Insider Selling: Viking Therapeutics (NASDAQ:VKTX) COO Sells 18,217 Shares

Viking Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:VKTX) COO Marianna Mancini sold 18,217 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 value of $609,722.99. Following the completion of the sale, the chief operating officer owned 422,760 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $14,149,777.20. This trade represents a 4.13% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. The sale was made to cover tax withholding obligations related to the vesting of equity awards.

Viking Therapeutics Price Performance

Shares of NASDAQ:VKTX traded down $0.43 during midday trading on Wednesday, hitting $33.43. The company had a trading volume of 2,896,403 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,084,235. Viking Therapeutics, Inc. has a twelve month low of $22.96 and a twelve month high of $43.15. The stock has a market cap of $3.88 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -8.07 and a beta of 0.66. The business’s 50-day simple moving average is $34.10 and its 200-day simple moving average is $32.97.

Viking Therapeutics (NASDAQ:VKTX) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, July 29th. The biotechnology company reported ($1.10) earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of ($1.21) by $0.11. Viking Therapeutics’s revenue was up .0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the business posted ($0.58) EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts forecast that Viking Therapeutics, Inc. will post -4.7 EPS for the current year.

Trending Headlines about Viking Therapeutics

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

• Positive Sentiment: Viking reported a quarterly loss of $1.10 per share, better than analysts’ expected loss of $1.21. The beat may offer some support, although revenue was essentially unchanged year over year. Viking Therapeutics earnings report
• Positive Sentiment: The Phase 3 VANQUISH 1 and 2 trials of injectable VK2735 for obesity are fully enrolled and advancing. Viking expects to begin an oral Phase 3 VK2735 trial in the fourth quarter of 2026 and report maintenance-dosing data in the third quarter, providing several potential catalysts. Viking Therapeutics corporate update
• Positive Sentiment: The company ended the quarter with approximately $502 million in cash and equivalents, strengthening its ability to fund ongoing clinical trials. Viking also said its Phase 1 study of the amylin agonist VK3019 is underway, adding another potential pipeline opportunity.
• Neutral Sentiment: Recent analyst-focused coverage remains broadly optimistic, with several reports presenting VKTX as a “buy-the-dip” or high-upside biotech. However, these articles largely reflect existing Wall Street sentiment rather than new analyst actions or company developments. Wall Street bull case for Viking Therapeutics
• Negative Sentiment: Although Viking exceeded EPS expectations, its loss widened from $0.58 per share in the prior-year quarter to $1.10, and the company continues to generate little or no revenue. Investors therefore remain focused on clinical results and the eventual commercial potential of VK2735 rather than near-term earnings.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Viking Therapeutics

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Raleigh Capital Management Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Viking Therapeutics by 58.0% in 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. Ballast Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in Viking Therapeutics in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $33,000. Quattro Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in Viking Therapeutics in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $37,000. Fifth Third Bancorp raised its position in Viking Therapeutics by 169.2% in the fourth quarter. Fifth Third Bancorp now owns 1,077 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock valued at $38,000 after purchasing an additional 677 shares during the period. Finally, Lodestone Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in Viking Therapeutics during the fourth quarter worth $39,000. 76.03% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities research analysts recently issued reports on the stock. Morgan Stanley set a $95.00 price objective on shares of Viking Therapeutics in a research report on Thursday, April 30th. BTIG Research reissued a “buy” rating and issued a $125.00 price target on shares of Viking Therapeutics in a research note on Friday, May 1st. Weiss Ratings reissued a “sell (d-)” rating on shares of Viking Therapeutics in a research note on Friday, July 17th. Cantor Fitzgerald reduced their target price on Viking Therapeutics from $105.00 to $100.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, April 30th. Finally, Truist Financial initiated coverage on Viking Therapeutics in a research note on Wednesday, May 27th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $83.00 price target on the stock. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eight have given a Buy rating, one has given a Hold rating and two have issued a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $97.00.

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.