Wakefield Asset Management LLLP Takes Position in Vistra Corp. $VST

Wakefield Asset Management LLLP acquired a new position in Vistra Corp. (NYSE:VST) in the third quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund acquired 18,847 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $3,693,000.

Several other large investors have also modified their holdings of VST. Fisher Funds Management LTD bought a new position in shares of Vistra in the third quarter worth about $1,241,000. FUKOKU MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE Co bought a new stake in Vistra during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $292,000. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. boosted its stake in Vistra by 49.2% during the 3rd quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 371,497 shares of the company’s stock valued at $72,784,000 after purchasing an additional 122,545 shares during the period. Dynamic Technology Lab Private Ltd acquired a new stake in Vistra in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $1,445,000. Finally, National Pension Service grew its holdings in Vistra by 6.3% in the 3rd quarter. National Pension Service now owns 1,195,793 shares of the company’s stock valued at $234,280,000 after buying an additional 70,693 shares during the last quarter. 90.88% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Vistra Trading Up 0.5%

Shares of Vistra stock opened at $164.38 on Wednesday. Vistra Corp. has a 52-week low of $90.51 and a 52-week high of $219.82. The firm has a market capitalization of $55.70 billion, a PE ratio of 75.75, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.99 and a beta of 1.42. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 6.01, a current ratio of 0.78 and a quick ratio of 0.69. The company’s fifty day moving average price is $163.68 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $178.95.

Vistra (NYSE:VST) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 26th. The company reported $2.18 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.45 by ($0.27). Vistra had a return on equity of 81.09% and a net margin of 5.32%.The business had revenue of $4.58 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.75 billion. On average, analysts expect that Vistra Corp. will post 7 EPS for the current year.

Vistra Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 31st. Investors of record on Friday, March 20th will be given a $0.228 dividend. This represents a $0.91 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.6%. This is a boost from Vistra’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.23. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, March 20th. Vistra’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 41.94%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research analysts have recently commented on VST shares. Bank of America cut their price target on Vistra from $231.00 to $218.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Monday, January 12th. The Goldman Sachs Group raised shares of Vistra from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $205.00 target price on the stock in a research report on Friday, February 6th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their target price on shares of Vistra from $249.00 to $233.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, December 16th. Scotiabank raised their price target on shares of Vistra from $287.00 to $293.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Monday, January 12th. Finally, Morgan Stanley reaffirmed an “overweight” rating and set a $215.00 price objective on shares of Vistra in a research report on Friday, February 20th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twelve have issued a Buy rating and one has given a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of “Buy” and a consensus price target of $236.40.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Vistra news, CEO James A. Burke sold 22,251 shares of Vistra stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, December 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $162.05, for a total transaction of $3,605,774.55. Following the sale, the chief executive officer directly owned 297,998 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $48,290,575.90. The trade was a 6.95% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. 1.42% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Vistra Profile

Vistra (NYSE: VST) is an integrated power company that develops, owns and operates electricity generation and retail businesses in the United States. The company’s operations span wholesale power production—through a diversified fleet of thermal and lower‑carbon generation assets—and retail electricity supply to residential, commercial and industrial customers. Vistra serves organized wholesale markets and competitive retail markets, with a notable presence in Texas and other regional U.S. power markets.

Vistra’s core activities include the ownership and operation of generation facilities, the commercial dispatch and optimization of those assets into wholesale markets, and the sale of electricity and related services to end-use customers through its retail brands.