Lazard Asset Management LLC Sells 7,302 Shares of Vistra Corp. (NYSE:VST)

Lazard Asset Management LLC decreased its holdings in shares of Vistra Corp. (NYSE:VST - Free Report) by 29.1% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 17,796 shares of the company's stock after selling 7,302 shares during the quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC's holdings in Vistra were worth $2,453,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of VST. Avior Wealth Management LLC boosted its stake in Vistra by 56.5% in the fourth quarter. Avior Wealth Management LLC now owns 180 shares of the company's stock worth $25,000 after buying an additional 65 shares in the last quarter. Pathway Financial Advisers LLC boosted its stake in Vistra by 616.0% in the fourth quarter. Pathway Financial Advisers LLC now owns 179 shares of the company's stock worth $25,000 after buying an additional 154 shares in the last quarter. West Branch Capital LLC purchased a new stake in Vistra in the fourth quarter worth approximately $28,000. Comprehensive Financial Planning Inc. PA purchased a new stake in Vistra in the fourth quarter worth approximately $28,000. Finally, Tucker Asset Management LLC purchased a new stake in Vistra in the fourth quarter worth approximately $28,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 90.88% of the company's stock.

Vistra Stock Performance

Shares of Vistra stock traded down $0.72 during trading on Tuesday, hitting $156.60. 3,421,781 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 7,543,795. 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 Corp. has a 1 year low of $66.50 and a 1 year high of $199.84. The stock has a market capitalization of $53.14 billion, a P/E ratio of 29.22, a PEG ratio of 1.12 and a beta of 1.16. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $126.12 and a 200-day simple moving average of $142.63.

Vistra Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 30th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, June 18th will be given a $0.225 dividend. This represents a $0.90 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.57%. This is a boost from Vistra's previous quarterly dividend of $0.22. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, June 18th. Vistra's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 14.15%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Vistra news, Director Paul M. Barbas sold 24,136 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated 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 of the company's stock, valued at approximately $6,341,513.97. This trade represents a 32.10% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, Director John William Pitesa bought 1,500 shares of the company's stock in a transaction on Wednesday, March 12th. The stock was purchased at an average cost of $126.75 per share, for a total transaction of $190,125.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 3,467 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $439,442.25. The trade was a 76.26% increase in their position. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. Insiders own 1.42% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several analysts have weighed in on the company. BMO Capital Markets boosted their price objective on Vistra from $151.00 to $191.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 22nd. Daiwa America upgraded Vistra to a "hold" rating in a research report on Wednesday, March 5th. The Goldman Sachs Group assumed coverage on Vistra in a research report on Friday, April 4th. They issued a "neutral" rating and a $134.00 price objective for the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their price objective on Vistra from $203.00 to $186.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research report on Friday, March 28th. Finally, Bank of America upgraded Vistra from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and lowered their price objective for the company from $164.00 to $152.00 in a research report on Tuesday, March 4th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $165.83.

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.