Vistra (NYSE:VST) Trading Up 5.9% - What's Next?

Vistra Corp. (NYSE:VST - Get Free Report) shares traded up 5.9% during trading on Tuesday . The company traded as high as $112.39 and last traded at $108.74. 4,936,650 shares changed hands during trading, a decline of 37% from the average session volume of 7,823,775 shares. The stock had previously closed at $102.69.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities research analysts have recently weighed in on VST shares. The Goldman Sachs Group began coverage on Vistra in a research report on Friday, April 4th. They issued a "neutral" rating and a $134.00 price objective on the stock. UBS Group cut their price target on shares of Vistra from $174.00 to $154.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a report on Friday. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their price objective on shares of Vistra from $203.00 to $186.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, March 28th. 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 target price for the company. Finally, BMO Capital Markets boosted their price target on shares of Vistra from $151.00 to $191.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 22nd. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have assigned a buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $159.69.

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Vistra Stock Up 2.3 %

The stock's 50 day simple moving average is $133.17 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $141.35. The firm has a market cap of $38.00 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.84, a P/E/G ratio of 1.12 and a beta of 1.21. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 4.68, a current ratio of 1.11 and a quick ratio of 0.99.

Vistra Increases Dividend

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

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, Director John William Pitesa purchased 1,500 shares of the company's stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, March 12th. The shares were bought at an average price of $126.75 per share, for a total transaction of $190,125.00. Following the purchase, the director now directly owns 3,467 shares in the company, valued at approximately $439,442.25. This trade represents a 76.26 % increase in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. 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 sale, the director now directly owns 51,063 shares in the company, valued at $6,341,513.97. This trade represents a 32.10 % 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.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Vistra

A number of hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in VST. Pathway Financial Advisers LLC increased 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 purchasing an additional 154 shares in the last quarter. Avior Wealth Management LLC boosted its position in shares of 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 during the last quarter. Founders Capital Management bought a new stake in Vistra in the 4th quarter worth about $28,000. West Branch Capital LLC purchased a new position in Vistra in the 4th quarter worth about $28,000. Finally, Comprehensive Financial Planning Inc. PA bought a new position in Vistra during the 4th quarter valued at about $28,000. 90.88% of the stock is currently 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.