Viking Therapeutics (NASDAQ:VKTX) Posts Earnings Results, Misses Estimates By $0.49 EPS

Viking Therapeutics (NASDAQ:VKTX) posted its earnings results on Wednesday. The biotechnology company reported ($1.55) EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of ($1.06) by ($0.49), FiscalAI reports. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned ($0.81) EPS.

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

• VK2735’s phase III programs remain on track: the injectable VANQUISH-1 and VANQUISH-2 trials are fully enrolled and advancing, while the oral SUNRISE-1 and SUNRISE-2 registration studies have now begun.
• A maintenance-dosing study showed patients retained approximately 82%–97% of prior weight loss after switching from weekly injections to every-other-week or monthly dosing, with tolerability broadly comparable to placebo. Viking has started a follow-up study evaluating oral and additional subcutaneous maintenance regimens, with results expected in 2027.
• Viking ended the quarter with $960 million in cash and short-term investments after raising approximately $575 million in gross proceeds from stock and convertible-note offerings, extending funding for clinical development and potential commercial preparations.
• Expenses and losses increased substantially as the company expanded its clinical and commercial infrastructure; third-quarter R&D expense rose to $166.8 million and net loss widened to $183.2 million, while management expects average cash usage of roughly $100 million per quarter going forward.
• The phase I single-ascending-dose study of amylin/calcitonin receptor agonist VK3019 is expected to finish by year-end, followed by a multiple-ascending-dose study in the first quarter of 2027; management views both standalone and VK2735 combination applications as potential opportunities but emphasized that the program remains early-stage.

Viking Therapeutics Stock Up 7.5%

VKTX stock traded up $1.90 during midday trading on Thursday, reaching $27.26. The company had a trading volume of 3,885,854 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,271,184. The firm has a market capitalization of $3.43 billion, a PE ratio of -5.85 and a beta of 0.66. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $30.84 and a 200 day moving average price of $32.47. Viking Therapeutics has a fifty-two week low of $23.82 and a fifty-two week high of $43.15.

More Viking Therapeutics News

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

• Positive Sentiment: Viking advanced its obesity pipeline, with Phase 3 VANQUISH trials for injectable VK2735 continuing and Phase 3 SUNRISE trials for oral VK2735 now initiated. The company also reported maintenance-dosing data supporting less frequent treatment options, including oral or monthly dosing, while VK2735 showed up to 22% weight loss in development. Viking Therapeutics Reports Third Quarter 2026 Financial Results and Provides Corporate Update
• Positive Sentiment: The company ended the quarter with approximately $960 million in cash, providing funding for late-stage trials and other pipeline programs, including the emerging amylin agonist VK3019. VKTX Q3 Earnings Call Highlights Obesity Pipeline Progress
• Neutral Sentiment: Management is pursuing a standalone commercial strategy and is investing heavily in manufacturing, infrastructure and development. This could strengthen long-term execution but increases near-term cash burn. Viking Therapeutics: Why A Successful Maintenance Readout Couldn’t Save The Stock
• Negative Sentiment: Third-quarter adjusted loss widened to $1.55 per share from $0.81 a year earlier and missed the $1.06 consensus estimate; revenue was zero as spending rose on late-stage obesity programs. Viking Therapeutics falls on third quarter loss miss
• Negative Sentiment: Management indicated a potential VK2735 launch remains roughly two and a half years away, frustrating investors seeking a nearer-term commercial catalyst. Viking also faces formidable competition from established GLP-1 leaders, while analysts have trimmed valuation targets. VKTX Stock Slides Overnight After Q3 Loss

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities analysts have weighed in on VKTX shares. Truist Financial dropped their price target on shares of Viking Therapeutics from $87.00 to $85.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, October 7th. Zacks Research raised shares of Viking Therapeutics from a “strong sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Tuesday, August 18th. Canaccord Genuity Group reduced their target price on shares of Viking Therapeutics from $114.00 to $106.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, October 20th. Morgan Stanley reaffirmed an “overweight” rating on shares of Viking Therapeutics in a research report on Tuesday, September 22nd. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group reiterated a “neutral” rating and issued a $34.00 target price on shares of Viking Therapeutics in a research note on Thursday. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eight have assigned a Buy rating, three have assigned a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Viking Therapeutics has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $92.27.

About Viking Therapeutics

Viking Therapeutics, Inc is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company headquartered in San Diego, California. Founded in 2012, the company develops therapies for metabolic and endocrine disorders, with a focus on conditions involving obesity, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), and other liver and lipid disorders.

Viking’s lead program is VK2735, an investigational dual GLP-1/GIP receptor agonist being developed in injectable and oral formulations for obesity and related metabolic conditions.