Shares of Viking Therapeutics concluded a week of notable volatility, settling near $38.55. After a sharp rally on Thursday, the stock entered a consolidation phase on Friday. Market attention is now fixed on a significant regulatory filing revealing a substantial increase in holdings by a major institutional investor, even as company insiders have been reducing their positions.
Key Developments at a Glance
- Schroder Investment Management increased its stake by 89.1%.
- The firm’s holding now totals 319,302 shares, valued at approximately $8.46 million.
- Corporate insiders sold roughly 111,000 shares during the last quarter.
- The stock is trading well above its 50-day moving average of $33.92.
Institutional Confidence on Display
Recent filings dated December 5 show that the Schroder Investment Management Group purchased an additional 150,470 shares of Viking Therapeutics. This aggressive buying activity, which nearly doubles the asset manager’s position, is often interpreted by the market as a strong vote of confidence in a company’s future prospects. Viking is focused on developing treatments for obesity and metabolic disorders, a highly competitive and closely watched sector within biopharma.
Insider Transactions Present a Contrast
Concurrent with Schroder’s buying spree, disclosures reveal a different pattern among the company’s executives. Chief Financial Officer Greg Zante and Chief Operating Officer Marianna Mancini both disposed of shares in early December. In total, insiders sold approximately 111,359 shares last quarter. Such divergence between institutional accumulation and insider selling is not uncommon but typically prompts scrutiny regarding the near-term outlook held by a company’s leadership.
Clinical Trial Progress Fuels Momentum
The catalyst for the recent share price appreciation was an announcement in late November. Viking Therapeutics reported the early completion of patient recruitment for its pivotal Phase 3 trial, VANQUISH-1. The study enrolled approximately 4,650 patients, surpassing the original target of 4,500. Investors viewed this development positively, seeing it as an indicator of robust trial demand and efficient operational execution.
Should investors sell immediately? Or is it worth buying Viking Therapeutics?
Following this news, the equity surged nearly 9% on Thursday to close at $38.57. Viking Therapeutics currently commands a market valuation of about $4.36 billion. Over the past 52 weeks, its shares have traded between $18.92 and $52.58.
Wall Street Sees Significant Upside
Analyst sentiment remains decidedly bullish on Viking. The consensus price target stands at $87.14, implying a potential upside of over 125% from current levels. Several firms have issued particularly optimistic ratings: Canaccord Genuity has set a target of $107, while both Morgan Stanley and H.C. Wainwright have targets of $102, accompanied by “Overweight” and “Buy” recommendations, respectively.
This optimism is largely tied to the company’s lead drug candidate, VK2735, which targets the same lucrative market as the blockbuster therapies from Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk. The next major clinical data readouts for this program are anticipated in 2026.
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