Vontobel Holding Ltd. Raises Stock Position in Vistra Corp. (NYSE:VST)

Vontobel Holding Ltd. raised its holdings in shares of Vistra Corp. (NYSE:VST) by 46.5% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 5,251 shares of the company’s stock after acquiring an additional 1,667 shares during the quarter. Vontobel Holding Ltd.’s holdings in Vistra were worth $724,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. Lionsbridge Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Vistra during the 4th quarter valued at about $277,000. Dakota Wealth Management bought a new position in shares of Vistra during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $231,000. Empire Life Investments Inc. bought a new position in shares of Vistra during the third quarter valued at approximately $23,028,000. Retirement Systems of Alabama boosted its stake in Vistra by 9.6% in the third quarter. Retirement Systems of Alabama now owns 78,965 shares of the company’s stock valued at $9,361,000 after acquiring an additional 6,920 shares in the last quarter. Finally, First Sabrepoint Capital Management LP acquired a new stake in Vistra in the third quarter valued at approximately $17,781,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 90.88% of the company’s stock.

Vistra Price Performance

Shares of NYSE VST opened at $169.36 on Thursday. 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 $159.73 and its 200 day simple moving average is $131.14. Vistra Corp. has a fifty-two week low of $45.52 and a fifty-two week high of $199.84. The stock has a market cap of $57.62 billion, a P/E ratio of 31.60, a P/E/G ratio of 1.15 and a beta of 1.22.

Vistra announced that its board has initiated a stock buyback plan on Thursday, November 7th that permits the company to repurchase $1.00 billion in outstanding shares. This repurchase authorization permits the company to reacquire up to 2.1% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares repurchase plans are often a sign that the company’s board of directors believes its stock is undervalued.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research analysts have issued reports on VST shares. BMO Capital Markets raised their price target on shares of Vistra from $151.00 to $191.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Wednesday, January 22nd. 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 report on Friday, January 3rd. Morgan Stanley lifted their target price on shares of Vistra from $135.00 to $169.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Friday, November 22nd. Evercore ISI assumed coverage on shares of Vistra in a research note on Tuesday, January 21st. They issued an “outperform” rating and a $202.00 price target on the stock. Finally, Bank of America started coverage on shares of Vistra in a research note on Monday, January 27th. They set a “neutral” rating and a $206.00 target price on the stock. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Vistra currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $171.64.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, EVP Scott A. Hudson sold 115,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Monday, November 25th. The stock was sold at an average price of $164.16, for a total transaction of $18,878,400.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 254,932 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $41,849,637.12. This trade represents a 31.09 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, EVP Stephen J. Muscato sold 207,100 shares of the stock in a transaction 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 owns 318,287 shares in the company, valued at $51,352,424.58. The trade was a 39.42 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last quarter, 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.