Viking Therapeutics' stock surged 8.30% in after-hours trading following the release of its fourth quarter and full-year 2025 financial results. The biopharmaceutical company reported wider losses than analysts expected, but investors focused instead on promising updates across its clinical development pipeline.

The company reported a Q4 net loss of $157.7 million, or $1.38 per share, missing analyst estimates of a $101.6 million loss and $0.89 per share loss respectively. The increased losses were primarily driven by higher research and development expenses, which rose to $153.5 million from $31.0 million in the same period last year due to accelerated clinical trial activities.

Despite the earnings miss, Viking provided several positive updates that drove investor optimism. The company announced plans to advance its oral VK2735 formulation into Phase 3 trials for obesity in the third quarter of 2026, while its Phase 3 VANQUISH trials for subcutaneous VK2735 continue with strong enrollment progress. Additionally, the company's VK2735 maintenance dosing study is fully enrolled with data expected in 3Q26, and Viking plans to file an IND for its novel amylin agonist this quarter. The company also reported a strong cash position of $706 million at year-end, providing ample resources to advance its pipeline.