LSV Asset Management Decreases Stake in Vistra Corp. (NYSE:VST)

Key Points

• LSV Asset Management significantly reduced its stake in Vistra Corp. by 82.7%, selling 740,992 shares and owning 155,496 shares valued at approximately $18.26 million.
• Vistra recently announced a dividend increase to $0.226 per share, up from $0.23, and will be paid on September 30th, with a dividend yield of 0.4%.
• Analyst ratings for Vistra are generally positive, with a consensus average rating of "Moderate Buy" and price targets ranging from $164.00 to $230.00.

LSV Asset Management decreased its stake in shares of Vistra Corp. (NYSE:VST - Free Report) by 82.7% in the first quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 155,496 shares of the company's stock after selling 740,992 shares during the quarter. LSV Asset Management's holdings in Vistra were worth $18,261,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Northern Trust Corp increased its holdings in shares of Vistra by 10.9% in the 4th quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 3,026,484 shares of the company's stock worth $417,261,000 after purchasing an additional 296,714 shares in the last quarter. Castle Hook Partners LP increased its holdings 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 in the last quarter. Jacobs Levy Equity Management Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Vistra by 5.1% in the 4th quarter. Jacobs Levy Equity Management Inc. now owns 2,206,046 shares of the company's stock worth $304,148,000 after purchasing an additional 106,803 shares in the last quarter. Capital International Investors bought a new stake in shares of Vistra in the 4th quarter worth $286,414,000. Finally, Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD increased its holdings in shares of Vistra by 6.8% in the 4th quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 2,072,045 shares of the company's stock worth $285,674,000 after purchasing an additional 132,530 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 90.88% of the company's stock.

Insider Activity

In other news, Director Scott B. Helm sold 50,000 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on Thursday, June 5th. The shares were 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 of the company's stock, 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 filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Scott A. Hudson sold 56,000 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on Tuesday, May 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $157.00, for a total transaction of $8,792,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 306,600 shares in the company, valued at $48,136,200. This trade represents a 15.44% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 294,000 shares of company stock valued at $47,461,490 in the last three months. 1.42% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Vistra Stock Performance

NYSE:VST traded down $4.66 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, hitting $209.40. 4,587,345 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 5,092,355. The stock's fifty day moving average price is $186.29 and its 200-day moving average price is $155.69. Vistra Corp. has a one year low of $70.00 and a one year high of $216.85. 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 firm has a market cap of $71.06 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 32.92, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.60 and a beta of 1.30.

Vistra Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 30th. Investors of record on Friday, September 19th will be given a dividend of $0.226 per share. This is an increase from Vistra's previous quarterly dividend of $0.23. This represents a $0.90 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.4%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, September 19th. Vistra's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 14.15%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several analysts recently commented on the company. 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 report on Friday, May 23rd. Raymond James Financial assumed coverage on Vistra in a report on Friday, June 13th. They issued a "strong-buy" rating and a $216.00 price objective for the company. Morgan Stanley lifted their price objective on Vistra from $178.00 to $186.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a report on Wednesday, June 18th. UBS Group lifted their price objective on Vistra from $207.00 to $230.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, July 25th. Finally, Evercore ISI set a $192.00 price objective on Vistra and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a report on Thursday, May 15th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, ten have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $178.69.

Vistra 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.