Vistra Corp. Shares Decline Following Insider Sales

Shares of Vistra Corp. (NYSE:VST) experienced a 3.6% decrease during mid-day trading on Wednesday, attributed to insider selling within the company. The stock reached a low of $155.35 before closing at $156.80. A total of 1,308,796 shares were traded, marking a significant 81% decrease from the average trading volume of 6,867,301 shares. The previous closing price for the stock was $162.66.

Details of Insider Selling

In a notable transaction, Executive Vice President Scott A. Hudson sold 115,000 shares on November 25th at an average price of $164.16, totaling approximately $18.88 million. Post-sale, Hudson retains 254,932 shares valued at around $41.85 million, indicating a 31.09% reduction in their ownership stake. This transaction is publicly documented in a filing with the SEC. Additionally, another Executive Vice President, Stephen J. Muscato, sold 207,100 shares on November 22nd at an average price of $161.34, amounting to approximately $33.41 million. Muscato now owns 318,287 shares worth about $51.35 million, reflecting a 39.42% decline in ownership.

Recent Analyst Ratings

Vistra has gained attention from various analysts lately. Guggenheim raised its price target from $133.00 to $177.00 and assigned a 'buy' rating on October 8th. BMO Capital Markets also increased its target from $146.00 to $147.00 with a similar 'outperform' rating on October 29th. However, UBS Group has reduced its price target from $157.00 to $150.00 while maintaining a 'buy' rating. Royal Bank of Canada lifted its target from $105.00 to $141.00, and BNP Paribas initiated coverage with an 'outperform' rating and a $231.00 target. Overall, ten analysts have issued 'buy' ratings, and the average target price stands at $149.10, according to MarketBeat data.

Stock Performance Insights

Vistra's market capitalization is currently $53.35 billion, with a PE ratio of 29.25 and a P/E/G ratio of 1.98, along with a beta of 1.09. The stock's 50-day moving average price is $129.97, while the 200-day moving average price rests at $101.03. The company’s liquidity ratios include a quick ratio of 0.99 and a current ratio of 1.11, alongside a debt-to-equity ratio of 4.68.

Dividend Announcement

Vistra recently announced a quarterly dividend, set to be paid on December 31st, for shareholders on record by December 20th. The dividend will be $0.221 per share, slightly higher than the previous $0.22. Ex-dividend date is also October 20th, resulting in an annualized dividend of approximately $0.88 and a yield of 0.56%. The company’s dividend payout ratio stands at 16.42%.

Stock Repurchase Program

On November 7th, Vistra's board approved a stock repurchase program allowing the company to buy back $1.00 billion in outstanding shares, representing about 2.1% of its total shares. This initiative typically signals management's belief that the stock is undervalued.

Investments and Market Impact

Recently, several large investors have bought and sold shares in Vistra. Empire Life Investments Inc. acquired a new position worth $23.03 million in the third quarter, while Terra Nova Asset Management LLC purchased a stake valued at about $842,000. Czech National Bank increased its position by 12.4%, now owning 69,987 shares valued at $8.30 million. Institutional investors hold 90.88% of the company's stock.

Company Overview

Vistra Corp. operates as an integrated retail electricity and power generation company through its subsidiaries across various segments, including Retail, Texas, East, West, Sunset, and Asset Closure. It provides electricity and natural gas services to residential, commercial, and industrial customers throughout the United States and the District of Columbia.

Vistra, stocks, insider, trading, dividend