Vistra Corp. Director Scott B. Helm Sells 20,000 Shares

On December 10th, Scott B. Helm, a director at Vistra Corp. (NYSE:VST), made a significant move by selling 20,000 shares of the company's stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $139.77, resulting in a total value of approximately $2,795,400. Following this transaction, Helm's ownership in Vistra has decreased, and he now holds 343,350 shares, which are valued at around $47,990,029.50. This sale reflects a reduction in his stock holdings of about 5.50%. The details of this transaction were reported in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), which is accessible on their official website.

Vistra Shares Gain Value

On the trading day following Helm's sale, Vistra Corp. shares rose by 3.2%, closing at $146.00. The company experienced a trading volume of over 6 million shares, slightly below its average volume of approximately 6.8 million shares. Vistra Corp. has demonstrated significant price variability over the past year, with a low of $36.81 and a high reaching $168.67. Some financial metrics show that the company has a quick ratio of 0.99, current ratio of 1.11, and a notably high debt-to-equity ratio of 4.68. Its market capitalization stands at roughly $49.67 billion with a price-to-earnings (PE) ratio of 27.12, along with a beta of 1.16, indicating some level of risk compared to the market.

Dividends Announced by Vistra

Vistra Corp. has also recently declared a quarterly dividend, set to be distributed on December 31st to stockholders recorded on December 20th. Each share will earn a dividend of $0.221, which is a slight increase from the prior dividend of $0.22. This translates to an annualized dividend of approximately $0.88, yielding a 0.61% return based on the current stock price. Presently, Vistra's payout ratio is at 16.42%, indicating a manageable level of dividend payments relative to earnings.

Share Buyback Program Initiated

Further demonstrating confidence in its own stock, Vistra's Board of Directors announced a share repurchase program on November 7th, which allows for the repurchase of up to $1 billion worth of shares. This authorization permits the company to buy back about 2.1% of its total stock, suggesting that the board believes the company is currently undervalued.

Recent Institutional Activity

Recently, various institutional investors have been active in trading Vistra shares. For instance, the Retirement Systems of Alabama increased its stake by 9.6% during the third quarter, now owning nearly 79,000 shares valued at over $9 million. Other institutional movements include Oddo BHF Asset Management, Blankinship & Foster LLC, and Wilmington Savings Fund Society, which all acquired new stakes in the company. Currently, 90.88% of Vistra's stock is held by hedge funds and institutional investors.

Analyst Ratings and Predictions

Vistra has garnered attention from several market analysts. Jefferies Financial Group has recently raised its price target from $99.00 to $137.00 and maintained a "buy" rating. UBS Group has adjusted its target to $150.00, while Guggenheim set its target at $177.00. Also, BNP Paribas initiated coverage with an "outperform" rating and a price target of $231.00. The overall consensus among ten analysts indicates a "buy" rating, with an average price target currently estimated at $149.10.

About Vistra Corp.

Vistra Corp. operates as an integrated retail electricity and power generation firm. The company provides electricity and natural gas to residential, commercial, and industrial customers across the United States. The firm operates through several segments, including retail, Texas, East, West, Sunset, and Asset Closure.

Vistra, director, shares