of 2025 compared with the second quarter. VKTX's Pipeline Updates Viking Therapeutics is one of the few biotech stocks that has shown immense potential in the obesity space. It is developing VK2735, an investigational novel dual GLP-1 and GIP receptor agonist, in different clinical studies as oral and subcutaneous (SC) versions for treating obesity. Last month, Viking Therapeutics started the phase III VANQUISH program to evaluate VK2735 SC in adult patients with or without type II diabetes (T2D) for 78 weeks. The program consists of two late-stage studies — the VANQUISH-1 study will enroll obese adults with at least one weight-related co-morbid condition, while the VANQUISH-2 study will enroll obese or overweight adults with T2D. VKTX is targeting enrollment of about 4,500 participants for the VANQUISH-1 study and around 1,100 for the VANQUISH-2 study. Viking is also evaluating the oral formulation of VK2735 in the ongoing phase II VENTURE-Oral Dosing study, which spans over 13 weeks. Data from this study is expected before this year's end. Additionally, the company reiterated plans to file an investigational new drug application with the FDA in the fourth quarter of 2025 to advance an internally developed amylin agonist program to clinical development for treating obesity. VKTX's Zacks Rank Viking currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Viking Therapeutics, Inc. Price Viking Therapeutics, Inc. price | Viking Therapeutics, Inc. Quote Our Key Picks Among Biotech Stocks Some better-ranked stocks from the sector are Akero Therapeutics AKRO, Amarin Corporation AMRN and Agenus AGEN. While AMRN and AKRO sport a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) each at present, AGEN carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank stocks here. In the past 90 days, loss per share estimates for Akero's 2025 have improved from $4.08 to $3.93. Loss per share estimates for 2026 have narrowed from $4.30 to $4.27 during the same period. AKRO stock has surged 86% year to date. Akero's earnings beat estimates in three of the trailing four quarters and missed the mark once, delivering an average surprise of 48.90%. In the past 90 days, loss per share estimates for Amarin's 2025 have improved from $4.60 to $2.30. Loss per share estimates for 2026 have narrowed from $3.87 to $1.50 during the same period. AMRN stock has surged 61% year to date. Amarin's earnings beat estimates in two of the trailing four quarters, met the mark once and missed the mark on another occasion, delivering an average surprise of 29.11%. In the past 90 days, Agenus' bottom-line estimates for 2025 have significantly improved from a loss of $3.46 per share to earnings of $1.56. During the same timeframe, estimates for 2026 loss per share have narrowed from $3.91 to $1.99. AGEN stock has soared 122% so far this year. Agenus' earnings beat estimates in two of the trailing four quarters and missed the mark on the other two occasions, delivering an average negative surprise of 22.71%. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Agenus Inc. (AGEN) : Free Stock Analysis Report Amarin Corporation PLC (AMRN) : Free Stock Analysis Report Viking Therapeutics, Inc. (VKTX) : Free Stock Analysis Report Akero Therapeutics, Inc. (AKRO) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research ( Zacks Investment Research
Yahoo
19-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
After Falling 68%, Where Will This Weight-Loss Drug Stock Be in 2 Years? History Shows Massive Gains Ahead.
Key Points Shares of Viking Therapeutics soared last year on high hopes for its obesity drug VK2735. The stock stumbled beginning in November of last year, however, seemingly on concerns over manufacturing costs. In retrospect, this action mirrors a pattern dished out by other biopharma names in similar situations, often leading to a rally. 10 stocks we like better than Viking Therapeutics › Any investor who owned Viking Therapeutics (NASDAQ: VKTX) before November of last year is sure to be disappointed and maybe even a little worried. Shares are down nearly 60% since October last year and lower to the tune of 68% from their early 2024 high after soaring in 2023. Yikes. If you were on this wild ride, don't panic yet. And for interested newcomers, the sell-off may arguably be a buying opportunity. Here's why: History says this kind of sharp rise and fall in biopharma stock prices often precedes a slower but more even and more-rewarding rally. But first things first. What's Viking Therapeutics? Never heard of it? It wouldn't be surprising if you hadn't. Its $3.5 billion market cap doesn't turn many heads. It's a pre-revenue company too, which of course means it's also pre-profit. That doesn't mean it's not worth owning even if it is inherently risky -- and volatile. It just means you'll want to handle it differently if you choose to handle it at all. And you just might want to, given Viking's developmental pipeline. This company's currently testing four different drugs in five different clinical trials, each of which is aimed at relatively rare metabolic and endocrine disorders. Its highest-profile drug is also the one that's furthest along the developmental trail. That's an injectable form of an anti-obesity drug currently referred to as VK2735. Its molecular structure is similar to that of the approved GLP-1 weight-loss drugs Ozempic from Novo Nordisk (NYSE: NVO) and Eli Lilly's (NYSE: LLY) Zepbound. In fact, the differences are significant enough to avoid patent infringement challenges. VK2735 began phase 3 testing earlier this year, which is the final stage of trials necessary before the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) makes its ultimate approval decision. And this is a big reason Viking Therapeutics has been so volatile since 2022. As the drug in question has worked its way through the lengthy testing process, investors have pre-emptively purchased shares in anticipation of good news. However, as is so often the case with biopharma stocks of companies working on game-changing drugs, the market has overshot its target more than once and then suffered a sizable setback. That's what happened beginning in November of last year, anyway. The company announced solid testing results for VK2735. But the market panicked over concerns that manufacturing the phase 2 drug therapy's injectable version and an orally administered version simultaneously could prove quite costly. The stock's been pressured lower ever since, even though the underlying story hasn't actually changed much in the meantime. The fickle crowd trading this stock has simply decided to see the glass as half-empty rather than half-full. It happens. The thing is, it's not like this same story hasn't played out many times within the biopharma realm. When the drug in question is the real deal though, a recovery typically takes shape, eventually carrying the ticker in question to much higher highs. One doesn't need to look that far back in time to see that transpire. An all-too-common tale for biopharma stocks Take Regeneron Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: REGN) as an example. Although it's got a handful of drugs in its portfolio, eczema and asthma treatment Dupixent is its breadwinner, making up the single-biggest source of Regeneron's revenue. Eylea is a respectable close second; there is no close third. The ongoing sales growth of both drugs is a big reason this stock gained so much between late 2019 and late last year. Hope for both was also the reason Regeneron shares soared between 2010 and 2015. There was a stretch of time between 2015 and 2019, however, when shares just weren't finding any traction even though Dupixent was approved to treat atopic dermatitis in 2017 and won its approval as an asthma treatment in 2018. It took a handful of more approvals of Dupixent through 2021 to light a lasting fire under the stock. Then there's Exelixis (NASDAQ: EXEL). This stock went nowhere between 2017 and 2023 but has doubled in value since then thanks to the rapid sales growth of its oncology drug Cabometyx. In fact, its revenue reached $511 million last quarter versus $376 million for the comparable quarter a year earlier. The thing is, Cabometyx was actually first approved by the FDA back in 2016 and won several more approvals through 2021 that started driving real sales growth that same year. The market just chose to sit on the fence for a couple more years. If you need more examples of biopharma stocks that climbed and fell out of sync despite the progress being made by the company, there are many more -- Iovance Therapeutics, ACADIA Pharmaceuticals, and CRISPR Therapeutics are just to name a few. It happens all the time. The bigger point is, there's a frequent disconnect between a biopharma company's stock and that biopharma company's developmental and fiscal progress. Often times, investors plow in too much and too soon. At other times, they're surprisingly late, perhaps wary of another market pullback. When the drug in question shows true potential, sooner or later the market figures it out and properly prices in its success, as it did for Regeneron and Exelixis. If you're diving in, at least worry about the right things But aren't Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly already established players with very similar obesity drugs? Fair enough. Just know that consumers are often quite willing to try "something else," particularly if it's easier, cheaper, faster, or more convenient than established alternatives. And with Morgan Stanley's prediction that the global weight-loss drug market could swell from last year's $15 billion to a peak of $150 billion by 2035, there's arguably more than enough business -- and growth -- to make Viking Therapeutics' VK2735 a smashing success. But probably not immediately. And that's where patience comes to the forefront. As we often say at The Motley Fool, if you are convinced about the company's business fundamentals, hold its stock for at least three years. Viking's stock should eventually rally, most likely within a two-year time frame. After all, it shouldn't take nearly that long to at least start getting meaningful updates on the weight-loss drug's phase 3 testing. Perhaps the bigger concern here should be the potential cost of manufacturing VK2735 in both an injectable and an oral form. Even then, in light of Morgan Stanley's forecasted demand, the potential cost of simultaneously manufacturing two competing drugs seems like a modest hill to climb. Most investors are arguably too worried about that possibility. Perhaps they were just looking for the right justification to take profits on last year's red-hot run-up... a justification that has since run its course. On that note, just remember this is still a volatile small-cap biopharma name with a speculative crowd of followers. You'll only want to dive in if you're sure you've got the patience and can handle the tricky navigation this name will almost certainly require. Should you invest $1,000 in Viking Therapeutics right now? Before you buy stock in Viking Therapeutics, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the for investors to buy now… and Viking Therapeutics wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $687,149!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $1,060,406!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor's total average return is 1,069% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 180% for the S&P 500. Don't miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join Stock Advisor. See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of July 15, 2025 James Brumley has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends CRISPR Therapeutics, Exelixis, Iovance Biotherapeutics, and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals. The Motley Fool recommends Novo Nordisk and Viking Therapeutics. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. After Falling 68%, Where Will This Weight-Loss Drug Stock Be in 2 Years? History Shows Massive Gains Ahead. was originally published by The Motley Fool Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
18-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Viking Therapeutics, Inc. (VKTX) Outperforms Broader Market: What You Need to Know
In the latest close session, Viking Therapeutics, Inc. (VKTX) was up +1.39% at $32.07. This move outpaced the S&P 500's daily gain of 0.54%. Elsewhere, the Dow saw an upswing of 0.52%, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq appreciated by 0.74%. Prior to today's trading, shares of the company had gained 20.36% outpaced the Medical sector's loss of 2.12% and the S&P 500's gain of 4.2%. The upcoming earnings release of Viking Therapeutics, Inc. will be of great interest to investors. The company is predicted to post an EPS of -$0.44, indicating a 120% decline compared to the equivalent quarter last year. For the full year, the Zacks Consensus Estimates project earnings of -$1.86 per share and a revenue of $25 million, demonstrating changes of -84.16% and 0%, respectively, from the preceding year. Any recent changes to analyst estimates for Viking Therapeutics, Inc. should also be noted by investors. These revisions typically reflect the latest short-term business trends, which can change frequently. With this in mind, we can consider positive estimate revisions a sign of optimism about the business outlook. Empirical research indicates that these revisions in estimates have a direct correlation with impending stock price performance. To capitalize on this, we've crafted the Zacks Rank, a unique model that incorporates these estimate changes and offers a practical rating system. The Zacks Rank system, which ranges from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell), has an impressive outside-audited track record of outperformance, with #1 stocks generating an average annual return of +25% since 1988. Within the past 30 days, our consensus EPS projection remained stagnant. At present, Viking Therapeutics, Inc. boasts a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold). The Medical - Biomedical and Genetics industry is part of the Medical sector. With its current Zacks Industry Rank of 83, this industry ranks in the top 34% of all industries, numbering over 250. The Zacks Industry Rank gauges the strength of our individual industry groups by measuring the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks within the groups. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1. You can find more information on all of these metrics, and much more, on Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Viking Therapeutics, Inc. (VKTX) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research ( Zacks Investment Research
Yahoo
11-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Viking Therapeutics, Inc. (VKTX) Rises Higher Than Market: Key Facts
Viking Therapeutics, Inc. (VKTX) ended the recent trading session at $31.29, demonstrating a +2.93% change from the preceding day's closing price. The stock exceeded the S&P 500, which registered a gain of 0.28% for the day. Elsewhere, the Dow gained 0.43%, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq added 0.09%. The stock of company has risen by 5.01% in the past month, leading the Medical sector's gain of 0.24% and the S&P 500's gain of 4.37%. The upcoming earnings release of Viking Therapeutics, Inc. will be of great interest to investors. The company is expected to report EPS of -$0.44, down 120% from the prior-year quarter. For the full year, the Zacks Consensus Estimates are projecting earnings of -$1.86 per share and revenue of $25 million, which would represent changes of -84.16% and 0%, respectively, from the prior year. It is also important to note the recent changes to analyst estimates for Viking Therapeutics, Inc. Recent revisions tend to reflect the latest near-term business trends. Therefore, positive revisions in estimates convey analysts' confidence in the business performance and profit potential. Empirical research indicates that these revisions in estimates have a direct correlation with impending stock price performance. To utilize this, we have created the Zacks Rank, a proprietary model that integrates these estimate changes and provides a functional rating system. The Zacks Rank system, spanning from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell), boasts an impressive track record of outperformance, audited externally, with #1 ranked stocks yielding an average annual return of +25% since 1988. Over the past month, the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate remained stagnant. Right now, Viking Therapeutics, Inc. possesses a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold). The Medical - Biomedical and Genetics industry is part of the Medical sector. This industry currently has a Zacks Industry Rank of 77, which puts it in the top 32% of all 250+ industries. The Zacks Industry Rank evaluates the power of our distinct industry groups by determining the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks forming the groups. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1. Be sure to follow all of these stock-moving metrics, and many more, on Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Viking Therapeutics, Inc. (VKTX) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research ( Zacks Investment Research Error while retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data
Globe and Mail
26-06-2025
- Business
- Globe and Mail
3 Growth Stocks I'm Loading Up On
Growth stocks are having a moment. Several small- and mid-cap stocks have suddenly jumped 40% or more in the past 30 days. The catalyst? Investors are piling into innovative growth companies in response to the rapid pace of development of artificial intelligence (AI), alongside the potential positive impact of the Trump administration's efforts to roll back regulations. Here are three incredible growth stocks I'm loading up on right now. A weight loss wildcard Viking Therapeutics (NASDAQ: VKTX) just initiated its VANQUISH Phase 3 clinical program for VK2735, its dual GLP-1/GIP receptor agonist targeting obesity. This move could transform the $3 billion biotech into a pharmaceutical powerhouse. The Phase 2 VENTURE study results were compelling. Patients achieved up to 14.7% body-weight reduction after just 13 weekly doses. Even better, 95% of gastrointestinal side effects were mild or moderate -- addressing the key weakness of current obesity treatments. Viking is entering a market Morgan Stanley projects will reach $150 billion by 2035. While Eli Lilly's Zepbound and Novo Nordisk's Wegovy require weekly injections, Viking's developing an oral formulation that could dramatically expand the addressable market. The company's also planning a monthly maintenance regimen study later this year. With 4,500 patients targeted for the obesity trial and 1,100 for diabetes, Viking's comprehensive approach could support premium pricing. At its current valuation, Viking trades at a fraction of recent pharma acquisitions. If VK2735 hits its endpoints, this stock could easily double or triple. An AI infrastructure play Applied Digital Corporation (NASDAQ: APLD) just landed a $7 billion, 15-year hosting agreement with CoreWeave -- validation of its high-performance computing strategy. CoreWeave, backed by Nvidia, chose Applied Digital for 250 megawatts at its Ellendale campus in North Dakota, with an option for another 150 megawatts. Recent Q3 FY2025 results missed revenue expectations ($52.9 million vs. $62.9 million expected), but the company maintains strong partnerships. Management projects significant growth as the Ellendale facility comes online in phases starting Q4 2025. Despite the near-term revenue miss, the long-term opportunity remains massive. The AI boom is driving unprecedented demand for high-performance computing infrastructure, and Applied Digital's partnership with CoreWeave positions it perfectly to capture this growth. A government goldmine Palantir Technologies (NASDAQ: PLTR) stock looks insanely overvalued at 263 times forward earnings. But sometimes, the market knows something that valuation models don't. The stock's up 90% this year -- the best performer among companies valued over $5 billion -- because its technology is becoming indispensable. The Pentagon just boosted Palantir's Maven Smart System budget to $1.3 billion over four years -- a $795 million increase. The company is negotiating with the Social Security Administration and the IRS for new contracts. CEO Alex Karp's recent Fannie Mae partnership for mortgage-fraud detection shows expansion into new verticals. Commercial revenue is accelerating, too, growing 33% year over year to $397 million. Total revenue was $884 million, a 39% increase, beating expectations. The combination of expanding government contracts and accelerating commercial adoption suggests Palantir's software is becoming the standard for AI deployment across both sectors. Three disruptions, one strategy Wall Street loves predictable businesses with proven models. That's why it often misses the biggest winners. Viking's oral alternative -- if proven safe and effective -- could capture millions of patients who won't use injectables. Applied Digital is building tomorrow's AI infrastructure while others debate valuations. Palantir's turning the federal government into a recurring revenue stream. Each offers a fundamentally better solution to a massive problem -- and the market's too focused on near-term metrics to notice. Should you invest $1,000 in Viking Therapeutics right now? Before you buy stock in Viking Therapeutics, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Viking Therapeutics wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $689,813!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $906,556!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor 's total average return is809% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to175%for the S&P 500. Don't miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join Stock Advisor. See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of June 23, 2025 George Budwell has positions in Nvidia, Palantir Technologies, and Viking Therapeutics and has the following options: long January 2026 $55 calls on Viking Therapeutics, long January 2026 $60 calls on Viking Therapeutics, and long January 2027 $60 calls on Viking Therapeutics. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Nvidia and Palantir Technologies. The Motley Fool recommends Novo Nordisk and Viking Therapeutics. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
