Viking Therapeutics (NASDAQ:VKTX) Reports Q3 2025 Earnings Miss and 2.8% After-Hours Decline

Financial Results Overview

VIKING THERAPEUTICS INC (NASDAQ:VKTX) reported its third quarter 2025 financial results after market close on October 22, 2025. The clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company posted results that largely aligned with revenue expectations but fell short on earnings per share. The market reaction in after-hours trading showed a decline of approximately 2.8%, suggesting investor disappointment with the earnings miss despite the lack of revenue surprise.

Earnings and Revenue Performance

The company's financial performance for Q3 2025 revealed mixed results compared to analyst expectations:

• Revenue: Reported $0.0 million versus estimates of $0.0 million
• Earnings Per Share (Non-GAAP): Reported -$0.81 per share versus estimates of -$0.69 per share

The earnings miss of approximately $0.12 per share represents a significant deviation from expectations, particularly for a company at this stage of development where operational expenses relative to expectations are closely monitored by investors. The lack of revenue was anticipated, consistent with Viking's status as a pre-commercial entity focused entirely on research and development.

Corporate Developments and Clinical Progress

Beyond the financial figures, the company's corporate update highlighted continued progress in its clinical pipeline. The most significant development noted was that the Phase 3 VANQUISH trials for subcutaneous VK2735 in obesity are proceeding on schedule. This program represents one of Viking's most advanced assets and a key value driver for the company. The maintenance of this timeline is crucial for investor confidence in the company's ability to advance its lead candidate toward potential regulatory submission and commercialization.

Market Reaction and Context

The immediate negative market reaction appears directly tied to the earnings per share miss. For development-stage biopharmaceutical companies like Viking Therapeutics, cash burn rates and how long their financial resources will support operations are critical metrics. An earnings miss can signal higher-than-expected operational spending, which may accelerate the timeline for future capital raises that could dilute existing shareholders. The stock's performance leading into the earnings report had been positive, with gains of approximately 32% over the past month, which may have created elevated expectations heading into the earnings release.

Forward-Looking Estimates

Analyst projections for the company's future performance reflect its ongoing clinical-stage status:

• Q4 2025 Revenue Estimate: $0.0 million
• Q4 2025 EPS Estimate: -$0.74 per share
• Full Year 2025 Revenue Estimate: $0.0 million
• Full Year 2025 EPS Estimate: -$2.47 per share

The press release did not provide specific financial guidance for future periods, which is typical for companies at this development stage. The absence of forward guidance neither adds to nor detracts from the analyst estimates currently available.

For more detailed earnings information and analyst estimates, visit the Viking Therapeutics earnings page.

Disclaimer: This article presents factual information based on publicly available data and is not intended as investment advice. All investment decisions should be based on your own research, financial circumstances, and risk tolerance.