Vistra (NYSE:VST) Stock Price Down 4.4% – Should You Sell?

Vistra Corp. (NYSE:VST) traded down 4.4% on Tuesday . The company traded as low as $139.00 and last traded at $139.35. 1,434,940 shares changed hands during trading, a decline of 79% from the average session volume of 6,937,065 shares. The stock had previously closed at $145.80.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several analysts recently commented on the company. Guggenheim boosted their price target on Vistra from $133.00 to $177.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, October 8th. Morgan Stanley lifted their target price on shares of Vistra from $110.00 to $132.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Monday, September 23rd. Royal Bank of Canada lifted their target price on Vistra from $105.00 to $141.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Thursday, October 3rd. Jefferies Financial Group upped their target price on shares of Vistra from $99.00 to $137.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, September 24th. Finally, BNP Paribas initiated coverage on shares of Vistra in a report on Monday, October 14th. They set an “outperform” rating and a $231.00 target price for the company. Ten analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating, According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of “Buy” and a consensus target price of $145.40.

Vistra Price Performance

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.89, a current ratio of 0.98 and a quick ratio of 0.88. The company’s 50-day moving average price is $114.25 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $95.68. The company has a market capitalization of $48.84 billion, a P/E ratio of 26.00 and a beta of 1.09.

Vistra Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, December 31st. Stockholders of record on Friday, December 20th will be given a dividend of $0.221 per share. This represents a $0.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.62%. This is an increase from Vistra’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.22. The ex-dividend date is Friday, December 20th. Vistra’s dividend payout ratio is presently 16.42%.

Vistra declared that its board has approved a share repurchase program on Thursday, November 7th that allows the company to buyback $1.00 billion in shares. This buyback authorization allows the company to buy up to 2.1% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares buyback programs are generally a sign that the company’s board believes its shares are undervalued.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Vistra

A number of institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Thurston Springer Miller Herd & Titak Inc. bought a new position in shares of Vistra during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $30,000. CVA Family Office LLC raised its position in shares of Vistra by 1,505.9% in the third quarter. CVA Family Office LLC now owns 273 shares of the company’s stock valued at $32,000 after purchasing an additional 256 shares during the period. Redwood Wealth Management Group LLC bought a new position in shares of Vistra in the second quarter worth $26,000. ORG Wealth Partners LLC bought a new position in shares of Vistra in the third quarter valued at approximately $40,000. Finally, Fortitude Family Office LLC grew its position in Vistra by 125.0% during the third quarter. Fortitude Family Office LLC now owns 360 shares of the company’s stock worth $43,000 after buying an additional 200 shares in the last quarter. 90.88% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Vistra Company 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.