Vistra (NYSE:VST) Trading Down 0.3% on Analyst Downgrade

Shares of Vistra Corp. (NYSE:VST) dropped 0.3% during trading on Friday after JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their price target on the stock from $203.00 to $186.00. JPMorgan Chase & Co. currently has an overweight rating on the stock. Vistra traded as low as $117.77 and last traded at $118.94. Approximately 2,290,811 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 69% from the average daily volume of 7,487,688 shares. The stock had previously closed at $119.31.

Other research analysts also recently issued research reports about the stock. UBS Group increased their price objective on shares of Vistra from $161.00 to $174.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, January 3rd. Daiwa America upgraded Vistra to a “hold” rating in a report on Wednesday, March 5th. Daiwa Capital Markets assumed coverage on shares of Vistra in a research note on Wednesday, March 5th. They set a “neutral” rating and a $120.00 price target on the stock. Bank of America raised shares of Vistra from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and dropped their price objective for the stock from $164.00 to $152.00 in a research note on Tuesday, March 4th. Finally, Evercore ISI initiated coverage on Vistra in a research report on Tuesday, January 21st. They issued an “outperform” rating and a $202.00 price target for the company. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Vistra currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $163.50.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, Director John William Pitesa bought 1,500 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, March 12th. The shares were acquired at an average price of $126.75 per share, with a total value of $190,125.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 3,467 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $439,442.25. The trade was a 76.26 % increase in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, Director Paul M. Barbas sold 24,136 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Monday, March 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $124.19, for a total value of $2,997,449.84. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 51,063 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $6,341,513.97. The trade was a 32.10 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 1.42% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Vistra

A number of large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. 111 Capital bought a new stake in shares of Vistra in the 4th quarter valued at about $465,000. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC boosted its stake in Vistra by 239.9% in the fourth quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC now owns 142,259 shares of the company’s stock valued at $19,613,000 after acquiring an additional 100,400 shares in the last quarter. Centaurus Financial Inc. grew its holdings in Vistra by 213.4% in the fourth quarter. Centaurus Financial Inc. now owns 6,479 shares of the company’s stock worth $893,000 after purchasing an additional 4,412 shares during the last quarter. Anchor Pointe Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Vistra during the fourth quarter worth $271,000. Finally, IronOak Wealth LLC. purchased a new stake in shares of Vistra during the 4th quarter valued at $862,000. 90.88% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Vistra Price Performance

The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $148.43 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $139.65. The stock has a market cap of $40.45 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.19, a PEG ratio of 1.12 and a beta of 1.21. The company has a current ratio of 1.11, a quick ratio of 0.99 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 4.68.

Vistra Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 31st. Investors of record on Thursday, March 20th will be paid a $0.2235 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, March 20th. This is a boost from Vistra’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.22. This represents a $0.89 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.75%. Vistra’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 12.62%.

About Vistra

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.