Vistra (NYSE:VST) Shares Climb 3.6% – Here’s Why

Vistra Corp. (NYSE:VST) was up 3.6% on Monday. The stock traded as high as $146.94 and last traded at $145.0340. Approximately 10,734,947 shares changed hands during trading, an increase of 117% from the average daily volume of 4,955,583 shares. The stock had previously closed at $140.02.

Key Vistra News

Here are the key news stories impacting Vistra this week:

• Positive Sentiment: The nuclear expansion has significant revenue visibility because much of the future generation is expected to be covered by long-term agreements, including a reported 20-year power purchase agreement with Meta. Vistra also has a 20-year, 207-megawatt agreement to supply a Texas data center, strengthening its position as a provider of reliable power for artificial-intelligence infrastructure. Vistra Stock Gains as Federal Funds Fuel Nuclear Power Expansion
• Positive Sentiment: Options activity reflected bullish positioning: traders purchased 52,402 call options, 52% above the average daily call volume. The heightened activity may indicate increased institutional or speculative interest following the federal-financing reports. Stock Traders Purchase Large Volume of Call Options on Vistra
• Positive Sentiment: Analysts at BMO Capital Markets retained an “outperform” rating despite reducing their price target to $210 from $231, leaving substantial implied upside based on the reported trading level. Wall Street brokerages overall rate Vistra “Moderate Buy.” Vistra Stock Price Target Cut by BMO Capital Markets

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of analysts have commented on the company. Wells Fargo & Company restated an “overweight” rating and issued a $212.00 price target on shares of Vistra in a research report on Monday, August 10th. Mizuho assumed coverage on Vistra in a research note on Monday, August 24th. They set an “outperform” rating and a $169.00 price objective for the company. The Goldman Sachs Group set a $206.00 target price on shares of Vistra in a report on Wednesday, August 12th. TD Cowen decreased their target price on shares of Vistra from $222.00 to $221.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, August 19th. Finally, Seaport Research Partners reaffirmed a “buy” rating and set a $230.00 price target on shares of Vistra in a report on Monday, June 15th. Fifteen analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and two have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $217.61.

Vistra Price Performance

The firm has a 50-day moving average of $143.04 and a 200-day moving average of $151.24. The stock has a market cap of $48.68 billion, a PE ratio of 24.50 and a beta of 1.38. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 5.87, a current ratio of 0.97 and a quick ratio of 0.87.

Vistra (NYSE:VST) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Friday, August 7th. The company reported $0.76 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.61 by ($0.85). Vistra had a return on equity of 108.68% and a net margin of 11.55%.The business had revenue of $4.02 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $5.46 billion. Research analysts predict that Vistra Corp. will post 9.04 EPS for the current year.

Vistra Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, September 30th. Stockholders of record on Monday, September 21st were issued a $0.23 dividend. This represents a $0.92 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.6%. This is a boost from Vistra’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.2290. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, September 21st. Vistra’s payout ratio is presently 15.54%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Vistra news, EVP Scott A. Hudson sold 44,444 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, September 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $151.82, for a total value of $6,747,488.08. Following the sale, the executive vice president owned 331,137 shares in the company, valued at $50,273,219.34. The trade was a 11.83% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, CEO James Burke purchased 4,465 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, September 1st. The stock was bought at an average price of $135.25 per share, for a total transaction of $603,891.25. Following the purchase, the chief executive officer owned 1,146,352 shares in the company, valued at approximately $155,044,108. This represents a 0.39% increase in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this purchase are available in the official SEC disclosure. 0.92% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Vistra

A number of hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Outlook Wealth Advisors LLC grew its holdings in Vistra by 4.9% during the 1st quarter. Outlook Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 1,511 shares of the company’s stock valued at $227,000 after buying an additional 70 shares in the last quarter. Thurston Springer Miller Herd & Titak Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Vistra by 5.3% during the 2nd quarter. Thurston Springer Miller Herd & Titak Inc. now owns 1,728 shares of the company’s stock worth $274,000 after acquiring an additional 87 shares in the last quarter. Portfolio Design Labs LLC boosted its position in shares of Vistra by 1.2% during the 2nd quarter. Portfolio Design Labs LLC now owns 7,348 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,166,000 after acquiring an additional 87 shares during the last quarter. First National Bank of Hutchinson boosted its position in shares of Vistra by 2.0% during the 1st quarter. First National Bank of Hutchinson now owns 4,521 shares of the company’s stock valued at $680,000 after acquiring an additional 90 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Physician Wealth Advisors Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Vistra by 46.6% in the first quarter. Physician Wealth Advisors Inc. now owns 302 shares of the company’s stock valued at $45,000 after purchasing an additional 96 shares in the last quarter. 90.88% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About Vistra

Vistra Corp. (NYSE:VST) is an integrated energy company headquartered in Irving, Texas. The company operates electricity generation facilities and provides electricity and related energy services to residential, commercial, and industrial customers. Its portfolio includes natural gas, nuclear, coal, solar, and battery energy storage assets.

Vistra also operates a retail electricity business that offers power plans, renewable energy options, and energy-management services. Its retail brands include TXU Energy, Homefield Energy, Dynegy, and Ambit Energy, serving customers in competitive electricity markets across the United States.