Vistra (NYSE:VST) Shares Up 2.4% After Insider Buying Activity

Vistra Corp. (NYSE:VST)’s share price shot up 2.4% during mid-day trading on Monday following insider buying activity. The stock traded as high as $128.18 and last traded at $127.45. 1,906,823 shares were traded during trading, a decline of 75% from the average session volume of 7,492,145 shares. The stock had previously closed at $124.46.

Specifically, Director John William Pitesa bought 1,500 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, March 12th. The shares were acquired at an average cost of $126.75 per share, with a total value of $190,125.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 3,467 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $439,442.25. This trade represents a 76.26 % increase in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several brokerages recently issued reports on VST. Daiwa America upgraded shares of Vistra to a “hold” rating in a research report on Wednesday, March 5th. Morgan Stanley lifted their target price on 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 upgraded Vistra from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and reduced their price target for the stock from $164.00 to $152.00 in a research report on Tuesday, March 4th. UBS Group lifted their price target on shares of Vistra from $161.00 to $174.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, January 3rd. Finally, Evercore ISI started coverage on shares of Vistra in a research note on Tuesday, January 21st. They issued an “outperform” rating and a $202.00 price objective for the company. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $162.83.

Vistra Stock Performance

The firm’s 50 day simple moving average is $154.45 and its 200 day simple moving average is $137.71. The firm has a market cap of $42.90 billion, a PE ratio of 23.53, a PEG ratio of 1.12 and a beta of 1.21. 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 Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 31st. Investors of record on Thursday, March 20th will be paid a dividend of $0.2235 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, March 20th. This is a positive change 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%. Vistra’s dividend payout ratio is presently 12.62%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Vistra

Several institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC boosted its position in shares of Vistra by 239.9% during the 4th quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC now owns 142,259 shares of the company’s stock valued at $19,613,000 after acquiring an additional 100,400 shares during the last quarter. Centaurus Financial Inc. raised its stake in Vistra by 213.4% during the fourth quarter. Centaurus Financial Inc. now owns 6,479 shares of the company’s stock valued at $893,000 after purchasing an additional 4,412 shares in the last quarter. Anchor Pointe Wealth Management LLC bought a new position in Vistra during the fourth quarter valued at $271,000. IronOak Wealth LLC. purchased a new position in shares of Vistra in the 4th quarter worth $862,000. Finally, Castle Rock Wealth Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Vistra in the 4th quarter worth about $562,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 90.88% of the company’s stock.

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.