Viking Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:VKTX) Given Consensus Rating of "Moderate Buy" by Analysts

Key Points

• Analyst consensus: Viking Therapeutics has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" from 13 analysts (1 sell, 3 hold, 5 buy, 4 strong buy) with an average 1‑year price target of about $94.22.
• Insider and institutional activity: Insider Neil Aubuchon purchased 4,475 shares at $33.50 on March 10, insiders own 5.30% of the stock, and institutional ownership is 76.03% with notable inflows such as Wasatch Advisors adding ~147,752 shares.
• Stock and financials: Shares trade near $32.75 (52‑week range $22.96–$43.15) with a $3.8B market cap, and the company reported a Q loss of ($1.38) EPS (missed vs. ($0.89)), while analysts forecast a negative ~($3.78) EPS for the year.

Shares of Viking Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:VKTX - Get Free Report) have been assigned an average rating of "Moderate Buy" from the thirteen ratings firms that are presently covering the company, MarketBeat Ratings reports. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating, five have given a buy rating and four have assigned a strong buy rating to the company. The average 1 year price target among analysts that have covered the stock in the last year is $94.2222.

A number of research analysts recently weighed in on VKTX shares. Morgan Stanley reaffirmed an "overweight" rating and set a $99.00 price objective on shares of Viking Therapeutics in a research report on Thursday, February 12th. BTIG Research raised Viking Therapeutics to a "strong-buy" rating in a research report on Thursday, February 26th. Zacks Research raised Viking Therapeutics from a "strong sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 18th. Wolfe Research started coverage on Viking Therapeutics in a research report on Thursday, March 26th. They set a "peer perform" rating for the company. Finally, HC Wainwright reaffirmed a "buy" rating and set a $102.00 price objective on shares of Viking Therapeutics in a research report on Monday, March 23rd.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, insider Neil William Aubuchon acquired 4,475 shares of Viking Therapeutics stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, March 10th. The stock was bought at an average price of $33.50 per share, with a total value of $149,912.50. Following the transaction, the insider directly owned 4,475 shares in the company, valued at approximately $149,912.50. This represents a ∞ increase in their ownership of the stock. The acquisition was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. 5.30% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Inspire Investing LLC increased its position in Viking Therapeutics by 17.6% during the 1st quarter. Inspire Investing LLC now owns 15,726 shares of the biotechnology company's stock valued at $512,000 after buying an additional 2,348 shares in the last quarter. North Star Investment Management Corp. increased its position in Viking Therapeutics by 94.4% during the 1st quarter. North Star Investment Management Corp. now owns 3,058 shares of the biotechnology company's stock valued at $100,000 after buying an additional 1,485 shares in the last quarter. Lewis Asset Management LLC boosted its stake in Viking Therapeutics by 3.6% during the 1st quarter. Lewis Asset Management LLC now owns 64,090 shares of the biotechnology company's stock valued at $2,085,000 after purchasing an additional 2,200 shares during the last quarter. Wasatch Advisors LP boosted its stake in Viking Therapeutics by 89.3% during the 1st quarter. Wasatch Advisors LP now owns 313,158 shares of the biotechnology company's stock valued at $10,190,000 after purchasing an additional 147,752 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Grey Ledge Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in Viking Therapeutics during the 1st quarter valued at $251,000. Institutional investors own 76.03% of the company's stock.

Viking Therapeutics Stock Performance

Shares of NASDAQ:VKTX opened at $32.75 on Monday. Viking Therapeutics has a 52-week low of $22.96 and a 52-week high of $43.15. The firm has a market capitalization of $3.80 billion, a P/E ratio of -10.30 and a beta of 0.83. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $33.49 and a 200-day moving average price of $34.07.

Viking Therapeutics (NASDAQ:VKTX - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, February 11th. The biotechnology company reported ($1.38) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of ($0.89) by ($0.49). During the same period in the previous year, the company earned ($0.32) earnings per share. On average, equities analysts forecast that Viking Therapeutics will post -3.78 EPS for the current fiscal year.

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.

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