Vistra (NYSE:VST) Trading Down 4.9% – Here’s Why

Vistra Corp. (NYSE:VST) shares dropped 4.9% on Thursday . The stock traded as low as $116.66 and last traded at $120.67. Approximately 3,188,090 shares were traded during trading, a decline of 66% from the average daily volume of 9,452,266 shares. The stock had previously closed at $126.87.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several analysts have commented on VST shares. UBS Group lifted their price objective on shares of Vistra from $161.00 to $174.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, January 3rd. BMO Capital Markets boosted their target price on Vistra from $151.00 to $191.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 22nd. Evercore ISI initiated coverage on Vistra in a report on Tuesday, January 21st. They issued an “outperform” rating and a $202.00 price objective for the company. Daiwa Capital Markets assumed coverage on Vistra in a research note on Wednesday. They issued a “neutral” rating and a $120.00 price objective on the stock. Finally, Bank of America upgraded shares of Vistra from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and dropped their price target for the company from $164.00 to $152.00 in a research note on Tuesday. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $162.83.

Vistra Price Performance

The firm has a market cap of $38.77 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.26, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.12 and a beta of 1.21. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $159.46 and a 200 day simple moving average of $135.46. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 4.68, a quick ratio of 0.99 and a current ratio of 1.11.

Vistra Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 31st. Shareholders of record on Thursday, March 20th will be issued a $0.2235 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, March 20th. This is a positive change from Vistra’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.22. This represents a $0.89 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.78%. Vistra’s dividend payout ratio is 12.62%.

Vistra announced that its board has authorized a stock buyback plan on Thursday, November 7th that permits the company to buyback $1.00 billion in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization permits the company to repurchase up to 2.1% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares buyback plans are generally an indication that the company’s board believes its stock is undervalued.

Insider Activity

In other Vistra news, Director Scott B. Helm sold 20,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, December 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $139.77, for a total transaction of $2,795,400.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 343,350 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $47,990,029.50. This trade represents a 5.50 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. 1.42% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Pathway Financial Advisers LLC lifted its position in Vistra by 616.0% in the 4th quarter. Pathway Financial Advisers LLC now owns 179 shares of the company’s stock valued at $25,000 after acquiring an additional 154 shares in the last quarter. Avior Wealth Management LLC boosted its position in shares of Vistra by 56.5% during the fourth quarter. Avior Wealth Management LLC now owns 180 shares of the company’s stock valued at $25,000 after buying an additional 65 shares during the last quarter. Founders Capital Management bought a new stake in Vistra in the 4th quarter worth about $28,000. West Branch Capital LLC bought a new position in Vistra during the 4th quarter valued at about $28,000. Finally, Comprehensive Financial Planning Inc. PA purchased a new stake in shares of Vistra during the 4th quarter valued at about $28,000. Institutional investors own 90.88% of the company’s stock.

Vistra Company Profile

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.