Vistra (NYSE:VST) Stock Price Down 3.7% - Here's What Happened

Vistra Corp. (NYSE:VST - Get Free Report) dropped 3.7% on Monday . The stock traded as low as $156.31 and last traded at $160.50. Approximately 2,181,872 shares were traded during trading, a decline of 67% from the average daily volume of 6,616,836 shares. The stock had previously closed at $166.73.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities analysts have recently issued reports on VST shares. BNP Paribas began coverage on Vistra in a research note on Monday, October 14th. They issued an "outperform" rating and a $231.00 price target on the stock. BMO Capital Markets increased their target price on shares of Vistra from $146.00 to $147.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a report on Tuesday, October 29th. Jefferies Financial Group lifted their price target on shares of Vistra from $99.00 to $137.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Tuesday, September 24th. Guggenheim increased their price objective on shares of Vistra from $133.00 to $177.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Tuesday, October 8th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. initiated coverage on shares of Vistra in a research note on Thursday, October 17th. They set an "overweight" rating and a $178.00 target price on the stock. Ten analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating, According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Buy" and a consensus price target of $151.50.

Vistra Trading Down 2.5 %

The stock has a market cap of $55.33 billion, a P/E ratio of 30.34, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.86 and a beta of 1.21. 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 firm's fifty day simple moving average is $147.78 and its 200-day simple moving average is $114.31.

Vistra Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, December 31st. Investors of record on Friday, December 20th were issued a $0.221 dividend. This is a positive change from Vistra's previous quarterly dividend of $0.22. The ex-dividend date was Friday, December 20th. This represents a $0.88 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.54%. Vistra's payout ratio is presently 16.42%.

Vistra announced that its Board of Directors has authorized a share buyback program on Thursday, November 7th that allows the company to buyback $1.00 billion in shares. This buyback authorization allows the company to purchase up to 2.1% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback programs are generally an indication that the company's management believes its stock is undervalued.

Insider Activity at Vistra

In other news, EVP Scott A. Hudson sold 115,000 shares of Vistra stock in a transaction dated Monday, November 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of $164.16, for a total transaction of $18,878,400.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 254,932 shares in the company, valued at $41,849,637.12. This trade represents a 31.09 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Stephen J. Muscato sold 207,100 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Friday, November 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $161.34, for a total transaction of $33,413,514.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 318,287 shares in the company, valued at approximately $51,352,424.58. The trade was a 39.42 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 342,100 shares of company stock worth $55,087,314 in the last 90 days. Corporate insiders own 1.42% of the company's stock.

Institutional Trading of Vistra

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of VST. Redwood Wealth Management Group LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Vistra during the 2nd quarter valued at $26,000. Founders Capital Management purchased a new stake in Vistra during the fourth quarter worth about $28,000. Thurston Springer Miller Herd & Titak Inc. bought a new stake in Vistra in the third quarter worth about $30,000. Mark Sheptoff Financial Planning LLC bought a new stake in Vistra in the third quarter worth about $30,000. Finally, CVA Family Office LLC grew its position in shares of Vistra by 1,505.9% during the 3rd quarter. CVA Family Office LLC now owns 273 shares of the company's stock valued at $32,000 after acquiring an additional 256 shares during the period. 90.88% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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.