Vistra (NYSE:VST) Stock Price Up 0.1% - Here's Why

On Friday, shares of Vistra Corp. (NYSE:VST) saw a slight increase, rising by 0.1% during midday trading. The stock peaked at $149.35 but closed at $145.22 after trading approximately 1,162,065 shares. This trading volume marks a significant decrease of 83% from its average daily volume of 6,769,780 shares, with the previous close at $145.08.

Recent Analyst Ratings

Various research firms have recently given their perspectives on Vistra's stock. Jefferies Financial Group raised its target price for Vistra from $99.00 to $137.00 and assigned it a "buy" rating on September 24th. Royal Bank of Canada also increased its price target from $105.00 to $141.00, giving the company an "outperform" rating on October 3rd. Guggenheim raised its price objective on Vistra from $133.00 to $177.00, recommending a "buy" rating on October 8th. UBS Group lowered its target price from $157.00 to $150.00 while maintaining a "buy" rating in a report dated October 22nd. Additionally, BNP Paribas started coverage on Vistra with an "outperform" rating and a price target of $231.00. Overall, ten analysts rate the stock as a buy, with a consensus target price of $149.10, according to MarketBeat.com.

Company Performance Metrics

Vistra has a debt-to-equity ratio of 4.68, alongside a quick ratio of 0.99 and a current ratio of 1.11. The company has seen improvements in its stock performance, with a fifty-day simple moving average of $139.47 and a 200-day simple moving average of $105.85. As of now, Vistra holds a market capitalization of $49.28 billion, a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 27.09, a P/E to growth (P/E/G) ratio of 1.87, and a beta of 1.16.

Dividend Increase Announced

Vistra has announced a quarterly dividend increase, set to be paid on December 31st. Shareholders on record as of December 20th will receive a dividend of $0.221, up from the previous amount of $0.22. This dividend amounts to an annualized total of $0.88, representing a dividend yield of 0.61%. The ex-dividend date for this payout is also December 20th. Currently, Vistra's payout ratio stands at 16.42%.

Share Buyback Initiative

In a strategic move, Vistra’s board approved a share repurchase plan that allows for the purchase of up to $1.00 billion worth of its shares from the market, which accounts for about 2.1% of its outstanding shares. Such buyback plans are typically viewed as a sign that the board considers the stock to be undervalued.

Insider Transactions

Recently, EVP Stephen J. Muscato sold 207,100 shares of Vistra at an average price of $161.34, totaling around $33.41 million. Following this transaction, Muscato holds approximately 318,287 shares, valued at about $51.35 million, reflecting a 39.42% reduction in ownership. Another executive, EVP Scott A. Hudson, also sold 115,000 shares at an average price of $164.16, amounting to about $18.88 million. Hudson’s new shareholding stands at 254,932 shares worth roughly $41.85 million, indicating a decrease of 31.09% in ownership. In total, insiders sold 342,100 shares in the last quarter, which is 1.42% of the company’s stock based on insider ownership.

Institutional Investments

Several hedge funds and institutional investors have made trades involving Vistra shares. Notably, State Street Corp increased its stake by 6.8%, acquiring an additional 1,037,402 shares, now owning 16,355,255 shares valued at approximately $1.94 billion. Lone Pine Capital LLC raised its holdings by 6.6%, resulting in ownership of 6,838,007 shares worth about $587.93 million. Other firms like Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA and Janus Henderson Group PLC have significantly increased their share counts as well. Institutional investors collectively hold 90.88% of Vistra's stock.

About Vistra Corp.

Vistra Corp. is an integrated retail electricity and power generation company that operates through multiple segments, including Retail, Texas, East, West, Sunset, and Asset Closure. The company provides electricity and natural gas to residential, commercial, and industrial clients across the United States and Washington, D.C.

Vistra, Stock, Investing