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

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

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities research analysts recently commented on VST shares. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their price target on Vistra from $249.00 to $233.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, December 16th. UBS Group boosted their target price on Vistra from $230.00 to $233.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Monday, January 12th. TD Cowen started coverage on Vistra in a report on Thursday, October 16th. They set a “buy” rating and a $250.00 price target on the stock. Bank of America reduced their price objective on shares of Vistra from $231.00 to $218.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Monday, January 12th. Finally, Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a “hold (c)” rating on shares of Vistra in a report on Monday, December 29th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twelve have given a Buy rating and three have given a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of “Buy” and an average target price of $239.27.

Vistra Price Performance

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

Vistra (NYSE:VST) last issued its earnings results 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). The business had revenue of $4.97 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.60 billion. Vistra had a net margin of 6.70% and a return on equity of 64.04%. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that Vistra Corp. will post 7 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Vistra Increases Dividend

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

Insider Buying and Selling at Vistra

In other news, EVP Carrie Lee Kirby sold 58,275 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on 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 $38,137,265.25. The trade was a 21.07% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, EVP Scott A. Hudson sold 56,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, November 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $168.86, for a total value of $9,456,160.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president owned 306,600 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $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 90 days, insiders have sold 255,619 shares of company stock valued at $45,998,416. 1.42% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Vistra

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Salomon & Ludwin LLC bought a new position in Vistra during the third quarter worth $25,000. Quent Capital LLC acquired a new position in shares of Vistra during the third quarter valued at about $25,000. Twin Peaks Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of Vistra in the second quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Archer Investment Corp boosted its holdings in Vistra by 2,700.0% in the 3rd quarter. Archer Investment Corp now owns 140 shares of the company’s stock worth $27,000 after buying an additional 135 shares during the period. Finally, Pinpoint Asset Management Singapore Pte. Ltd. purchased a new stake in Vistra during the 3rd quarter worth about $28,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 90.88% of the company’s stock.

Vistra Company 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.