Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund Has $5.32 Million Stake in Vistra Corp. (NYSE:VST)

Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund reduced its holdings in Vistra Corp. (NYSE:VST) by 55.7% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 38,555 shares of the company’s stock after selling 48,523 shares during the quarter. Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund’s holdings in Vistra were worth $5,316,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. Pathway Financial Advisers LLC raised its position in Vistra by 616.0% in the 4th quarter. Pathway Financial Advisers LLC now owns 179 shares of the company’s stock valued at $25,000 after purchasing an additional 154 shares during the last quarter. Avior Wealth Management LLC increased its stake in shares of Vistra by 56.5% in the fourth quarter. Avior Wealth Management LLC now owns 180 shares of the company’s stock valued at $25,000 after buying an additional 65 shares in the last quarter. Founders Capital Management acquired a new stake in shares of Vistra in the fourth quarter valued at $28,000. West Branch Capital LLC bought a new position in shares of Vistra in the fourth quarter valued at about $28,000. Finally, Comprehensive Financial Planning Inc. PA acquired a new position in Vistra during the 4th quarter worth about $28,000. 90.88% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, Director Scott B. Helm sold 20,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, December 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $139.77, for a total value of $2,795,400.00. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 343,350 shares in the company, valued at $47,990,029.50. This trade represents a 5.50 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Company insiders own 1.42% of the company’s stock.

Vistra Stock Performance

VST stock opened at $147.84 on Thursday. Vistra Corp. has a twelve month low of $48.22 and a twelve 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 company has a market cap of $50.30 billion, a P/E ratio of 27.58, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.12 and a beta of 1.22. The business’s fifty day moving average is $160.40 and its 200-day moving average is $133.70.

Vistra declared that its Board of Directors has initiated a share buyback plan on Thursday, November 7th that permits the company to buyback $1.00 billion in shares. This buyback authorization permits the company to reacquire up to 2.1% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback plans are typically an indication that the company’s board believes its shares are undervalued.

Vistra Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 31st. Shareholders of record on Thursday, March 20th will be paid a $0.2235 dividend. This is a positive change from Vistra’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.22. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, March 20th. This represents a $0.89 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.60%. Vistra’s dividend payout ratio is presently 16.42%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

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

About Vistra

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.