Viking Therapeutics (NASDAQ:VKTX) CEO Brian Lian Sells 148,517 Shares of Stock

Viking Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:VKTX) CEO Brian Lian sold 148,517 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, July 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $33.32, for a total transaction of $4,948,586.44. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer directly owned 2,572,441 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $85,713,734.12. This trade represents a 5.46% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. The sale was made to cover tax withholding obligations related to the vesting of equity awards.

Viking Therapeutics Stock Down 1.3%

Shares of VKTX opened at $33.43 on Thursday. Viking Therapeutics, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $22.96 and a fifty-two week high of $43.15. The company’s fifty day moving average is $34.10 and its two-hundred day moving average is $32.97. The firm has a market cap of $3.88 billion, a PE ratio of -8.07 and a beta of 0.66.

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

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Viking Therapeutics

A number of large investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. BNP Paribas Financial Markets lifted its position in Viking Therapeutics by 536.3% during the 4th quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets now owns 992,695 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock worth $34,923,000 after acquiring an additional 836,686 shares in the last quarter. Two Sigma Investments LP grew its position in Viking Therapeutics by 58.7% in the third quarter. Two Sigma Investments LP now owns 2,085,487 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock valued at $54,807,000 after acquiring an additional 771,704 shares in the last quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. grew its position in Viking Therapeutics by 41.8% in the third quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. now owns 2,092,840 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock valued at $55,000,000 after acquiring an additional 616,526 shares in the last quarter. Cubist Systematic Strategies LLC raised its stake in shares of Viking Therapeutics by 6,315.6% during the second quarter. Cubist Systematic Strategies LLC now owns 596,650 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock valued at $15,811,000 after purchasing an additional 587,350 shares during the period. Finally, Artia Global Partners LP raised its stake in shares of Viking Therapeutics by 392.1% during the fourth quarter. Artia Global Partners LP now owns 719,365 shares of the biotechnology company’s stock valued at $25,307,000 after purchasing an additional 573,186 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 76.03% of the company’s stock.

Key Stories Impacting 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.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

VKTX has been the topic of a number of research reports. Lake Street Capital started coverage on Viking Therapeutics in a report on Thursday, May 28th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $89.00 price objective on the stock. Zacks Research cut Viking Therapeutics from a “hold” rating to a “strong sell” rating in a report on Monday, July 20th. Truist Financial began coverage on shares of Viking Therapeutics in a research report on Wednesday, May 27th. They set a “buy” rating and a $83.00 target price for the company. Morgan Stanley set a $95.00 price target on shares of Viking Therapeutics in a report on Thursday, April 30th. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald reduced their price target on shares of Viking Therapeutics from $105.00 to $100.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, April 30th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eight have assigned a Buy rating, one has assigned a Hold rating and two have assigned a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target 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.