Key Points
- Vistra EVP Scott Hudson sold 44,444 shares for approximately $6.75 million at an average price of $151.82 under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 plan, reducing his ownership by 11.83%.
- Vistra reported quarterly EPS of $0.76, well below the $1.61 analyst consensus, while revenue of $4.02 billion also missed estimates of $5.46 billion.
- Despite the earnings miss, analysts maintain a generally positive outlook, with a consensus “Moderate Buy” rating and $223.53 price target; the company also declared a quarterly dividend of $0.23 per share.
Vistra Corp. (NYSE:VST - Get Free Report) EVP Scott Hudson sold 44,444 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, September 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $151.82, for a total value of $6,747,488.08. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 331,137 shares in the company, valued at $50,273,219.34. This trade represents a 11.83% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan.
Vistra Trading Down 2.4%
Shares of VST opened at $147.41 on Friday. Vistra Corp. has a 12 month low of $132.66 and a 12 month high of $219.82. The stock's 50-day moving average is $148.87 and its two-hundred day moving average is $154.08. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 5.87, a current ratio of 0.97 and a quick ratio of 0.87. The stock has a market cap of $49.48 billion, a PE ratio of 24.90 and a beta of 1.40.
Vistra (NYSE:VST - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Friday, August 7th. The company reported $0.76 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $1.61 by ($0.85). The company had revenue of $4.02 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $5.46 billion. Vistra had a net margin of 11.55% and a return on equity of 108.68%. Equities analysts forecast that Vistra Corp. will post 9.21 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.
Vistra Increases Dividend
The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, September 30th. Shareholders of record on Monday, September 21st will be given a $0.23 dividend. This represents a $0.92 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.6%. This is a positive change from Vistra's previous quarterly dividend of $0.23. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, September 21st. Vistra's dividend payout ratio is 15.54%.
Wall Street Analyst Weigh In
A number of research firms recently weighed in on VST. Scotiabank raised their price target on shares of Vistra from $293.00 to $298.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a report on Wednesday, July 15th. The Goldman Sachs Group set a $206.00 price objective on shares of Vistra in a report on Wednesday, August 12th. Morgan Stanley upped their price objective on shares of Vistra from $212.00 to $227.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research report on Friday, August 21st. TD Cowen dropped their target price on Vistra from $222.00 to $221.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, August 19th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company reiterated an "overweight" rating and issued a $212.00 price target on shares of Vistra in a research note on Monday, August 10th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fourteen have given a Buy rating and two have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Vistra has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $223.53.
Get Our Latest Analysis on Vistra
Vistra News Roundup
Here are the key news stories impacting Vistra this week:
- Positive Sentiment: Vistra priced a $1.5 billion offering of junior subordinated notes, consisting of $850 million of Series A notes and $650 million of Series B notes due 2057. The financing could support strategic investments and expansion tied to rising power demand. Vistra Prices Registered Offering of $1.5 Billion of Junior Subordinated Notes
- Positive Sentiment: Analyst commentary remains constructive. Vistra’s hedging, long-term power purchase agreements, diversified 43,641-megawatt generation fleet and exposure to ERCOT and PJM provide earnings visibility as data-center, industrial and electrification demand grows. The Cogentrix acquisition and long-term nuclear agreements with Meta and AWS are viewed as potential growth catalysts. Vistra: Cogentrix And Meta Can Offset A Softer ERCOT Outlook
- Positive Sentiment: Several recent research notes maintain Buy or Moderate Buy ratings, citing improving EBITDA expectations, potential guidance upside and a favorable long-term power-demand outlook. One analysis estimates fair value above the current trading range based on core operations alone. Vistra Receives Consensus Recommendation of Moderate Buy
- Neutral Sentiment: Executive Vice President Scott Hudson sold 44,444 shares worth approximately $6.75 million under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. While the sale reduces his holdings by 11.83%, the planned nature of the transaction limits its signal about management’s current outlook. SEC Insider Transaction Filing
- Negative Sentiment: The debt issuance increases financing obligations for a company that already carries substantial leverage. Commentary also notes that the Cogentrix acquisition may raise leverage and dilute the impact of recent share buybacks, while softer ERCOT conditions could pressure near-term results. VST Stock Outperforms Industry in the Past 3 Months
Institutional Inflows and Outflows
A number of large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Equitable Holdings Inc. boosted its position in Vistra by 0.9% during the 3rd quarter. Equitable Holdings Inc. now owns 7,045 shares of the company's stock worth $1,380,000 after buying an additional 61 shares during the period. UMB Bank n.a. increased its position in Vistra by 3.8% in the 4th quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 1,770 shares of the company's stock valued at $286,000 after acquiring an additional 65 shares during the period. Rothschild Investment LLC increased its position in Vistra by 2.9% in the 4th quarter. Rothschild Investment LLC now owns 2,409 shares of the company's stock valued at $389,000 after acquiring an additional 68 shares during the period. Outlook Wealth Advisors LLC raised its stake in shares of Vistra by 4.9% during the first quarter. Outlook Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 1,511 shares of the company's stock valued at $227,000 after acquiring an additional 70 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Principle Wealth Partners LLC raised its stake in shares of Vistra by 0.5% during the fourth quarter. Principle Wealth Partners LLC now owns 14,462 shares of the company's stock valued at $2,333,000 after acquiring an additional 73 shares during the last quarter. 90.88% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.
Vistra Company Profile
(
Get Free Report)
Vistra Corp. is an integrated energy company headquartered in Irving, Texas. The company operates electricity generation and retail energy businesses, serving residential, commercial, industrial and wholesale customers primarily across the United States.
Vistra's generation portfolio includes natural gas, nuclear, coal, solar and battery energy storage facilities. Through its retail operations, the company provides electricity, natural gas and renewable energy plans under brands that include TXU Energy, Dynegy, Homefield Energy and Ambit Energy.
The company was established in 2016 following the separation of Energy Future Holdings' competitive energy businesses.
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