Vistra (NYSE:VST) Trading 1.6% Higher – Should You Buy?

Vistra Corp. (NYSE:VST)’s share price shot up 1.6% during mid-day trading on Monday . The company traded as high as $149.80 and last traded at $144.13. 2,109,204 shares were traded during mid-day trading, a decline of 70% from the average session volume of 6,937,565 shares. The stock had previously closed at $141.90.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research analysts have recently commented on VST shares. Jefferies Financial Group increased their target price on shares of Vistra from $99.00 to $137.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, September 24th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. began coverage on Vistra in a research note on Thursday, October 17th. They set an “overweight” rating and a $178.00 price target on the stock. Guggenheim boosted their target price on shares of Vistra from $133.00 to $177.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, October 8th. BMO Capital Markets lifted their price target on shares of Vistra from $146.00 to $147.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Tuesday, October 29th. Finally, BNP Paribas initiated coverage on Vistra in a report on Monday, October 14th. They issued an “outperform” rating and a $231.00 price objective for the company. Ten investment analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating, According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Buy” and an average target price of $145.40.

Vistra Stock Performance

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 4.68, a current ratio of 1.11 and a quick ratio of 0.88. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $115.58 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $96.17. The firm has a market capitalization of $48.34 billion, a P/E ratio of 26.51 and a beta of 1.09.

Vistra Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, December 31st. Shareholders of record on Friday, December 20th will be issued a $0.221 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, December 20th. This represents a $0.88 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.62%. This is a positive change from Vistra’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.22. Vistra’s dividend payout ratio is presently 16.42%.

Vistra declared that its Board of Directors has initiated a share repurchase program on Thursday, November 7th that permits the company to repurchase $1.00 billion in outstanding shares. This repurchase authorization permits the company to purchase up to 2.1% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase programs are generally an indication that the company’s leadership believes its shares are undervalued.

Institutional Trading of Vistra

Several hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of VST. Empire Life Investments Inc. bought a new position in shares of Vistra during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $23,028,000. Terra Nova Asset Management LLC bought a new stake in Vistra during the third quarter worth $842,000. Czech National Bank boosted its position in Vistra by 12.4% in the third quarter. Czech National Bank now owns 69,987 shares of the company’s stock worth $8,296,000 after purchasing an additional 7,747 shares during the last quarter. Viking Fund Management LLC bought a new position in Vistra in the 3rd quarter valued at $1,185,000. Finally, Atria Investments Inc purchased a new stake in shares of Vistra during the 1st quarter valued at $1,675,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 90.88% of the company’s stock.

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.