Vistra Corp. (NYSE:VST) Shares Sold by Louisiana State Employees Retirement System

Louisiana State Employees Retirement System lowered its stake in Vistra Corp. (NYSE:VST) by 5.2% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 18,300 shares of the company’s stock after selling 1,000 shares during the quarter. Louisiana State Employees Retirement System’s holdings in Vistra were worth $2,523,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of VST. CWM LLC lifted its position in Vistra by 26.8% in the third quarter. CWM LLC now owns 7,158 shares of the company’s stock valued at $849,000 after buying an additional 1,514 shares during the last quarter. Thurston Springer Miller Herd & Titak Inc. acquired a new position in Vistra in the third quarter valued at about $30,000. Creative Planning lifted its position in Vistra by 33.3% in the third quarter. Creative Planning now owns 31,052 shares of the company’s stock valued at $3,681,000 after buying an additional 7,753 shares during the last quarter. SeaCrest Wealth Management LLC lifted its position in Vistra by 6.8% in the third quarter. SeaCrest Wealth Management LLC now owns 5,285 shares of the company’s stock valued at $626,000 after buying an additional 337 shares during the last quarter. Finally, B.O.S.S. Retirement Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Vistra in the third quarter valued at about $2,571,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 90.88% of the company’s stock.

Vistra Stock Down 0.5 %

VST stock opened at $165.72 on Friday. The company’s 50 day moving average price is $158.17 and its 200 day moving average price is $128.11. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 4.68, a quick ratio of 0.99 and a current ratio of 1.11. Vistra Corp. has a fifty-two week low of $43.99 and a fifty-two week high of $199.84. The firm has a market capitalization of $56.38 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 30.92, a PEG ratio of 1.17 and a beta of 1.22.

Vistra declared that its Board of Directors has initiated a share buyback plan on Thursday, November 7th that allows the company to repurchase $1.00 billion in shares. This repurchase authorization allows the company to repurchase up to 2.1% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares repurchase plans are typically a sign that the company’s leadership believes its stock is undervalued.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research firms have commented on VST. Evercore ISI initiated coverage on shares of Vistra in a research report on Tuesday, January 21st. They issued an “outperform” rating and a $202.00 target price on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. initiated coverage on shares of Vistra in a research note on Thursday, October 17th. They set an “overweight” rating and a $178.00 price target on the stock. Bank of America initiated coverage on shares of Vistra in a research note on Monday, January 27th. They set a “neutral” rating and a $206.00 price target on the stock. UBS Group boosted their price target on shares of Vistra from $161.00 to $174.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, January 3rd. Finally, BMO Capital Markets boosted their price target on shares of Vistra from $151.00 to $191.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 22nd. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $171.64.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, Director Scott B. Helm sold 20,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, December 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $139.77, for a total value of $2,795,400.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 343,350 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $47,990,029.50. This represents a 5.50 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Stephen J. Muscato sold 207,100 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, November 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $161.34, for a total value of $33,413,514.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 318,287 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $51,352,424.58. This trade represents a 39.42 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last ninety days, insiders have sold 342,100 shares of company stock worth $55,087,314. Company insiders own 1.42% 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.