Vistra (NYSE:VST) Stock Price Down 5.2%

Shares of Vistra Corp. (NYSE:VST) were down 5.2% during mid-day trading on Thursday . The stock traded as low as $64.91 and last traded at $65.10. Approximately 3,813,377 shares changed hands during trading, a decline of 24% from the average daily volume of 4,990,870 shares. The stock had previously closed at $68.65.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities research analysts have issued reports on VST shares. Evercore ISI lifted their price target on Vistra from $72.00 to $79.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Thursday, April 4th. Janney Montgomery Scott started coverage on Vistra in a research note on Thursday. They set a “buy” rating and a $82.00 price target for the company. BMO Capital Markets lifted their price target on Vistra from $52.00 to $60.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Monday, March 4th. Finally, Morgan Stanley reaffirmed an “overweight” rating and set a $78.00 price target on shares of Vistra in a research note on Monday, March 25th. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating, According to MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of “Buy” and an average price target of $67.20.

Vistra Stock Performance

The stock has a market cap of $22.92 billion, a PE ratio of 19.18 and a beta of 1.05. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $60.15 and a 200 day moving average price of $44.74. The company has a quick ratio of 1.11, a current ratio of 1.18 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 4.26.

Vistra (NYSE:VST) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 28th. The company reported ($0.48) EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.54 by ($1.02). The company had revenue of $3.08 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $5.48 billion. Vistra had a return on equity of 20.05% and a net margin of 10.10%. Analysts expect that Vistra Corp. will post 4.24 earnings per share for the current year.

Vistra Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 29th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, March 20th were issued a $0.215 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, March 19th. This represents a $0.86 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.31%. This is an increase from Vistra’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.21. Vistra’s payout ratio is currently 24.02%.

Insider Transactions at Vistra

In related news, EVP Scott A. Hudson sold 86,517 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, March 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $59.11, for a total transaction of $5,114,019.87. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 254,932 shares in the company, valued at approximately $15,069,030.52. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In related news, EVP Stephanie Zapata Moore sold 98,020 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, March 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $58.50, for a total transaction of $5,734,170.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 161,888 shares in the company, valued at approximately $9,470,448. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, EVP Scott A. Hudson sold 86,517 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, March 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $59.11, for a total value of $5,114,019.87. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 254,932 shares in the company, valued at approximately $15,069,030.52. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last quarter, insiders have sold 257,285 shares of company stock worth $15,404,397. Company insiders own 1.42% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in VST. MetLife Investment Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Vistra during the 1st quarter worth approximately $223,000. Rhumbline Advisers grew its holdings in shares of Vistra by 2.5% during the 1st quarter. Rhumbline Advisers now owns 458,182 shares of the company’s stock worth $10,653,000 after acquiring an additional 11,136 shares during the period. BlackRock Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Vistra by 2.3% during the 1st quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 23,939,759 shares of the company’s stock worth $556,597,000 after acquiring an additional 534,299 shares during the period. Yousif Capital Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of Vistra by 15.5% during the 1st quarter. Yousif Capital Management LLC now owns 26,786 shares of the company’s stock worth $623,000 after acquiring an additional 3,595 shares during the period. Finally, Raymond James Trust N.A. grew its holdings in shares of Vistra by 44.8% during the 1st quarter. Raymond James Trust N.A. now owns 39,151 shares of the company’s stock worth $910,000 after acquiring an additional 12,108 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 90.88% of the company’s stock.

Vistra Company Profile

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.