Vistra (NYSE:VST) Shares Down 1.9% – Time to Sell?
by Danessa Lincoln · The Markets DailyVistra Corp. (NYSE:VST – Get Free Report)’s share price fell 1.9% on Thursday . The stock traded as low as $158.76 and last traded at $162.4110. 4,787,447 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 25% from the average session volume of 6,415,516 shares. The stock had previously closed at $165.64.
Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth
A number of analysts have recently weighed in on VST shares. Bank of America cut their price target on shares of Vistra from $231.00 to $218.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Monday, January 12th. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their price objective on Vistra from $238.00 to $236.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, January 20th. BMO Capital Markets lifted their target price on Vistra from $230.00 to $244.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Monday, January 12th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their target price on shares of Vistra from $249.00 to $233.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, December 16th. Finally, UBS Group lifted their price target on shares of Vistra from $230.00 to $233.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Monday, January 12th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, ten have assigned a Buy rating and three have assigned a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Buy” and an average target price of $239.20.
Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on VST
Vistra Stock Down 1.9%
The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $166.65 and a 200-day moving average price of $186.11. The company has a market capitalization of $55.03 billion, a P/E ratio of 58.63, a P/E/G ratio of 1.00 and a beta of 1.41. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 5.74, a current ratio of 0.99 and a quick ratio of 0.88.
Vistra (NYSE:VST – Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Friday, November 7th. The company reported $1.75 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.78 by ($0.03). The business had revenue of $4.97 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.60 billion. Vistra had a net margin of 6.70% and a return on equity of 64.04%. On average, research analysts predict that Vistra Corp. will post 7 EPS for the current fiscal year.
Insider Activity
In other news, EVP Scott A. Hudson sold 56,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Friday, November 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $168.86, for a total transaction of $9,456,160.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 306,600 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $51,772,476. This trade represents a 15.44% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, CEO James A. Burke sold 22,251 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, December 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $162.05, for a total transaction of $3,605,774.55. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer owned 297,998 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $48,290,575.90. The trade was a 6.95% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders sold 166,680 shares of company stock valued at $28,761,790 over the last quarter. 1.42% of the stock is owned by insiders.
Institutional Trading of Vistra
Several hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Bridgewater Advisors Inc. raised its position in Vistra by 3.1% during the third quarter. Bridgewater Advisors Inc. now owns 1,787 shares of the company’s stock valued at $350,000 after purchasing an additional 53 shares in the last quarter. Y.D. More Investments Ltd boosted its stake in shares of Vistra by 7.1% in the 3rd quarter. Y.D. More Investments Ltd now owns 916 shares of the company’s stock valued at $168,000 after purchasing an additional 61 shares in the last quarter. Equitable Holdings Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Vistra by 0.9% during the 3rd quarter. Equitable Holdings Inc. now owns 7,045 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,380,000 after purchasing an additional 61 shares during the last quarter. Ballentine Partners LLC raised its position in Vistra by 2.0% in the 3rd quarter. Ballentine Partners LLC now owns 3,275 shares of the company’s stock worth $642,000 after purchasing an additional 63 shares during the period. Finally, Wealth Effects LLC lifted its stake in Vistra by 1.1% in the third quarter. Wealth Effects LLC now owns 5,782 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,133,000 after purchasing an additional 65 shares during the last quarter. 90.88% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.
About Vistra
Vistra (NYSE: VST) is an integrated power company that develops, owns and operates electricity generation and retail businesses in the United States. The company’s operations span wholesale power production—through a diversified fleet of thermal and lower‑carbon generation assets—and retail electricity supply to residential, commercial and industrial customers. Vistra serves organized wholesale markets and competitive retail markets, with a notable presence in Texas and other regional U.S. power markets.
Vistra’s core activities include the ownership and operation of generation facilities, the commercial dispatch and optimization of those assets into wholesale markets, and the sale of electricity and related services to end-use customers through its retail brands.