In this article, we will be taking a look at the 12 best weight loss stocks to buy according to hedge funds.
The Revolution in Obesity Treatment: Opportunities and Challenges of GLP-1 Medications
Most people have at some point sought to include weight loss and physical exercise in their daily life. The weight loss and fitness market is quite substantial worldwide since improving one’s fitness can have direct physical and psychological benefits. Over one billion people worldwide—650 million adults, 340 million adolescents, and 39 million children—are obese, according to the WHO. A novel class of weight-loss medications that don’t include strict exercise regimens or diets seems to be revolutionary. People who are overweight or obese can lose 15% to 20% of their body weight with the aid of these ground-breaking medications. According to Andy Acker, portfolio manager at Janus Henderson Investors, “This may be the largest opportunity we’ve ever seen in the pharmaceutical industry.” Weight-loss medications are undoubtedly well-liked. Investors are drawing comparisons between the leader in artificial intelligence chips and the US pioneer in weight-loss drugs.
Given this increase in demand, Morgan Stanley Research has raised its forecast for the worldwide obesity medication market from $77 billion to $105 billion by 2030. Branded obesity medications brought approximately $6 billion in 2023.
According to Forbes, the most prescribed Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 GLP-1 agonist in 2023 was Semaglutide, the market leader for obesity medications and the generic form of Ozempic, Wegovy, and Rybelsus. It accounted for almost 88% of all new prescriptions. At present, the FDA has approved just three GLP-1 medications for weight control: tirzepatide, liraglutide, and semaglutide.
By 2030, the GLP-1 market is expected to grow to $100 billion, driven equally by obesity and diabetes, according to JP Morgan Research. Thirty million GLP-1 users, or around 9% of the population, may be in the US by 2030. The rising demand for obesity drugs will have a broad effect, helping industries like biotech but creating challenges for others like the food and beverage industry.
According to Chris Schott, a Senior Analyst specializing in the U.S. Diversified Biopharma industry,
“GLP-1s have been used to treat T2D since 2005, starting with the approval of Byetta, with follow-on products continually improving on efficacy. The most recent, Ozempic and Mounjaro, offer significant advantages over previous products and have accelerated class growth,” “Indeed, the newest generations of GLP-1s and combos lead to 15-25+% weight loss on average, well above prior generations of products.”
Some are praising the most recent generation of GLP-1 pharmaceuticals as “miracle drugs” for the treatment of obesity. However, because GLP-1s are expensive and have limited insurance coverage, not all obese people can use them. According to Jonathan Gruber, a professor of economics and the chairman of MIT’s economics department, the annual cost of treating 40% of obese Americans at the current rate—roughly $15,000 per person—would surpass $1 trillion. That’s almost the same as the government spends on the entire Medicare program. That’s a staggering figure.
GLP-1 Medications: Balancing Rising Demand, Shortages, and Market Potential
According to a study released in the Annals of Internal Medicine, the use of GLP-1 medications, including semaglutide, for weight loss has increased over the last ten years, while it has dropped by about 10% among those with type 2 diabetes. The researchers warn that the ensuing extended drug scarcity may limit the treatments’ availability to diabetics. Dr. Yee Hui Yeo, a clinical fellow in Cedars-Sina’s Karsh Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, emphasized that it is crucial to ensure that diabetic patients have access to GLP-1 therapies as the demand for obesity medications increases.
According to the FDA, growing demand is the cause of the shortages. The European Medicines Agency warned that the GLP-1 medicine shortage is a “major public health concern” that is unlikely to be resolved in 2024, indicating that the shortages affect more than only the US. According to NPR, shortages have made it difficult for those with diabetes to get their prescriptions, and some have had to reduce the medications they can use.
The potential of GLP-1 medications, which were first created to treat diabetes but are currently being used to treat obesity, was covered by the panelists on “Weighing the Future of Obesity Drugs,” which included Julia Angeles of Baillie Gifford, Debra Netschert of Jennison Investments, and Gentry Lee of Fayez Serofim. Netschert highlighted ongoing efforts to further reduce injection frequency and minimize adverse responses, as well as the development of GLP-1 medicine delivery from weekly dosages to multiple daily injections. Despite their exceptional efficacy, Netschert noted that due to supply limits, 1.5 million of the 110 million eligible patients in the US are now receiving therapy with GLP-1 medications. In their disagreement over who should foot the bill, Netschert pointed to significant insurance and Medicare/Medicaid reimbursements, while Angeles asserted that most patients pay cash. According to Netschert, up to 700 million people globally might require these medications outside of American borders. Notably, the panel found that GLP-1 medications were approved more quickly in the United Kingdom than in any other country, indicating their perceived value. The UK payors are generally stringent.
Since the market for obesity medications is still in its infancy, it would be a good idea to add several weight reduction stocks to your watchlists.
Copyright: delcreations / 123RF Stock Photo
Our Methodology
For this list, we scanned through holdings of weight loss ETFs and online rankings to form an initial list of 20 weight loss stocks. From that list, we picked 12 stocks with the highest number of hedge fund holders as of Q3 2024, based on data tracked by the Insider Monkey database. The stocks are ranked in ascending order of the number of hedge funds that have stakes in them.
Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter’s strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 275% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 150 percentage points (see more details here).
Here is our list of the 12 best weight loss stocks to buy according to hedge funds.
12. Terns Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:TERN)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 39
Terns Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:TERN) is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing small-molecule drugs for serious diseases like cancer, obesity, and metabolic disorders. Its key drug candidates include TERN-701 for chronic myeloid leukemia, TERN-601 for obesity, and TERN-501 for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis.
Terns Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:TERN) has made substantial strides with its experimental oral GLP-1R agonist, TERN-601. In a recent Phase 1 clinical trial, TERN-601 demonstrated statistically significant weight loss, with participants receiving the highest dose (740 mg) experiencing a mean weight loss of nearly 5% over 28 days, compared to less than 1% for the placebo group. The positive trial results for TERN-601 have boosted the company’s stock price which positions it as a strong oral alternative to injectable obesity treatments from Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly. Analysts from BMO Capital Markets have praised the data, highlighting TERN-601’s once-daily dosing regimen as a potential competitive advantage.
As of Q3 2024, 39 hedge fund holders held shares in the company, as tracked by the Insider Monkey database. The largest shareholder in the company was OrbiMed Advisors with shares worth $63.7 million. Terns Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:TERN) has received a consensus Strong Buy rating from Wall Street analysts. The average price target is $18.92, with a high forecast of $30.00 and a low forecast of $7.50. This average target reflects a potential 173.41% increase from the current price of $6.92.
11. Structure Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ:GPCR)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 40
Structure Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ:GPCR) is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing oral small-molecule drugs for chronic diseases like obesity, type-2 diabetes, and cardiopulmonary conditions. Its lead product candidate, GSBR-1290, targets type-2 diabetes and obesity, while other pipeline candidates focus on idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and other pulmonary diseases. The company’s drugs are designed to be more accessible and convenient than traditional injectable therapies. Its target market includes patients seeking effective treatments for chronic conditions.
Structure Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ:GPCR), considered one of the best weight loss stocks, is advancing its oral GLP-1 receptor agonist, GSBR-1290, through Phase 2b studies, with the Phase 2 ACCESS II study set to begin by the end of 2024. These studies aim to assess GSBR-1290’s efficacy and safety in treating obesity and overweight adults. The corporation is also developing other candidates, including amylin receptor agonists, GIPR selective agonists, and GLP-1R/GIPR combinations, along with ANPA-0073 for weight loss and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
As of Q3 2024, Structure Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ:GPCR) had $915.3 million in cash and investments, sufficient to fund operations and key milestones through 2027, excluding Phase 3 studies. Research and development expenses rose to $32.6 million, up from $17.5 million in Q3 2023 which was driven by program advancements and increased personnel. General and administrative expenses increased to $13.2 million from $8.6 million due to higher employee and professional service costs. The company also reported a net loss of $34.0 million, compared to $23.9 million in Q3 2023, including a $6.0 million non-cash share-based compensation expense.
Wall Street analysts hold a consensus Strong Buy rating on the stock, with an average 12-month price target of $88.88. The price target range includes a high forecast of $118.00 and a low of $65.00. The average target represents a 156.18% increase from the current price of $34.70.
10. Viking Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:VKTX)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 41
Viking Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:VKTX) is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing therapies for metabolic and endocrine disorders. Its key products include VK2809 which is a thyroid hormone receptor beta agonist for lipid and metabolic disorders like NASH and NAFLD, and VK2735 which is a dual agonist for obesity and metabolic disorders. The company is also developing VK0214, a thyroid hormone receptor beta agonist for X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy (X-ALD). Viking Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:VKTX) targets patients with obesity, liver diseases, and rare genetic conditions, planning to distribute its products through pharmaceutical channels once approved.
In the third quarter of 2024, the company reported a net loss of $24.9 million, or $0.22 per share, an increase from the same period in 2023. This rise in losses was mainly due to higher research and development (R&D) and general and administrative (G&A) expenses. For the nine months ending September 30, 2024, the net loss totaled $74.5 million, or $0.69 per share, driven by similar factors.
R&D expenses increased to $22.8 million in Q3 2024 from $18.4 million in Q3 2023, due to higher costs in drug manufacturing, salaries, benefits, and regulatory services. G&A expenses rose to $13.8 million from $8.9 million, largely driven by stock-based compensation, legal and patent services, and third-party consultancy.
Despite these higher expenses, Viking Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:VKTX) significantly improved its financial position, with cash holdings of $930 million as of September 2024, up from $362 million at the end of 2023. This boost in cash reserves will support ongoing and future clinical trials.
As of Q3 2024, 41 hedge funds held shares in the company, as tracked by the Insider Monkey database. The largest shareholder in the company was Artia Global Partners with shares worth $33.7 million. Viking Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:VKTX) has received a consensus Strong Buy rating from analysts, with a 12-month price target average of $115.80. The price target range spans from a low of $95.00 to a high of $164.00. The average target represents a 142.01% increase from the current price of $47.85.
