Vistra (NYSE:VST) Trading 4.4% Higher – Here’s What Happened

Vistra Corp. (NYSE:VST) shares rose 4.4% during mid-day trading on Thursday . The company traded as high as $162.27 and last traded at $161.45. Approximately 1,890,621 shares were traded during mid-day trading, a decline of 72% from the average daily volume of 6,869,749 shares. The stock had previously closed at $154.63.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research firms have commented on VST. UBS Group decreased their target price on shares of Vistra from $157.00 to $150.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, October 22nd. Royal Bank of Canada increased their price objective on shares of Vistra from $105.00 to $141.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Thursday, October 3rd. Guggenheim boosted their price objective on Vistra from $133.00 to $177.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, October 8th. BNP Paribas started coverage on shares of Vistra in a report on Monday, October 14th. They issued an “outperform” rating and a $231.00 price target on the stock. Finally, BMO Capital Markets increased their target price on shares of Vistra from $146.00 to $147.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Tuesday, October 29th. Ten research analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating, Based on data from MarketBeat, Vistra currently has an average rating of “Buy” and an average price target of $145.40.

Vistra Price Performance

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 4.68, a quick ratio of 0.99 and a current ratio of 1.11. The company has a market capitalization of $56.71 billion, a PE ratio of 30.86, a P/E/G ratio of 1.99 and a beta of 1.09. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $124.02 and a 200 day simple moving average of $98.90.

Vistra Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, December 31st. Shareholders of record on Friday, December 20th will be paid a $0.221 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, December 20th. This is a boost from Vistra’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.22. This represents a $0.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.53%. Vistra’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 16.42%.

Vistra announced that its board has authorized a share buyback program on Thursday, November 7th that allows the company to repurchase $1.00 billion in outstanding shares. This repurchase authorization allows the company to reacquire up to 2.1% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase programs are typically a sign that the company’s board of directors believes its shares are undervalued.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. O Shaughnessy Asset Management LLC grew its stake in Vistra by 11.0% during the 1st quarter. O Shaughnessy Asset Management LLC now owns 28,207 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,965,000 after purchasing an additional 2,794 shares in the last quarter. UniSuper Management Pty Ltd grew its holdings in shares of Vistra by 84.6% in the 1st quarter. UniSuper Management Pty Ltd now owns 4,800 shares of the company’s stock worth $334,000 after acquiring an additional 2,200 shares during the period. CANADA LIFE ASSURANCE Co lifted its stake in Vistra by 1.5% in the 1st quarter. CANADA LIFE ASSURANCE Co now owns 227,215 shares of the company’s stock valued at $15,827,000 after buying an additional 3,458 shares in the last quarter. Shell Asset Management Co. acquired a new stake in Vistra during the first quarter worth approximately $576,000. Finally, CreativeOne Wealth LLC acquired a new position in Vistra during the first quarter worth approximately $215,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 90.88% of the company’s stock.

About Vistra

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.