Sound Shore Management Inc. CT Buys New Shares in Vistra Corp. $VST

Key Points

• Sound Shore Management disclosed a new position in Vistra, buying 479,762 shares worth about $72.1 million. The stake represents about 2.4% of its portfolio and roughly 0.14% of Vistra.
• Vistra continues to attract strong institutional and analyst support, with 90.88% of shares held by institutions and hedge funds. Analysts currently rate the stock a consensus Buy with an average target price of $230.62.
• The company posted better-than-expected quarterly results, reporting EPS of $2.87 versus $1.32 expected and revenue of $5.64 billion versus $5.22 billion expected. Vistra also recently paid a quarterly dividend of $0.229 per share, reflecting a low payout ratio of 15.41%.

Sound Shore Management Inc. CT bought a new position in shares of Vistra Corp. (NYSE:VST - Free Report) during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor bought 479,762 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $72,123,000. Vistra makes up about 2.4% of Sound Shore Management Inc. CT's portfolio, making the stock its 24th biggest position. Sound Shore Management Inc. CT owned approximately 0.14% of Vistra at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other large investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. Empowered Funds LLC boosted its position in shares of Vistra by 24.1% during the 1st quarter. Empowered Funds LLC now owns 20,190 shares of the company's stock worth $2,371,000 after purchasing an additional 3,920 shares in the last quarter. Woodline Partners LP boosted its holdings in Vistra by 40.7% in the first quarter. Woodline Partners LP now owns 28,744 shares of the company's stock worth $3,376,000 after acquiring an additional 8,312 shares in the last quarter. Focus Partners Wealth boosted its holdings in Vistra by 37.3% in the first quarter. Focus Partners Wealth now owns 7,828 shares of the company's stock worth $920,000 after acquiring an additional 2,125 shares in the last quarter. Sivia Capital Partners LLC acquired a new stake in Vistra in the second quarter valued at approximately $269,000. Finally, Slocum Gordon & Co LLP grew its stake in Vistra by 20.0% in the second quarter. Slocum Gordon & Co LLP now owns 1,200 shares of the company's stock valued at $233,000 after acquiring an additional 200 shares during the period. 90.88% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities analysts have recently weighed in on the company. TD Cowen lowered their target price on Vistra from $253.00 to $230.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, May 4th. Weiss Ratings downgraded shares of Vistra from a "hold (c+)" rating to a "hold (c)" rating in a research report on Thursday. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price target on shares of Vistra from $240.00 to $231.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, April 30th. Jefferies Financial Group restated a "buy" rating and set a $190.00 price objective on shares of Vistra in a report on Thursday, May 21st. Finally, Morgan Stanley reaffirmed an "overweight" rating and issued a $210.00 price objective on shares of Vistra in a research note on Wednesday, June 24th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirteen have issued a Buy rating and one has issued a Hold rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Vistra presently has an average rating of "Buy" and a consensus target price of $230.62.

Vistra Stock Down 0.2%

Shares of NYSE:VST opened at $155.12 on Monday. The business's 50 day moving average is $154.14 and its 200 day moving average is $158.40. Vistra Corp. has a 12-month low of $132.66 and a 12-month high of $219.82. The stock has a market cap of $52.30 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 25.98 and a beta of 1.40. The company has a quick ratio of 0.79, a current ratio of 0.90 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 5.51.

Vistra (NYSE:VST - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, May 7th. The company reported $2.87 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $1.32 by $1.55. Vistra had a return on equity of 105.64% and a net margin of 11.52%.The business had revenue of $5.64 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $5.22 billion. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that Vistra Corp. will post 9.53 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Vistra Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, June 30th. Stockholders of record on Monday, June 22nd were issued a $0.229 dividend. This is an increase from Vistra's previous quarterly dividend of $0.23. This represents a $0.92 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.6%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, June 22nd. Vistra's dividend payout ratio is currently 15.41%.

More Vistra News

Here are the key news stories impacting Vistra this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Scotiabank raised its FY2026 and FY2027 earnings estimates for Vistra, while keeping an Outperform rating and a $298 price target, reinforcing the view that earnings can keep growing. Scotiabank Raises Vistra Estimates
• Positive Sentiment: News that Vistra secured PJM capacity points to better future revenue visibility, which investors typically view as supportive for utility and power producer stocks. Vistra Secures PJM Capacity
• Positive Sentiment: Coverage highlighting rising demand from data centers and increased capital investments in nuclear, solar, storage, and gas assets suggests Vistra could benefit from long-term load growth and reliable earnings expansion. Vistra Benefiting From Data Center Demand
• Positive Sentiment: KeyBanc reaffirmed its Buy rating, adding to the bullish analyst tone around the stock. KeyBanc Sticks to Buy Rating
• Neutral Sentiment: Vistra was also mentioned in media coverage and trading commentary as a stock showing momentum, which may reflect investor enthusiasm but does not add new fundamental information. Vistra Rises Higher Than Market

Insider Activity

In related news, Director John R. Sult sold 6,500 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Thursday, June 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $170.00, for a total transaction of $1,105,000.00. Following the transaction, the director directly owned 70,714 shares in the company, valued at approximately $12,021,380. The trade was a 8.42% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, Director Paul M. Barbas sold 244 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Monday, June 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $153.00, for a total transaction of $37,332.00. Following the transaction, the director owned 53,006 shares in the company, valued at approximately $8,109,918. This trade represents a 0.46% 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. Insiders sold 41,588 shares of company stock valued at $6,739,227 over the last ninety days. Company insiders own 0.92% of the company's stock.

Vistra 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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