Short Interest in Vistra Corp. (NYSE:VST) Decreases By 16.5%

Vistra Corp. (NYSE:VST) saw a significant drop in short interest in January. As of January 31st, there was short interest totalling 8,170,000 shares, a drop of 16.5% from the January 15th total of 9,790,000 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 7,140,000 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 1.1 days. Approximately 2.4% of the shares of the stock are short sold.

Insider Activity

In other Vistra news, EVP Stephen J. Muscato sold 207,100 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, November 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $161.34, for a total transaction of $33,413,514.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 318,287 shares in the company, valued at approximately $51,352,424.58. This trade represents a 39.42 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, EVP Scott A. Hudson sold 115,000 shares of Vistra stock in a transaction dated Monday, November 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of $164.16, for a total value of $18,878,400.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 254,932 shares in the company, valued at $41,849,637.12. This trade represents a 31.09 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last ninety days, insiders sold 342,100 shares of company stock worth $55,087,314. 1.42% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Pathway Financial Advisers LLC boosted its stake in shares of 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 period. Avior Wealth Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of 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 acquiring an additional 65 shares during the period. Founders Capital Management bought a new position in shares of Vistra during the 4th quarter worth approximately $28,000. West Branch Capital LLC bought a new position in shares of Vistra during the 4th quarter worth approximately $28,000. Finally, Comprehensive Financial Planning Inc. PA bought a new position in shares of Vistra during the 4th quarter worth approximately $28,000. 90.88% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Analyst Ratings Changes

VST has been the topic of several recent analyst reports. Bank of America initiated coverage on Vistra in a report on Monday, January 27th. They set a “neutral” rating and a $206.00 price objective on the stock. Evercore ISI initiated coverage on Vistra in a report on Tuesday, January 21st. They set an “outperform” rating and a $202.00 price objective on the stock. UBS Group lifted their target price on Vistra from $161.00 to $174.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, January 3rd. BMO Capital Markets lifted their target price on Vistra from $151.00 to $191.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 22nd. Finally, Morgan Stanley lifted their target price on Vistra from $135.00 to $169.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Friday, November 22nd. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Vistra presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $171.64.

Vistra Stock Up 1.2 %

NYSE:VST opened at $167.59 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $57.02 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 31.27, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.17 and a beta of 1.22. Vistra has a twelve month low of $44.25 and a twelve month high of $199.84. The stock’s 50 day moving average price is $158.32 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $129.20. The company has a quick ratio of 0.99, a current ratio of 1.11 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 4.68.

Vistra declared that its Board of Directors has approved a stock buyback 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 stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback programs are often a sign that the company’s management believes its stock is undervalued.

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.