VKTX Stock Recent News

Viking Therapeutics (VKTX 3.06%) and Novavax (NVAX -3.55%) were two of the big winners in the biotech industry last year. Both companies saw their shares rise significantly; the former had exciting clinical progress, while the latter signed a lucrative deal with a biotech giant that had Wall Street cheering.

Investors looking for growth in recent times have piled into stocks in artificial intelligence and quantum computing. But these aren't the only areas that offer the potential for explosive revenue growth and stock performance.

The GLP-1 industry is currently an oligopoly ruled by two pharmaceutical giants, Novo Nordisk A/S NYSE: NVO, maker of semaglutide under the Ozempic and Wegovy name brands, and Eli Lilly & Co. NYSE: LLY, maker of tirzepatide and dual GLP-1/GIP agonist treatment sold under Mounjaro and Zepbound name brands. As compounding facilities cease making compounded versions of their drugs, which are no longer on the FDA drug shortage list, the medical sector oligopoly will likely regain many more users to seal their dominance.

Viking Therapeutics (VKTX -3.01%) soared into the spotlight about a year ago when it delivered promising data on a drug candidate that aims to compete in an area of very high demand: weight loss. The stock surged more than 120% in one trading session after Viking spoke about VK2735, a candidate that works in the same way as big pharma Eli Lilly's blockbuster drugs Mounjaro and Zepbound.

Viking Therapeutics: Development Of VK2735 Continues, Buyout Or Not

Given the optimism around its obesity candidate, we believe investors should stay invested in Viking Therapeutics, regardless of buyout speculations.

Few big pharma stocks have been bigger winners over the last three years than Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk. Lilly now ranks as the largest drugmaker in the world, with a market cap of $844 billion, after its shares skyrocketed more than 270%.

Weight-loss drugs have been popular over the past couple of years, and Hims & Hers Health Inc  (NYSE:HIMS), Novo Nordisk A/S ( NYSE:NVO) , and Viking Therapeutics Inc  (NASDAQ:VKTX) are among the most recognized names in the industry.

Some think investing in stocks requires substantial start-up capital, but that's false. Even with a modest sum, like $40, investors can acquire shares of companies whose long-term prospects look exciting, and all for the price of a few breakfast items.

Healthcare stocks have something to offer every investor. If you're looking for high growth, you can try an innovative biotech that may launch game-changing products down the road.