Viking Therapeutics (VKTX) Pops as Canaccord Nudges Price Target to $107; Stifel Conference Buzz & Fresh ObesityWeek® Data

12 November 2025

Analyst move today: Canaccord Genuity raised its VKTX price target to $107 while reiterating Buy, citing continued confidence in the obesity pipeline. ^[1]
Shares near $40 intraday as investors parse conference commentary and recent data; see live chart below. ^[2]
Clinical update (Nov 6): At ObesityWeek® 2025, Viking reported exploratory VENTURE trial analyses showing 78% of prediabetics on VK2735 shifted to normoglycemia (vs 29% placebo) and 68% resolved metabolic syndrome (vs 38% placebo); prior subcutaneous data showed up to 14.7% mean weight loss at 13 weeks. ^[3]
This week’s agenda: Management is on the road at Stifel’s 2025 Healthcare Conference (Nov 11–13, New York), following AHA Scientific Sessions (Nov 7–10). ^[4]
Context: August oral VK2735 readout (up to 12.2% weight loss at 13 weeks) triggered a sharp selloff on safety/tolerability concerns; the company is adjusting study designs and running a maintenance‑dosing study. ^[5]

What’s new today (Nov. 12)

Canaccord bumps target to $107. Before the open, Canaccord Genuity’s Edward Nash inched his VKTX target up by $1 to $107 and kept a Buy rating, framing Viking as a high‑quality obesity asset. The update follows Canaccord’s October initiation and comes as investors digest Stifel conference commentary and the latest clinical posters. ^[6]

Stock check. VKTX traded around the low‑$40s today as conference headlines and sell‑side notes hit the tape. (See the live chart above; for a public quote page, Reuters lists VKTX real‑time pricing and ranges.) ^[7]

Fund‑flow tidbits. 13F‑driven headlines this morning highlighted Midwest Trust taking a new VKTX position and Connor Clark & Lunn trimming holdings. These items typically reflect prior‑quarter positions and aren’t real‑time trades but offer a view into institutional interest. ^[8]

Conference calendar: why this week matters

Viking is on stage at the Stifel 2025 Healthcare Conference in New York (Nov 11–13) with a fireside chat slotted yesterday (Nov 11, 4:40–5:10 p.m. ET) and 1×1 meetings. The appearance follows posters at AHA Scientific Sessions (Nov 7–10) outlining the design of VANQUISH‑2 (subcutaneous VK2735 in patients with obesity + type 2 diabetes). Expect investor questions on Phase 3 enrollment cadence, maintenance dosing, and oral vs. injectable positioning. ^[9]

The latest clinical signal: ObesityWeek® 2025 (Nov. 6)

At The Obesity Society’s annual meeting, Viking spotlighted exploratory analyses from the Phase 2 VENTURE trial (subcutaneous VK2735, 13 weeks):

Prediabetes:78% of VK2735‑treated patients shifted to normoglycemia vs 29% on placebo (p=0.0008).
Metabolic syndrome:68% of VK2735‑treated patients no longer met MetS criteria vs 38% placebo (p=0.02).
Weight loss context: Prior VENTURE data showed up to 14.7% mean body‑weight reduction at 13 weeks, with up to 88% of patients achieving ≥10% loss; 92% of drug‑related adverse events were mild or moderate. ^[10]

These cardiometabolic readouts help investors look beyond the scale to potential glycemic and cardiovascular‑risk benefits—useful when comparing against rival incretin programs. ^[11]

Pipeline snapshot & near‑term milestones

VK2735 (subcutaneous): Two Phase 3 trials (VANQUISH‑1 in adults with obesity/overweight; VANQUISH‑2 in obesity + type 2 diabetes) are underway, each assessing percent weight change at 78 weeks with weekly dosing. Enrollment is progressing; Viking guided to completing VANQUISH‑1 enrollment by year‑end 2025 and VANQUISH‑2 in 1Q26. ^[12]
VK2735 (oral): After the August 19 Phase 2 readout (up to 12.2% mean weight loss at 13 weeks but higher discontinuations and GI AEs), Viking is pursuing strategies (e.g., lower starts and slower titration) and running a Phase 1 maintenance‑dosing study that swaps patients from injections to various oral/SC maintenance regimens. Top‑line maintenance data are expected mid‑2026. ^[13]
Balance sheet: Viking ended Q3 with $715M in cash, supporting VK2735 through the Phase 3 program and work on next‑wave assets, including an amylin agonist IND planned for 1Q26. ^[14]

How Wall Street is positioned

Fresh call today: Canaccord to $107 (Buy). ^[15]
Consensus snapshot: Aggregators show an average 12‑month target near the high‑$80s–low‑$90s with a wide range ($30 to $125), reflecting disagreement after August’s pill data. ^[16]

Why the stock still swings

On Aug. 19, VKTX fell >30% after the oral VK2735 mid‑stage readout: efficacy impressed (up to 12.2% at 13 weeks) but discontinuations and GI AEs were higher than hoped, a reminder that long‑term tolerability and dose‑escalation strategy will be central to the oral pill’s commercial viability. Today’s incremental target raise and ObesityWeek cardiometabolic signals show how quickly sentiment can reset around new data and timelines. ^[17]

VKTX at a glance (fast facts)

Focus: Incretin‑based obesity program VK2735 (SC and oral); Phase 3 underway (SC). ^[18]
Upcoming catalysts: Conference circuit through November; VANQUISH‑1 enrollment finish targeted for Q4 2025; maintenance‑dosing readout mid‑2026. ^[19]
Recent cardiometabolic data: Prediabetes → normoglycemia 78% (vs 29% placebo); MetS resolution 68% (vs 38% placebo) at Week 13. ^[20]

Editorial note

This article is for information purposes only and not investment advice. Always do your own research and consider consulting a licensed financial advisor.

Sources

Canaccord raises VKTX target to $107; rating Buy (StreetInsider; TheFly/TipRanks; Investing.com). ^[21]
ObesityWeek® 2025 VK2735 cardiometabolic analyses and prior VENTURE weight‑loss results (Viking IR/PR). ^[22]
Stifel 2025 Healthcare Conference participation details (Viking IR). ^[23]
Q3 2025 corporate update: Phase 3 designs, enrollment targets, maintenance study, cash balance (Viking IR). ^[24]
Aug. 19 oral VK2735 readout and market reaction (Reuters). ^[25]
Analyst consensus snapshots (MarketBeat; StockAnalysis). ^[26]
13F‑related institutional flow headlines (MarketBeat). ^[27]

Mizuho's Jared Holz talks Viking Therapeutics' massive stock drop on obesity pill data

Watch this video on YouTube.

References

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Mateusz Kaczmarek Latest posts

A technology and finance expert writing for TS2.tech. He analyzes developments in satellites, telecommunications, and artificial intelligence, with a focus on their impact on global markets. Author of industry reports and market commentary, often cited in tech and business media. Passionate about innovation and the digital economy.

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