Vistra (NYSE:VST) Stock Price Down 1.8% – Time to Sell?

Vistra Corp. (NYSE:VST) shares traded down 1.8% on Tuesday . The stock traded as low as $122.28 and last traded at $124.03. 1,278,864 shares traded hands during trading, a decline of 83% from the average session volume of 7,484,297 shares. The stock had previously closed at $126.29.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities research analysts have recently weighed in on the company. BMO Capital Markets upped their price target on Vistra from $151.00 to $191.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 22nd. UBS Group upped their price target on Vistra from $161.00 to $174.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, January 3rd. Daiwa Capital Markets began coverage on shares of Vistra in a research report on Wednesday, March 5th. They issued a “neutral” rating and a $120.00 price objective on the stock. Evercore ISI began coverage on shares of Vistra in a research report on Tuesday, January 21st. They issued an “outperform” rating and a $202.00 price objective on the stock. Finally, Daiwa America upgraded shares of Vistra to a “hold” rating in a research report on Wednesday, March 5th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Vistra has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $162.83.

Vistra Price Performance

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 business’s 50-day simple moving average is $154.45 and its 200 day simple moving average is $137.71. The firm has a market capitalization of $42.87 billion, a P/E ratio of 23.48, a PEG ratio of 1.12 and a beta of 1.21.

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 given a dividend of $0.2235 per share. This is a boost from Vistra’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.22. This represents a $0.89 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.71%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, March 20th. Vistra’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 12.62%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Vistra

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

Institutional Trading of Vistra

A number of institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. 111 Capital purchased a new stake in shares of Vistra during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $465,000. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC lifted its stake in Vistra by 239.9% in the fourth quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC now owns 142,259 shares of the company’s stock worth $19,613,000 after acquiring an additional 100,400 shares during the period. Centaurus Financial Inc. lifted its stake in Vistra by 213.4% in the fourth quarter. Centaurus Financial Inc. now owns 6,479 shares of the company’s stock worth $893,000 after acquiring an additional 4,412 shares during the period. Anchor Pointe Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in Vistra in the fourth quarter worth $271,000. Finally, IronOak Wealth LLC. purchased a new stake in Vistra in the fourth quarter worth $862,000. 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.