Vistra (NYSE:VST) Trading 2.4% Higher – Should You Buy?

Shares of Vistra Corp. (NYSE:VST) were up 2.4% during mid-day trading on Thursday . The company traded as high as $132.28 and last traded at $132.72. Approximately 1,471,713 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 80% from the average daily volume of 7,480,111 shares. The stock had previously closed at $129.63.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research analysts have recently issued reports on the company. Evercore ISI assumed coverage on Vistra in a research note on Tuesday, January 21st. They issued an “outperform” rating and a $202.00 price target for the company. BMO Capital Markets raised their target price on shares of Vistra from $151.00 to $191.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Wednesday, January 22nd. Daiwa America raised Vistra to a “hold” rating in a research note on Wednesday, March 5th. Bank of America raised shares of Vistra from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and dropped their price target for the stock from $164.00 to $152.00 in a research note on Tuesday, March 4th. Finally, Morgan Stanley lifted their price target on Vistra from $135.00 to $169.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Friday, November 22nd. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Vistra currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $162.83.

Vistra Trading Up 1.8 %

The company has a market cap of $44.89 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 24.57, a P/E/G ratio of 1.12 and a beta of 1.21. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $153.04 and a 200 day moving average price of $137.93. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 4.68, a quick ratio of 0.99 and a current ratio of 1.11.

Vistra Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 31st. Investors of record on Thursday, March 20th will be issued 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 dividend yield of 0.68%. Vistra’s payout ratio is presently 12.62%.

Insider Activity at Vistra

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

Institutional Trading of Vistra

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Avior Wealth Management LLC raised its position in Vistra by 56.5% during the fourth quarter. Avior Wealth Management LLC now owns 180 shares of the company’s stock valued at $25,000 after purchasing an additional 65 shares in the last quarter. Pathway Financial Advisers LLC raised its position in Vistra by 616.0% during the fourth quarter. Pathway Financial Advisers LLC now owns 179 shares of the company’s stock valued at $25,000 after purchasing an additional 154 shares in the last quarter. Founders Capital Management purchased a new stake in Vistra during the fourth quarter valued at about $28,000. West Branch Capital LLC purchased a new stake in Vistra during the fourth quarter valued at about $28,000. Finally, Comprehensive Financial Planning Inc. PA purchased a new stake in Vistra during the fourth quarter valued at about $28,000. 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.