Vistra (NYSE:VST) Trading 2.2% Higher – What’s Next?

Vistra Corp. (NYSE:VST)’s share price traded up 2.2% during trading on Tuesday . The stock traded as high as $158.55 and last traded at $158.0630. 4,308,766 shares were traded during mid-day trading, a decline of 25% from the average session volume of 5,724,498 shares. The stock had previously closed at $154.7020.

Key Vistra News

Here are the key news stories impacting Vistra this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Analysts continue to lean bullish on Vistra, with recent coverage showing an average “Buy” recommendation and several price targets well above the current share price. Vistra Corp. (NYSE:VST) Given Average Recommendation of “Buy” by Analysts
• Positive Sentiment: Investor commentary is highlighting Vistra as a beneficiary of AI data center power demand, with its nuclear and gas fleet seen as well-positioned to supply growing baseload electricity needs. Vistra Corp. Stock (VST) Opinions on AI Data Center Power Demand
• Positive Sentiment: Another bullish take says Vistra remains a key name in the evolving energy market, reinforcing the view that power-demand trends could support future earnings. Why Vistra Remains A Key Name In The Evolving Energy Market
• Positive Sentiment: A recent valuation check and earnings-related commentary notes that, despite the pullback, Vistra’s long-term returns and underlying fundamentals remain strong enough to keep investors interested. Vistra (VST) Valuation Check After Recent Share Price Pullback
• Neutral Sentiment: MarketWatch said Vistra has been underperforming some peers even as the stock rose on the session, suggesting relative weakness versus the sector rather than a company-specific catalyst. Vistra Corp. stock underperforms Tuesday when compared to competitors despite daily gains
• Neutral Sentiment: One article flagged utility stocks, including Vistra, as expensive on a valuation basis, which could cap upside if investors become more sensitive to multiples. These 10 large-cap US utility stocks carry the market’s most expensive valuations
• Neutral Sentiment: Higher oil prices are supporting the broader energy complex, which can be constructive for Vistra’s power-generation economics, though the article is broader sector commentary rather than a direct company catalyst. High Oil Prices Are Doing What Policy Never Could: It Is Making For Winning Comeback Stories
• Negative Sentiment: Recent insider trading data showed company executives selling shares, which can weigh on sentiment even if the sales are routine. Vistra Corp. Stock (VST) Opinions on AI Data Center Power Demand

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities research analysts have commented on the company. TD Cowen lowered their price objective on Vistra from $253.00 to $230.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, May 4th. The Goldman Sachs Group upgraded Vistra from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $205.00 target price on the stock in a research report on Friday, February 6th. BMO Capital Markets reiterated an “outperform” rating and set a $241.00 target price on shares of Vistra in a research report on Monday, March 2nd. Jefferies Financial Group reiterated a “buy” rating and set a $190.00 target price on shares of Vistra in a research report on Thursday, May 21st. Finally, Morgan Stanley reiterated an “overweight” rating and set a $212.00 target price on shares of Vistra in a research report on Thursday, May 21st. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirteen have issued a Buy rating and one has given a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of “Buy” and an average target price of $233.33.

Vistra Stock Down 2.5%

The stock has a market cap of $51.94 billion, a PE ratio of 25.80 and a beta of 1.40. The company has a current ratio of 0.90, a quick ratio of 0.79 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 5.51. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $154.24 and a 200-day moving average price of $161.46.

Vistra (NYSE:VST) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, May 7th. The company reported $2.87 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.32 by $1.55. Vistra had a return on equity of 105.64% and a net margin of 11.52%.The firm had revenue of $5.64 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.22 billion. As a group, analysts forecast that Vistra Corp. will post 9.3 earnings per share for the current year.

Vistra Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, June 30th. Investors of record on Monday, June 22nd will be paid a $0.229 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, June 22nd. This represents a $0.92 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.6%. This is an increase from Vistra’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.23. Vistra’s dividend payout ratio is currently 15.24%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Vistra

In related news, EVP Stephanie Zapata Moore sold 10,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, March 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $160.31, for a total value of $1,603,100.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 114,409 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $18,340,906.79. This represents a 8.04% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, CAO Margaret Montemayor sold 5,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, May 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $164.96, for a total value of $824,800.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief accounting officer directly owned 14,360 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $2,368,825.60. This represents a 25.83% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. 0.92% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in VST. Empowered Funds LLC raised its stake in Vistra by 24.1% in the 1st quarter. Empowered Funds LLC now owns 20,190 shares of the company’s stock valued at $2,371,000 after purchasing an additional 3,920 shares during the last quarter. Woodline Partners LP increased its stake in shares of Vistra by 40.7% in the 1st quarter. Woodline Partners LP now owns 28,744 shares of the company’s stock worth $3,376,000 after acquiring an additional 8,312 shares during the last quarter. Focus Partners Wealth increased its stake in shares of Vistra by 37.3% in the 1st quarter. Focus Partners Wealth now owns 7,828 shares of the company’s stock worth $920,000 after acquiring an additional 2,125 shares during the last quarter. Sivia Capital Partners LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Vistra in the 2nd quarter worth $269,000. Finally, Slocum Gordon & Co LLP increased its stake in shares of Vistra by 20.0% in the 2nd quarter. Slocum Gordon & Co LLP now owns 1,200 shares of the company’s stock worth $233,000 after acquiring an additional 200 shares during the last quarter. 90.88% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About Vistra

Vistra (NYSE: VST) is an integrated power company that develops, owns and operates electricity generation and retail businesses in the United States. The company’s operations span wholesale power production—through a diversified fleet of thermal and lower‑carbon generation assets—and retail electricity supply to residential, commercial and industrial customers. Vistra serves organized wholesale markets and competitive retail markets, with a notable presence in Texas and other regional U.S. power markets.

Vistra’s core activities include the ownership and operation of generation facilities, the commercial dispatch and optimization of those assets into wholesale markets, and the sale of electricity and related services to end-use customers through its retail brands.