Viking Therapeutics Stock Soars: What's Driving The Momentum?

Viking Therapeutics (NASDAQ:VKTX) stock is soaring on Thursday, extending the momentum it picked up in Wednesday's after‑hours session following the company's fourth‑quarter earnings release.

• Viking Therapeutics shares are showing limited movement. Where is VKTX stock headed?

What The Numbers Showed

Viking posted a loss of $1.38 per share, worse than the 89 cent loss analysts were expecting. Last quarter, the company only missed on EPS by 13 cents, according to Benzinga Pro.

The miss was driven by a sharp increase in research and development spending, which jumped to $153.5 million, up from $31 million a year earlier.

CEO Brian Lian put the quarter into perspective, noting that "the past year was an exceptional year for Viking, marked by rapid progress across our obesity portfolio."

VK2735 Advances On Both Injectable And Oral Fronts

The company's Phase 3 VANQUISH program for its subcutaneous VK2735 obesity drug is moving quickly, with the goal of being used for the treatment of obesity and other metabolic disorders. Enrollment for VANQUISH‑1 is already complete and VANQUISH‑2 is close behind. Data from that study is expected in the third quarter of 2026.

Additionally, progress on the oral version of VK2735 appears to be driving shares higher. Viking confirmed that its tablet formulation is on track to enter Phase 3 trials in the third quarter of 2026.

Having both an injectable and an oral option built around the same active ingredient could give Viking a meaningful edge, as no other dual or triple agonist in development currently exists in both forms. It also means patients could switch between the two without the added uncertainty that comes with changing to an entirely different therapy.

What Do The Technicals Show?

Viking Therapeutics is currently showing a mixed technical picture, with its stock trading above the 20-day SMA but below the 50-day and 100-day SMAs. This setup indicates a potential struggle for momentum, as the stock is navigating through a complex trend environment.

The RSI is currently at 40.61, which is considered neutral territory, suggesting the stock is neither overbought nor oversold, indicating a lack of strong momentum in either direction at this time. MACD is below its signal line, indicating bearish pressure on Viking’s stock.

Key support is at $29.50, while resistance sits at $36.00. If the stock approaches support and fails to hold, it could signal further downside, while a breakout above resistance may indicate a bullish trend continuation.

Over the past 12 months, its stock has gained 11.79%, reflecting a generally positive longer-term trend despite recent volatility. The stock has managed to maintain an upward trajectory over the year, even when there has been challenges.

VKTX Price Action: Viking Therapeutics shares were up 9.56% at $31.28 at the time of publication on Thursday, according to Benzinga Pro.

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