Vistra (NYSE:VST) Stock Price Up 4.4% – What’s Next?

Vistra Corp. (NYSE:VST)’s share price was up 4.4% during mid-day trading on Thursday . The stock traded as high as $162.27 and last traded at $161.45. Approximately 1,890,621 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 72% from the average daily volume of 6,869,749 shares. The stock had previously closed at $154.63.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of brokerages have recently issued reports on VST. Jefferies Financial Group increased their price objective on shares of Vistra from $99.00 to $137.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, September 24th. Guggenheim raised their price target on Vistra from $133.00 to $177.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, October 8th. BNP Paribas began coverage on Vistra in a research note on Monday, October 14th. They issued an “outperform” rating and a $231.00 price objective for the company. Morgan Stanley lifted their target price on Vistra from $135.00 to $169.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Friday. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada upped their price target on Vistra from $105.00 to $141.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Thursday, October 3rd. Ten investment analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating, According to MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Buy” and a consensus target price of $149.10.

Vistra Stock Performance

The business’s fifty day moving average is $125.72 and its two-hundred day moving average is $99.36. The stock has a market capitalization of $55.09 billion, a PE ratio of 30.21, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.14 and a beta of 1.09. The company has a quick ratio of 0.99, a current ratio of 1.11 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 4.68.

Vistra Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, December 31st. Shareholders of record on Friday, December 20th will be paid a $0.221 dividend. This is a boost from Vistra’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.22. This represents a $0.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.55%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, December 20th. Vistra’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 16.42%.

Vistra declared that its Board of Directors has approved a share buyback plan on Thursday, November 7th that allows the company to repurchase $1.00 billion in shares. This repurchase authorization allows the company to buy up to 2.1% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares repurchase plans are generally an indication that the company’s management believes its shares are undervalued.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Vistra

Several large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in VST. Redwood Wealth Management Group LLC bought a new stake in shares of Vistra in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $26,000. Thurston Springer Miller Herd & Titak Inc. bought a new stake in Vistra in the third quarter worth $30,000. Mark Sheptoff Financial Planning LLC purchased a new position in Vistra during the third quarter worth $30,000. New Covenant Trust Company N.A. bought a new position in Vistra during the first quarter valued at $32,000. Finally, CVA Family Office LLC raised its stake in shares of Vistra by 1,505.9% in the third quarter. CVA Family Office LLC now owns 273 shares of the company’s stock valued at $32,000 after acquiring an additional 256 shares during the period. 90.88% of the stock is 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.