Calamos Advisors LLC Sells 38,927 Shares of Vistra Corp. $VST

Calamos Advisors LLC cut its position in Vistra Corp. (NYSE:VST) by 29.0% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 95,326 shares of the company’s stock after selling 38,927 shares during the quarter. Calamos Advisors LLC’s holdings in Vistra were worth $18,676,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Ieq Capital LLC acquired a new stake in Vistra in the 1st quarter worth about $1,086,000. State of Wyoming grew its position in shares of Vistra by 532.9% during the 1st quarter. State of Wyoming now owns 2,658 shares of the company’s stock worth $312,000 after purchasing an additional 2,238 shares in the last quarter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company increased its holdings in shares of Vistra by 15.6% during the first quarter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company now owns 259,115 shares of the company’s stock worth $30,430,000 after purchasing an additional 35,049 shares during the period. Evergreen Capital Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of Vistra by 7.1% during the first quarter. Evergreen Capital Management LLC now owns 2,634 shares of the company’s stock worth $309,000 after purchasing an additional 174 shares during the period. Finally, Baird Financial Group Inc. raised its position in shares of Vistra by 296.3% in the first quarter. Baird Financial Group Inc. now owns 55,755 shares of the company’s stock valued at $6,548,000 after buying an additional 41,687 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 90.88% of the company’s stock.

Vistra Price Performance

VST stock opened at $162.65 on Wednesday. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $175.93 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $189.70. The stock has a market cap of $55.11 billion, a PE ratio of 58.72, a P/E/G ratio of 2.69 and a beta of 1.39. Vistra Corp. has a one year low of $90.51 and a one year high of $219.82. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 5.74, a current ratio of 0.99 and a quick ratio of 0.88.

Vistra (NYSE:VST) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Friday, November 7th. The company reported $1.75 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.78 by ($0.03). Vistra had a net margin of 6.70% and a return on equity of 64.04%. The company had revenue of $4.97 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $6.60 billion. On average, analysts predict that Vistra Corp. will post 7 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Vistra Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, December 31st. Stockholders of record on Monday, December 22nd will be issued a $0.227 dividend. This represents a $0.91 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.6%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, December 22nd. This is an increase from Vistra’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.23. Vistra’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 32.49%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of brokerages recently issued reports on VST. Cowen initiated coverage on Vistra in a research report on Wednesday, October 15th. They set a “buy” rating on the stock. Morgan Stanley reiterated an “overweight” rating and set a $228.00 target price on shares of Vistra in a research report on Tuesday, December 16th. Wells Fargo & Company began coverage on Vistra in a research report on Monday, October 27th. They issued an “overweight” rating and a $238.00 price target on the stock. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a “hold (c)” rating on shares of Vistra in a research note on Monday. Finally, Daiwa Capital Markets raised shares of Vistra from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $250.00 price objective for the company in a research report on Wednesday, September 17th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twelve have given a Buy rating and three have issued a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Buy” and an average price target of $232.40.

Insider Activity

In related news, EVP Scott A. Hudson sold 56,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, November 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $168.86, for a total transaction of $9,456,160.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 306,600 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $51,772,476. This trade represents a 15.44% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, CEO James A. Burke sold 41,426 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, October 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $201.32, for a total value of $8,339,882.32. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer directly owned 246,522 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $49,629,809.04. This represents a 14.39% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. In the last three months, insiders have sold 532,316 shares of company stock worth $102,961,901. 1.42% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

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.