Vistra (NYSE:VST) Shares Down 0.8% – Time to Sell?

Shares of Vistra Corp. (NYSE:VST) were down 0.8% on Friday . The stock traded as low as $113.46 and last traded at $113.55. Approximately 2,841,225 shares traded hands during trading, a decline of 70% from the average daily volume of 9,486,186 shares. The stock had previously closed at $114.41.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research analysts have recently weighed in on VST shares. Daiwa Capital Markets started coverage on shares of Vistra in a report on Wednesday. They set a “neutral” rating and a $120.00 price objective on the stock. Evercore ISI started coverage on shares of Vistra in a report on Tuesday, January 21st. They set an “outperform” rating and a $202.00 price objective on the stock. BMO Capital Markets increased their price objective on shares of Vistra from $151.00 to $191.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Wednesday, January 22nd. UBS Group increased their price objective on shares of Vistra from $161.00 to $174.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, January 3rd. Finally, Daiwa America upgraded shares of Vistra to a “hold” rating in a report on Wednesday. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $162.83.

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’s 50-day simple moving average is $158.02 and its 200-day simple moving average is $135.87. The company has a market cap of $38.77 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.26, a P/E/G ratio of 1.12 and a beta of 1.21.

Vistra Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 31st. Shareholders of record on Thursday, March 20th will be given a $0.2235 dividend. This is an increase from Vistra’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.22. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, March 20th. This represents a $0.89 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.78%. Vistra’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 12.62%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Vistra

In other news, Director Scott B. Helm sold 20,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, December 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $139.77, for a total transaction of $2,795,400.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 343,350 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $47,990,029.50. This trade represents a 5.50 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. 1.42% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Trading of Vistra

Hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Pathway Financial Advisers LLC grew its position in shares of Vistra by 616.0% during the fourth quarter. Pathway Financial Advisers LLC now owns 179 shares of the company’s stock worth $25,000 after buying an additional 154 shares in the last quarter. Avior Wealth Management LLC grew its position in shares of Vistra by 56.5% during the fourth quarter. Avior Wealth Management LLC now owns 180 shares of the company’s stock worth $25,000 after buying an additional 65 shares in the last quarter. Founders Capital Management acquired a new stake in shares of Vistra during the fourth quarter worth approximately $28,000. West Branch Capital LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Vistra during the fourth quarter worth approximately $28,000. Finally, Comprehensive Financial Planning Inc. PA acquired a new stake in shares of Vistra during the fourth quarter worth approximately $28,000. 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.