Vistra (NYSE:VST) Stock Price Down 1.8% - Time to Sell?

Key Points

• Vistra shares fell 1.8% to $136.43, below both the 50-day and 200-day moving averages. Despite the decline, analysts maintain a “Moderate Buy” consensus with an average price target of $226.94.
• The company’s latest quarterly results missed expectations, reporting $0.76 in EPS versus the $1.61 consensus and $4.02 billion in revenue compared with estimates of $5.46 billion.
• Vistra declared a quarterly dividend of $0.23 per share, equivalent to an annualized $0.92 and a 0.7% yield. Insiders sold more than 41,000 shares worth approximately $6.7 million over the past 90 days.

Vistra Corp. (NYSE:VST - Get Free Report) shares fell 1.8% on Friday . The company traded as low as $136.18 and last traded at $136.43. Approximately 4,914,565 shares traded hands during trading, a decline of 0% from the average session volume of 4,933,310 shares. The stock had previously closed at $138.94.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research firms have commented on VST. Sanford C. Bernstein set a $187.00 price objective on shares of Vistra and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a report on Tuesday, June 16th. The Goldman Sachs Group set a $206.00 target price on Vistra in a report on Wednesday, August 12th. Seaport Research Partners restated a "buy" rating and issued a $230.00 price target on shares of Vistra in a research report on Monday, June 15th. Scotiabank increased their price target on Vistra from $293.00 to $298.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a report on Wednesday, July 15th. Finally, BNP Paribas Exane set a $255.00 price objective on Vistra in a research report on Wednesday. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirteen have given a Buy rating and two have assigned a Hold rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $226.94.

Vistra Trading Down 1.8%

The stock has a market capitalization of $45.79 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 23.05 and a beta of 1.41. The company's 50-day moving average is $153.96 and its 200-day moving average is $155.97. The company has a quick ratio of 0.87, a current ratio of 0.97 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 5.87.

Vistra (NYSE:VST - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Friday, August 7th. The company reported $0.76 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.61 by ($0.85). Vistra had a net margin of 11.55% and a return on equity of 108.68%. The firm had revenue of $4.02 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $5.46 billion. Research analysts anticipate that Vistra Corp. will post 9.23 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Vistra Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, September 30th. Investors of record on Monday, September 21st will be issued a $0.23 dividend. This is a boost from Vistra's previous quarterly dividend of $0.23. This represents a $0.92 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.7%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, September 21st. Vistra's payout ratio is currently 15.54%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, Director John R. Sult sold 6,500 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, June 18th. The stock was 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 directly owned 70,714 shares in the company, valued at approximately $12,021,380. This represents a 8.42% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, Director Scott B. Helm sold 25,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, June 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $160.00, for a total value of $4,000,000.00. Following the transaction, the director owned 232,200 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $37,152,000. This represents a 9.72% 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. Over the last ninety days, insiders have sold 41,588 shares of company stock valued at $6,739,227. 0.92% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Fideuram Intesa Sanpaolo Private Banking S.P.A. acquired a new position in Vistra during the 4th quarter worth about $25,000. Mcguire Capital Advisors Inc. acquired a new position in Vistra in the 4th quarter valued at about $28,000. Kemnay Advisory Services Inc. purchased a new stake in Vistra during the fourth quarter worth about $30,000. Strive Financial Group LLC purchased a new stake in Vistra during the fourth quarter worth about $33,000. Finally, Salomon & Ludwin LLC lifted its position in shares of Vistra by 74.8% during the fourth quarter. Salomon & Ludwin LLC now owns 215 shares of the company's stock worth $35,000 after purchasing an additional 92 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors 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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