VKTX Stock Recent News

Eli Lilly (LLY -0.41%) has been one of the hottest healthcare stocks to own in recent years, thanks in large part to the success of its incredibly successful GLP-1 agonist drugs, which help patients with diabetes and weight loss. In five years, the stock has soared by close to 480%, which would have turned a $20,000 investment into approximately $116,000.

Investors often turn to recommendations made by Wall Street analysts before making a Buy, Sell, or Hold decision about a stock. While media reports about rating changes by these brokerage-firm employed (or sell-side) analysts often affect a stock's price, do they really matter?

The latest trading day saw Viking Therapeutics, Inc. (VKTX) settling at $28.59, representing a -1.26% change from its previous close.

Shares of Viking Therapeutics (VKTX 2.88%), a mid-cap biotech, are down by 34% this year. This poor performance may suggest that recent company-specific developments have rendered the stock less attractive or that it is being affected by broader market issues.

I rate Altimmune a 'Strong Buy' and Viking Therapeutics a 'Buy' for high-risk, long-term investors. ALT's Pemvidutide stands out for its lean mass protection, visceral fat reduction, and potential in multiple metabolic diseases, making it an attractive acquisition target. VKTX's VK2735 offers strong weight loss efficacy and dual formulation flexibility, but faces tough competition and lacks clear differentiation, despite financial stability.

Growth investors have had to work harder than usual to find winners in 2025. With the S&P 500 essentially flat year to date amid President Trump's global trade reset and persistent inflation concerns, the easy gains of prior years have evaporated.

The recommendations of Wall Street analysts are often relied on by investors when deciding whether to buy, sell, or hold a stock. Media reports about these brokerage-firm-employed (or sell-side) analysts changing their ratings often affect a stock's price.

With VKTX surging on clinical results and NVO investing to cement market share, investors face a high-stake GLP-1 showdown.

VKTX remains a speculative, high-risk/reward play, with its future hinging on successful Phase III trial results for its obesity drug pipeline. The company's strong cash position and recent manufacturing partnerships support its path toward commercialization, despite expected negative free cash flow through FY2028. VKTX's diversified pipeline, including NAFLD and rare disease prospects, provides some downside protection as it awaits pivotal clinical milestones.

Investors looking to cash in on the fast-growing market for weight management medicines will naturally turn to the two leaders in this area, Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk. However, several other companies seem to have somewhat promising prospects in this field.