Vistra (NYSE:VST) Stock Price Down 5.8% – Here’s Why

Vistra Corp. (NYSE:VST)’s share price traded down 5.8% on Tuesday . The stock traded as low as $156.25 and last traded at $156.8790. 7,561,746 shares were traded during mid-day trading, an increase of 1% from the average session volume of 7,492,763 shares. The stock had previously closed at $166.60.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research analysts have issued reports on VST shares. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their target price on shares of Vistra from $249.00 to $233.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, December 16th. Scotiabank boosted their price objective on shares of Vistra from $287.00 to $293.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Monday, January 12th. Morgan Stanley restated an “overweight” rating and set a $228.00 price target on shares of Vistra in a research note on Tuesday, December 16th. BMO Capital Markets increased their price target on shares of Vistra from $230.00 to $244.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Monday, January 12th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group restated a “hold” rating and set a $230.00 target price (down from $241.00) on shares of Vistra in a report on Monday, September 22nd. Four analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twelve have issued a Buy rating and three have assigned a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Buy” and an average target price of $239.27.

Vistra Price Performance

The stock has a market cap of $53.16 billion, a PE ratio of 56.64, a PEG ratio of 1.03 and a beta of 1.41. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 5.74, a quick ratio of 0.88 and a current ratio of 0.99. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $168.77 and a two-hundred day moving average of $187.69.

Vistra (NYSE:VST) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Friday, November 7th. The company reported $1.75 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.78 by ($0.03). Vistra had a net margin of 6.70% and a return on equity of 64.04%. The business had revenue of $4.97 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.60 billion. Equities analysts anticipate that Vistra Corp. will post 7 EPS for the current year.

Vistra Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, December 31st. Stockholders of record on Monday, December 22nd were paid a dividend of $0.227 per share. The ex-dividend date was Monday, December 22nd. This represents a $0.91 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.6%. This is a boost from Vistra’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.23. Vistra’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 32.85%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, EVP Carrie Lee Kirby sold 58,275 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, November 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $174.75, for a total value of $10,183,556.25. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president owned 218,239 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $38,137,265.25. This represents a 21.07% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, EVP Scott A. Hudson sold 56,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, November 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $168.86, for a total transaction of $9,456,160.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president owned 306,600 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $51,772,476. This trade represents a 15.44% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. In the last quarter, insiders have sold 255,619 shares of company stock valued at $45,998,416. 1.42% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Vistra

Large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Trust Investment Advisors grew its stake in shares of Vistra by 15.0% in the fourth quarter. Trust Investment Advisors now owns 5,043 shares of the company’s stock worth $814,000 after acquiring an additional 659 shares during the last quarter. Realta Investment Advisors boosted its stake in shares of Vistra by 10.4% in the fourth quarter. Realta Investment Advisors now owns 5,008 shares of the company’s stock worth $808,000 after acquiring an additional 470 shares during the period. Florida Trust Wealth Management Co bought a new stake in shares of Vistra during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $351,000. Nvwm LLC lifted its position in shares of Vistra by 63,600.0% in the fourth quarter. Nvwm LLC now owns 2,548 shares of the company’s stock worth $411,000 after buying an additional 2,544 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Princeton Global Asset Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of Vistra by 494.0% in the fourth quarter. Princeton Global Asset Management LLC now owns 1,188 shares of the company’s stock valued at $192,000 after purchasing an additional 988 shares in the last quarter. 90.88% of the stock is owned by 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.