Vistra (NYSE:VST) Trading 3.6% Higher on Insider Buying Activity

Vistra Corp. (NYSE:VST) shares were up 3.6% during trading on Friday after an insider bought additional shares in the company. The stock traded as high as $122.29 and last traded at $122.19. Approximately 2,122,172 shares were traded during mid-day trading, a decline of 72% from the average daily volume of 7,496,821 shares. The stock had previously closed at $118.00.

Specifically, Director John William Pitesa purchased 1,500 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, March 12th. The stock was purchased at an average cost of $126.75 per share, for a total transaction of $190,125.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 3,467 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $439,442.25. This trade represents a 76.26 % increase in their ownership of the stock. The purchase was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several analysts recently commented on the company. Bank of America upgraded Vistra from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and dropped their price target for the stock from $164.00 to $152.00 in a research report on Tuesday, March 4th. Daiwa America upgraded Vistra to a “hold” rating in a research report on Wednesday, March 5th. Evercore ISI assumed coverage on Vistra in a research report on Tuesday, January 21st. They set an “outperform” rating and a $202.00 price target for the company. Daiwa Capital Markets began coverage on Vistra in a research report on Wednesday, March 5th. They set a “neutral” rating and a $120.00 price target for the company. Finally, UBS Group boosted their price objective on Vistra from $161.00 to $174.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, January 3rd. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $162.83.

Vistra Trading Up 5.4 %

The company has a 50 day moving average price of $155.20 and a 200 day moving average price of $137.04. The firm has a market cap of $42.32 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 23.21, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.12 and a beta of 1.21. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 4.68, a quick ratio of 0.99 and a current ratio of 1.11.

Vistra Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 31st. Stockholders of record on Thursday, March 20th will be paid a $0.2235 dividend. This represents a $0.89 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.72%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, March 20th. This is a positive change from Vistra’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.22. Vistra’s dividend payout ratio is 12.62%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Vistra

Several large investors have recently modified their holdings of VST. Apollon Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Vistra in the 3rd quarter valued at $231,000. Prime Capital Investment Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Vistra in the 3rd quarter valued at $247,000. Plato Investment Management Ltd purchased a new stake in shares of Vistra in the 3rd quarter valued at $235,000. Balboa Wealth Partners purchased a new stake in shares of Vistra in the 3rd quarter valued at $212,000. Finally, OneDigital Investment Advisors LLC raised its holdings in shares of Vistra by 3.0% in the 3rd quarter. OneDigital Investment Advisors LLC now owns 2,809 shares of the company’s stock valued at $333,000 after buying an additional 81 shares during the period. 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.