Vistra (NYSE:VST) Trading Down 1.9% - Should You Sell?

Key Points

• Vistra shares fell 1.9% to $137.16, trading below both their 50-day and 200-day moving averages. The stock has a market capitalization of approximately $46 billion.
• Analysts maintain a broadly positive outlook, with a consensus “Moderate Buy” rating and an average price target of $223.53, implying substantial upside from the current price.
• Vistra’s latest quarterly results missed expectations, reporting $0.76 in EPS versus $1.61 expected and revenue of $4.02 billion versus $5.46 billion estimated. The company raised its quarterly dividend to $0.23 per share, although recent insider activity included planned sales by two directors.

Vistra Corp. (NYSE:VST - Get Free Report)'s stock price was down 1.9% during trading on Friday . The stock traded as low as $136.61 and last traded at $137.16. Approximately 3,036,321 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 38% from the average session volume of 4,903,502 shares. The stock had previously closed at $139.81.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities research analysts have weighed in on VST shares. BNP Paribas Exane set a $255.00 target price on Vistra in a report on Wednesday, August 19th. Zacks Research cut Vistra from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Tuesday, August 18th. Jefferies Financial Group reissued a "buy" rating and issued a $190.00 target price on shares of Vistra in a report on Thursday, May 21st. The Goldman Sachs Group set a $206.00 price target on shares of Vistra in a report on Wednesday, August 12th. Finally, Sanford C. Bernstein set a $187.00 target price on shares of Vistra and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research report on Tuesday, June 16th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fourteen have given a Buy rating and two have given a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Vistra has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $223.53.

Vistra Price Performance

The stock has a market capitalization of $46.04 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 23.17 and a beta of 1.41. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $152.15 and a 200 day simple moving average of $155.61. 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 (NYSE:VST - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Friday, August 7th. The company reported $0.76 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $1.61 by ($0.85). The company had revenue of $4.02 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $5.46 billion. Vistra had a return on equity of 108.68% and a net margin of 11.55%. Equities research analysts forecast that Vistra Corp. will post 9.21 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Vistra Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed 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. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, September 21st. This represents a $0.92 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.7%. This is an increase from Vistra's previous quarterly dividend of $0.23. Vistra's payout ratio is currently 15.54%.

Insider Activity

In related news, Director John R. Sult sold 6,500 shares of Vistra stock in a transaction on 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 completion of the transaction, the director owned 70,714 shares of the company's stock, valued at $12,021,380. This trade represents a 8.42% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, Director Scott B. Helm sold 25,000 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on Tuesday, June 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $160.00, for a total transaction of $4,000,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director owned 232,200 shares in the company, valued at approximately $37,152,000. The trade was a 9.72% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. In the last three months, insiders have sold 36,588 shares of company stock valued at $5,914,427. 0.92% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Vistra

Large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Fideuram Intesa Sanpaolo Private Banking S.P.A. acquired a new stake in Vistra in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Mcguire Capital Advisors Inc. bought a new position in shares of Vistra in the 4th quarter worth $28,000. Kemnay Advisory Services Inc. bought a new position in shares of Vistra in the 4th quarter worth $30,000. Triumph Capital Management acquired a new stake in Vistra in the 3rd quarter valued at $38,000. Finally, Strive Asset Management LLC acquired a new stake in Vistra in the 3rd quarter valued at $38,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 90.88% of the company's stock.

About Vistra

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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