Los Angeles Capital Management LLC Has $35.12 Million Stake in Vistra Corp. (NYSE:VST)

Los Angeles Capital Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of Vistra Corp. (NYSE:VST) by 1.9% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 254,747 shares of the company’s stock after acquiring an additional 4,796 shares during the quarter. Los Angeles Capital Management LLC owned 0.07% of Vistra worth $35,122,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Lionsbridge Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in Vistra during the fourth quarter worth about $277,000. Dakota Wealth Management acquired a new position in Vistra during the fourth quarter worth about $231,000. Empire Life Investments Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Vistra in the third quarter valued at approximately $23,028,000. Retirement Systems of Alabama increased its stake in shares of Vistra by 9.6% in the third quarter. Retirement Systems of Alabama now owns 78,965 shares of the company’s stock valued at $9,361,000 after buying an additional 6,920 shares during the period. Finally, First Sabrepoint Capital Management LP acquired a new position in shares of Vistra in the third quarter valued at approximately $17,781,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 90.88% of the company’s stock.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Vistra news, Director Scott B. Helm sold 20,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, December 10th. The stock was 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 represents a 5.50 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Company insiders own 1.42% of the company’s stock.

Vistra Stock Performance

NYSE:VST opened at $137.86 on Wednesday. The company has a market capitalization of $46.90 billion, a PE ratio of 25.72, a P/E/G ratio of 1.12 and a beta of 1.22. Vistra Corp. has a fifty-two week low of $48.22 and a fifty-two week high of $199.84. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $160.10 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $133.60. 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 declared that its board has initiated a share 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 board believes its shares are undervalued.

Vistra Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 31st. Shareholders of record on Thursday, March 20th will be issued a dividend of $0.2235 per share. This represents a $0.89 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.65%. This is a boost from Vistra’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.22. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, March 20th. Vistra’s dividend payout ratio is presently 16.42%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research analysts have recently issued reports on VST shares. Morgan Stanley upped 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. BMO Capital Markets upped 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. Evercore ISI started coverage on Vistra in a research note on Tuesday, January 21st. They issued an “outperform” rating and a $202.00 price objective for the company. UBS Group upped their price objective on Vistra from $161.00 to $174.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, January 3rd. Finally, Bank of America started coverage on Vistra in a research note on Monday, January 27th. They issued a “neutral” rating and a $206.00 price objective for the company. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Vistra has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $171.64.

Vistra 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.