Vistra (NYSE:VST) CEO Acquires $603,891.25 in Stock

Vistra Corp. (NYSE:VST) CEO James Burke acquired 4,465 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, September 1st. The shares were purchased at an average cost of $135.25 per share, with a total value of $603,891.25. Following the completion of the purchase, the chief executive officer owned 1,146,352 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $155,044,108. The trade was a 0.39% increase in their position. The purchase was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink.

Vistra Price Performance

VST opened at $149.27 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 5.87, a quick ratio of 0.87 and a current ratio of 0.97. The stock has a market capitalization of $50.10 billion, a PE ratio of 25.21 and a beta of 1.40. The stock’s 50 day moving average price is $149.39 and its 200-day moving average price is $154.82. Vistra Corp. has a 52-week low of $132.66 and a 52-week high of $219.82.

Vistra (NYSE:VST) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Friday, August 7th. The company reported $0.76 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.61 by ($0.85). Vistra had a net margin of 11.55% and a return on equity of 108.68%. The firm had revenue of $4.02 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.46 billion. On average, equities research analysts predict that Vistra Corp. will post 9.21 EPS for the current year.

Vistra Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, September 30th. Stockholders of record on Monday, September 21st will be issued a dividend of $0.23 per share. The ex-dividend date is Monday, September 21st. This is a positive change from Vistra’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.23. This represents a $0.92 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.6%. Vistra’s dividend payout ratio is currently 15.54%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research firms have recently weighed in on VST. The Goldman Sachs Group set a $206.00 price target on Vistra in a research note on Wednesday, August 12th. UBS Group decreased their target price on Vistra from $233.00 to $227.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, July 28th. Jefferies Financial Group restated a “buy” rating and set a $190.00 target price on shares of Vistra in a research note on Thursday, May 21st. Wells Fargo & Company reaffirmed an “overweight” rating and set a $212.00 price target on shares of Vistra in a report on Monday, August 10th. Finally, BNP Paribas Exane set a $255.00 price target on shares of Vistra in a research note on Wednesday, August 19th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fourteen have assigned a Buy rating and two have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Vistra currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $223.53.

Institutional Trading of Vistra

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Fideuram Intesa Sanpaolo Private Banking S.P.A. bought a new position in shares of Vistra during the fourth quarter worth $25,000. Mcguire Capital Advisors Inc. bought a new stake in Vistra in the 4th quarter valued at $28,000. Kemnay Advisory Services Inc. purchased a new stake in Vistra in the 4th quarter worth $30,000. Strive Financial Group LLC purchased a new stake in Vistra in the 4th quarter worth $33,000. Finally, IFC & Insurance Marketing Inc. bought a new position in shares of Vistra during the 4th quarter valued at about $35,000. 90.88% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About Vistra

Vistra (NYSE: VST) is an integrated power company that develops, owns and operates electricity generation and retail businesses in the United States. The company’s operations span wholesale power production—through a diversified fleet of thermal and lower?carbon generation assets—and retail electricity supply to residential, commercial and industrial customers. Vistra serves organized wholesale markets and competitive retail markets, with a notable presence in Texas and other regional U.S. power markets.

Vistra’s core activities include the ownership and operation of generation facilities, the commercial dispatch and optimization of those assets into wholesale markets, and the sale of electricity and related services to end-use customers through its retail brands.