Vistra (NYSE:VST) Trading Up 5.3% - Still a Buy?

Vistra Corp. (NYSE:VST - Get Free Report)'s stock price rose 5.3% during mid-day trading on Tuesday . The company traded as high as $111.70 and last traded at $112.16. Approximately 1,274,381 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 84% from the average daily volume of 7,860,628 shares. The stock had previously closed at $106.52.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research analysts have recently commented on VST shares. The Goldman Sachs Group began coverage on shares of Vistra in a research note on Friday, April 4th. They set a "neutral" rating and a $134.00 price objective for the company. UBS Group dropped their price target on shares of Vistra from $174.00 to $154.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research report on Friday, April 11th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their price target on shares of Vistra from $203.00 to $186.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, March 28th. Daiwa Capital Markets started coverage on shares of Vistra in a research note on Wednesday, March 5th. They set a "neutral" rating and a $120.00 price objective for the company. Finally, Evercore ISI assumed coverage on Vistra in a research report on Tuesday, January 21st. They issued an "outperform" rating and a $202.00 target price on the stock. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have given a buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $166.17.

Vistra Price Performance

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 4.68, a current ratio of 1.11 and a quick ratio of 0.99. The company has a market cap of $43.10 billion, a PE ratio of 23.64, a P/E/G ratio of 1.12 and a beta of 1.21. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $122.87 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $140.74.

Vistra Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 31st. Stockholders of record on Thursday, March 20th were paid a dividend of $0.2235 per share. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, March 20th. This represents a $0.89 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.71%. This is a positive change from Vistra's previous quarterly dividend of $0.22. Vistra's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 12.62%.

Insider Activity

In other Vistra news, Director John William Pitesa purchased 1,500 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, March 12th. The shares were acquired at an average price of $126.75 per share, for a total transaction of $190,125.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the director now owns 3,467 shares in the company, valued at $439,442.25. The trade was a 76.26 % increase in their position. The purchase was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, Director Paul M. Barbas sold 24,136 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $124.19, for a total value of $2,997,449.84. Following the sale, the director now 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 position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 1.42% of the company's stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Vistra

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Avior Wealth Management LLC raised its holdings in Vistra by 56.5% in the fourth quarter. Avior Wealth Management LLC now owns 180 shares of the company's stock valued at $25,000 after acquiring an additional 65 shares in the last quarter. Pathway Financial Advisers LLC raised its stake in shares of Vistra by 616.0% in the 4th quarter. Pathway Financial Advisers LLC now owns 179 shares of the company's stock valued at $25,000 after purchasing an additional 154 shares in the last quarter. Founders Capital Management acquired a new position in Vistra in the fourth quarter worth about $28,000. West Branch Capital LLC bought a new stake in Vistra in the fourth quarter valued at about $28,000. Finally, Comprehensive Financial Planning Inc. PA acquired a new stake in Vistra during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $28,000. 90.88% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other 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.