Vistra (NYSE:VST) Stock Price Down 3.1% - Should You Sell?

Vistra Corp. (NYSE:VST - Get Free Report) dropped 3.1% on Thursday . The stock traded as low as $110.55 and last traded at $114.36. Approximately 2,559,335 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 67% from the average daily volume of 7,857,945 shares. The stock had previously closed at $118.02.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research analysts recently commented on VST shares. Evercore ISI started coverage on Vistra in a research report on Tuesday, January 21st. They issued an "outperform" rating and a $202.00 target price for the company. The Goldman Sachs Group began coverage on shares of Vistra in a report on Friday, April 4th. They issued a "neutral" rating and a $134.00 target price on the stock. Bank of America raised shares of Vistra from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and decreased their price objective for the stock from $164.00 to $152.00 in a research note on Tuesday, March 4th. Daiwa Capital Markets started coverage on Vistra in a research report on Wednesday, March 5th. They issued a "neutral" rating and a $120.00 price objective for the company. Finally, Daiwa America raised Vistra to a "hold" rating in a research note on Wednesday, March 5th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $159.69.

Vistra Trading Up 0.6 %

The business has a 50-day moving average of $133.17 and a 200-day moving average of $141.54. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 4.68, a current ratio of 1.11 and a quick ratio of 0.99. The firm has a market cap of $38.22 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.96, a P/E/G ratio of 1.12 and a beta of 1.21.

Vistra Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 31st. Shareholders of record on Thursday, March 20th were given a dividend of $0.2235 per share. This is a positive change from Vistra's previous quarterly dividend of $0.22. This represents a $0.89 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.80%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, March 20th. Vistra's dividend payout ratio is 12.62%.

Insider Activity

In related news, Director John William Pitesa acquired 1,500 shares of Vistra stock in a transaction on Wednesday, March 12th. The stock was purchased 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 directly owns 3,467 shares in the company, valued at $439,442.25. This trade represents a 76.26 % increase in their position. The purchase was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, Director Paul M. Barbas sold 24,136 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $124.19, for a total transaction of $2,997,449.84. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 51,063 shares in the company, valued at $6,341,513.97. The trade was a 32.10 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 1.42% of the company's stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Vistra

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Lionsbridge Wealth Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Vistra during the fourth quarter worth approximately $277,000. Dakota Wealth Management bought a new stake in shares of Vistra during the 4th quarter worth $231,000. Retirement Systems of Alabama boosted its stake in Vistra by 9.6% in the third quarter. Retirement Systems of Alabama now owns 78,965 shares of the company's stock valued at $9,361,000 after buying an additional 6,920 shares in the last quarter. Legal Advantage Investments Inc. acquired a new position in Vistra during the fourth quarter worth about $565,000. Finally, Viking Fund Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Vistra by 90.0% in the fourth quarter. Viking Fund Management LLC now owns 19,000 shares of the company's stock worth $2,620,000 after acquiring an additional 9,000 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds 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.