Equitable Holdings Inc. Invests $4.10 Million in Vistra Corp. $VST

Key Points

• Equitable Holdings purchased 25,826 Vistra shares worth approximately $4.1 million in the second quarter, while institutional investors collectively own 90.88% of VST.
• Analysts maintain a generally positive outlook, with a consensus “Moderate Buy” rating and an average price target of $223.53, despite some recent rating and target-price reductions.
• Vistra’s latest quarterly results fell short of expectations, reporting $0.76 in EPS versus $1.61 expected and $4.02 billion in revenue versus $5.46 billion estimated; shares opened at $139.90, near the lower end of their 52-week range.

Equitable Holdings Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Vistra Corp. (NYSE:VST - Free Report) in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The firm purchased 25,826 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $4,097,000.

Other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Centaurus Financial Inc. bought a new position in Vistra during the 2nd quarter worth $2,090,000. FSA Advisors Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Vistra in the second quarter valued at about $502,000. Harvey Capital Management Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Vistra in the second quarter valued at about $1,529,000. N10 Assets LLC bought a new position in Vistra during the second quarter worth about $6,582,000. Finally, Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio acquired a new stake in Vistra in the 2nd quarter worth about $25,433,000. 90.88% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research analysts have issued reports on VST shares. Zacks Research lowered shares of Vistra from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Tuesday, August 18th. Weiss Ratings cut Vistra from a "hold (c+)" rating to a "hold (c)" rating in a research note on Thursday, August 13th. TD Cowen reduced their price target on Vistra from $222.00 to $221.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, August 19th. Sanford C. Bernstein set a $187.00 price objective on Vistra and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research note on Tuesday, June 16th. Finally, Scotiabank lifted their price objective on Vistra from $293.00 to $298.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a report on Wednesday, July 15th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fourteen have issued a Buy rating and two have assigned a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $223.53.

Insider Activity at Vistra

In related news, Director Paul M. Barbas sold 244 shares of Vistra stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, June 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $153.00, for a total transaction of $37,332.00. Following the sale, the director directly owned 53,006 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $8,109,918. The trade was a 0.46% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, Director John R. Sult sold 6,500 shares of the company's stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, June 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $170.00, for a total transaction of $1,105,000.00. Following the transaction, the director owned 70,714 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $12,021,380. This represents a 8.42% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. In the last quarter, insiders have sold 36,588 shares of company stock valued at $5,914,427. 0.92% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Vistra Trading Down 0.1%

Shares of VST opened at $139.90 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 5.87, a quick ratio of 0.87 and a current ratio of 0.97. Vistra Corp. has a 52-week low of $132.66 and a 52-week high of $219.82. The firm has a market cap of $46.96 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 23.63 and a beta of 1.41. The business's fifty day moving average is $152.15 and its 200-day moving average is $155.61.

Vistra (NYSE:VST - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Friday, August 7th. The company reported $0.76 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.61 by ($0.85). Vistra had a net margin of 11.55% and a return on equity of 108.68%. The business had revenue of $4.02 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $5.46 billion. Equities analysts anticipate that Vistra Corp. will post 9.21 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Vistra Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, September 30th. Stockholders of record on Monday, September 21st will be paid a $0.23 dividend. This represents a $0.92 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.7%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, September 21st. This is an increase from Vistra's previous quarterly dividend of $0.23. Vistra's dividend payout ratio is 15.54%.

Vistra Company Profile

Vistra NYSE: VST is an integrated power company that develops, owns and operates electricity generation and retail businesses in the United States. The company's operations span wholesale power production—through a diversified fleet of thermal and lower‑carbon generation assets—and retail electricity supply to residential, commercial and industrial customers. Vistra serves organized wholesale markets and competitive retail markets, with a notable presence in Texas and other regional U.S. power markets.

Vistra's core activities include the ownership and operation of generation facilities, the commercial dispatch and optimization of those assets into wholesale markets, and the sale of electricity and related services to end-use customers through its retail brands.

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