Vistra (NYSE:VST) Shares Down 1.4% Following Analyst Downgrade

Key Points

• JPMorgan trimmed its price target on Vistra from $240 to $231 while keeping an "overweight" rating; shares fell about 1.4% intraday and trading volume was roughly 39% below average.
• Analysts still rate the stock a consensus Buy (three Strong Buy, twelve Buy, one Hold) with an average target of $235.27, reflecting continued analyst support despite varying price targets.
• Vistra raised its quarterly dividend to $0.229 (annualized $0.92, ~0.6% yield), and EVP Stephanie Zapata Moore sold 10,000 shares, reducing her stake by about 8%.

Vistra Corp. (NYSE:VST - Get Free Report) shares fell 1.4% during mid-day trading on Friday after JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their price target on the stock from $240.00 to $231.00. JPMorgan Chase & Co. currently has an overweight rating on the stock. Vistra traded as low as $154.93 and last traded at $155.6190. 3,063,351 shares were traded during mid-day trading, a decline of 39% from the average session volume of 5,061,211 shares. The stock had previously closed at $157.84.

Other equities research analysts have also issued reports about the stock. Scotiabank increased their target price on shares of Vistra from $287.00 to $293.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research note on Monday, January 12th. Raymond James Financial set a $208.00 price target on Vistra in a report on Monday. Weiss Ratings reiterated a "hold (c)" rating on shares of Vistra in a research report on Friday, March 27th. BMO Capital Markets restated an "outperform" rating and issued a $241.00 price objective on shares of Vistra in a research report on Monday, March 2nd. Finally, UBS Group upped their target price on Vistra from $230.00 to $233.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Monday, January 12th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twelve have assigned a Buy rating and one has issued a Hold rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of "Buy" and a consensus target price of $235.27.

Insider Buying and Selling at Vistra

In related news, EVP Stephanie Zapata Moore sold 10,000 shares of Vistra stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $160.31, for a total value of $1,603,100.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 114,409 shares in the company, valued at approximately $18,340,906.79. The trade was a 8.04% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. 0.92% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

More Vistra News

Here are the key news stories impacting Vistra this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Board declared a quarterly common dividend of $0.229/share (payable June 30 to holders of record June 22), a ~0.4% raise from the prior quarter and an estimated $75M aggregate payment — modest income support and a sign of cash-return discipline. Vistra Declares Dividend on Common Stock, Series B Preferred Stock, and Series C Preferred Stock
• Positive Sentiment: Included in lists of top electrical infrastructure picks by hedge funds and sector articles — positive publicity that can attract institutional interest for a company with diversified generation (gas, nuclear, coal, solar, batteries). Vistra Corp. (VST) – Among the 10 Best Electrical Infrastructure Stocks to Buy According to Hedge Funds
• Positive Sentiment: Analyst commentary comparing Vistra favorably to peers (e.g., cheaper valuation and nuclear investments vs. Southern Co.) bolsters the narrative that Vistra has long-term growth/transition potential. Vistra or Southern Co.: Which Utility Stock Looks Stronger in 2026?
• Neutral Sentiment: JPMorgan trimmed its price target from $240 to $231 but kept an "overweight" rating — a lowered target can weigh on near-term sentiment, but the maintained positive rating and large implied upside remain supportive. JPMorgan lowers VST price target to $231 (report)
• Neutral Sentiment: Valuation pieces and volatility rundowns are putting Vistra on investors' radars; these analyses highlight mixed metrics (P/E, revenue scale, recent price swings) that can attract both value and momentum traders. Assessing Vistra (VST) Valuation After Recent Share Price Volatility
• Negative Sentiment: Pre-earnings coverage warns Vistra may lack the setup for an earnings beat next week — raises the risk of downward pressure if results or guidance disappoint. Vistra Corp. (VST) Earnings Expected to Grow: What to Know Ahead of Next Week's Release
• Negative Sentiment: Reports noted the stock underperformed peers on a recent trading day despite intraday gains — suggests relative weakness that may prompt short-term selling or rotation out of the name. Vistra Corp. stock underperforms Thursday when compared to competitors despite daily gains

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Vistra

A number of large investors have recently made changes to their positions in VST. Bridgewater Advisors Inc. lifted its stake in Vistra by 3.1% in the third quarter. Bridgewater Advisors Inc. now owns 1,787 shares of the company's stock valued at $350,000 after acquiring an additional 53 shares during the last quarter. Y.D. More Investments Ltd increased its stake in shares of Vistra by 7.1% during the 3rd quarter. Y.D. More Investments Ltd now owns 916 shares of the company's stock worth $168,000 after purchasing an additional 61 shares during the last quarter. Equitable Holdings Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Vistra by 0.9% during the 3rd quarter. Equitable Holdings Inc. now owns 7,045 shares of the company's stock valued at $1,380,000 after purchasing an additional 61 shares in the last quarter. Ballentine Partners LLC lifted its stake in shares of Vistra by 2.0% in the 3rd quarter. Ballentine Partners LLC now owns 3,275 shares of the company's stock valued at $642,000 after purchasing an additional 63 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Wealth Effects LLC lifted its stake in shares of Vistra by 1.1% in the 3rd quarter. Wealth Effects LLC now owns 5,782 shares of the company's stock valued at $1,133,000 after purchasing an additional 65 shares during the last quarter. 90.88% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Vistra Price Performance

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 6.01, a current ratio of 0.78 and a quick ratio of 0.69. The stock has a market capitalization of $52.68 billion, a P/E ratio of 71.71, a PEG ratio of 0.93 and a beta of 1.49. The stock's fifty day moving average is $159.99 and its 200-day moving average is $168.18.

Vistra (NYSE:VST - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, February 26th. The company reported $2.18 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.45 by ($0.27). The company had revenue of $4.58 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.75 billion. Vistra had a net margin of 5.32% and a return on equity of 81.09%. On average, equities analysts anticipate that Vistra Corp. will post 8.72 earnings per share for the current year.

Vistra Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, June 30th. Investors of record on Monday, June 22nd will be issued a $0.229 dividend. This is an increase from Vistra's previous quarterly dividend of $0.23. The ex-dividend date is Monday, June 22nd. This represents a $0.92 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.6%. Vistra's dividend payout ratio is presently 41.94%.

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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