Vistra (NYSE:VST) Trading Down 3.9% – Here’s What Happened

Vistra Corp. (NYSE:VST) shares were down 3.9% during trading on Friday . The stock traded as low as $156.84 and last traded at $156.86. Approximately 1,714,966 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 80% from the average daily volume of 8,742,647 shares. The stock had previously closed at $163.18.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several analysts have commented on VST shares. UBS Group lifted their price target on Vistra from $161.00 to $174.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, January 3rd. Morgan Stanley lifted their price objective on Vistra from $135.00 to $169.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Friday, November 22nd. Bank of America initiated coverage on Vistra in a research note on Monday, January 27th. They issued a “neutral” rating and a $206.00 price objective on the stock. 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, BMO Capital Markets lifted their price objective on Vistra from $151.00 to $191.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 22nd. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have assigned a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $171.64.

Vistra Stock Down 8.3 %

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 4.68, a quick ratio of 0.99 and a current ratio of 1.11. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $160.08 and a 200-day simple moving average of $131.37. The company has a market capitalization of $50.92 billion, a PE ratio of 27.88, a P/E/G ratio of 1.16 and a beta of 1.22.

Vistra announced that its board has initiated a stock repurchase program on Thursday, November 7th that allows the company to buyback $1.00 billion in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization allows the company to repurchase up to 2.1% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback programs are generally a sign that the company’s leadership believes its shares are undervalued.

Insider Activity

In other news, Director Scott B. Helm sold 20,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, December 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $139.77, for a total value of $2,795,400.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 343,350 shares in the company, valued at approximately $47,990,029.50. The trade was a 5.50 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Scott A. Hudson sold 115,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, November 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of $164.16, for a total value of $18,878,400.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 254,932 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $41,849,637.12. This trade represents a 31.09 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 1.42% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in VST. Creative Planning grew its stake in Vistra by 33.3% during the 3rd quarter. Creative Planning now owns 31,052 shares of the company’s stock worth $3,681,000 after buying an additional 7,753 shares during the last quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC grew its stake in Vistra by 43.0% during the 3rd quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 235,198 shares of the company’s stock worth $27,880,000 after buying an additional 70,780 shares during the last quarter. Foundations Investment Advisors LLC bought a new position in Vistra during the 3rd quarter worth $216,000. Signaturefd LLC grew its stake in Vistra by 12.6% during the 3rd quarter. Signaturefd LLC now owns 2,604 shares of the company’s stock worth $309,000 after buying an additional 292 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Segment Wealth Management LLC bought a new position in Vistra during the 3rd quarter worth $389,000. 90.88% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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.