Vistra Corp. (NYSE:VST) Stake Boosted by Bridgewater Associates LP

Bridgewater Associates LP boosted its holdings in shares of Vistra Corp. (NYSE:VST) by 58.9% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 1,773,499 shares of the company’s stock after acquiring an additional 657,217 shares during the period. Vistra accounts for approximately 1.1% of Bridgewater Associates LP’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 8th biggest position. Bridgewater Associates LP’s holdings in Vistra were worth $244,512,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Lionsbridge Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Vistra in the fourth quarter valued at about $277,000. Dakota Wealth Management acquired a new position in Vistra in the 4th quarter valued at about $231,000. Retirement Systems of Alabama grew its stake in shares of Vistra by 9.6% in the 3rd quarter. Retirement Systems of Alabama now owns 78,965 shares of the company’s stock valued at $9,361,000 after buying an additional 6,920 shares during the period. Legal Advantage Investments Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Vistra during the 4th quarter worth approximately $565,000. Finally, Viking Fund Management LLC raised its position in shares of Vistra by 90.0% during the 4th quarter. Viking Fund Management LLC now owns 19,000 shares of the company’s stock valued at $2,620,000 after buying an additional 9,000 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 90.88% of the company’s stock.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, Director John William Pitesa acquired 1,500 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, March 12th. The stock was acquired at an average price of $126.75 per share, for a total transaction of $190,125.00. Following the purchase, the director now owns 3,467 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $439,442.25. This represents a 76.26 % increase in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, Director Paul M. Barbas sold 24,136 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $124.19, for a total transaction of $2,997,449.84. Following the sale, the director now owns 51,063 shares in the company, valued at $6,341,513.97. The trade was a 32.10 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 1.42% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

VST has been the subject of several analyst reports. UBS Group cut their target price on Vistra from $174.00 to $154.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Friday. Bank of America upgraded shares of Vistra from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and reduced their price objective for the company from $164.00 to $152.00 in a report on Tuesday, March 4th. 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 target price for the company. The Goldman Sachs Group assumed coverage on shares of Vistra in a research report on Friday, April 4th. They set a “neutral” rating and a $134.00 price target for the company. Finally, Daiwa America upgraded shares of Vistra to a “hold” rating in a report on Wednesday, March 5th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $159.69.

Vistra Stock Performance

Shares of VST stock opened at $112.37 on Tuesday. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $132.00 and a two-hundred day moving average of $141.50. The stock has a market capitalization of $38.22 billion, a PE ratio of 20.96, a P/E/G ratio of 1.12 and a beta of 1.21. The company has a quick ratio of 0.99, a current ratio of 1.11 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 4.68. Vistra Corp. has a 52 week low of $64.26 and a 52 week high of $199.84.

Vistra Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 31st. Investors of record on Thursday, March 20th were issued a $0.2235 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, March 20th. This is a positive change from Vistra’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.22. This represents a $0.89 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.80%. Vistra’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 12.62%.

Vistra 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.