Shares of Vistra Corp. (NYSE:VST - Get Free Report) were down 4.5% on Thursday . The company traded as low as $157.87 and last traded at $161.72. Approximately 3,533,590 shares were traded during mid-day trading, a decline of 60% from the average daily volume of 8,847,839 shares. The stock had previously closed at $169.35.
Several research analysts have recently issued reports on the company. Evercore ISI began coverage on Vistra in a research note on Tuesday, January 21st. They set an "outperform" rating and a $202.00 price target for the company. BMO Capital Markets lifted their target price on shares of Vistra from $151.00 to $191.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 22nd. Morgan Stanley increased their price target on shares of Vistra from $135.00 to $169.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research report on Friday, November 22nd. Bank of America started coverage on Vistra in a research report on Monday, January 27th. They set a "neutral" rating and a $206.00 price objective for the company. Finally, UBS Group upped their target price on Vistra from $161.00 to $174.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Friday, January 3rd. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have given a buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $171.64.
Get Our Latest Stock Report on Vistra
The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $160.19 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $131.92. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 4.68, a quick ratio of 0.99 and a current ratio of 1.11. The company has a market capitalization of $51.21 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 28.08, a P/E/G ratio of 1.12 and a beta of 1.22.
The firm also recently announced 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 an increase from Vistra's previous quarterly dividend of $0.22. This represents a $0.89 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.59%. Vistra's dividend payout ratio is 16.60%.
Vistra announced that its board has approved a stock repurchase plan 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 plans are generally a sign that the company's board of directors believes its shares are undervalued.
In other Vistra news, Director Scott B. Helm sold 20,000 shares of Vistra stock in a transaction 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 transaction, the director now owns 343,350 shares in the company, valued at $47,990,029.50. This trade represents a 5.50 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, EVP Scott A. Hudson sold 115,000 shares of the company's stock in a transaction on Monday, November 25th. The stock was sold at an average price of $164.16, for a total value of $18,878,400.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 254,932 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $41,849,637.12. The trade was a 31.09 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Corporate insiders own 1.42% of the company's stock.
A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Pathway Financial Advisers LLC lifted its stake in shares of Vistra by 616.0% in the 4th quarter. Pathway Financial Advisers LLC now owns 179 shares of the company's stock valued at $25,000 after purchasing an additional 154 shares in the last quarter. Avior Wealth Management LLC lifted its position in Vistra by 56.5% during 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. Founders Capital Management purchased a new stake in Vistra during the fourth quarter worth approximately $28,000. West Branch Capital LLC purchased a new stake in Vistra during the fourth quarter worth approximately $28,000. Finally, Comprehensive Financial Planning Inc. PA acquired a new stake in shares of Vistra in the fourth quarter worth $28,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 90.88% of the company's stock.
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.
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