Stephens Investment Management Group LLC Buys 25,253 Shares of Vistra Corp. $VST

Stephens Investment Management Group LLC lifted its stake in Vistra Corp. (NYSE:VST) by 26.3% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 121,198 shares of the company’s stock after buying an additional 25,253 shares during the quarter. Stephens Investment Management Group LLC’s holdings in Vistra were worth $23,745,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

A number of other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in VST. Salomon & Ludwin LLC bought a new stake in Vistra during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $25,000. Quent Capital LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Vistra in the third quarter worth $25,000. Twin Peaks Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of Vistra during the 2nd quarter valued at $28,000. Anfield Capital Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Vistra during the 2nd quarter valued at $29,000. Finally, City State Bank boosted its holdings in Vistra by 210.0% in the 2nd quarter. City State Bank now owns 155 shares of the company’s stock worth $30,000 after buying an additional 105 shares during the period. 90.88% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities research analysts have commented on the company. Cowen started coverage on Vistra in a report on Wednesday, October 15th. They set a “buy” rating on the stock. Jefferies Financial Group reissued a “hold” rating and set a $230.00 target price (down previously from $241.00) on shares of Vistra in a research note on Monday, September 22nd. Evercore ISI upped their price target on Vistra from $237.00 to $243.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Friday, November 7th. Morgan Stanley reaffirmed an “overweight” rating and set a $228.00 price objective on shares of Vistra in a report on Tuesday, December 16th. Finally, UBS Group lifted their price objective on shares of Vistra from $230.00 to $233.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Monday, January 12th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twelve have assigned a Buy rating and three have issued a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of “Buy” and an average target price of $239.40.

Insider Buying and Selling at Vistra

In related news, EVP Scott A. Hudson sold 56,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, November 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $168.86, for a total value of $9,456,160.00. Following the completion of 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 sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Stephanie Zapata Moore sold 8,219 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, November 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $173.35, for a total value of $1,424,763.65. Following the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 79,854 shares in the company, valued at $13,842,690.90. The trade was a 9.33% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders have sold a total of 278,995 shares of company stock valued at $50,757,547 over the last quarter. 1.42% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Vistra Stock Performance

NYSE:VST opened at $166.93 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $56.56 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 60.26, a PEG ratio of 1.03 and a beta of 1.41. Vistra Corp. has a 1 year low of $90.51 and a 1 year high of $219.82. The stock’s 50 day simple moving average is $169.20 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $187.86. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 5.74, a current ratio of 0.99 and a quick ratio of 0.88.

Vistra (NYSE:VST) last posted its earnings results on Friday, November 7th. The company reported $1.75 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.78 by ($0.03). Vistra had a net margin of 6.70% and a return on equity of 64.04%. The business had revenue of $4.97 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $6.60 billion. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Vistra Corp. will post 7 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Vistra Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, December 31st. Stockholders of record on Monday, December 22nd were issued 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 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.5%. Vistra’s payout ratio is presently 32.49%.

Vistra 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.