Vistra (NYSE:VST) Trading 1.2% Higher – What’s Next?

Vistra Corp. (NYSE:VST) was up 1.2% during mid-day trading on Monday . The company traded as high as $170.45 and last traded at $167.59. Approximately 5,707,110 shares traded hands during trading, a decline of 45% from the average daily volume of 10,342,942 shares. The stock had previously closed at $165.65.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research analysts recently issued reports 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 target price for the company. UBS Group increased their price objective on Vistra from $161.00 to $174.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, January 3rd. BMO Capital Markets raised their price objective on Vistra from $151.00 to $191.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Wednesday, January 22nd. Bank of America started coverage on Vistra in a research note on Monday, January 27th. They issued a “neutral” rating and a $206.00 target price for the company. Finally, Morgan Stanley lifted their price target on shares of Vistra from $135.00 to $169.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Friday, November 22nd. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Vistra has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $171.64.

Vistra Stock Performance

The business’s fifty day simple moving average is $159.26 and its 200-day simple moving average is $130.88. The firm has a market cap of $57.62 billion, a P/E ratio of 31.60, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.15 and a beta of 1.22. The company has a current ratio of 1.11, a quick ratio of 0.99 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 4.68.

Vistra announced that its board has authorized a stock repurchase program on Thursday, November 7th that allows the company to repurchase $1.00 billion in shares. This repurchase authorization allows the company to reacquire up to 2.1% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase programs are often an indication that the company’s board believes its stock is undervalued.

Insider Transactions at Vistra

In related news, EVP Stephen J. Muscato sold 207,100 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, November 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $161.34, for a total value of $33,413,514.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 318,287 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $51,352,424.58. This represents a 39.42 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, Director Scott B. Helm sold 20,000 shares of Vistra stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, December 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $139.77, for a total value of $2,795,400.00. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 343,350 shares in the company, valued at approximately $47,990,029.50. The trade was a 5.50 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last three months, insiders have sold 342,100 shares of company stock worth $55,087,314. 1.42% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Sunbelt Securities Inc. raised its holdings in Vistra by 1.6% in the fourth quarter. Sunbelt Securities Inc. now owns 6,409 shares of the company’s stock worth $898,000 after purchasing an additional 98 shares in the last quarter. Fourth Dimension Wealth LLC bought a new position in shares of Vistra in the 4th quarter worth about $86,000. Vise Technologies Inc. increased its stake in shares of Vistra by 91.5% in the 4th quarter. Vise Technologies Inc. now owns 7,493 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,033,000 after acquiring an additional 3,580 shares in the last quarter. Gordian Capital Singapore Pte Ltd lifted its position in Vistra by 100.8% during the 4th quarter. Gordian Capital Singapore Pte Ltd now owns 11,040 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,522,000 after acquiring an additional 5,541 shares during the period. Finally, Pinkerton Retirement Specialists LLC boosted its stake in Vistra by 31.1% during the fourth quarter. Pinkerton Retirement Specialists LLC now owns 8,220 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,133,000 after acquiring an additional 1,952 shares in the last quarter. 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.