Flputnam Investment Management Co. Decreases Holdings in Vistra Corp. $VST

Flputnam Investment Management Co. reduced its position in Vistra Corp. (NYSE:VST) by 37.6% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 6,808 shares of the company’s stock after selling 4,105 shares during the period. Flputnam Investment Management Co.’s holdings in Vistra were worth $1,080,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

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

Insider Activity at Vistra

In related news, Director John R. Sult sold 6,500 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, June 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $170.00, for a total transaction of $1,105,000.00. Following the sale, the director owned 70,714 shares in the company, valued at approximately $12,021,380. This trade represents a 8.42% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, Director Paul M. Barbas sold 244 shares of Vistra stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, June 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $153.00, for a total transaction of $37,332.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director directly owned 53,006 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $8,109,918. The trade was a 0.46% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Over the last 90 days, insiders have sold 31,988 shares of company stock valued at $5,178,427. Company insiders own 0.92% of the company’s stock.

Vistra Trading Up 0.3%

Vistra stock opened at $137.45 on Tuesday. The stock has a market cap of $46.13 billion, a PE ratio of 23.22 and a beta of 1.41. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $151.02 and a 200 day moving average price of $155.34. Vistra Corp. has a 52 week low of $132.66 and a 52 week high of $219.82. The company has a current ratio of 0.97, a quick ratio of 0.87 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 5.87.

Vistra (NYSE:VST) last announced its earnings results 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 during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $5.46 billion. Equities research analysts predict that Vistra Corp. will post 9.21 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Vistra Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, September 30th. Investors of record on Monday, September 21st will be paid a dividend of $0.23 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, September 21st. This is a positive change from Vistra’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.23. This represents a $0.92 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.7%. Vistra’s payout ratio is currently 15.54%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities analysts have weighed in on VST shares. TD Cowen dropped their target price on shares of Vistra from $222.00 to $221.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, August 19th. Mizuho initiated coverage on shares of Vistra in a report on Monday, August 24th. They issued an “outperform” rating and a $169.00 price target on the stock. BNP Paribas Exane set a $255.00 price target on shares of Vistra in a research report on Wednesday, August 19th. Wells Fargo & Company reissued an “overweight” rating and set a $212.00 price objective on shares of Vistra in a research note on Monday, August 10th. Finally, Seaport Research Partners restated a “buy” rating and set a $230.00 price objective on shares of Vistra in a research report on Monday, June 15th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fourteen have given a Buy rating and two have assigned a Hold rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $223.53.

Vistra Profile

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.