IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER: Blank Capital Research ("BCR") is a technology platform, not a registered investment advisor or broker-dealer. The algorithmically generated signals, scores, and rankings provided on this site ("God Mode" Signals) are for informational and research purposes only and do not constitute financial advice, investment recommendations, or an offer to sell or solicit an offer to buy any securities.
HYPOTHETICAL PERFORMANCE RESULTS: The "timing scores" and "regime signals" displayed are based on quantitative models. Hypothetical or simulated performance results have certain inherent limitations. Unlike an actual performance record, simulated results do not represent actual trading. Also, since the trades have not actually been executed, the results may have under-or-over compensated for the impact, if any, of certain market factors, such as lack of liquidity.
RISK OF LOSS: Trading in financial markets involves a high degree of risk and may result in the loss of your entire investment. Data provided by third-party sources (Intrinio, Snowflake) is believed to be reliable but is not guaranteed for accuracy or completeness. Past performance is not indicative of future results.
© 2026 Blank Capital Research. All rights reserved. System Version: Aegis V8 (God Mode).
Verdict
Quantitative factor alignment verified for current market regime.
Quant Score
Rank
#4331
Positioning
Market Dominance
Manufacturing
Pharmaceutical Products
$3.0B
Brian Lian
Viking Therapeutics, Inc., a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, focuses on the development of novel therapies for metabolic and endocrine disorders. The company's lead drug candidate is VK2809, an orally available tissue and receptor-subtype selective agonist of the thyroid hormone receptor beta (TRß), which is in Phase IIb clinical trials to treat patients with biopsy-confirmed non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, as well as NAFLD. It also develops VK5211, an orally available non-steroidal selective androgen receptor modulator that is in Phase II clinical trials for the treatment of patients recovering from non-elective hip fracture surgery; VK0612, an orally available Phase IIb-ready drug candidate for type 2 diabetes; VK2735, a novel dual agonist of the glucagon-like peptide, which is in Phase 1 SAD/MAD clinical trial, and VK0214, an orally available tissue and receptor-subtype selective agonist of the TRß for X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy. The company was incorporated in 2012 and is headquartered in San Diego, California.
Headcount
20
Get full access to institutional-quality research tools with Blank Capital Pro.
Upgrade to ProStarting at $19.99/mo
Get full access to institutional-quality research tools with Blank Capital Pro.
Upgrade to ProStarting at $19.99/mo
Get full access to institutional-quality research tools with Blank Capital Pro.
Upgrade to ProStarting at $19.99/mo
Get full access to institutional-quality research tools with Blank Capital Pro.
Upgrade to ProStarting at $19.99/mo
Get full access to institutional-quality research tools with Blank Capital Pro.
Upgrade to ProStarting at $19.99/mo
| Stock | Rating | Score▼ | Quality | Value | Momentum | P/E | EV/EBITDA | ROE | ROA | Gross Mgn | Op Mgn | Net Mgn | Rev Growth | Div Yield | D/E | Mkt Cap | AUDIT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
$UL UNILEVER PLC | 78 | 96 | 98 | 59 | - | - | 28.5% | 8.0% | 100.0% | 100.0% | 10.4% | -4.6% | 3.3% | 0.0x | $141.8B | VS | |
$ASML ASML HOLDING NV | 77 | 89 | 86 | 83 | - | - | 46.1% | 16.6% | 51.3% | 31.9% | 26.8% | -4.0% | 1.0% | 25.0x | $272.1B | VS | |
$ESLT ELBIT SYSTEMS LTD | 76 | 81 | 87 | 85 | - | - | 10.3% | 3.1% | 24.1% | 7.2% | 4.7% | 14.3% | 0.8% | 25.0x | $11.4B | VS | |
$MT ArcelorMittal | 75 | 71 | 98 | 85 | - | - | 2.2% | 1.5% | 9.3% | 5.3% | 2.2% | -8.5% | 2.2% | 16.0x | $18.9B | VS | |
$AMAT APPLIED MATERIALS INC /DE | 75 | 85 | 87 | 84 | 20.9x | 13.6x | 35.5% | 19.8% | 48.7% | 29.2% | 24.7% | 4.4% | 0.8% | 32.0x | $181.9B | VS | |
$SIMO Silicon Motion Technology CORP | 75 | 84 | 86 | 85 | - | - | 11.8% | 8.8% | 45.9% | 11.3% | 11.1% | 25.7% | 3.7% | 0.0x | $1.8B | VS | |
$CODA Coda Octopus Group, Inc. | 74 | 83 | 90 | 79 | 16.3x | 11.9x | 7.6% | 7.0% | 66.5% | 17.1% | 15.6% | 39.0% | 0.0% | 0.0x | $115M | VS | |
$GSK GSK plc | 74 | 84 | 90 | 70 | - | - | 22.6% | 4.9% | 71.2% | 12.8% | 9.4% | 1.7% | 5.9% | 124.0x | $72.1B | VS | |
$EFXT Enerflex Ltd. | 74 | 80 | 91 | 83 | - | - | 3.0% | 1.1% | 20.9% | 7.3% | 1.3% | 3.0% | 0.9% | 67.0x | $1.2B | VS | |
$BUD Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV | 74 | 84 | 97 | 63 | - | - | 8.2% | 3.5% | 55.3% | 25.9% | 12.4% | 0.7% | 1.7% | 0.0x | $87.0B | VS | |
$VKTX Viking Therapeutics, Inc. | 33 | 28 | 38 | 34 | - | - | -35.5% | -31.7% | - | - | - | - | 0.0% | 12.0x | $3.0B | ||
| SECTOR BENCH | - | - | - | - | - | 22.3x | 11.5x | -2.5% | -0.1% | 42.5% | 1.3% | -0.2% | 5.9% | 0.0% | 0.2x | - | REF |
Viking Therapeutics, Inc. (VKTX) receives a "Avoid" rating with a composite score of 32.5/100. It ranks #4331 out of 7,333 stocks in our coverage universe and carries a 1-star rating. Ratings are driven by a 6-factor quantitative model measuring quality, value, momentum, investment, stability, and short interest.
Sign in to join the discussion.
Equity capital efficiency
Asset base utilization
Financial leverage load
Direct cash return
Brian Lian
Chief Executive Officer
Labor Force
20
28
25
40
Audit Verdict: Lower quality and stability scores may indicate governance concerns.
No recent insider transactions available for VKTX
HQ Base
SAN DIEGO, California
Lagging peers — losers tend to keep underperforming
Fair valuation relative to peers
Weak fundamentals — higher risk of value trap
Average volatility — neutral timing signal
Aggressive spending — empire-building risk, dilutive growth
Below-average composite — caution warranted
Get full access to institutional-quality research tools with Blank Capital Pro.
Upgrade to ProStarting at $19.99/mo
Relative valuation derived from Manufacturing sector benchmarks. Model weights: EV/EBITDA (40%), P/B (35%), P/S (25%). Re-calculated daily.
No analyst ratings for VKTX.
View All RatingsInsufficient data for Financial Analysis
ROE proxy -35.5% (sector -2.5%)
GM N/A vs sector 43%, OM N/A vs sector 1%
Capital turnover N/A
Rev growth N/A, 10yr history
Interest coverage N/A
Composite assessment of profitability, capital efficiency, and financial strength. Top-tier entities demonstrate sustainable cash flow generation and elite competitive moats.
Profit generated per dollar of shareholder equity
Efficiency of asset utilization
Pricing power and cost efficiency
Core business profitability
Bottom-line profitability
The Quality factor evaluates the persistence and magnitude of realized cash flows. Companies with scores >70 exhibit superior pricing power and structural financial resilience through diverse economic regimes.
Our uncertainty rating tracks the predictability of future cash flows and potential for permanent capital loss. Moderate visibility with standard industry cyclicality.
Our quantitative model flags Viking Therapeutics, Inc. with an Avoid rating, assigning a composite score of 32.5/100 and 1 out of 5 stars. Ranked #4331 of 7,333 stocks, VKTX falls in the bottom tier across key factors. Historically, stocks with this profile have faced elevated risk of underperformance and capital loss.
VKTX's quality score of 28/100 is below average, suggesting challenges with profitability or capital efficiency. The company reports a return on equity of -35.5% (sector avg: -2.5%). Investors should examine whether management is actively addressing these weaknesses or if they reflect structural industry headwinds.
With a value score of 38/100, VKTX appears somewhat expensive relative to its fundamentals. Key valuation metrics include a P/B ratio of 5.61x. Investors paying a premium here are likely betting on above-average growth or margin expansion to justify current prices.
Viking Therapeutics, Inc.'s investment score of 25/100 suggests limited reinvestment activity. Key growth metrics include a return on assets of -31.7% (sector: -0.1%). While this can be positive for mature, cash-generative businesses returning capital to shareholders, it may also signal a lack of growth opportunities or management conservatism.
VKTX is currently showing below-average momentum at 34/100, which may indicate weakening institutional interest or negative sentiment shifts. Revenue growth data is not currently available, while a beta of 1.46 reflects its sensitivity to broader market moves. Investors should note that declining momentum can precede further price weakness, though contrarian opportunities sometimes emerge at these levels.
VKTX's stability score of 40/100 signals elevated volatility and/or leverage concerns. Key stability metrics include a beta of 1.46 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 12.00x (sector avg: 0.2x). Investors should be prepared for wider-than-average price swings and consider position sizing accordingly to manage portfolio risk.
Viking Therapeutics, Inc.'s short interest score of 21/100 reveals significant bearish positioning, suggesting institutional investors are actively betting against the stock. Specific risk factors include above-average market sensitivity (beta: 1.46), elevated leverage (D/E: 12.00x). At $3.0B (mid-cap), VKTX carries meaningful risk and is best suited for investors with high risk tolerance who have thoroughly evaluated the bear thesis.
Viking Therapeutics, Inc. is a mid-cap company in the Manufacturing sector, ranked #0 of 50 in its sector (100th percentile) and #4331 of 7,333 overall (41st percentile). Key comparisons include ROE of -35.5% trailing the -2.5% sector median. This top-quartile standing reflects exceptional competitive strength relative to Manufacturing peers.
While VKTX currently exhibits a AVOID profile, superior opportunities exist within the MANUFACTURING sector. Our model identifies several "Strong Buy" candidates with higher quality scores and more attractive valuations among direct industry competitors.
View Top Manufacturing Alpha →Quant Factor Profile
Upgrade catalyst
Improvement in Short Int. (21) would have the largest impact on the composite score.
ROE 1332% ABOVE SECTOR MEDIAN (FAVORABLE)
Debt/Equity 5900% ABOVE SECTOR MEDIAN
Div. Yield NaN% BELOW SECTOR MEDIAN
AUDIT DATA AS OF SEP 30, 2025 (Q2 FY2025)
We rate Viking Therapeutics, Inc. (VKTX) as Avoid with a composite score of 32.5/100 at a current price of $33.73. The stock falls in the bottom quintile of our universe across key quantitative factors, and the multi-factor weakness suggests a high probability of continued underperformance.
The rating is primarily driven by strength in stability (40th percentile) and value (38th percentile), which together account for the majority of the composite score. Offsetting weakness in investment (25th percentile) and quality (28th percentile) tempers our overall conviction. We assign a No Moat rating (17/100), High uncertainty, and Poor capital allocation.
Key items to watch: momentum to confirm whether the current price trend has legs. Any material change in these dynamics could warrant a reassessment of our rating. The moat trend is stable, which suggests the competitive landscape is stable for now.
Viking Therapeutics, Inc. holds a top-quartile position (#0 of 50) within the Manufacturing sector, based on our composite quantitative scoring across quality, value, momentum, and stability factors. The composite score of 32.5/100 places it at rank #4331 in our full 7,333-stock universe. At $3.0B in market capitalization, Viking Therapeutics, Inc. is a mid-cap player in the Manufacturing space, which limits certain scale advantages but may allow for more agile strategic execution.
Momentum indicators (34th percentile) suggest caution regarding the near-term price trend. Revenue growth data is unavailable, limiting our ability to confirm whether momentum is fundamentally supported.
Margin data is not available for Viking Therapeutics, Inc., which limits our assessment of the company's cost structure and operating efficiency. We rely on factor-based signals to infer business quality in the absence of detailed margin data.
At a current price of $33.73, Viking Therapeutics, Inc. is trading at a premium to fundamental value. Our value factor score of 38/100 reflects a composite assessment across multiple valuation metrics including price-to-earnings, price-to-book, EV/EBITDA, and price-to-sales ratios relative to both sector peers and the broader market. The premium valuation implies the market is pricing in significant future growth or quality improvements that are not yet fully reflected in current fundamentals.
The stock currently trades at P/B of 5.6x. We evaluate these multiples in the context of both absolute levels and sector-relative positioning to form our valuation view.
A conservative balance sheet (12% D/E) provides financial flexibility for acquisitions, buybacks, or weathering economic downturns without dilution.
The Avoid rating (composite 32.5/100) reflects multi-factor weakness, and historically, stocks in this scoring range have underperformed the market by a meaningful margin.
Weak momentum (34th percentile) suggests institutional selling pressure and unfavorable technical dynamics that may persist.
Below-average quality (28th percentile) raises durability concerns about the fundamental profile and increases the risk of negative earnings surprises.
High beta of 1.46 means amplified losses in market selloffs — in a broad market correction, this stock would likely decline more than the index.
We assign a High uncertainty rating to Viking Therapeutics, Inc.. Key risk factors include elevated market sensitivity (beta of 1.46), below-average price stability (40th percentile), weak quality scores (28th percentile). The wide range of potential outcomes widens our fair value estimate and increases the possibility of permanent capital impairment. Investors considering this name should size positions accordingly and demand a meaningful margin of safety before initiating.
Specific risk factors that inform our assessment include: elevated market sensitivity (beta of 1.46); below-average price stability (40th percentile); weak quality scores (28th percentile). Each of these factors independently widens the distribution of potential outcomes, and in combination they create a risk profile that demands careful position sizing. The stability factor at the 40th percentile and quality factor at the 28th percentile provide a quantitative summary of the overall risk landscape.
Key risk mitigants include: conservative leverage (12% D/E) limits balance sheet risk. These factors partially offset the identified risks and provide downside protection in adverse scenarios. On balance, the risk-reward profile warrants caution and disciplined position management.
We rate Viking Therapeutics, Inc.'s capital allocation as Poor. Key concerns include low returns on equity (-35.5%), weak asset returns (ROA -31.7%). Exemplary capital allocators generate ROE above 20% and maintain conservative leverage — Viking Therapeutics, Inc. significantly underperforms these benchmarks, raising questions about management's ability to create shareholder value.
Investors should scrutinize management's reinvestment decisions and balance sheet trajectory before committing capital. Poor capital allocation often compounds over time: overlevered balance sheets limit strategic flexibility, while low returns on capital destroy shareholder value. We would need to see sustained improvement in profitability metrics and balance sheet discipline before considering an upgrade.
In summary, Viking Therapeutics, Inc. receives a Avoid rating with a composite score of 32.5/100 (rank #4331 of 7,333). Our quantitative framework assigns a No Moat (17/100, trend: stable), High uncertainty, and Poor capital allocation. The average factor score across quality, value, momentum, stability, and investment is 33/100.
Our analysis does not support a constructive view on Viking Therapeutics, Inc. at this time. The combination of limited competitive advantages, high uncertainty, and poor capital allocation suggests unfavorable risk-reward at current levels. We recommend investors avoid new positions and existing holders consider reducing exposure.
Analysis derived from Blank Capital Research quantitative terminal. For informational purposes only. No trade solicitation. Past performance not indicative of future results. Consult a qualified advisor.
We do not assign Viking Therapeutics, Inc. a meaningful economic moat, scoring 17/100 on our composite assessment. Current fundamentals do not demonstrate the kind of durable competitive advantages — such as superior returns on invested capital, margin superiority, or reinvestment efficiency — that would protect the company from competitive erosion over the long term. The highest-scoring pillar, margin superiority, reached only 10/20.
The strongest moat sources are margin superiority (10/20) and financial resilience (6.6/20). GM N/A vs sector 43%, OM N/A vs sector 1%. Interest coverage N/A. These pillars form the core of Viking Therapeutics, Inc.'s competitive identity and are the primary drivers of excess returns in our framework.
Areas of relative weakness include reinvestment efficiency (0/20) and growth durability (0/20). Capital turnover N/A. Improvement in these areas could meaningfully widen the moat over time, while deterioration would be an early warning of competitive erosion.
Our moat trend assessment is Stable. Multi-year ROIC and operating margin trajectories show neither meaningful improvement nor deterioration, suggesting the competitive position is steady. We expect Viking Therapeutics, Inc.'s moat profile to remain largely unchanged absent a material shift in return on capital or industry dynamics.
Key profit drivers are not clearly identifiable from current fundamentals. This may reflect a company in transition, a cyclical downturn, or structural challenges in the business model. We assign a quality factor of 28/100 which further underscores our concern regarding earnings sustainability.
Return metrics include ROE of -35.5% and ROA of -31.7%. Relative to the Manufacturing sector, sector comparison data is limited, and ROE of -35.5% compares to a sector median of -2.5%.
The balance sheet reflects a conservatively managed balance sheet with D/E of 12%. The sector median D/E is 0%, putting Viking Therapeutics, Inc. at higher leverage than the typical peer. Overall balance sheet health is adequate for the current business environment.
Above 50MA
37.18%
Net New Highs
+51081
The healthcare sector is divided. We analyze 10 high-conviction small-cap opportunities with 30-50% upside, featuring Viking Therapeutics and Hims & Hers.
Good morning. We're covering the quiet rally in regional banks, the earnings surprise in Memphis, and the logic behind the "soft landing."
The article recommends Pfizer and Viking Therapeutics as attractive stocks to buy under $40, citing their underperformance in 2025 as a buying opportunity. Pfizer is highlighted for its deep drug pipeline including promising cancer medicine PF-4404 and weight management asset MET-097i, plus a tariff exemption deal. Viking Therapeutics, a riskier clinical-stage biotech, is noted for its promising weight-loss candidate VK2735 in phase 3 trials with an oral version in development.
A potential competitive threat to Viking's phase 3 weight-loss drug VK2735 was just dealt a major blow.
The global health and wellness sector is projected to reach $6 trillion in annual consumer spending in 2026, driven by demand for functional products and stricter clean-label regulations. Five companies are capitalizing on this trend: Doseology Sciences launched caffeine-based energy pouches; Amneal Pharmaceuticals introduced a new brand identity and plans an Accessibility Index; Prestige Consumer Healthcare expanded its dry eye care portfolio; Viking Therapeutics advanced its obesity drug portfolio with Phase 3 trials; and Insulet expanded its automated insulin delivery system to the Middle East.