Daiwa America Upgrades Vistra (NYSE:VST) to “Hold”

Vistra (NYSE:VST) was upgraded by investment analysts at Daiwa America to a “hold” rating in a note issued to investors on Wednesday,Zacks.com reports.

Other analysts have also recently issued reports about the company. Morgan Stanley boosted their price objective on Vistra from $135.00 to $169.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Friday, November 22nd. Daiwa Capital Markets started coverage on Vistra in a report on Wednesday. They set a “neutral” rating and a $120.00 price objective for the company. BMO Capital Markets boosted their price objective on Vistra from $151.00 to $191.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Wednesday, January 22nd. Bank of America raised Vistra from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and dropped their price objective for the stock from $164.00 to $152.00 in a report on Tuesday. Finally, Evercore ISI assumed coverage on Vistra in a report on Tuesday, January 21st. They set an “outperform” rating and a $202.00 price objective for the company. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Vistra currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $162.83.

Vistra Stock Down 10.2 %

Shares of NYSE VST opened at $113.94 on Wednesday. The company has a market cap of $38.77 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.26, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.12 and a beta of 1.21. Vistra has a 12-month low of $57.50 and a 12-month high of $199.84. The company has a quick ratio of 0.99, a current ratio of 1.11 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 4.68. The firm’s 50-day simple moving average is $159.13 and its 200 day simple moving average is $135.40.

Vistra announced that its board has initiated a share repurchase program on Thursday, November 7th that allows the company to buyback $1.00 billion in shares. This buyback authorization allows the company to repurchase up to 2.1% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares buyback programs are often an indication that the company’s board believes its shares are undervalued.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, Director Scott B. Helm sold 20,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, December 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $139.77, for a total transaction of $2,795,400.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 343,350 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $47,990,029.50. This represents a 5.50 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. 1.42% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Institutional Trading of Vistra

A number of large investors have recently bought and sold shares of VST. Avior Wealth Management LLC increased its stake in Vistra by 56.5% during the 4th quarter. Avior Wealth Management LLC now owns 180 shares of the company’s stock worth $25,000 after purchasing an additional 65 shares in the last quarter. Pathway Financial Advisers LLC boosted its position in Vistra by 616.0% during the 4th quarter. Pathway Financial Advisers LLC now owns 179 shares of the company’s stock worth $25,000 after acquiring an additional 154 shares during the last quarter. Founders Capital Management acquired a new position in Vistra during the 4th quarter worth approximately $28,000. West Branch Capital LLC acquired a new position in Vistra during the 4th quarter worth approximately $28,000. Finally, Comprehensive Financial Planning Inc. PA acquired a new position in Vistra during the 4th quarter worth approximately $28,000. 90.88% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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.