Viking Therapeutics (NASDAQ:VKTX – Get Free Report) issued its earnings results on Wednesday. The biotechnology company reported ($1.10) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of ($1.21) by $0.11, Zacks reports. During the same quarter last year, the business posted ($0.58) EPS. The business’s revenue for the quarter was up .0% compared to the same quarter last year.
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 Price Performance
Viking Therapeutics stock opened at $31.45 on Thursday. The firm has a market cap of $3.65 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -7.76 and a beta of 0.66. Viking Therapeutics has a fifty-two week low of $22.96 and a fifty-two week high of $43.15. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $34.10 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $32.97.
Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth
Get Our Latest Stock Report on Viking Therapeutics
Insider Activity
In other news, CEO Brian Lian sold 148,517 shares of Viking Therapeutics stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, July 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $33.32, for a total value of $4,948,586.44. Following the transaction, 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 ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. The sale was made to cover tax withholding obligations related to the vesting of equity awards. Also, COO Marianna Mancini sold 18,217 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, July 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $33.47, for a total value of $609,722.99. Following the sale, the chief operating officer owned 422,760 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $14,149,777.20. The trade was a 4.13% decrease in their position. 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. 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 owned by insiders.
Institutional Trading of Viking Therapeutics
A number of hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of VKTX. Royal Bank of Canada lifted its stake in shares of Viking Therapeutics by 13.0% in the first quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 347,716 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock valued at $8,396,000 after buying an additional 39,886 shares during the period. Integrated Wealth Concepts LLC acquired a new position in shares of Viking Therapeutics in the first quarter valued at $230,000. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC lifted its position in Viking Therapeutics by 1.4% in 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 worth $11,351,000 after purchasing an additional 6,696 shares during the period. Prudential Financial Inc. acquired a new stake in Viking Therapeutics during the second quarter worth $196,000. Finally, Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. boosted its stake in 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 worth $56,000 after buying an additional 481 shares in the last quarter. 76.03% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.
More Viking Therapeutics News
Here are the key news stories impacting Viking Therapeutics this week:
- Positive Sentiment: Viking said its Phase 3 VANQUISH 1 and 2 trials of injectable VK2735 in obesity are fully enrolled and advancing. The company expects maintenance-dosing data in the third quarter and plans to begin Phase 3 testing of oral VK2735 in the fourth quarter of 2026. Management believes the pill could become the first oral dual GLP-1 agonist to reach the market, providing important potential catalysts. Viking Therapeutics second-quarter corporate update
- Positive Sentiment: The company ended the second quarter with approximately $502 million in cash and equivalents, giving it substantial funding for its clinical programs. Viking also reported that its Phase 1 study of the amylin agonist VK3019 is underway, expanding its metabolic-disease pipeline.
- Positive Sentiment: Viking reported a second-quarter loss of $1.10 per share, narrower than the consensus estimate of a $1.21 loss. The earnings beat may provide some support, although it has limited significance for a pre-revenue biotechnology company. Viking Therapeutics second-quarter results
- Neutral Sentiment: Analyst and financial-media coverage remains broadly optimistic, with several reports highlighting VKTX as a high-risk, high-reward obesity-drug opportunity. However, these reports do not represent a new major rating change or clinical result. Wall Street bull case for Viking Therapeutics
- Negative Sentiment: Viking’s net loss widened to $128.1 million from the prior-year period as research and development spending increased. Revenue was essentially unchanged, underscoring the company’s dependence on future clinical success and eventual commercialization.
- Negative Sentiment: CEO Brian Lian, CFO Greg Zante and COO Marianna Mancini sold shares worth roughly $4.95 million, $710,000 and $610,000, respectively. The filings said the transactions covered tax withholding tied to equity vesting, which reduces their negative signal, but the sizable insider sales may still weigh on sentiment. Viking Therapeutics insider transactions
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.
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