Intech Investment Management LLC Acquires 77,991 Shares of Vistra Corp. (NYSE:VST)

Intech Investment Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of Vistra Corp. (NYSE:VST) by 37.7% during the 3rd quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The fund owned 284,639 shares of the company’s stock after buying an additional 77,991 shares during the period. Intech Investment Management LLC’s holdings in Vistra were worth $33,741,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the business. Empire Life Investments Inc. bought a new position in shares of Vistra in the third quarter worth approximately $23,028,000. Terra Nova Asset Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Vistra in the third quarter worth approximately $842,000. Czech National Bank lifted its stake in shares of Vistra by 12.4% in the third quarter. Czech National Bank now owns 69,987 shares of the company’s stock worth $8,296,000 after buying an additional 7,747 shares in the last quarter. CIBC Asset Management Inc raised its holdings in shares of Vistra by 12.4% during the third quarter. CIBC Asset Management Inc now owns 50,380 shares of the company’s stock valued at $5,972,000 after purchasing an additional 5,575 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Viking Fund Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Vistra during the third quarter valued at approximately $1,185,000. Institutional investors own 90.88% of the company’s stock.

Vistra Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE VST opened at $154.61 on Thursday. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $124.02 and a 200-day moving average price of $98.90. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 4.68, a current ratio of 1.11 and a quick ratio of 0.99. The stock has a market cap of $52.60 billion, a PE ratio of 28.85, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.99 and a beta of 1.09. Vistra Corp. has a 1 year low of $34.25 and a 1 year high of $157.72.

Vistra declared that its Board of Directors has authorized a share buyback program on Thursday, November 7th that authorizes the company to buyback $1.00 billion in shares. This buyback authorization authorizes the company to buy up to 2.1% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback programs are usually 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 Tuesday, December 31st. Investors of record on Friday, December 20th will be given a dividend of $0.221 per share. This is a positive change from Vistra’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.22. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, December 20th. This represents a $0.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.57%. Vistra’s dividend payout ratio is currently 16.42%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. BNP Paribas assumed coverage on shares of Vistra in a report on Monday, October 14th. They set an “outperform” rating and a $231.00 price objective for the company. UBS Group decreased their price objective on shares of Vistra from $157.00 to $150.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, October 22nd. Guggenheim boosted their price objective on shares of Vistra from $133.00 to $177.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, October 8th. Morgan Stanley upped their target price on shares of Vistra from $110.00 to $132.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Monday, September 23rd. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada upped their target price on shares of Vistra from $105.00 to $141.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Thursday, October 3rd. Ten research analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating, Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Buy” and an average price target of $145.40.

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.