Viking Therapeutics, Inc. Stock News

A major C-suite change at a potential competitor was a key factor behind the rise of Viking Therapeutics (VKTX 3.61%) stock on Friday, which closed the trading session 3% higher. That figure was well higher than the 0.7% increase of the benchmark S&P 500 index.

Investing in promising companies before their stock prices soar is an excellent recipe for earning life-changing returns. However, with hundreds of companies vying for investors' attention, separating the wheat from the chaff can be challenging.

Think of some of the biggest and most successful stocks on the market. Now, go back 20 or 30 years.

One of the best catalysts for a stock's rise is the withdrawal of a rival. That was an important dynamic behind the double-digit-percentage rise of biotech Viking Therapeutics' (VKTX 0.32%) stock in April.

Viking Therapeutics (VKTX 2.85%), a biotech that has shot to prominence thanks to a weight-loss drug it is developing, was a winning stock this week. Over the course of the past five trading days, its price rose by almost 18%, according to data compiled by S&P Global Market Intelligence.

Positive jobs news and positive rumors out of China are lifting stock markets today, as the U.S. Labor Department reports adjusted nonfarm payrolls grew by 177,000 jobs in April, and CNBC reports that China may be "evaluating the possibility of starting trade negotiations" that could abbreviate a trade war with the U.S.

The pharmaceutical and biotechnology business tends to be about hitting home runs more than just getting on base. A highly successful drug, sometimes referred to as a blockbuster, can build up a small developer into a mainstream competitor.

Viking Therapeutics (VKTX 3.44%) was one of the hottest biotech stocks of 2024; its shares soared last year following excellent clinical progress. However, things have been very different in 2025, at least so far: Its stock is down by 35% year to date due to a combination of factors.