Got $5,000? Viking Therapeutics Might Be a Weight‑Loss Drug Moon Shot in the Making.

By Prosper Junior Bakiny – Feb 23, 2026 at 8:30PM ESTKey PointsViking Therapeutics' leading candidate posted strong mid-stage data and is undergoing phase 3 studies.Though there are some risks, the stock could soar if it can pass the upcoming clinical and regulatory hurdles.We’re bullish on these 10 stocks ›NASDAQ: VKTXViking TherapeuticsMarket Cap$3.6BToday's Changeangle-down(10.67%) $3.31Current Price$34.34Price as of February 23, 2026 at 3:58 PM ETIs this the best way to cash in on the weight-loss gold rush?If you're looking to capitalize on the rapidly growing market for weight loss drugs, you can do so in different ways. One strategy is to invest in companies like Eli Lilly or Novo Nordisk that already dominate this space. Another is to target smaller biotechs looking to disrupt this niche over the next five to 10 years. The second approach is riskier, but arguably offers more upside potential. If you can stomach the risk and volatility, putting $5,000 (that you're not saving for emergencies) into a smaller weight-loss-focused drugmaker like Viking Therapeutics (VKTX +10.67%) could lead to outstanding returns over the next decade. Image source: Getty Images.

Why Viking Therapeutics? According to one estimate, 277 obesity-drug candidates were in development as of mid-2025. Most will likely never earn approval. The majority of medicines that enter the clinic never do, and that's true across every therapeutic area. Here's another known trend: the probability of success rises dramatically as new compounds move into later stages of development. Many of those weight-loss candidates are in preclinical or phase 1 clinical trials. Viking Therapeutics' leading weight-loss therapy, a GLP-1 medicine called VK2735, is already in phase 3 clinical trials. That doesn't guarantee approval, but it makes it far more likely than if the candidate were still just in phase 1. ExpandNASDAQ: VKTXViking TherapeuticsToday's Change(10.67%) $3.31Current Price$34.34Key Data PointsMarket Cap$3.6BDay's Range$32.60 - $35.6752wk Range$18.92 - $43.15Volume179KAvg Vol3M VK2735's mid-stage results were strong; few drugmakers have posted phase 2 results of this caliber. Viking is developing VK2735 in both subcutaneous and oral formulations, and is exploring different combinations to help patients keep the weight off after they lose it, a challenge in the pharmaceutical industry. Viking Therapeutics' promising leading candidate and multipronged approach says a lot about the company. If it can execute nearly flawlessly by posting strong phase 3 results for VK2735 and earning approval for the medicine in both formulations, it could carve out a niche for itself in this large and rapidly expanding market. That could lead to excellent financial results and superior stock-market returns over the next 10 years. Things to keep in mind Could Viking's stock skyrocket in the coming years? Yes. But keep in mind that if it does encounter clinical or regulatory setbacks, the stock could also sink. And now that the weight-loss market is becoming even more competitive, a clinical success could be a commercial failure. Viking Therapeutics' VK2735 needs to pass phase 3 studies with flying colors to have a chance at making a serious dent in the market and at sending the company's shares to the moon. That's a fairly high bar. And that's why you should consider investing $5,000 in the stock only if you have above-average risk tolerance.Read NextFeb 23, 2026 •By James BrumleyWhy Viking Therapeutics Stock Is Up More Than 9% TodayFeb 23, 2026 •By Adria Cimino3 Reasons Viking Therapeutics Stock Could 10X if Its Obesity Pipeline SucceedsFeb 19, 2026 •By James BrumleyIs Viking Therapeutics Stock Really Going to $125?Feb 17, 2026 •By Adria Cimino2026 Could Be a Big Year for Viking Therapeutics. Time to Buy?Feb 11, 2026 •By Adria CiminoViking Therapeutics: The Under‑the‑Radar GLP‑1 Contender Growth Hunters Can't IgnoreFeb 10, 2026 •By Prosper Junior BakinyMissed Out on Eli Lilly? 2 Healthcare Stocks With Big Catalysts on the Horizon.About the AuthorProsper Junior Bakiny is a contributing Motley Fool healthcare analyst covering biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, and healthcare stocks.

Before The Motley Fool, Prosper wrote about investing topics ranging from stock market news to private equity for various companies. He holds a master’s degree in corporate finance from the University of Maryland Global Campus.TMFPBakinyStocks MentionedViking TherapeuticsNASDAQ: VKTX$34.34 (+10.67%) $+3.31Eli LillyNYSE: LLY$1058.56 (+4.86%) $+49.04Novo NordiskNYSE: NVO$39.67 (16.33%) $7.75*Average returns of all recommendations since inception. Cost basis and return based on previous market day close.