Vistra (NYSE:VST) Stock Price Down 0.8% – Should You Sell?

Shares of Vistra Corp. (NYSE:VST) were down 0.8% during mid-day trading on Friday . The stock traded as low as $113.46 and last traded at $113.55. Approximately 2,841,225 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 70% from the average daily volume of 9,486,186 shares. The stock had previously closed at $114.41.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research analysts recently weighed in on VST shares. Evercore ISI assumed coverage on shares of Vistra in a research report on Tuesday, January 21st. They issued an “outperform” rating and a $202.00 price target on the stock. UBS Group increased 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. Daiwa Capital Markets initiated coverage on shares of Vistra in a research report on Wednesday. They set a “neutral” rating and a $120.00 price objective on the stock. Morgan Stanley increased their target price on shares of Vistra from $135.00 to $169.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Friday, November 22nd. Finally, BMO Capital Markets lifted their price target on shares of Vistra from $151.00 to $191.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 22nd. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, Vistra currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $162.83.

Vistra Stock Down 0.2 %

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 stock has a market cap of $38.85 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.35, a P/E/G ratio of 1.12 and a beta of 1.21. The company’s 50 day moving average price is $158.53 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $135.25.

Vistra Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 31st. Shareholders of record on Thursday, March 20th will be given a dividend of $0.2235 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, March 20th. This is a positive change from Vistra’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.22. This represents a $0.89 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.78%. Vistra’s payout ratio is 12.62%.

Vistra declared that its board has initiated a share repurchase program on Thursday, November 7th that permits the company to buyback $1.00 billion in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization permits the company to reacquire up to 2.1% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares buyback programs are often a sign that the company’s management believes its shares are undervalued.

Insider Activity

In other news, Director Scott B. Helm sold 20,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, December 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $139.77, for a total transaction of $2,795,400.00. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 343,350 shares in the company, valued at approximately $47,990,029.50. This trade represents a 5.50 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Insiders own 1.42% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Trading of Vistra

A number of hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of VST. Avior Wealth Management LLC raised its position in shares of Vistra by 56.5% in the 4th quarter. Avior Wealth Management LLC now owns 180 shares of the company’s stock worth $25,000 after acquiring an additional 65 shares in the last quarter. Pathway Financial Advisers LLC raised its holdings in Vistra by 616.0% in the fourth quarter. Pathway Financial Advisers LLC now owns 179 shares of the company’s stock worth $25,000 after purchasing an additional 154 shares in the last quarter. Founders Capital Management purchased a new stake in shares of Vistra during the fourth quarter valued at about $28,000. West Branch Capital LLC bought a new stake in shares of Vistra in the 4th quarter valued at about $28,000. Finally, Comprehensive Financial Planning Inc. PA purchased a new position in shares of Vistra in the 4th quarter worth approximately $28,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 90.88% of the company’s stock.

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.