Shares of the metabolic disease specialist Viking Therapeutics (NASDAQ: VKTX) were up by 6.6% on slightly below-average volume as of 1:56 p.m. ET Wednesday afternoon. The biotech's stock is heating up in response to a positive take by the private investment bank Roth Capital Partners.

The firm initiated coverage today on Viking's stock, rolling out a $32 per-share price target on the biotech in the process. This notable 12-month price target implies a hefty upside potential of 55% relative to Tuesday's close. 

Roth's stately price target isn't the only reason investors are piling into the biotech today. The firm also stated that its lead product candidates in obesity (VK2735) and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) (VK2809) sport favorable clinical profiles that bode well for their long-term success.

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Source Fool.com