Vistra (NYSE:VST) Stock Price Falls by 3.6% Following Insider Sales

Vistra Corp. (NYSE:VST) experienced a decline of 3.6% in its stock price during mid-day trading on Wednesday after news broke about insider selling. The stock was reported to have traded as low as $155.35 before settling at $156.80. During this session, a total of 1,308,796 shares changed hands, representing a significant 81% drop from the average trading volume of 6,867,301 shares. The previous closing price for the stock was $162.66.

One major insider, Scott A. Hudson, who is the Executive Vice President of the company, sold quite a considerable amount, specifically 115,000 shares of Vistra stock on Monday, November 25th. This sale occurred at an average price of $164.16, leading to a transaction total of approximately $18.88 million. Post-sale, Hudson now holds 254,932 shares, which is valued at about $41.85 million, reflecting a 31.09% decrease in his stake in the company. This transaction has been disclosed in a filing with the SEC.

In addition to Hudson's sale, another Executive Vice President, Stephen J. Muscato, sold 207,100 shares on Friday, November 22nd for an average price of $161.34, amounting to a total of approximately $33.41 million. After this transaction, Muscato owns 318,287 shares, valued at about $51.35 million, marking a 39.42% drop in his ownership.

Recent Analyst Ratings for Vistra

Recent reports from analysts have varied in their opinions regarding Vistra's stock. Guggenheim increased their price target on Vistra from $133.00 to $177.00 and designated the stock as a "buy" in their analysis from October 8th. Similarly, BMO Capital Markets raised their target from $146.00 to $147.00 and gave it an "outperform" rating in a report dated October 29th.

However, UBS Group lowered their price target for Vistra from $157.00 to $150.00 while maintaining a "buy" rating on the stock as of October 22nd. Additionally, Royal Bank of Canada increased their price target from $105.00 to $141.00, also assigning an "outperform" rating on October 3rd. BNP Paribas initiated coverage with an "outperform" rating and a target price of $231.00 on October 14th. Overall, data from MarketBeat shows that ten analysts have rated Vistra as a "buy," resulting in an average rating of "Buy" with an average price target of $149.10.

Current Market Statistics for Vistra

Vistra currently holds a market capitalization of approximately $53.35 billion. Its price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio stands at 29.25, while the P/E/G ratio is 1.98, reflecting its growth potential. The stock has a beta of 1.09. Presently, the company’s 50-day moving average is at $129.97, and the 200-day moving average is at $101.03. In terms of liquidity, Vistra has a quick ratio of 0.99 and a current ratio of 1.11, while its debt-to-equity ratio is significantly high at 4.68.

Dividend Announcement from Vistra

Vistra disclosed plans for its forthcoming quarterly dividend, which is set to be distributed on December 31st. Shareholders who are on record by December 20th will receive a dividend of $0.221 per share, a slight increase from the previous $0.22 per share. The ex-dividend date is also December 20th, indicating that this represents an annualized dividend of $0.88, translating to a dividend yield of 0.56%. Vistra's current dividend payout ratio is at 16.42%.

Furthermore, on November 7th, the board of Vistra authorized a stock repurchase program allowing the company to buy back $1.00 billion in outstanding shares. This indicates that the company's management believes its stock may be undervalued and is taking steps to enhance shareholder value through buybacks.

Institutional Investor Activity in Vistra

Several institutional investors have recently adjusted their stakes in Vistra. For example, Empire Life Investments Inc. initiated a new position worth approximately $23 million in the third quarter. Also, Terra Nova Asset Management LLC purchased $842,000 worth of shares in the same period.

The Czech National Bank raised its position in Vistra by 12.4%, now holding almost 70,000 shares valued at around $8.3 million following the purchase of additional shares. Similarly, CIBC Asset Management Inc. increased its stake by 12.4% as well. The overall institutional ownership in Vistra now stands at a noteworthy 90.88% of the company’s stock.

Overview of Vistra Corp.

Vistra Corp. operates as an integrated retail electricity and power generation firm through its various subsidiaries. The company engages in retailing electricity and natural gas to both residential and commercial customers throughout the United States and the District of Columbia, operating through six segments: Retail, Texas, East, West, Sunset, and Asset Closure.

Vistra, Stocks, Insider