Viking Therapeutics (NASDAQ:VKTX) Announces Quarterly Earnings Results

Viking Therapeutics (NASDAQ:VKTX) posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday. The biotechnology company reported ($1.10) earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of ($1.21) by $0.11, Zacks reports. Viking Therapeutics’s quarterly revenue was up .0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned ($0.58) EPS.

Here are the key takeaways from Viking Therapeutics’ conference call:

• VK2735’s VANQUISH Phase III trials remain on track and fully enrolled, with VANQUISH 1 studying obesity and VANQUISH 2 studying obesity with type 2 diabetes. The company expects the oral-tablet Phase III program to begin in the fourth quarter of 2026.
• Viking expects results from its VK2735 maintenance-dosing study later this quarter, evaluating weekly, every-other-week, and monthly regimens. Management believes less-frequent dosing could support long-term weight maintenance and differentiate the product.
• The company expanded its obesity pipeline with VK3019, a dual amylin and calcitonin receptor agonist now in a Phase I single-ascending-dose trial. Viking is evaluating the program both as a standalone treatment and potentially in combination with VK2735, though combination development would likely begin no earlier than 2027.
• Higher clinical-development spending materially increased losses: second-quarter R&D expense rose to $115.8 million from $60.2 million, while net loss widened to $128.1 million, or $1.10 per share, from $65.6 million, or $0.58 per share.
• Cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments totaled $502 million at June 30, down from $706 million at year-end 2025. Management said the balance sheet remains sufficient to fund current plans into 2028, with cash usage expected to taper as the major Phase III spending period eases.

Viking Therapeutics Stock Performance

NASDAQ VKTX traded down $1.29 on Friday, hitting $31.82. 139,760 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,620,832. The firm has a market capitalization of $3.69 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -6.88 and a beta of 0.66. The business’s fifty day moving average is $34.15 and its two-hundred day moving average is $32.98. Viking Therapeutics has a 12 month low of $22.96 and a 12 month high of $43.15.

Viking Therapeutics News Roundup

Here are the key news stories impacting Viking Therapeutics this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Viking reported a second-quarter loss of $1.10 per share, narrower than analysts’ expected $1.21 loss. The company also said its Phase 3 VANQUISH 1 and 2 trials for injectable VK2735 are fully enrolled and advancing. VKTX second-quarter earnings beat
• Positive Sentiment: Management expects to begin a Phase 3 study of oral VK2735 in the fourth quarter of 2026 and release maintenance-dosing data in the third quarter. The oral drug’s potential to become an early oral dual GLP-1 treatment remains a major valuation catalyst. Viking Therapeutics corporate update
• Positive Sentiment: Canaccord Genuity raised its VKTX price target to $114 from $107 and maintained a Buy rating, reflecting continued confidence in the company’s obesity pipeline. Canaccord price target update
• Neutral Sentiment: Viking ended the quarter with approximately $502 million in cash and has started a Phase 1 study of amylin agonist VK3019, giving it funding and additional pipeline opportunities while it remains a pre-revenue company.
• Negative Sentiment: The quarterly net loss widened substantially from $0.58 per share a year earlier to $1.10, driven by a surge in research and development expenses as late-stage trials expand. Revenue remains essentially nonexistent, leaving investors dependent on future clinical results. Viking Therapeutics wider Q2 net loss
• Negative Sentiment: The company launched a $500 million shelf registration to help fund VK2735’s development and commercialization. While it improves financial flexibility, the possibility of future equity issuance raises dilution concerns. Viking Therapeutics shelf registration
• Negative Sentiment: CEO Brian Lian, CFO Greg Zante and COO Marianna Mancini sold shares to cover tax withholding obligations tied to vested equity awards. The sales were administrative rather than discretionary, but the cluster of insider transactions may add modest near-term pressure. Viking Therapeutics insider sales

Insider Transactions at Viking Therapeutics

In related news, 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 directly owned 212,204 shares in the company, valued at approximately $7,102,467.88. This represents a 9.09% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. 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 value of $4,948,586.44. Following the sale, the chief executive officer owned 2,572,441 shares in the company, valued at approximately $85,713,734.12. This represents a 5.46% decrease in their ownership of the stock. 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. In the last 90 days, insiders sold 187,951 shares of company stock worth $6,268,442. 5.30% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Viking Therapeutics

Several hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Royal Bank of Canada boosted its holdings in shares of Viking Therapeutics by 13.0% in the 1st quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 347,716 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock worth $8,396,000 after purchasing an additional 39,886 shares in the last quarter. Integrated Wealth Concepts LLC purchased a new position in Viking Therapeutics in the 1st quarter worth $230,000. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC boosted its position in Viking Therapeutics by 1.4% during the first quarter. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC now owns 470,028 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock valued at $11,351,000 after buying an additional 6,696 shares during the period. Prudential Financial Inc. bought a new position in shares of Viking Therapeutics during the second quarter valued at about $196,000. Finally, Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. grew its stake in shares of Viking Therapeutics by 29.5% during the second quarter. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. now owns 2,109 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock valued at $56,000 after buying an additional 481 shares during the last quarter. 76.03% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Analyst Ratings Changes

VKTX has been the subject of several research analyst reports. BTIG Research reiterated a “buy” rating and issued a $125.00 price objective on shares of Viking Therapeutics in a research note on Friday, May 1st. Truist Financial assumed coverage on Viking Therapeutics in a research report on Wednesday, May 27th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $83.00 target price for the company. Zacks Research cut Viking Therapeutics from a “hold” rating to a “strong sell” rating in a research note on Monday, July 20th. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a “sell (d-)” rating on shares of Viking Therapeutics in a research report on Friday, July 17th. Finally, Morgan Stanley set a $95.00 price objective on shares of Viking Therapeutics in a report on Thursday, April 30th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eight have given a Buy rating, one has issued a Hold rating and two have issued a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Viking Therapeutics has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $97.88.

Viking Therapeutics Company Profile

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.