JPMorgan Chase & Co. Has Lowered Expectations for Vistra (NYSE:VST) Stock Price

Vistra (NYSE:VST) had its target price cut by JPMorgan Chase & Co. from $203.00 to $186.00 in a report released on Friday morning,Benzinga reports. They currently have an overweight rating on the stock.

A number of other research analysts have also recently issued reports on VST. Daiwa Capital Markets started coverage on Vistra in a research note on Wednesday, March 5th. They issued a “neutral” rating and a $120.00 target price for the company. BMO Capital Markets increased their target price on Vistra from $151.00 to $191.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 22nd. Evercore ISI assumed coverage on shares of Vistra in a report on Tuesday, January 21st. They set an “outperform” rating and a $202.00 target price on the stock. Bank of America upgraded shares of Vistra from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and reduced their price target for the company from $164.00 to $152.00 in a report on Tuesday, March 4th. Finally, UBS Group raised their price objective on shares of Vistra from $161.00 to $174.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, January 3rd. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Vistra currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $163.50.

Vistra Trading Down 0.2 %

Shares of NYSE VST opened at $119.05 on Friday. Vistra has a twelve month low of $64.26 and a twelve month high of $199.84. The stock has a market cap of $40.49 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.21, a P/E/G ratio of 1.12 and a beta of 1.21. The company has a quick ratio of 0.99, a current ratio of 1.11 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 4.68. The company’s fifty day moving average is $147.39 and its 200-day moving average is $139.96.

Vistra Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 31st. Investors of record on Thursday, March 20th will be issued a dividend of $0.2235 per share. This represents a $0.89 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.75%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, March 20th. This is a positive change from Vistra’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.22. Vistra’s dividend payout ratio is presently 12.62%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Vistra

In other news, Director John William Pitesa acquired 1,500 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, March 12th. The stock was bought at an average price of $126.75 per share, with a total value of $190,125.00. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 3,467 shares in the company, valued at approximately $439,442.25. The trade was a 76.26 % increase in their position. The purchase was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, Director Paul M. Barbas sold 24,136 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $124.19, for a total transaction of $2,997,449.84. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 51,063 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $6,341,513.97. This trade represents a 32.10 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Corporate insiders own 1.42% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Vistra

A number of large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in VST. 111 Capital acquired a new position in shares of Vistra in the fourth quarter valued at $465,000. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC grew its stake in Vistra by 239.9% in the 4th quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC now owns 142,259 shares of the company’s stock valued at $19,613,000 after buying an additional 100,400 shares during the last quarter. Centaurus Financial Inc. raised its holdings in Vistra by 213.4% in the 4th quarter. Centaurus Financial Inc. now owns 6,479 shares of the company’s stock valued at $893,000 after acquiring an additional 4,412 shares during the period. Anchor Pointe Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in Vistra during the fourth quarter worth approximately $271,000. Finally, IronOak Wealth LLC. bought a new stake in shares of Vistra during the fourth quarter worth approximately $862,000. Institutional investors own 90.88% of the company’s stock.

About Vistra

Vistra Corp., together with its subsidiaries, operates as an integrated retail electricity and power generation company. The company operates through six segments: Retail, Texas, East, West, Sunset, and Asset Closure. It retails electricity and natural gas to residential, commercial, and industrial customers across states in the United States and the District of Columbia.