Vistra (NYSE:VST) Trading Down 1.4% on Analyst Downgrade

Vistra Corp. (NYSE:VST - Get Free Report)'s share price fell 1.4% during mid-day trading on Friday after UBS Group lowered their price target on the stock from $174.00 to $154.00. UBS Group currently has a buy rating on the stock. Vistra traded as low as $105.75 and last traded at $107.78. 1,527,822 shares changed hands during trading, a decline of 81% from the average session volume of 7,862,010 shares. The stock had previously closed at $109.26.

Several other equities analysts have also recently issued reports on the company. Daiwa Capital Markets assumed coverage on Vistra in a report on Wednesday, March 5th. They set a "neutral" rating and a $120.00 price objective for the company. Daiwa America upgraded shares of Vistra to a "hold" rating in a research report on Wednesday, March 5th. Bank of America upgraded shares of Vistra from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and cut their target price for the stock from $164.00 to $152.00 in a research report on Tuesday, March 4th. BMO Capital Markets increased 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. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group initiated coverage on Vistra in a research report on Friday, April 4th. They set a "neutral" rating and a $134.00 price objective for the company. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Vistra currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $159.69.

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Insider Transactions at Vistra

In related news, Director John William Pitesa purchased 1,500 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, March 12th. The shares were purchased at an average price of $126.75 per share, with a total value of $190,125.00. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 3,467 shares of the company's stock, valued at $439,442.25. This trade represents a 76.26 % increase in their ownership of the stock. The acquisition was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, Director Paul M. Barbas sold 24,136 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $124.19, for a total value of $2,997,449.84. Following 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. Company insiders own 1.42% of the company's stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Vistra

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in VST. Geode Capital Management LLC raised its stake in shares of Vistra by 2.6% during the fourth quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 8,539,243 shares of the company's stock valued at $1,174,326,000 after acquiring an additional 219,055 shares during the last quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA boosted its holdings in Vistra by 63.6% in the fourth quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 6,260,363 shares of the company's stock valued at $863,116,000 after acquiring an additional 2,433,732 shares during the last quarter. Northern Trust Corp increased its position in Vistra by 10.9% during the 4th quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 3,026,484 shares of the company's stock valued at $417,261,000 after purchasing an additional 296,714 shares during the period. Norges Bank bought a new position in Vistra during the 4th quarter worth approximately $409,087,000. Finally, Castle Hook Partners LP lifted its position in shares of Vistra by 13.6% in the 4th quarter. Castle Hook Partners LP now owns 2,964,222 shares of the company's stock worth $408,677,000 after purchasing an additional 353,949 shares during the period. 90.88% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Vistra Stock Performance

The company's 50-day moving average price is $133.17 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $141.54. The company has a market capitalization of $38.00 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.84, a PEG 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 firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 31st. Shareholders of record on Thursday, March 20th were issued a dividend of $0.2235 per share. This is an increase from Vistra's previous quarterly dividend of $0.22. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, March 20th. This represents a $0.89 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.80%. Vistra's dividend payout ratio is presently 12.62%.

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.