Vistra (NYSE:VST) Stock Price Down 1.5% – Here’s Why

Vistra Corp. (NYSE:VST)’s share price dropped 1.5% on Wednesday . The stock traded as low as $166.05 and last traded at $168.8810. Approximately 3,878,138 shares were traded during trading, a decline of 43% from the average daily volume of 6,825,532 shares. The stock had previously closed at $171.42.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

VST has been the subject of several research analyst reports. Wells Fargo & Company initiated coverage on Vistra in a research note on Monday, October 27th. They set an “overweight” rating and a $238.00 price objective on the stock. TD Cowen initiated coverage on Vistra in a report on Thursday, October 16th. They set a “buy” rating and a $250.00 price target on the stock. Morgan Stanley reaffirmed an “overweight” rating and issued a $228.00 price objective on shares of Vistra in a report on Tuesday, December 16th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their price target on Vistra from $249.00 to $233.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, December 16th. Finally, Weiss Ratings reissued a “hold (c)” rating on shares of Vistra in a research note on Monday, December 29th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twelve have assigned a Buy rating and three have given a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of “Buy” and an average target price of $239.40.

Vistra Price Performance

The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $170.18 and a 200-day simple moving average of $188.22. The stock has a market cap of $57.22 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 60.97, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.75 and a beta of 1.41. The company has a current ratio of 0.99, a quick ratio of 0.88 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 5.74.

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

Vistra Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, December 31st. Investors of record on Monday, December 22nd were given a $0.227 dividend. This is a boost from Vistra’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.23. The ex-dividend date was Monday, December 22nd. This represents a $0.91 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.5%. Vistra’s dividend payout ratio is presently 32.85%.

Insider Activity

In other news, EVP Carrie Lee Kirby sold 58,275 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, November 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $174.75, for a total transaction of $10,183,556.25. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president owned 218,239 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $38,137,265.25. This represents a 21.07% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal 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 transaction, 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 position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Insiders have sold 321,717 shares of company stock valued at $59,790,428 over the last 90 days. 1.42% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Vistra

Institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Bridgewater Advisors Inc. raised its position in shares of Vistra by 3.1% in the third quarter. Bridgewater Advisors Inc. now owns 1,787 shares of the company’s stock valued at $350,000 after purchasing an additional 53 shares during the period. Y.D. More Investments Ltd boosted its stake in shares of Vistra by 7.1% in the third quarter. Y.D. More Investments Ltd now owns 916 shares of the company’s stock valued at $168,000 after buying an additional 61 shares during the period. Equitable Holdings Inc. lifted its position in shares of Vistra by 0.9% during the 3rd quarter. Equitable Holdings Inc. now owns 7,045 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,380,000 after acquiring an additional 61 shares during the period. Ballentine Partners LLC grew its stake in Vistra by 2.0% during the third quarter. Ballentine Partners LLC now owns 3,275 shares of the company’s stock worth $642,000 after buying an additional 63 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Wealth Effects LLC increased its stake in Vistra by 1.1% in the third quarter. Wealth Effects LLC now owns 5,782 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,133,000 after acquiring an additional 65 shares during the last quarter. 90.88% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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.