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Investing.com - Stifel has reiterated its Buy rating and $95.00 price target on Viking Therapeutics (NASDAQ:VKTX), citing strong progress in the company’s obesity treatment pipeline. According to InvestingPro data, analyst targets range from $33 to $125, with the stock currently trading at $33.50.
The investment firm highlighted the rapid enrollment in Viking’s Phase 2 VENTURE-Oral trial for its oral VK2735 formulation, which is exploring various dosing and maintenance regimens with data expected in the second half of 2025.
Viking has also initiated its Phase 3 VANQUISH program for the injectable version of VK2735, consisting of two 78-week trials targeting both obese patients and those with type 2 diabetes plus obesity, with plans for a separate maintenance study this quarter.
The company maintains a strong financial position with $808 million in cash, providing runway through multiple data events, and has secured a comprehensive manufacturing agreement for both drug formulations through commercialization.
Stifel views Viking Therapeutics as potentially developing a platform with "meaningful therapeutic optionality" in the obesity space, noting the company’s DACRA program alongside its primary obesity treatments. With a market capitalization of $3.76 billion, Viking’s development progress has earned it a "Fair" overall financial health score from InvestingPro’s comprehensive analysis framework.
In other recent news, Viking Therapeutics reported its second quarter 2025 financial results, revealing a larger-than-expected loss. The company posted an earnings per share (EPS) of -$0.58, missing the consensus estimate of -$0.44 and H.C. Wainwright’s projection of -$0.42. This shortfall was primarily due to increased research and development expenses, which amounted to $60.2 million, surpassing the anticipated $42.04 million. Despite the earnings miss, Cantor Fitzgerald reiterated its Overweight rating with a price target of $104, while H.C. Wainwright maintained a Buy rating with a $102 price target. Viking Therapeutics has not updated the timeline for its Phase 2 data on oral VK2735, sticking to its previous guidance of a release in the second half of 2025. These updates reflect ongoing interest and confidence from analysts in the company’s future prospects.
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