IPG Investment Advisors LLC Makes New Investment in Vistra Corp. (NYSE:VST)

Key Points

• IPG Investment Advisors LLC has purchased a new position in Vistra Corp. valued at approximately $1.67 million, acquiring 14,195 shares during the first quarter.
• Vistra Corp. has announced an increase in its quarterly dividend to $0.226 per share, reflecting a positive change from the previous dividend and setting a yield of 0.4%.
• Wall Street analysts are optimistic about Vistra, with the stock receiving multiple buy ratings and a consensus price target of $178.69.

IPG Investment Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Vistra Corp. (NYSE:VST - Free Report) in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor acquired 14,195 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $1,667,000.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the business. HM Payson & Co. boosted its stake in shares of Vistra by 275.4% during the 1st quarter. HM Payson & Co. now owns 229 shares of the company's stock worth $27,000 after acquiring an additional 168 shares in the last quarter. Ameriflex Group Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Vistra in the fourth quarter valued at $32,000. Opal Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of Vistra during the 1st quarter worth $46,000. Golden State Wealth Management LLC boosted its position in shares of Vistra by 2,540.0% in the 1st quarter. Golden State Wealth Management LLC now owns 396 shares of the company's stock worth $47,000 after buying an additional 381 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Compagnie Lombard Odier SCmA grew its stake in Vistra by 53.9% in the 1st quarter. Compagnie Lombard Odier SCmA now owns 431 shares of the company's stock valued at $51,000 after acquiring an additional 151 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 90.88% of the company's stock.

Vistra Trading Down 2.2%

Shares of NYSE VST traded down $4.66 during midday trading on Tuesday, hitting $209.40. The stock had a trading volume of 4,587,345 shares, compared to its average volume of 5,092,355. Vistra Corp. has a 1-year low of $70.00 and a 1-year high of $216.85. The company has a market capitalization of $71.06 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 32.92, a PEG ratio of 2.60 and a beta of 1.30. The company has a quick ratio of 0.77, a current ratio of 0.86 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 6.53. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $186.29 and a 200 day moving average price of $155.69.

Vistra Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 30th. Stockholders of record on Friday, September 19th will be paid a $0.226 dividend. This represents a $0.90 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.4%. This is a boost from Vistra's previous quarterly dividend of $0.23. The ex-dividend date is Friday, September 19th. Vistra's payout ratio is currently 14.15%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

VST has been the topic of several recent research reports. Raymond James Financial assumed coverage on shares of Vistra in a report on Friday, June 13th. They issued a "strong-buy" rating and a $216.00 price target on the stock. Evercore ISI set a $192.00 target price on Vistra and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a report on Thursday, May 15th. Morgan Stanley raised their price target on Vistra from $178.00 to $186.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research report on Wednesday, June 18th. UBS Group upped their price objective on Vistra from $207.00 to $230.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Friday, July 25th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group lifted their price objective on Vistra from $134.00 to $164.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research report on Friday, May 23rd. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, ten have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $178.69.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, Director Scott B. Helm sold 50,000 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Thursday, June 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $172.75, for a total value of $8,637,500.00. Following the transaction, the director owned 255,192 shares in the company, valued at approximately $44,084,418. The trade was a 16.38% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, EVP Scott A. Hudson sold 56,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, May 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $157.00, for a total value of $8,792,000.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president owned 306,600 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $48,136,200. This trade represents a 15.44% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last ninety days, insiders sold 294,000 shares of company stock valued at $47,461,490. Corporate insiders own 1.42% of the company's stock.

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.