Viking Therapeutics 주식 (NASDAQ: VKTX)

에 대한 최신 뉴스 Viking Therapeutics (NASDAQ:VKTX) 주식

Viking Therapeutics

Viking Therapeutics Inc is a healthcare service provider. The company specializes in the area of biopharmaceutical development focused on metabolic and endocrine disorders. The company's clinical program pipeline consists of VK2809, VK5211, VK0214 products. VK2809 and VK0214 are orally available, tissue and receptor-subtype selective agonists of the thyroid hormone receptor beta. VK5211 is an orally available, non-steroidal selective androgen receptor modulator.

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Hims & Hers Health, Inc. Class A Common Stock

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VKTX

VSAT

다음은 지난주 큰 폭의 상승세를 보인 6개의 중형주 주식이다. 이 주식들은 여러분의 포트폴리오에 있나요? AST 스페이스모바일(NASDAQ:ASTS)의 주가는 회사가 첫 5개의 상용 위성을 성공적으로 완료하면서 47.88% 상승했다.

비아샛 및 AST 스페이스모바일은 지난주 최고 성과를 보여준 6개 중형주 중 일부 (7월 21일-7월 27일)

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NVDA

TSLA

수요일 미국 주요 지수는 크게 하락세로 마감했다. 다우존스 산업평균지수는 1.25% 하락한 39,853.87에, S&amp;P 500 지수는 2.3% 하락한 5,427.13에, 나스닥 지수는 3.6% 하락한 17,342.41에 마감했다. 이들은 하루 동안 소매 거래자와 투자자들의 주목을 받은 주요 종목들이다:

수요일 주목받은 주식 5종목: 엔비디아, 포드, 치폴레, 바이킹 테라퓨틱스, 테슬라

Biotech

Earnings

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After-Hours Center

바이킹 테라퓨틱스(NASDAQ:VKTX)의 주가는 회사가 수요일에 2분기 재무 결과를 발표한 후 애프터마켓에서 20% 이상 급등했다. 보고서의 주요 내용은 다음과 같다.

바이킹 테라퓨틱스의 주식은 예상을 뛰어넘는 2분기 EPS로 시간외 거래에서 20% 이상 급등

Viking Therapeutics Inc

Viking Therapeutics (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/vktx#NASDAQ">VKTX</a>) has captured the attention of investors, with its stock price skyrocketing over 400% in one year. This remarkable performance stems from the company&#39;s promising clinical trial results for VK2735, an investigational weight loss drug that has demonstrated promising efficacy in oral and injectable forms.
The company is expected to report its second-quarter earnings in the coming weeks.
While Viking Therapeutics&#39; stock price has recently pulled back from its 52-week high, investors are still optimistic about its potential.
Analysts believe that Viking&#39;s oral weight loss drug could claim about 10% of the market upon its release in 2030, and VK2735 could be approved as an over-the-counter (OTC) drug, providing a significant competitive advantage for Viking.
<h2>The Powerhouse Behind the Surge: Viking&#39;s Drug Pipeline</h2>
The company is focused on developing novel therapies for metabolic and endocrine disorders, including non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), hip fracture recovery, and type 2 diabetes. The company aims to bring life-changing treatments to patients with unmet medical needs.
Viking&#39;s lead product candidate, VK2735, is an investigational drug that targets obesity by acting as a dual agonist of the glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) receptors. The company is evaluating VK2735 as a potential treatment for type 2 diabetes and plans to explore monthly dosing options in addition to its existing weekly dosing program.
The oral formulation of VK2735 is especially noteworthy, as it could become the first oral GLP-1 drug to hit the market. GLP-1 current medicines are available only in injectable forms. With the growing popularity of injectable GLP-1 drugs for weight loss, Viking&#39;s oral drug could tap into a large market segment, which could be a significant growth opportunity for the company.
<h2>Clinical Trial Successes</h2>
Viking Therapeutics has reported positive results from its Phase 2 VENTURE trial for obesity treatment with VK2735. The results showed that VK2735 effectively reduced body weight in obese patients, with a statistically significant difference in body weight compared to the placebo group.
The company has also reported positive results from its Phase 2b VOYAGE trial for NASH and fibrosis with VK2809, a small molecule thyroid hormone receptor agonist. This trial showed that VK2809 effectively reduced liver fat content and improved liver histology in patients with NASH.
These positive clinical trial results have fueled investor enthusiasm and stock price appreciation. The market is anticipating the company&#39;s upcoming second-quarter earnings report, which could provide further insights into the progress of these clinical trials.
<h2>Viking Therapeutics: Soaring Stock, But Is it Worth the Ride?</h2>
Viking Therapeutics has been a hot stock in 2024, with its share price skyrocketing over 240% since the start of the year.&nbsp; While Viking boasts a compelling story and a strong balance sheet with over $942 million in cash and cash equivalents, it&#39;s important to consider the company&#39;s current lack of profitability and its valuation relative to its peers. Viking&#39;s price-to-book ratio of 17.99 suggests that the stock might be currently overvalued. This is further emphasized by the company&#39;s relatively modest market capitalization of approximately $6.9 billion, which aligns with other smaller biotech companies. However, Viking&#39;s potential is undeniable. If VK2735 is successfully commercialized, the company could experience significant growth, and its valuation might be justified.
Viking Therapeutics&#39; current trajectory reflects the strong potential of its drug pipeline. However, investors should proceed cautiously, as the company&#39;s stock price is still volatile. Monitoring key metrics such as revenue growth, cash flow, and analyst coverage is vital. Looking beyond the recent surge in stock price and focusing on the long-term prospects of the company&#39;s drug candidates is paramount. Investing in Viking Therapeutics represents a high-risk, high-reward proposition for investors with a long-term investment horizon.
<h2>Analyst Insights and Opportunities</h2>
Viking Therapeutics analyst community is bullish on the company&#39;s prospects, with several analysts initiating coverage with &quot;Overweight&quot; ratings and price targets ranging from $80 to $138 per share. The analyst consensus price target is $108, providing over 70% upside on the stock. This bullish sentiment is driven by the potential for VK2735 to become a major player in the obesity market and the potential for the drug to be approved as an OTC drug.
The possibility of VK2735 transitioning to OTC status is believed to be a key consideration for companies interested in investing in the obesity sector, aiming to yield sustained returns from their investments in clinical development, commercialization, and manufacturing.
<h2>Risks and Opportunities</h2>
As with any biotech company, Viking Therapeutics faces a number of risks. The company is still in the early stages of development, and its drugs have yet to be approved by the Food and Drug Administration. Viking&#39;s success depends on its ability to complete its clinical trials and obtain regulatory approval.
In addition, Viking Therapeutics faces competition from larger pharmaceutical companies that are also developing obesity therapies. The company has yet to turn a profit and relies on raising capital to fund its development efforts. However, its robust cash position gives it some flexibility to pursue its growth strategy.
<h2>Viking Therapeutics: Navigating the Volatility</h2>
Viking Therapeutics has delivered solid returns in 2024, fueled by the company&#39;s potential for blockbuster drug success and a possible shift to an OTC market. The recent pullback in Viking&#39;s stock price, down about 10% over the past five days, might offer an attractive entry point for investors with a longer-term investment horizon. While reflecting market volatility and short-term concerns, this dip doesn&#39;t necessarily negate the company&#39;s fundamental strengths.
Investors must acknowledge the risks inherent in this early-stage biotech company, including regulatory hurdles, intense competition, and a lack of current profitability. The road to commercial success for VK2735 has its challenges. But the potential is undeniable. If VK2735 can clear regulatory hurdles, secure market share, and achieve profitability, Viking Therapeutics could generate significant returns for investors. The recent dip might be a buying opportunity for those with a strong stomach for risk and a belief in the company&#39;s long-term potential.
The article &quot;<a href="https://www.marketbeat.com/originals/is-viking-therapeutics-ready-for-another-surge/">Is Viking Therapeutics Ready For Another Surge?</a>&quot; first appeared on MarketBeat.

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General

Is Viking Therapeutics Ready For Another Surge?

Viking Therapeutics (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VKTX#NASDAQ">VKTX</a>) has outperformed the market over the past 5 years by 41.66% on an annualized basis producing an average annual return of 55.96%. Currently, Viking Therapeutics has a market capitalization of $6.91 billion. 
Buying $100 In VKTX: If an investor had bought $100 of VKTX stock 5 years ago, it would be worth $906.54 today based on a price of $62.37 for VKTX at the time of writing.
<h3>Viking Therapeutics's Performance Over Last 5 Years</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1727454624_0.png" alt="comp_fig" />
Finally -- what's the point of all this? The key insight to take from this article is to note how much of a difference compounded returns can make in your cash growth over a period of time.
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

$100 Invested In Viking Therapeutics 5 Years Ago Would Be Worth This Much Today

Oppenheimer analyst Jay Olson reiterates Viking Therapeutics (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VKTX#NASDAQ">VKTX</a>) with a Outperform and maintains $138 price target.

Reiteration

Oppenheimer Reiterates Outperform on Viking Therapeutics, Maintains $138 Price Target

Investors with a lot of money to spend have taken a bearish stance on Viking Therapeutics (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VKTX#NASDAQ">VKTX</a>).
And retail traders should know.
We noticed this today when the trades showed up on publicly available options history that we track here at Benzinga.
Whether these are institutions or just wealthy individuals, we don't know. But when something this big happens with VKTX, it often means somebody knows something is about to happen.
So how do we know what these investors just did? 
Today, <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/?utm_source=insights">Benzinga</a>'s options scanner spotted 14 uncommon options trades for Viking Therapeutics.
This isn't normal.
The overall sentiment of these big-money traders is split between 14% bullish and 64%, bearish.
Out of all of the special options we uncovered, 4 are puts, for a total amount of $138,720, and 10 are calls, for a total amount of $621,095.
<h3>What's The Price Target?</h3>
Analyzing the Volume and Open Interest in these contracts, it seems that the big players have been eyeing a price window from $30.0 to $90.0 for Viking Therapeutics during the past quarter. 
<h3>Volume &amp; Open Interest Trends</h3>
Assessing the volume and open interest is a strategic step in options trading. These metrics shed light on the liquidity and investor interest in Viking Therapeutics's options at specified strike prices. The forthcoming data visualizes the fluctuation in volume and open interest for both calls and puts, linked to Viking Therapeutics's substantial trades, within a strike price spectrum from $30.0 to $90.0 over the preceding 30 days.
<h3>Viking Therapeutics Option Volume And Open Interest Over Last 30 Days</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1727190975_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Significant Options Trades Detected:</h3>

<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Ask</th>
<th>Bid</th>
<th>Price</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>VKTX</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>11/15/24</td>
<td>$7.0</td>
<td>$6.7</td>
<td>$6.7</td>
<td>$70.00</td>
<td>$301.5K</td>
<td>6.1K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">647</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>VKTX</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>10/04/24</td>
<td>$1.95</td>
<td>$1.65</td>
<td>$1.65</td>
<td>$66.00</td>
<td>$53.4K</td>
<td>64</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">342</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>VKTX</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/15/27</td>
<td>$46.0</td>
<td>$41.1</td>
<td>$43.0</td>
<td>$90.00</td>
<td>$43.0K</td>
<td>0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>VKTX</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>10/25/24</td>
<td>$2.65</td>
<td>$2.15</td>
<td>$2.3</td>
<td>$75.00</td>
<td>$39.3K</td>
<td>501</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">424</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>VKTX</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>10/25/24</td>
<td>$2.85</td>
<td>$2.15</td>
<td>$2.3</td>
<td>$75.00</td>
<td>$39.3K</td>
<td>501</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">253</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About Viking Therapeutics</h3>
Viking Therapeutics Inc is a healthcare service provider. The company specializes in the area of biopharmaceutical development focused on metabolic and endocrine disorders. The company's clinical program pipeline consists of VK2809, VK5211, VK0214 products. VK2809 and VK0214 are orally available, tissue and receptor-subtype selective agonists of the thyroid hormone receptor beta. VK5211 is an orally available, non-steroidal selective androgen receptor modulator.
Having examined the options trading patterns of Viking Therapeutics, our attention now turns directly to the company. This shift allows us to delve into its present market position and performance
<h3>Present Market Standing of Viking Therapeutics</h3>
<ul>
<li>Trading volume stands at 1,830,893, with VKTX's price down by -5.03%, positioned at $61.74.</li>
<li>RSI indicators show the stock to be is currently neutral between overbought and oversold.</li>
<li>Earnings announcement expected in 29 days.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Professional Analyst Ratings for Viking Therapeutics</h3>
A total of 2 professional analysts have given their take on this stock in the last 30 days, setting an average price target of $92.5.
Unusual Options Activity Detected: Smart Money on the Move
Benzinga Edge's Unusual Options board spots potential market movers before they happen. See what positions big money is taking on your favorite stocks. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-checkout/?t=Be8be9arja3be22bz20&amp;utm_source=benzinga-insights">Click here for access</a>. 
&#x2A; Reflecting concerns, an analyst from JP Morgan lowers its rating to Overweight with a new price target of $80. 
&#x2A; In a cautious move, an analyst from Morgan Stanley downgraded its rating to Overweight, setting a price target of $105. 
Options trading presents higher risks and potential rewards. Astute traders manage these risks by continually educating themselves, adapting their strategies, monitoring multiple indicators, and keeping a close eye on market movements. Stay informed about the latest Viking Therapeutics options trades with real-time alerts from <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a>.

Options

Viking Therapeutics Unusual Options Activity For September 24

This whale alert can help traders discover the next big trading opportunities.
Whales are entities with large sums of money and we track their transactions here at Benzinga on our options activity scanner.
Traders often look for circumstances when the market estimation of an option diverges away from its normal worth. Abnormal amounts of trading activity could push option prices to hyperbolic or underperforming levels. 
Below are some instances of options activity happening in the Health Care sector: 
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th>Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>PFE</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$32.50</td>
<td>$70.5K</td>
<td>38.1K</td>
<td>2.5K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>BMY</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>10/04/24</td>
<td>$51.00</td>
<td>$32.5K</td>
<td>829</td>
<td>797</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>BNTX</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>10/18/24</td>
<td>$120.00</td>
<td>$34.5K</td>
<td>1.3K</td>
<td>625</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>CI</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>09/27/24</td>
<td>$355.00</td>
<td>$71.7K</td>
<td>16</td>
<td>505</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>TGTX</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$40.00</td>
<td>$137.7K</td>
<td>2</td>
<td>383</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>JNJ</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>12/20/24</td>
<td>$175.00</td>
<td>$45.4K</td>
<td>513</td>
<td>382</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>BHVN</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>10/18/24</td>
<td>$45.00</td>
<td>$48.4K</td>
<td>74</td>
<td>365</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>VKTX</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>11/15/24</td>
<td>$60.00</td>
<td>$189.7K</td>
<td>4.5K</td>
<td>172</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>GMED</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>12/20/24</td>
<td>$70.00</td>
<td>$31.6K</td>
<td>7</td>
<td>122</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MNKD</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>11/15/24</td>
<td>$3.50</td>
<td>$30.0K</td>
<td>121</td>
<td>100</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h2>Explanation</h2>
These itemized elaborations have been created using the accompanying table. 
• For PFE (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PFE#NYSE">PFE</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bullish, expiring in 116 day(s) on January 17, 2025. This event was a transfer of 1500 contract(s) at a $32.50 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 47 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $70.5K, with a price of $47.0 per contract. There were 38163 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 2583 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding BMY (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BMY#NYSE">BMY</a>), we observe a call option sweep with bearish sentiment. It expires in 11 day(s) on October 4, 2024. Parties traded 500 contract(s) at a $51.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 24 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $32.5K, with a price of $65.0 per contract. There were 829 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 797 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding BNTX (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BNTX#NASDAQ">BNTX</a>), we observe a call option sweep with bullish sentiment. It expires in 25 day(s) on October 18, 2024. Parties traded 150 contract(s) at a $120.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 19 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $34.5K, with a price of $230.0 per contract. There were 1345 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 625 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding CI (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CI#NYSE">CI</a>), we observe a put option sweep with bullish sentiment. It expires in 4 day(s) on September 27, 2024. Parties traded 239 contract(s) at a $355.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 15 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $71.7K, with a price of $300.0 per contract. There were 16 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 505 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For TGTX (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TGTX#NASDAQ">TGTX</a>), we notice a put option sweep that happens to be bearish, expiring in 116 day(s) on January 17, 2025. This event was a transfer of 82 contract(s) at a $40.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 12 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $137.7K, with a price of $1680.0 per contract. There were 2 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 383 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For JNJ (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JNJ#NYSE">JNJ</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bearish, expiring in 88 day(s) on December 20, 2024. This event was a transfer of 329 contract(s) at a $175.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 11 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $45.4K, with a price of $138.0 per contract. There were 513 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 382 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For BHVN (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BHVN#NYSE">BHVN</a>), we notice a put option trade that happens to be bearish, expiring in 25 day(s) on October 18, 2024. This event was a transfer of 149 contract(s) at a $45.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $48.4K, with a price of $325.0 per contract. There were 74 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 365 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding VKTX (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VKTX#NASDAQ">VKTX</a>), we observe a call option trade with neutral sentiment. It expires in 53 day(s) on November 15, 2024. Parties traded 150 contract(s) at a $60.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $189.7K, with a price of $1265.0 per contract. There were 4588 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 172 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For GMED (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GMED#NYSE">GMED</a>), we notice a put option sweep that happens to be bearish, expiring in 88 day(s) on December 20, 2024. This event was a transfer of 102 contract(s) at a $70.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 31 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $31.6K, with a price of $310.0 per contract. There were 7 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 122 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For MNKD (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MNKD#NASDAQ">MNKD</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bullish, expiring in 53 day(s) on November 15, 2024. This event was a transfer of 100 contract(s) at a $3.50 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 5 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $30.0K, with a price of $300.0 per contract. There were 121 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 100 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
Options Alert Terminology 
 - Call Contracts: The right to buy shares as indicated in the contract. 
 - Put Contracts: The right to sell shares as indicated in the contract. 
 - Expiration Date: When the contract expires. One must act on the contract by this date if one wants to use it. 
 - Premium/Option Price: The price of the contract. 
For more information, visit our <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/blog/how-to-understand-option-alerts/">Guide to Understanding Options Alerts</a> or read <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/options">more about unusual options activity</a>. 
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

BHVN

BNTX

GMED

MNKD

TGTX

10 Health Care Stocks With Whale Alerts In Today's Session

Wall Street kicked off the week on a cautious note, with major indexes trading relatively flat as investors seek more clarity on the economic and political landscape.
A widely followed private sector survey by S&amp;P Global revealed that output growth slightly exceeded expectations in September, buoyed by stronger services activity. However, the report also signaled a reawakening of inflationary pressures, raising concerns about <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/etfs/broad-u-s-equity-etfs/24/09/40965082/feds-historic-dissenter-bowman-says-smaller-interest-rate-cut-was-justified-we-have-no">future monetary policy moves.</a>
The latest betting-implied odds from Polymarket show Kamala Harris at 51% to win the 2024 U.S. presidential election, surpassing former President Donald Trump, who has seen his consensus slips in recent weeks.
Among major assets, gold continues its upward momentum, setting new all-time highs as investors flock to safe-haven assets amid global uncertainty.
Meanwhile, natural gas prices spiked over 4%, hitting a three-month high early Monday. The rise follows the formation of another storm in the Gulf of Mexico, which threatens to further disrupt supply chains already impacted by Hurricane Francine.
The geopolitical situation in the Middle East remains tense, with Israel targeting new Hezbollah sites in Lebanon and the U.S. sending additional military troops to the region amid rising conflict. 
Despite the turmoil, oil prices fell by 2%, suggesting that supply fears may be easing for the moment. 
In the cryptocurrency space, Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) eased by 0.5%, showing little movement.
<h1 class="wp-block-heading">Monday&#8217;s Performance In Major U.S. Indices, ETFs</h1>
<figure class="wp-block-table"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Major Indices</td>
<td>Price</td>
<td>1-day %chg</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Nasdaq 100</td>
<td>19,816.41</td>
<td>0.1 %</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>S&amp;P 500</td>
<td>5,707.19</td>
<td>0.1 %</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Dow Jones</td>
<td>42,002.30</td>
<td>-0.1%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Russell 2000</td>
<td>2,213.90</td>
<td>-0.6%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Updated at 12:45 p.m. ET</figcaption></figure>
According to <a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent092324&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1">Benzinga Pro</a> data: 
<ul>
<li>The&nbsp;SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>)&nbsp;was flat at $568.42.</li>
<li>The&nbsp;SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DIA#NYSE">DIA</a>)&nbsp;edged 0.1% lower to $420.26.</li>
<li>The tech-heavy Invesco QQQ Trust Series (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>) flattened at $482.36.</li>
<li>The iShares Russell 2000 ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IWM#NYSE">IWM</a>) fell 0.5% to $220.36.</li>
<li>The Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLY#NYSE">XLY</a>) outperformed, up 0.6%. The Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLV#NYSE">XLV</a>) lagged, down 0.6%.</li>
</ul>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Monday&#8217;s Stock Movers</h3>
<ul>
<li>Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) rallied 4%, while General Motors Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GM#NYSE">GM</a>) fell 2.7% reacting to the latest export ban proposal from the U.S. administration <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/asia/24/09/40981254/chinese-vehicle-tech-faces-biden-administration-ban-over-national-security-concerns-china-ev-stocks">on Chinese-made vehicles. </a></li>
<li>Intel Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/INTC#NASDAQ">INTC</a>) rose over 3% amid rumors that Qualcomm Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QCOM#NASDAQ">QCOM</a>) is <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/m-a/24/09/40983591/qualcomm-takeover-of-intel-is-logically-unlikely-in-face-of-regulatory-challenges-analyst-says">exploring a potential takeove</a>r. Shares of Qualcomm fell 2%.</li>
<li>Ciena Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CIEN#NYSE">CIEN</a>) obtained a double upgrade from Sell to Buy by Citigroup. </li>
<li>Viking Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VKTX#NASDAQ">VKTX</a>) fell over 6% amid negative weight-loss study data.</li>
</ul>
Read Now:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/etfs/broad-u-s-equity-etfs/24/09/40965082/feds-historic-dissenter-bowman-says-smaller-interest-rate-cut-was-justified-we-have-no">Fed&#8217;s Historic Dissenter Bowman Says Smaller Interest Rate Cut Was Justified: &#8216;We Have Not Yet Achieved Our Inflation Goal&#8217;</a></li>
</ul>
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US Stocks Stall, Gold Updates Record Highs, Tesla Rallies: What's Driving Markets Monday?

Deep-pocketed investors have adopted a bullish approach towards Viking Therapeutics (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VKTX#NASDAQ">VKTX</a>), and it's something market players shouldn't ignore. Our tracking of public options records at Benzinga unveiled this significant move today. The identity of these investors remains unknown, but such a substantial move in VKTX usually suggests something big is about to happen.
We gleaned this information from our observations today when Benzinga's options scanner highlighted 19 extraordinary options activities for Viking Therapeutics. This level of activity is out of the ordinary.
The general mood among these heavyweight investors is divided, with 57% leaning bullish and 26% bearish. Among these notable options, 2 are puts, totaling $68,050, and 17 are calls, amounting to $1,797,218.
<h3>Projected Price Targets</h3>
After evaluating the trading volumes and Open Interest, it's evident that the major market movers are focusing on a price band between $30.0 and $100.0 for Viking Therapeutics, spanning the last three months.
<h3>Volume &amp; Open Interest Development</h3>
Assessing the volume and open interest is a strategic step in options trading. These metrics shed light on the liquidity and investor interest in Viking Therapeutics's options at specified strike prices. The forthcoming data visualizes the fluctuation in volume and open interest for both calls and puts, linked to Viking Therapeutics's substantial trades, within a strike price spectrum from $30.0 to $100.0 over the preceding 30 days.
<h3>Viking Therapeutics Option Volume And Open Interest Over Last 30 Days</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1726595158_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Biggest Options Spotted:</h3>

<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Ask</th>
<th>Bid</th>
<th>Price</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>VKTX</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$35.5</td>
<td>$34.2</td>
<td>$35.5</td>
<td>$30.00</td>
<td>$177.5K</td>
<td>1.9K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">350</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>VKTX</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$35.5</td>
<td>$34.2</td>
<td>$35.5</td>
<td>$30.00</td>
<td>$177.5K</td>
<td>1.9K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">250</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>VKTX</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$36.3</td>
<td>$34.2</td>
<td>$35.5</td>
<td>$30.00</td>
<td>$177.5K</td>
<td>1.9K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">250</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>VKTX</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$36.1</td>
<td>$34.0</td>
<td>$35.5</td>
<td>$30.00</td>
<td>$177.5K</td>
<td>1.9K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">200</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>VKTX</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$35.5</td>
<td>$34.0</td>
<td>$35.5</td>
<td>$30.00</td>
<td>$177.5K</td>
<td>1.9K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">150</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About Viking Therapeutics</h3>
Viking Therapeutics Inc is a healthcare service provider. The company specializes in the area of biopharmaceutical development focused on metabolic and endocrine disorders. The company's clinical program pipeline consists of VK2809, VK5211, VK0214 products. VK2809 and VK0214 are orally available, tissue and receptor-subtype selective agonists of the thyroid hormone receptor beta. VK5211 is an orally available, non-steroidal selective androgen receptor modulator.
Following our analysis of the options activities associated with Viking Therapeutics, we pivot to a closer look at the company's own performance.
<h3>Where Is Viking Therapeutics Standing Right Now?</h3>
<ul>
<li>Currently trading with a volume of 2,479,687, the VKTX's price is down by -5.63%, now at $63.32. </li>
<li>RSI readings suggest the stock is currently is currently neutral between overbought and oversold.</li>
<li>Anticipated earnings release is in 36 days.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Professional Analyst Ratings for Viking Therapeutics</h3>
In the last month, 2 experts released ratings on this stock with an average target price of $92.5.
<ul>
<li>An analyst from Morgan Stanley downgraded its action to Overweight with a price target of $105. </li>
<li>An analyst from JP Morgan has revised its rating downward to Overweight, adjusting the price target to $80. </li>
</ul>
Trading options involves greater risks but also offers the potential for higher profits. Savvy traders mitigate these risks through ongoing education, strategic trade adjustments, utilizing various indicators, and staying attuned to market dynamics. Keep up with the latest options trades for Viking Therapeutics with <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a> for real-time alerts.

What the Options Market Tells Us About Viking Therapeutics

Morgan Stanley analyst Michael Ulz reiterates Viking Therapeutics (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VKTX#NASDAQ">VKTX</a>) with a Overweight and maintains $105 price target.

Morgan Stanley Reiterates Overweight on Viking Therapeutics, Maintains $105 Price Target

JPMorgan analyst Hardik Parikh initiated coverage on Viking Therapeutics Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VKTX#NASDAQ">VKTX</a>) with an Overweight rating and a December 2025 price target of $80, which implies a potential 45% upside from its <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/VKTX/news">current price of $54.65</a>.
At the core of this bullish outlook is Viking&#8217;s obesity drug candidate, oral-2735, which could be a significant player in the rapidly expanding GLP-1 market.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Oral-2735 Could Be A Game Changer</h2>
JPMorgan highlights oral-2735's potential as a highly competitive treatment in the GLP-1 market, particularly because of its &#8220;impressive tolerability.&#8221; 
According to Parikh, Phase 1 data on lower doses already demonstrated competitive efficacy with very few gastrointestinal side effects.
He also noted that "higher dose cohorts could show even more competitive efficacy" while maintaining a standout tolerability profile.
With the U.S. market for GLP-1s projected to reach $120 billion by 2030, JPMorgan estimates oral-2735 could capture around 10% of the oral obesity segment, ascribing it a significant role in the obesity treatment landscape. Parikh believes the market has not fully appreciated the potential of oral-2735, making Viking's stock poised for a substantial rise.
Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/biotech/24/09/40737027/fake-ozempic-targets-weight-loss-market-forged-batches-an-international-concern">Fake Ozempic Targets Weight-Loss Market: Forged Batches An International Concern</a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Upcoming Catalyst At Obesity Week</h2>
Viking Therapeutics is now under JPMorgan&#8217;s &#8220;positive catalyst watch&#8221; ahead of the Phase 1 readout at Obesity Week in Nov. 2024. 
Parikh suggests that investors should be &#8220;long into the upcoming readout for oral-2735." The data could lead to a &#8220;substantial up move for shares.&#8221; Based on recent trends in the obesity treatment space, Parikh wouldn't be surprised if the stock sees a jump of 30-60% following the readout.
With oral-2735 expected to enter the market in 2030, JPMorgan forecasts U.S. sales of $1 billion by 2035. Given the drug's competitive profile and favorable tolerability, Viking Therapeutics could play a key role in the booming obesity market.
For investors, the upcoming data release could be a turning point, with Parikh projecting a significant &#8220;upside potential&#8221; for VKTX stock as the market begins to recognize oral-2735&#8217;s potential.
Read Next: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/08/40624639/jim-cramer-hold-on-to-builders-firstsource-heres-the-problem-with-viking-therapeutics">Jim Cramer: &#8216;Hold On&#8217; To Builders FirstSource, &#8216;Here&#8217;s The Problem&#8217; With Viking Therapeutics</a></li>
</ul>
Image: Shutterstock

Long Ideas

Initiation

Viking Therapeutics Stock Could Soar 45% Ahead Of Key Weight Loss Drug Readout: JPMorgan

Investors with a lot of money to spend have taken a bullish stance on Viking Therapeutics (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VKTX#NASDAQ">VKTX</a>).
And retail traders should know.
We noticed this today when the positions showed up on publicly available options history that we track here at Benzinga.
Whether these are institutions or just wealthy individuals, we don't know. But when something this big happens with VKTX, it often means somebody knows something is about to happen.
Today, Benzinga's options scanner spotted 25 options trades for Viking Therapeutics.
This isn't normal.
The overall sentiment of these big-money traders is split between 60% bullish and 40%, bearish.
Out of all of the options we uncovered, there was 1 put, for a total amount of $88,413, and 24, calls, for a total amount of $1,052,698.
<h3>Projected Price Targets</h3>
After evaluating the trading volumes and Open Interest, it's evident that the major market movers are focusing on a price band between $50.0 and $120.0 for Viking Therapeutics, spanning the last three months.
<h3>Insights into Volume &amp; Open Interest</h3>
Looking at the volume and open interest is an insightful way to conduct due diligence on a stock.
This data can help you track the liquidity and interest for Viking Therapeutics's options for a given strike price.
Below, we can observe the evolution of the volume and open interest of calls and puts, respectively, for all of Viking Therapeutics's whale activity within a strike price range from $50.0 to $120.0 in the last 30 days. 
<h3>Viking Therapeutics Call and Put Volume: 30-Day Overview</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1726072246_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Biggest Options Spotted:</h3>

<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Ask</th>
<th>Bid</th>
<th>Price</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Open Interest</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>VKTX</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$13.3</td>
<td>$13.0</td>
<td>$13.0</td>
<td>$60.00</td>
<td>$88.4K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">442</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">86</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>VKTX</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$13.0</td>
<td>$12.4</td>
<td>$12.8</td>
<td>$60.00</td>
<td>$64.0K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">918</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">98</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>VKTX</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>02/21/25</td>
<td>$18.2</td>
<td>$17.8</td>
<td>$17.8</td>
<td>$50.00</td>
<td>$62.3K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">242</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">86</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>VKTX</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>02/21/25</td>
<td>$17.5</td>
<td>$16.6</td>
<td>$17.05</td>
<td>$50.00</td>
<td>$60.9K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">242</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">36</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>VKTX</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>02/21/25</td>
<td>$11.6</td>
<td>$11.0</td>
<td>$11.1</td>
<td>$70.00</td>
<td>$59.9K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">387</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">147</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About Viking Therapeutics</h3>
Viking Therapeutics Inc is a healthcare service provider. The company specializes in the area of biopharmaceutical development focused on metabolic and endocrine disorders. The company's clinical program pipeline consists of VK2809, VK5211, VK0214 products. VK2809 and VK0214 are orally available, tissue and receptor-subtype selective agonists of the thyroid hormone receptor beta. VK5211 is an orally available, non-steroidal selective androgen receptor modulator.
In light of the recent options history for Viking Therapeutics, it's now appropriate to focus on the company itself. We aim to explore its current performance.
<h3>Current Position of Viking Therapeutics</h3>
<ul>
<li>With a trading volume of 3,569,240, the price of VKTX is up by 4.12%, reaching $56.9.</li>
<li>Current RSI values indicate that the stock is may be approaching overbought.</li>
<li>Next earnings report is scheduled for 42 days from now.</li>
</ul>
<h3>What The Experts Say On Viking Therapeutics</h3>
1 market experts have recently issued ratings for this stock, with a consensus target price of $80.0.
<ul>
<li>An analyst from JP Morgan has revised its rating downward to Overweight, adjusting the price target to $80. </li>
</ul>
Options are a riskier asset compared to just trading the stock, but they have higher profit potential. Serious options traders manage this risk by educating themselves daily, scaling in and out of trades, following more than one indicator, and following the markets closely.
If you want to stay updated on the latest options trades for Viking Therapeutics, <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a> gives you real-time options trades alerts.

Viking Therapeutics Unusual Options Activity For September 11

WIIM

Viking Therapeutics shares are trading higher after JP Morgan initiated coverage on the stock with an Overweight rating and an $80 price target.

JP Morgan analyst Hardik Parikh initiates coverage on Viking Therapeutics (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VKTX#NASDAQ">VKTX</a>) with a Overweight rating and announces Price Target of $80.

JP Morgan Initiates Coverage On Viking Therapeutics with Overweight Rating, Announces Price Target of $80

High-rolling investors have positioned themselves bullish on Viking Therapeutics (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VKTX#NASDAQ">VKTX</a>), and it's important for retail traders to take note. 
\This activity came to our attention today through Benzinga's tracking of publicly available options data. The identities of these investors are uncertain, but such a significant move in VKTX often signals that someone has privileged information.
Today, Benzinga's options scanner spotted 9 options trades for Viking Therapeutics. This is not a typical pattern.
The sentiment among these major traders is split, with 44% bullish and 33% bearish. Among all the options we identified, there was one put, amounting to $57,349, and 8 calls, totaling $320,592.
<h3>Projected Price Targets</h3>
Taking into account the Volume and Open Interest on these contracts, it appears that whales have been targeting a price range from $30.0 to $100.0 for Viking Therapeutics over the last 3 months. 
<h3>Insights into Volume &amp; Open Interest</h3>
In terms of liquidity and interest, the mean open interest for Viking Therapeutics options trades today is 1801.8 with a total volume of 3,253.00.
In the following chart, we are able to follow the development of volume and open interest of call and put options for Viking Therapeutics's big money trades within a strike price range of $30.0 to $100.0 over the last 30 days.
<h3>Viking Therapeutics Option Volume And Open Interest Over Last 30 Days</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1725907554_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Noteworthy Options Activity:</h3>

<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Ask</th>
<th>Bid</th>
<th>Price</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th>Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>VKTX</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$6.3</td>
<td>$6.1</td>
<td>$6.1</td>
<td>$30.00</td>
<td>$57.3K</td>
<td>103</td>
<td>95</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>VKTX</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>09/20/24</td>
<td>$3.7</td>
<td>$3.3</td>
<td>$3.7</td>
<td>$55.00</td>
<td>$53.9K</td>
<td>869</td>
<td>287</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>VKTX</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>11/15/24</td>
<td>$5.1</td>
<td>$4.7</td>
<td>$4.9</td>
<td>$70.00</td>
<td>$49.0K</td>
<td>4.0K</td>
<td>102</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>VKTX</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>09/20/24</td>
<td>$3.6</td>
<td>$3.4</td>
<td>$3.5</td>
<td>$55.00</td>
<td>$47.3K</td>
<td>869</td>
<td>1.6K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>VKTX</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>09/20/24</td>
<td>$3.7</td>
<td>$3.3</td>
<td>$3.7</td>
<td>$55.00</td>
<td>$44.4K</td>
<td>869</td>
<td>20</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About Viking Therapeutics</h3>
Viking Therapeutics Inc is a healthcare service provider. The company specializes in the area of biopharmaceutical development focused on metabolic and endocrine disorders. The company's clinical program pipeline consists of VK2809, VK5211, VK0214 products. VK2809 and VK0214 are orally available, tissue and receptor-subtype selective agonists of the thyroid hormone receptor beta. VK5211 is an orally available, non-steroidal selective androgen receptor modulator.
Following our analysis of the options activities associated with Viking Therapeutics, we pivot to a closer look at the company's own performance.
<h3>Present Market Standing of Viking Therapeutics</h3>
<ul>
<li>With a volume of 1,459,984, the price of VKTX is up 3.93% at $56.26. </li>
<li>RSI indicators hint that the underlying stock is currently neutral between overbought and oversold.</li>
<li>Next earnings are expected to be released in 44 days.</li>
</ul>
Options are a riskier asset compared to just trading the stock, but they have higher profit potential. Serious options traders manage this risk by educating themselves daily, scaling in and out of trades, following more than one indicator, and following the markets closely.
If you want to stay updated on the latest options trades for Viking Therapeutics, <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a> gives you real-time options trades alerts.

Viking Therapeutics's Options Frenzy: What You Need to Know

Viking Therapeutics (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VKTX#NASDAQ">VKTX</a>) has outperformed the market over the past 5 years by 34.86% on an annualized basis producing an average annual return of 47.53%. Currently, Viking Therapeutics has a market capitalization of $5.99 billion. 
Buying $1000 In VKTX: If an investor had bought $1000 of VKTX stock 5 years ago, it would be worth $7,460.69 today based on a price of $54.09 for VKTX at the time of writing.
<h3>Viking Therapeutics's Performance Over Last 5 Years</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1725651055_0.png" alt="comp_fig" />
Finally -- what's the point of all this? The key insight to take from this article is to note how much of a difference compounded returns can make in your cash growth over a period of time.
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

If You Invested $1000 In This Stock 5 Years Ago, You Would Have $7,500 Today

Criminals are <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/08/40667073/ozempic-unexpected-anti-aging-miracle-drug-researchers-reveal-surprising-potential">distributing fake versions </a>of the weight-loss drug Ozempic by forging the drug batch numbers pharmaceutical companies use to authenticate drugs and track them in a specified country.
They obtain batch numbers illicitly through a liaison who works at a drugmaker factory or by buying the drug and using scanning technology to copy the packaging, inserts and other materials, Reuters reported.
The World Health Organization sent out a notice in July 2023 on forged batch number MP5B060 and Interpol said that insulin pens were being relabeled and repackaged to resemble Ozempic.
Semaglutide, the active ingredient in Ozempic, which is made by Novo Nordisk A/S (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVO#NYSE">NVO</a>), causes average weight loss of 15%. The drug is in a class of pharmaceuticals that reduces food cravings and makes the stomach empty more slowly.
Fake Ozempic shots in the U.S., Nigeria and Iraq resembled insulin pens, according to a Reuters&#8217; review of documents and regulator announcements. 
Read Also:<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/biotech/24/08/40484188/novo-nordisk-vs-eli-lilly-beyond-the-weight-loss-drug-battle"> Novo Nordisk Vs. Eli Lilly: Beyond The Weight-Loss Drug Battle</a>
Anne Devaud, head of Novo&#8217;s global product security, told Reuters the company may have identified one source in connection with the forged batch number on counterfeit Ozempic pens. Novo also suspects that the source may have distributed fake versions of other companies&#8217; injectable drugs.
The recurrence of the same batch number suggests a global counterfeiting operation could be responsible for the illegal scheme, according to anti-counterfeiting experts and a WHO official.
Criminals are also stealing drugs from hospitals and other facilities and then adding fake labels and packaging, Novo said. They are also placing any liquid in a vial or stamping out pills and putting those in fake packaging.
At least 18 different batch numbers have been found on fake Ozempic pens in 14 countries since the beginning of 2023. Each batch carries 280,000 pens.
Other pharmaceuticals, such as painkiller Oxycontin and Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LLY#NYSE">LLY</a>) weight-loss drug Mounjaro, have also been counterfeited, leading to around a million deaths globally, according to the WHO.
Price Action: Most of the major pharmaceutical companies in the weight-loss drug space declined as of mid-day trading on Thursday.
<ul>
<li>Novo fell 2.74% to $130.85</li>
<li>Eli Lilly slipped 3.81% to $910.26</li>
<li>Amgen Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMGN#NASDAQ">AMGN</a>) dropped 2.53% to $322.29</li>
<li>Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PFE#NYSE">PFE</a>) gained 0.51% to $25.83</li>
<li>Viking Therapeutics (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VKTX#NASDAQ">VKTX</a>) slipped 2.80% to $56.47</li>
</ul>
Read Now:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://feeds2.benzinga.com/general/biotech/24/08/40470285/ozempic-and-wegovy-linked-to-increased-suicidal-thoughts-in-observational-study-but-results-are-c">Ozempic And Wegovy Linked to Increased Suicidal Thoughts In Observational Study, But Results Are Contested</a></li>
</ul>
Photo: Shutterstock

Legal

AMGN

Fake Ozempic Targets Weight-Loss Market: Forged Batches An International Concern

MHRA Finds No Evidence Supporting Link Between GLP-1 Receptor Agonists And Suicidal Thoughts Or Actions; Will Continue Monitoring Risk Of Severe Psychiatric Reactions​

This whale alert can help traders discover the next big trading opportunities.
Whales are entities with large sums of money and we track their transactions here at Benzinga on our options activity scanner.
Traders often look for circumstances when the market estimation of an option diverges away from its normal worth. Abnormal amounts of trading activity could push option prices to hyperbolic or underperforming levels. 
Below are some instances of options activity happening in the Health Care sector: 
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th>Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>CVS</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>10/18/24</td>
<td>$60.00</td>
<td>$32.4K</td>
<td>4.4K</td>
<td>1.0K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>NVO</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>09/13/24</td>
<td>$141.00</td>
<td>$68.8K</td>
<td>144</td>
<td>406</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>CI</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>09/06/24</td>
<td>$345.00</td>
<td>$106.1K</td>
<td>119</td>
<td>397</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>VKTX</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>09/20/24</td>
<td>$60.00</td>
<td>$81.1K</td>
<td>2.2K</td>
<td>226</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>TEM</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>09/06/24</td>
<td>$53.00</td>
<td>$29.0K</td>
<td>10</td>
<td>200</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MRNA</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>10/18/24</td>
<td>$80.00</td>
<td>$25.3K</td>
<td>3.4K</td>
<td>183</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ABBV</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>09/20/24</td>
<td>$175.00</td>
<td>$95.6K</td>
<td>3.2K</td>
<td>140</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>UNH</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>11/15/24</td>
<td>$600.00</td>
<td>$41.6K</td>
<td>195</td>
<td>57</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MRK</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>03/21/25</td>
<td>$110.00</td>
<td>$30.5K</td>
<td>81</td>
<td>43</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>LLY</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$840.00</td>
<td>$48.6K</td>
<td>472</td>
<td>35</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h2>Explanation</h2>
These itemized elaborations have been created using the accompanying table. 
• For CVS (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CVS#NYSE">CVS</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bearish, expiring in 45 day(s) on October 18, 2024. This event was a transfer of 200 contract(s) at a $60.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 4 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $32.4K, with a price of $162.0 per contract. There were 4477 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 1063 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding NVO (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVO#NYSE">NVO</a>), we observe a call option sweep with bullish sentiment. It expires in 10 day(s) on September 13, 2024. Parties traded 398 contract(s) at a $141.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 3 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $68.8K, with a price of $172.0 per contract. There were 144 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 406 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding CI (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CI#NYSE">CI</a>), we observe a call option sweep with bearish sentiment. It expires in 3 day(s) on September 6, 2024. Parties traded 50 contract(s) at a $345.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 4 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $106.1K, with a price of $2120.0 per contract. There were 119 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 397 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding VKTX (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VKTX#NASDAQ">VKTX</a>), we observe a call option sweep with bullish sentiment. It expires in 17 day(s) on September 20, 2024. Parties traded 159 contract(s) at a $60.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 14 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $81.1K, with a price of $510.0 per contract. There were 2282 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 226 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding TEM (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TEM#NASDAQ">TEM</a>), we observe a put option sweep with bearish sentiment. It expires in 3 day(s) on September 6, 2024. Parties traded 100 contract(s) at a $53.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 11 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $29.0K, with a price of $290.0 per contract. There were 10 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 200 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For MRNA (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MRNA#NASDAQ">MRNA</a>), we notice a call option trade that happens to be bearish, expiring in 45 day(s) on October 18, 2024. This event was a transfer of 65 contract(s) at a $80.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $25.3K, with a price of $390.0 per contract. There were 3412 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 183 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For ABBV (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ABBV#NYSE">ABBV</a>), we notice a call option trade that happens to be bullish, expiring in 17 day(s) on September 20, 2024. This event was a transfer of 40 contract(s) at a $175.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $95.6K, with a price of $2390.0 per contract. There were 3243 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 140 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For UNH (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UNH#NYSE">UNH</a>), we notice a put option sweep that happens to be bullish, expiring in 73 day(s) on November 15, 2024. This event was a transfer of 16 contract(s) at a $600.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 5 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $41.6K, with a price of $2605.0 per contract. There were 195 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 57 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding MRK (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MRK#NYSE">MRK</a>), we observe a call option sweep with bullish sentiment. It expires in 199 day(s) on March 21, 2025. Parties traded 25 contract(s) at a $110.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 6 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $30.5K, with a price of $1220.0 per contract. There were 81 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 43 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding LLY (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LLY#NYSE">LLY</a>), we observe a call option trade with bullish sentiment. It expires in 136 day(s) on January 17, 2025. Parties traded 3 contract(s) at a $840.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $48.6K, with a price of $16200.0 per contract. There were 472 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 35 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
Options Alert Terminology 
 - Call Contracts: The right to buy shares as indicated in the contract. 
 - Put Contracts: The right to sell shares as indicated in the contract. 
 - Expiration Date: When the contract expires. One must act on the contract by this date if one wants to use it. 
 - Premium/Option Price: The price of the contract. 
For more information, visit our <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/blog/how-to-understand-option-alerts/">Guide to Understanding Options Alerts</a> or read <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/options">more about unusual options activity</a>. 
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

ABBV

MRNA

On CNBC's &#8220;Mad Money Lightning Round,&#8221; Jim Cramer said Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VRTX#NASDAQ">VRTX</a>) <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/08/40138336/vertex-pharmaceuticals-lifts-annual-guidance-positive-growth-for-its-cystic-fibrosi">is &#8220;great.&#8221;</a>
On Aug. 1, Vertex Pharmaceuticals reported second-quarter revenues of $2.65 billion, almost in line with the consensus of estimate of $2.66 billion. Vertex raised its 2024 product revenue guidance from $10.55 billion-$10.75 billion to $10.65 billion-$10.85 billion.
When asked about Serve Robotics Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SERV#NASDAQ">SERV</a>), he said, &#8220;We're not recommending companies that lose a ton of money because it's just not the right time.&#8221;
On Aug. 28, Serve Robotics announced closing of $20 million private placement &amp; warrant exercise.
Builders FirstSource, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BLDR#NYSE">BLDR</a>) can &#8220;go higher,&#8221; Cramer said, &#8220;This is precisely the kind of stock you should be buying at this stage in the cycle. Hold on.&#8221;
On Aug. 6, Builders FirstSource reported second-quarter adjusted earnings per share of $3.50, beating the street view of $3.02. Quarterly sales of $4.456 billion missed the street view of $4.483 billion.
&#8220;Here's the problem: it costs so much money to build the factories, they're going to have to get a takeover to be able to do that,&#8221; Cramer said about Viking Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VKTX#NASDAQ">VKTX</a>).
On July 24, Viking Therapeutics reported better-than-expected second-quarter EPS results.
Price Action:
<ul>
<li>Serve Robotics shares fell 1.3% to settle at $9.35 on Wednesday.</li>
<li>Builders FirstSource shares fell 1% to close at $172.90.</li>
<li>Vertex Pharmaceuticals shares gained 2% to close at $489.73.</li>
<li>Viking Therapeutics shares fell 0.4% to settle at $61.16 on Wednesday.</li>
</ul>
Read Next: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/08/40600017/wall-streets-most-accurate-analysts-spotlight-on-3-materials-stocks-delivering-high-dividend-yields">Wall Street&#8217;s Most Accurate Analysts Spotlight On 3 Materials Stocks Delivering High-Dividend Yields</a></li>
</ul>

BLDR

SERV

VRTX

Jim Cramer: 'Hold On' To Builders FirstSource, 'Here's The Problem' With Viking Therapeutics

Shares of Viking Therapeutics (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/vktx#NASDAQ">VKTX</a>) have soared nearly 25% in the past month, all thanks to progress with its investigational obesity and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) candidates, which management plans to advance to late-stage development by early 2025.
Last month, alongside its second-quarter earnings results, VKTX reported that it had received feedback from the FDA regarding the next steps in the developmental pathway for the obesity drug VK2735. Based on such feedback, the company is gearing up to advance VK2735 into phase III development for obesity. Before beginning this study, management is scheduled to meet with agency officials before this year&#39;s end to discuss the study design and timing. It also plans to hold another meeting with the FDA during the fourth quarter to discuss the late-stage study design for NASH drug candidate VK2809.
These positive pipeline updates were the reason for triggering this upside. In the past month, the stock has outperformed the industry&#39;s 4.0% growth. During this timeframe, the stock has also outperformed the sector and the S&amp;P 500. The company&#39;s shares are also trading above the 50-day and 200-day moving averages.
<h3>VKTX Stock Outperforms Industry, Sector &amp; S&amp;P 500</h3>
<img alt="Zacks Investment Research" src="https://staticx-tuner.zacks.com/images/articles/charts/0f/75223.jpg?v=505765586" style="height:310px; width:600px" />
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Before we take things further, let&#39;s take a brief look at the factors governing the company&#39;s future prospects.
<h2>Obesity Drug Development Encouraging</h2>
In the past few years, the obesity market has been attracting investor attention thanks to the encouraging phenomenal sales performance of obesity drugs Zepbound and Wegovy which are marketed by pharma giants Eli Lilly (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/lly#NYSE">LLY</a>) and Novo Nordisk (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/nvo#NYSE">NVO</a>), respectively. As a result, both companies are enjoying a share price surge from investors.
Though it does not have any marketed drugs in its portfolio, VKTX is one of the few biotechs that has shown immense potential in the obesity space, all thanks to the treatment potential of VK2735. The drug, which is being evaluated as a subcutaneous injection and as an oral pill, has demonstrated superior weight reduction in clinical studies.
In February, management reported that the phase II VENTURE study, which evaluated the SC formulation of VK2735, achieved its primary and all secondary endpoints with statistical significance. Patients treated with the SC formulation achieved a mean weight reduction of 14.7% after 13 weeks compared with 1.7% in the placebo group. In March, the company reported data from the early-stage study on the oral formulation of the drug, which demonstrated promising dose-dependent reductions in mean body weight after 28 days of daily dosing.
While management is making preparations to advance SC formulation to late-stage development, it also intends to start a mid-stage study on the oral formulation of the drug in obesity patients before 2024-end.
Per research conducted by Goldman Sachs, the obesity market in the United States is expected to reach $130 billion by 2030. This is evident from the fact that despite raking in billions from sales of their respective obesity drugs, Lilly and Novo are still unable to cope with existing demand. The firms are not only investing heavily to optimize their respective production capacities but have also started evaluating multiple other novel obesity candidates.
<h2>NASH Drug Shows Promise</h2>
Viking Therapeutics recently completed the VOYAGE study, which evaluated VK2809 as a potential treatment for patients with biopsy-confirmed NASH.
The study achieved its secondary endpoints of histologic changes assessed by hepatic biopsy after 52 weeks of treatment with VK2809 when compared with placebo. Overall, 40-50% of patients who received VK2809 achieved NASH resolution(meaning the disease symptoms disappeared) and at least a one-stage improvement in fibrosis. In contrast, only 20% of patients who received a placebo achieved similar results. The study previously achieved its primary endpoint &mdash; patients who received VK2809 achieved a statistically significant reduction in liver fat content following 12 weeks of treatment.
Based on the above study results, we believe that the drug could rival Madrigal Pharmaceuticals&#39; (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/mdgl#NASDAQ">MDGL</a>) Rezdiffra, which the FDA approved in March 2024 as the first-ever NASH drug. It was commercially launched by Madrigal in April.
Management is also looking for a partner to further develop and market the drug.
<h2>Stiff Competition in Targeted Markets</h2>
While we acknowledge that Viking Therapeutics&#39; pipeline candidates have demonstrated encouraging results in clinical studies, the company faces stiff competition in its targeted markets. The company&#39;s obesity candidate will compete directly with pharma big-wigs like Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk, who have either marketed drugs in this space or are developing their respective candidates in clinicalstudies. Other large-cap pharma/biotech companies like Roche, AstraZeneca, Pfizer and Amgen are also developing their drugs in the obesity space. All these companies have a well-established distribution and supply chain infrastructure in place.
<h2>Stock Valuation &amp; Estimates</h2>
The company is trading at a premium to the industry. Going by the price/book ratio, the stock currently trades at 7.74, trailing 12-month book value, higher than 4.67 for the industry and the stock&#39;s mean of 2.04.
<img alt="Zacks Investment Research" src="https://staticx-tuner.zacks.com/images/articles/charts/21/75224.jpg?v=921152299" style="height:310px; width:600px" />
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Estimates for Viking Therapeutics&#39; 2024 loss per share have narrowed from $1.08 to 99 cents in the past 30 days. Over the same timeframe, loss estimates for 2025 have widened from $1.42 to $1.48 probably due to an increase in the company&#39;s R&amp;D costs to support pipeline expansion.
<img alt="Zacks Investment Research" src="https://staticx-tuner.zacks.com/images/articles/charts/cc/75225.jpg?v=1087133006" style="height:310px; width:600px" />
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
<h2>Conclusion</h2>
Though Viking is trading at a premium to the industry, we recommend investors looking for growth stocks to add this #3 Ranked ticker. Both obesity and NASH markets have demonstrated robust potential for growth. The company&#39;s accumulated cash balance of around $942 million (as of June 2024-end) also ensures that management can sufficiently fund its day-to-day operations, including late-stage pipeline programs. Given the success obtained by Viking in pipeline development, it could also be eyed as an attractive acquisition target by big pharma.
For those who already own the stock, multiple catalysts could trigger share price movements, like pipeline advancements, data from these studies and even potential drug approvals. These should keep such investors vested in the stock.
<a href="https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2326555/viking-vktx-rises-25-in-a-month-should-you-buy-or-wait?cid=CS-BENZ-FT-analyst_blog|investment_ideas-2326555">To read this article on Zacks.com click here.</a>

Large Cap

Management

MDGL

Viking Rises 25% in a Month: Should You Buy or Wait?

Viking Therapeutics's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VKTX#NYSE">VKTX</a>) short percent of float has risen 10.94% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 16.86 million shares sold short, which is 20.48% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 3.17 days to cover their short positions on average.
<h3>Why Short Interest Matters</h3>
Short interest is the number of shares that have been sold short but have not yet been covered or closed out. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-short-a-stock/">Short selling</a> is when a trader sells shares of a company they do not own, with the hope that the price will fall. Traders make money from short selling if the price of the stock falls and they lose if it rises.
Short interest is important to track because it can act as an indicator of market sentiment towards a particular stock. An increase in short interest can signal that investors have become more bearish, while a decrease in short interest can signal they have become more bullish.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/short-interest">List of the most shorted stocks</a>
<h3>Viking Therapeutics Short Interest Graph (3 Months)</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1724261416_0.png" alt="short_fig" />
As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for Viking Therapeutics has grown since its last report. This does not mean that the stock is going to fall in the near-term but traders should be aware that more shares are being shorted.
<h3>Comparing Viking Therapeutics's Short Interest Against Its Peers</h3>
Peer comparison is a popular technique amongst analysts and investors for gauging how well a company is performing. A company's peer is another company that has similar characteristics to it, such as industry, size, age, and financial structure. You can find a company's peer group by reading its 10-K, proxy filing, or by doing your own similarity analysis.
According to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/">Benzinga Pro</a>, Viking Therapeutics's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 12.78%, which means the company has more short interest than most of its peers.
Did you know that increasing short interest can actually be bullish for a stock? <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-make-money-on-a-short-squeeze/">This post by Benzinga Money explains how you can profit from it.</a>
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and was reviewed by an editor.

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(VKTX) - Analyzing Viking Therapeutics's Short Interest

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Press Releases

Viking Therapeutics Reports First Quarter 2024 Financial Results and Provides Corporate Update

Ligand Reports First Quarter 2024 Financial Results

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Viking Therapeutics to Participate at Upcoming Investor Conferences

Viking Therapeutics Announces Positive 52-Week Histologic Data from Phase 2b VOYAGE Study of VK2809 in Patients with Biopsy-Confirmed Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH)

Viking Therapeutics Presents Preclinical Data on Novel Dual Amylin and Calcitonin Receptor Agonists at 84th Scientific Sessions of the American Diabetes Association

Viking Therapeutics to Report Financial Results for Second Quarter 2024 on July 24, 2024

Viking Therapeutics Reports Second Quarter 2024 Financial Results and Provides Corporate Update

Ligand Reports Second Quarter 2024 Financial Results

Viking Therapeutics to Participate at Morgan Stanley 22nd Annual Global Healthcare Conference

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Viking Therapeutics

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월요일, 7월 29, 2024

목요일, 7월 25, 2024

목요일, 7월 04, 2024

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