Viking Therapeutics: A Waiting Game for Investors

While Viking Therapeutics continues to make headway in developing its new obesity treatments, its share price has recently stalled. A sense of "expectation fatigue" appears to be settling in among some market participants, even as the biopharmaceutical firm hits a crucial clinical development milestone. This dynamic raises the question for investors: is now the time to establish a position ahead of pivotal data expected in 2026?

The stock extended its recent cooling-off period this Tuesday, closing at $37.30 for a daily loss of 1.51%. Although shares trade well below their 52-week peak of $51.65, they remain substantially above the annual low. The equity is currently searching for stable support around the upper-$30 level as the market reassesses the balance between clinical progress and current valuation.

From a fundamental perspective, the company provides compelling reasons for long-term optimism. Patient recruitment has been successfully completed for the pivotal Phase 3 trial known as "VANQUISH-1." This study is central to the development of the company's drug candidate, VK2735, a dual GLP-1/GIP agonist designed to treat obesity. This operational achievement significantly mitigates the risk of timeline delays and clears a path for the highly anticipated study readouts.

Should investors sell immediately? Or is it worth buying Viking Therapeutics?

Viking's current market capitalization of approximately $3.51 billion largely reflects this period of anticipation. Missed earnings expectations from the third quarter are fading into the background, with investor attention now fixed on the company's liquidity position as it funds these expensive late-stage trials. Most market analysts view the present share price as an opportunity to build a stake before the critical year of 2026.

The next major catalyst for a significant price trend is projected to be the release of top-line results from the VANQUISH program. The transition from trial execution in 2025 to data presentation in 2026 is likely to dictate the stock's longer-term trajectory. Until concrete clinical outcomes are disclosed, the equity is expected to remain within its current phase of technical consolidation.