Stock Traders Buy High Volume of Vistra Put Options (NYSE:VST)

Vistra Corp. (NYSE:VST) was the target of some unusual options trading on Thursday. Traders acquired 67,301 put options on the stock. This is an increase of 69% compared to the average volume of 39,763 put options.

Key Stories Impacting Vistra

Here are the key news stories impacting Vistra this week:

• Positive Sentiment: One bullish analysis says Vistra’s shift toward long-term power contracts and capacity-auction revenue should make earnings more predictable. It cites 2026 adjusted EBITDA guidance implying 21.8% year-over-year growth and potential additional contribution from Cogentrix and Meta-related contracts not yet reflected in the 2027 outlook. Article: Vistra: The Market Is Underpricing Its Shift To Contracted Earnings
• Positive Sentiment: Vistra’s board approved dividends on preferred and common shares, while a separate valuation analysis estimates the shares trade below intrinsic value. These factors may support investor interest, though they have not erased concerns behind the recent pullback. Article: Vistra Could Be 8% Undervalued On Dividend Approval
• Neutral Sentiment: Scotiabank lowered its 2026 EPS estimate to $8.83 from $9.14 but kept its Sector Outperform rating and $189 price target. The estimate cut is a modest negative, while the maintained rating and target indicate continued analyst confidence. Vistra analyst estimate information
• Neutral Sentiment: Vistra was expected to report third-quarter results on Nov. 6 before market open. Consensus projected revenue growth of about 50% year over year, but the results and outlook could be a near-term catalyst in either direction. Article: Vistra Set for Q3 Earnings Release
• Negative Sentiment: KeyBanc cut Vistra to Sector Weight from Overweight as Texas policy questions intensified after the election. Investors are concerned a possible permit freeze or moratorium could curb future data-center growth and power demand; Texas represents about 28% of Vistra’s EBITDA. The risk is prospective, and most 2027 output is reportedly hedged. Article: Vistra downgraded at KeyBanc as Texas policy questions swirl
• Negative Sentiment: Other commentary also points to regulatory uncertainty and technical weakness as reasons for caution, despite Vistra reaffirming its 2026 adjusted EBITDA guidance of $6.8 billion to $7.6 billion. Article: Vistra: Midterms Uncertainty Casts Dark Clouds

Insider Transactions at Vistra

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

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Vistra

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC increased its stake in Vistra by 26.9% during the 3rd quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 809,741 shares of the company’s stock valued at $113,161,000 after purchasing an additional 171,553 shares in the last quarter. Parallel Advisors LLC raised its stake in Vistra by 9.4% in the third quarter. Parallel Advisors LLC now owns 6,481 shares of the company’s stock valued at $897,000 after buying an additional 558 shares during the last quarter. Guidance Capital Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Vistra by 2.8% in the third quarter. Guidance Capital Inc. now owns 8,258 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,112,000 after buying an additional 224 shares during the last quarter. Tamar Securities LLC increased its stake in Vistra by 11.1% during the 3rd quarter. Tamar Securities LLC now owns 150,541 shares of the company’s stock worth $20,827,000 after buying an additional 15,005 shares in the last quarter. Finally, International Assets Investment Management LLC boosted its holdings in Vistra by 299.8% in the 3rd quarter. International Assets Investment Management LLC now owns 10,000 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,384,000 after purchasing an additional 7,499 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 90.88% of the company’s stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

VST has been the topic of several recent research reports. Mizuho began coverage on Vistra in a report on Monday, August 24th. They set an “outperform” rating and a $169.00 target price on the stock. BNP Paribas Exane set a $255.00 price target on shares of Vistra in a research note on Wednesday, August 19th. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their price target on Vistra from $212.00 to $198.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, October 28th. Zacks Research lowered Vistra from a “hold” rating to a “strong sell” rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 14th. Finally, UBS Group set a $176.00 price target on shares of Vistra in a research report on Wednesday, October 21st. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, sixteen have assigned a Buy rating, two have assigned a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $202.43.

Vistra Trading Down 6.5%

Vistra stock traded down $7.82 during trading hours on Thursday, reaching $112.47. 8,231,711 shares of the company’s stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 5,244,484. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 5.87, a quick ratio of 0.87 and a current ratio of 0.97. The firm has a market capitalization of $37.75 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.03 and a beta of 1.37. The firm’s 50 day moving average is $144.73 and its 200-day moving average is $153.08. Vistra has a fifty-two week low of $110.89 and a fifty-two week high of $196.80.

Vistra (NYSE:VST) last issued its earnings results on Friday, August 7th. The company reported $0.76 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.61 by ($0.85). The firm had revenue of $4.02 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.46 billion. Vistra had a net margin of 11.55% and a return on equity of 108.68%. On average, analysts predict that Vistra will post 8.93 earnings per share for the current year.

Vistra Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, December 31st. Investors of record on Tuesday, December 22nd will be paid a $0.2310 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, December 22nd. This is a positive change from Vistra’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.23. This represents a $0.92 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.8%. Vistra’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 15.54%.

Vistra Company Profile

Vistra Corp. (NYSE: VST) is an integrated energy company based in Irving, Texas. The company operates across electricity generation, power distribution support, energy marketing and retail electricity sales, serving residential, commercial and industrial customers primarily in the United States.

Vistra owns and operates a diverse portfolio of power generation and energy storage facilities. Its assets include natural gas, nuclear, coal and renewable generation, as well as battery storage projects.