Vistra (NYSE:VST) Stock Price Up 5.3% - Should You Buy?

Vistra Corp. (NYSE:VST - Get Free Report) shares traded up 5.3% on Tuesday . The company traded as high as $111.70 and last traded at $112.16. 1,274,381 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 84% from the average session volume of 7,860,628 shares. The stock had previously closed at $106.52.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities analysts recently weighed in on the company. Daiwa America raised Vistra to a "hold" rating in a research note on Wednesday, March 5th. Evercore ISI started coverage on shares of Vistra in a research report on Tuesday, January 21st. They issued an "outperform" rating and a $202.00 price target on the stock. The Goldman Sachs Group started coverage on shares of Vistra in a report on Friday, April 4th. They set a "neutral" rating and a $134.00 price target for the company. UBS Group cut their price target on shares of Vistra from $174.00 to $154.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a report on Friday, April 11th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets lifted their price target on shares of Vistra from $151.00 to $191.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a report on Wednesday, January 22nd. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have given a buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Vistra currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $166.17.

Vistra Price Performance

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 cap of $41.87 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.92, a PEG ratio of 1.12 and a beta of 1.21. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $124.59 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $140.69.

Vistra Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 31st. Stockholders of record on Thursday, March 20th were issued a dividend of $0.2235 per share. This represents a $0.89 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.73%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, March 20th. This is a boost from Vistra's previous quarterly dividend of $0.22. Vistra's payout ratio is currently 12.62%.

Insider Activity

In other Vistra news, Director Paul M. Barbas sold 24,136 shares of Vistra stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $124.19, for a total transaction of $2,997,449.84. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 51,063 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $6,341,513.97. The trade was a 32.10 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, Director John William Pitesa acquired 1,500 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, March 12th. The stock was purchased at an average price of $126.75 per share, with a total value of $190,125.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director now owns 3,467 shares in the company, valued at $439,442.25. The trade was a 76.26 % increase in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. Corporate insiders own 1.42% of the company's stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Vistra

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of VST. Avior Wealth Management LLC increased its stake in Vistra by 56.5% in the 4th quarter. Avior Wealth Management LLC now owns 180 shares of the company's stock worth $25,000 after acquiring an additional 65 shares during the last quarter. Pathway Financial Advisers LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Vistra by 616.0% in the 4th quarter. Pathway Financial Advisers LLC now owns 179 shares of the company's stock worth $25,000 after buying an additional 154 shares during the period. Founders Capital Management purchased a new stake in shares of Vistra during the 4th quarter worth $28,000. West Branch Capital LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Vistra during the 4th quarter worth $28,000. Finally, Comprehensive Financial Planning Inc. PA purchased a new stake in shares of Vistra in the 4th quarter valued at $28,000. 90.88% of the stock is owned by 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.