Vistra (NYSE:VST) Shares Up 2.2% – Time to Buy?

Vistra Corp. (NYSE:VST)’s share price was up 2.2% on Monday . The company traded as high as $109.18 and last traded at $100.19. Approximately 5,328,844 shares traded hands during trading, a decline of 32% from the average daily volume of 7,806,108 shares. The stock had previously closed at $98.07.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several brokerages have recently issued reports on VST. Daiwa America upgraded shares of Vistra to a “hold” rating in a research note on Wednesday, March 5th. UBS Group boosted their target price on Vistra from $161.00 to $174.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, January 3rd. The Goldman Sachs Group began coverage on Vistra in a research note on Friday. They set a “neutral” rating and a $134.00 price target for the company. Evercore ISI initiated coverage on Vistra in a research note on Tuesday, January 21st. They issued an “outperform” rating and a $202.00 price objective on the stock. Finally, Daiwa Capital Markets initiated coverage on shares of Vistra in a research report on Wednesday, March 5th. They set a “neutral” rating and a $120.00 target price for the company. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $161.23.

Vistra Price Performance

The business’s 50-day moving average price is $139.62 and its 200 day moving average price is $141.85. The company has a quick ratio of 0.99, a current ratio of 1.11 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 4.68. The company has a market capitalization of $34.81 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.09, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.12 and a beta of 1.21.

Vistra Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 31st. Investors of record on Thursday, March 20th were given a dividend of $0.2235 per share. This represents a $0.89 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.87%. This is a boost from Vistra’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.22. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, March 20th. Vistra’s payout ratio is presently 12.62%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, Director John William Pitesa bought 1,500 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, March 12th. The stock was acquired at an average cost of $126.75 per share, for a total transaction of $190,125.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 3,467 shares in the company, valued at $439,442.25. This trade represents a 76.26 % increase in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, Director Paul M. Barbas sold 24,136 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, March 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $124.19, for a total transaction of $2,997,449.84. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 51,063 shares in the company, valued at $6,341,513.97. The trade was a 32.10 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Corporate insiders own 1.42% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Lionsbridge Wealth Management LLC bought a new stake in Vistra during the fourth quarter worth about $277,000. Dakota Wealth Management purchased a new position in shares of Vistra during the 4th quarter valued at about $231,000. Retirement Systems of Alabama lifted its position in Vistra by 9.6% in the 3rd quarter. Retirement Systems of Alabama now owns 78,965 shares of the company’s stock worth $9,361,000 after buying an additional 6,920 shares during the last quarter. First Sabrepoint Capital Management LP purchased a new stake in Vistra in the third quarter worth approximately $17,781,000. Finally, Legal Advantage Investments Inc. bought a new position in Vistra during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $565,000. 90.88% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About Vistra

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.