Vistra (NYSE:VST) Hits New 12-Month High - What's Next?

Key Points

• Vistra Corp. (NYSE:VST) reached a new 52-week high of $207.63, with a recent trading price of $205.49 and a trading volume of 3,126,452 shares.
• The company announced an increase in its quarterly dividend to $0.225 per share, reflecting a yield of 0.43% and a payout ratio of 14.15%.
• Several analysts have rated Vistra's stock favorably, with a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $178.69.

Vistra Corp. (NYSE:VST - Get Free Report)'s stock price reached a new 52-week high on Wednesday . The stock traded as high as $207.63 and last traded at $205.49, with a volume of 3126452 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $198.00.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several analysts recently issued reports on VST shares. Raymond James Financial started coverage on shares of Vistra in a research report on Friday, June 13th. They issued a "strong-buy" rating and a $216.00 price target for the company. Evercore ISI set a $192.00 price objective on shares of Vistra and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a report on Thursday, May 15th. The Goldman Sachs Group lifted their target price on Vistra from $134.00 to $164.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research note on Friday, May 23rd. Morgan Stanley boosted their price objective on Vistra from $178.00 to $186.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research note on Wednesday, June 18th. Finally, UBS Group boosted their price objective on Vistra from $207.00 to $230.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Friday, July 25th. Three equities 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.com, the stock currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $178.69.

Vistra Stock Performance

The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $183.29 and a 200-day simple moving average of $154.98. 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 $71.37 billion, a P/E ratio of 33.07, a P/E/G ratio of 2.52 and a beta of 1.26.

Vistra Increases Dividend

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

Insider Activity

In other news, EVP Carrie Lee Kirby sold 108,000 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on Monday, May 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of $156.98, for a total transaction of $16,953,840.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 218,239 shares in the company, valued at $34,259,158.22. This trade represents a 33.10% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, Director John R. Sult sold 25,000 shares of Vistra stock in a transaction dated Friday, June 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $171.67, for a total value of $4,291,750.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director owned 75,946 shares of the company's stock, valued at $13,037,649.82. The trade was a 24.77% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last three months, insiders sold 294,000 shares of company stock valued at $47,461,490. 1.42% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Vistra

Large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Banque Transatlantique SA increased its holdings in Vistra by 132.0% in the 1st quarter. Banque Transatlantique SA now owns 232 shares of the company's stock worth $25,000 after buying an additional 132 shares in the last quarter. HM Payson & Co. increased its holdings in Vistra by 275.4% in the 1st quarter. HM Payson & Co. now owns 229 shares of the company's stock worth $27,000 after buying an additional 168 shares in the last quarter. City State Bank increased its holdings in Vistra by 210.0% in the 2nd quarter. City State Bank now owns 155 shares of the company's stock worth $30,000 after buying an additional 105 shares in the last quarter. Ameriflex Group Inc. bought a new stake in Vistra in the 4th quarter worth about $32,000. Finally, Keener Financial Planning LLC bought a new stake in Vistra in the 1st quarter worth about $34,000. 90.88% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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.