Viking Therapeutics (NASDAQ:VKTX) Shares Gap Up – Here’s Why

Viking Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:VKTX) gapped up before the market opened on Thursday . The stock had previously closed at $28.55, but opened at $33.75. Viking Therapeutics shares last traded at $32.3260, with a volume of 3,482,622 shares.

Key Headlines Impacting Viking Therapeutics

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

• Positive Sentiment: Company fast‑tracked oral VK2735 into Phase III obesity trials, a material clinical de‑risking and commercialization signal that prompted a sharp rally in headlines and investor enthusiasm. Viking Therapeutics (VKTX) Is Up 16.0% After Fast-Tracking VK2735 Into Phase III Trials – Has The Bull Case Changed?
• Positive Sentiment: Management outlined dual Phase III obesity programs and maintenance regimens for VK2735, giving investors a clearer late‑stage development plan and multiple potential commercialization paths. Viking Therapeutics outlines dual Phase III obesity programs while advancing oral VK2735 and maintenance regimens
• Neutral Sentiment: Coverage and valuation checks are proliferating (analysis pieces and retrospectives on historical returns), which can broaden investor interest but don’t change clinical or financial fundamentals. Viking Therapeutics (VKTX) Valuation Check After Q4 2025 Earnings And Obesity Pipeline Progress
• Neutral Sentiment: Media and transcript coverage (earnings call transcripts, long‑term return pieces) are available for deeper diligence but are informational rather than new catalysts. Viking Therapeutics, Inc. (VKTX) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
• Negative Sentiment: Q4 results showed a wider‑than‑expected loss (EPS miss) which raises near‑term cash‑burn and financing questions; that financial disappointment likely prompted profit‑taking after the clinical rally. VKTX Posts Wider-Than-Expected Loss in Q4, Stock Up on Pipeline Updates
• Negative Sentiment: Analysts (HC Wainwright) continue to model losses for upcoming quarters/years, reinforcing the expectation that Viking will need to fund late‑stage development — a potential dilution risk that can cap upside until Phase III readouts or financing clarity. MarketBeat VKTX overview / analyst note

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. Morgan Stanley reissued an “overweight” rating and issued a $99.00 price target on shares of Viking Therapeutics in a research report on Thursday. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their price objective on shares of Viking Therapeutics from $80.00 to $75.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, October 24th. B. Riley Financial upgraded shares of Viking Therapeutics to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, October 23rd. Zacks Research lowered shares of Viking Therapeutics from a “hold” rating to a “strong sell” rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 20th. Finally, Canaccord Genuity Group upped their price target on shares of Viking Therapeutics from $106.00 to $107.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 12th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, six have given a Buy rating, two have issued a Hold rating and two have assigned a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $87.80.

Viking Therapeutics Stock Performance

The company has a market cap of $3.35 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -9.12 and a beta of 0.75. The company’s 50 day moving average price is $33.13 and its 200 day moving average price is $32.58.

Viking Therapeutics (NASDAQ:VKTX) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 11th. The biotechnology company reported ($1.38) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of ($0.89) by ($0.49). During the same quarter last year, the business earned ($0.32) EPS. On average, equities research analysts forecast that Viking Therapeutics, Inc. will post -1.56 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, CEO Brian Lian sold 233,409 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, January 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $32.96, for a total transaction of $7,693,160.64. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer owned 2,499,291 shares in the company, valued at approximately $82,376,631.36. This represents a 8.54% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, CFO Greg Zante sold 57,661 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, January 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $32.90, for a total value of $1,897,046.90. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer directly owned 189,891 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,247,413.90. This represents a 23.29% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Insiders sold 364,731 shares of company stock worth $12,053,627 over the last ninety days. 4.10% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Viking Therapeutics

A number of institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of VKTX. CNB Bank boosted its holdings in shares of Viking Therapeutics by 5.1% during the 3rd quarter. CNB Bank now owns 5,756 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock worth $151,000 after buying an additional 279 shares during the period. Harbour Investments Inc. lifted its position in Viking Therapeutics by 2.2% during the 2nd quarter. Harbour Investments Inc. now owns 14,961 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock worth $396,000 after acquiring an additional 326 shares during the last quarter. Raleigh Capital Management Inc. lifted its position in Viking Therapeutics by 58.0% during the 4th quarter. Raleigh Capital Management Inc. now owns 945 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock worth $33,000 after acquiring an additional 347 shares during the last quarter. Allworth Financial LP boosted its holdings in Viking Therapeutics by 58.4% during the second quarter. Allworth Financial LP now owns 955 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock valued at $25,000 after acquiring an additional 352 shares during the period. Finally, Montag A & Associates Inc. grew its position in shares of Viking Therapeutics by 6.1% in the second quarter. Montag A & Associates Inc. now owns 6,220 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock valued at $165,000 after purchasing an additional 358 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 76.03% of the company’s stock.

About Viking Therapeutics

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.