Vistra (NYSE:VST) Trading 3.6% Higher on Insider Buying Activity

Vistra Corp. (NYSE:VST)’s share price traded up 3.6% during mid-day trading on Friday after an insider bought additional shares in the company. The stock traded as high as $122.29 and last traded at $122.19. 2,122,172 shares traded hands during trading, a decline of 72% from the average session volume of 7,496,821 shares. The stock had previously closed at $118.00.

Specifically, Director John William Pitesa acquired 1,500 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, March 12th. The shares were bought at an average price of $126.75 per share, with a total value of $190,125.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 3,467 shares in the company, valued at $439,442.25. This trade represents a 76.26 % increase in their ownership of the stock. The acquisition was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities research analysts have commented on VST shares. Evercore ISI started coverage on Vistra in a research note on Tuesday, January 21st. They issued an “outperform” rating and a $202.00 price target for the company. Bank of America upgraded Vistra from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and decreased their price target for the company from $164.00 to $152.00 in a research note on Tuesday, March 4th. Morgan Stanley increased their price target on Vistra from $135.00 to $169.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Friday, November 22nd. Daiwa America upgraded Vistra to a “hold” rating in a research note on Wednesday, March 5th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets increased their price target on Vistra from $151.00 to $191.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 22nd. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $162.83.

Vistra Stock Performance

The firm has a 50-day moving average of $155.20 and a two-hundred day moving average of $137.04. 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 company has a market capitalization of $42.32 billion, a PE ratio of 23.21, a PEG ratio of 1.12 and a beta of 1.21.

Vistra Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 31st. Investors 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 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.72%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, March 20th. Vistra’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 12.62%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of VST. Avior Wealth Management LLC increased its position in shares of Vistra by 56.5% in the fourth quarter. Avior Wealth Management LLC now owns 180 shares of the company’s stock valued at $25,000 after buying an additional 65 shares in the last quarter. Pathway Financial Advisers LLC increased its position in shares of Vistra by 616.0% in the fourth quarter. Pathway Financial Advisers LLC now owns 179 shares of the company’s stock valued at $25,000 after buying an additional 154 shares in the last quarter. Founders Capital Management purchased a new stake in shares of Vistra in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $28,000. West Branch Capital LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Vistra in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Finally, Comprehensive Financial Planning Inc. PA purchased a new stake in shares of Vistra in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $28,000. 90.88% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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.