Vistra Corp. (NYSE: VST) Executive Vice President Stephanie Zapata Moore has sold a significant number of shares, offloading 8,219 shares on November 24, 2023. The shares were sold at an average price of $173.35, amounting to a total of $1,424,763.65. Following this transaction, Moore retains ownership of 79,854 shares, valued at approximately $13,842,690.90, reflecting a decrease of 9.33% in her total holdings.
The details of the sale were disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), accessible on the SEC’s official website.
Vistra’s Market Position and Recent Performance
On the trading day following the sale, shares of Vistra opened at $177.14. The company has experienced notable fluctuations in its stock price over the past year, hitting a 52-week low of $90.51 and a high of $219.82. Currently, Vistra boasts a market capitalization of $60.02 billion, with a price-to-earnings (PE) ratio of 63.95 and a price-to-earnings growth (PEG) ratio of 2.13. The company’s beta stands at 1.30, indicating its relative volatility compared to the market.
Vistra reported its latest quarterly earnings results on November 7, 2023. The company announced earnings per share (EPS) of $1.75, falling short of the consensus estimate of $1.78 by $0.03. Revenue for the quarter totaled $4.97 billion, significantly below analyst projections of $6.60 billion. The company achieved a return on equity of 64.04% and a net margin of 6.70%, indicating strong profitability despite the revenue miss. Analysts predict that Vistra will post an EPS of $7 for the current fiscal year.
Institutional Investment Trends and Analyst Ratings
Recent activity among institutional investors has seen a marked increase in share transactions. Banque Transatlantique SA notably raised its position in Vistra by 132.0% during the first quarter, now holding 232 shares valued at approximately $25,000. Other firms, including Salomon & Ludwin LLC and Quent Capital LLC, have also established new positions in the company, each valued around $25,000. Additionally, Archer Investment Corp. increased its holdings by an impressive 2,700.0% in the third quarter.
Currently, institutional investors and hedge funds own 90.88% of Vistra’s stock, underscoring significant confidence in the company’s future prospects.
Analysts continue to express optimism about Vistra’s potential growth. Morgan Stanley has reaffirmed an “overweight” rating, setting a price target of $225.00. Similarly, TD Cowen initiated coverage with a “buy” rating and a target price of $250.00. Other notable price target adjustments include Goldman Sachs, which raised its target from $179.00 to $203.00 with a “neutral” rating, and BMO Capital Markets, increasing its price objective from $236.00 to $245.00.
Overall, the stock is currently rated as a “Buy” by an average of four investment analysts, with a majority assigning a “Strong Buy” or “Outperform” rating. The consensus price target among analysts is $233.20.
Vistra Corp. operates as an integrated retail electricity and power generation company, providing services across six segments: Retail, Texas, East, West, Sunset, and Asset Closure. The company serves residential, commercial, and industrial customers throughout the United States and the District of Columbia.
