Leerink Partnrs Analysts Lower Earnings Estimates for Viking Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:VKTX)

Viking Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:VKTX) – Equities researchers at Leerink Partnrs reduced their FY2026 earnings per share estimates for shares of Viking Therapeutics in a note issued to investors on Tuesday, March 26th. Leerink Partnrs analyst T. Smith now anticipates that the biotechnology company will earn ($2.31) per share for the year, down from their prior forecast of ($2.30). The consensus estimate for Viking Therapeutics’ current full-year earnings is ($1.10) per share. Leerink Partnrs also issued estimates for Viking Therapeutics’ FY2027 earnings at ($3.40) EPS and FY2028 earnings at ($1.21) EPS.

Viking Therapeutics (NASDAQ:VKTX) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, February 7th. The biotechnology company reported ($0.25) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, meeting analysts’ consensus estimates of ($0.25). During the same period in the previous year, the business posted ($0.26) earnings per share.

A number of other brokerages have also weighed in on VKTX. Maxim Group reissued a “buy” rating and set a $120.00 price target on shares of Viking Therapeutics in a research note on Friday, March 15th. BTIG Research increased their price target on Viking Therapeutics from $100.00 to $125.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday. Raymond James increased their price target on Viking Therapeutics from $37.00 to $115.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Tuesday, February 27th. HC Wainwright restated a “buy” rating and set a $90.00 target price on shares of Viking Therapeutics in a research note on Tuesday. Finally, StockNews.com upgraded Viking Therapeutics to a “sell” rating in a research note on Friday, February 9th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and eleven have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Viking Therapeutics has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $101.89.

Viking Therapeutics Stock Down 1.6 %

VKTX stock opened at $82.00 on Friday. Viking Therapeutics has a 1 year low of $8.28 and a 1 year high of $99.41. The stock’s 50 day moving average price is $50.18 and its 200 day moving average price is $26.70.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Viking Therapeutics

Institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Wetzel Investment Advisors Inc. bought a new stake in Viking Therapeutics during the 4th quarter worth approximately $37,000. Retirement Group LLC grew its holdings in Viking Therapeutics by 75.0% during the 2nd quarter. Retirement Group LLC now owns 2,100 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock worth $34,000 after acquiring an additional 900 shares during the last quarter. US Bancorp DE grew its holdings in Viking Therapeutics by 66.5% during the 4th quarter. US Bancorp DE now owns 2,346 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock worth $44,000 after acquiring an additional 937 shares during the last quarter. Great West Life Assurance Co. Can bought a new stake in Viking Therapeutics during the 1st quarter worth approximately $63,000. Finally, Virtus ETF Advisers LLC grew its holdings in Viking Therapeutics by 9.0% during the 4th quarter. Virtus ETF Advisers LLC now owns 4,817 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock worth $90,000 after acquiring an additional 399 shares during the last quarter. 76.03% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Viking Therapeutics news, CEO Brian Lian sold 269,079 shares of Viking Therapeutics stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $26.87, for a total value of $7,230,152.73. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 2,184,882 shares in the company, valued at $58,707,779.34. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this link. In related news, CFO Greg Zante sold 15,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, January 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $17.90, for a total transaction of $268,500.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 180,730 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,235,067. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, CEO Brian Lian sold 269,079 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $26.87, for a total transaction of $7,230,152.73. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 2,184,882 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $58,707,779.34. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last 90 days, insiders have sold 374,079 shares of company stock worth $9,729,653. 4.40% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Viking Therapeutics Company Profile

Viking Therapeutics, Inc, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, focuses on the development of novel therapies for metabolic and endocrine disorders. The company's lead drug candidate is VK2809, an orally available tissue and receptor-subtype selective agonist of the thyroid hormone receptor beta (TRß), which is in Phase IIb clinical trials to treat patients with biopsy-confirmed non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, as well as NAFLD.