Vaughan Nelson Investment Management L.P. Lowers Position in Vistra Corp. $VST

Vaughan Nelson Investment Management L.P. trimmed its position in shares of Vistra Corp. (NYSE:VST) by 76.0% during the third quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The fund owned 50,911 shares of the company’s stock after selling 161,500 shares during the quarter. Vaughan Nelson Investment Management L.P.’s holdings in Vistra were worth $9,974,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Gunderson Capital Management Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Vistra by 5.5% in the third quarter. Gunderson Capital Management Inc. now owns 37,844 shares of the company’s stock valued at $7,414,000 after purchasing an additional 1,973 shares during the last quarter. CoreCap Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in Vistra by 67.8% during the third quarter. CoreCap Advisors LLC now owns 6,967 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,365,000 after purchasing an additional 2,816 shares during the last quarter. North Star Investment Management Corp. grew its position in Vistra by 51.7% in the 3rd quarter. North Star Investment Management Corp. now owns 364 shares of the company’s stock worth $71,000 after purchasing an additional 124 shares in the last quarter. Greenleaf Trust increased its stake in Vistra by 13.0% in the 3rd quarter. Greenleaf Trust now owns 6,314 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,237,000 after buying an additional 725 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Hennion & Walsh Asset Management Inc. lifted its position in shares of Vistra by 81.1% during the 3rd quarter. Hennion & Walsh Asset Management Inc. now owns 4,898 shares of the company’s stock worth $960,000 after buying an additional 2,194 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 90.88% of the company’s stock.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, EVP Scott A. Hudson sold 56,000 shares of the company’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 sale, the executive vice president directly owned 306,600 shares in the company, valued at $51,772,476. This represents a 15.44% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, EVP Carrie Lee Kirby sold 58,275 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, November 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $174.75, for a total transaction of $10,183,556.25. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 218,239 shares in the company, valued at approximately $38,137,265.25. The trade was a 21.07% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Over the last quarter, insiders sold 427,240 shares of company stock worth $81,474,221. Company insiders own 1.42% of the company’s stock.

Vistra Trading Down 8.8%

Shares of Vistra stock opened at $154.64 on Thursday. The stock’s 50-day simple moving average is $172.09 and its 200 day simple moving average is $188.88. The stock has a market capitalization of $52.39 billion, a P/E ratio of 55.83, a P/E/G ratio of 1.74 and a beta of 1.41. Vistra Corp. has a 52-week low of $90.51 and a 52-week high of $219.82. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 5.74, a quick ratio of 0.88 and a current ratio of 0.99.

Vistra (NYSE:VST) last issued its earnings results on Friday, November 7th. The company reported $1.75 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.78 by ($0.03). The business had revenue of $4.97 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.60 billion. Vistra had a net margin of 6.70% and a return on equity of 64.04%. As a group, research analysts anticipate that Vistra Corp. will post 7 EPS for the current year.

Vistra Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, December 31st. Investors of record on Monday, December 22nd were paid a dividend of $0.227 per share. This represents a $0.91 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.6%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, December 22nd. This is a positive change from Vistra’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.23. Vistra’s dividend payout ratio is presently 32.85%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research firms have recently issued reports on VST. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a “hold (c)” rating on shares of Vistra in a report on Monday, December 29th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their price objective on Vistra from $249.00 to $233.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, December 16th. KeyCorp began coverage on Vistra in a research note on Monday, November 24th. They issued an “overweight” rating and a $217.00 price objective for the company. TD Cowen started coverage on Vistra in a research note on Thursday, October 16th. They set a “buy” rating and a $250.00 target price on the stock. Finally, Daiwa America upgraded shares of Vistra from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, September 17th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twelve have issued a Buy rating and three have given a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Buy” and a consensus price target of $231.40.

Trending Headlines about Vistra

Here are the key news stories impacting Vistra this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Acquisition materially expands generation footprint — adds roughly 5.5 GW of mostly natural‑gas capacity and broadens Vistra’s supply base, positioning the company to sell firm capacity to data centers and other customers seeking reliability. Vistra Strengthens Generation Footprint With $4.7B Acquisition
• Positive Sentiment: Analyst/upgrades and immediate market reaction were supportive — some firms including Wells Fargo and other analysts flagged the deal and growth story, contributing to earlier upside. Vistra Energy (VST) Receives a Buy from Wells Fargo
• Neutral Sentiment: Retail and momentum interest — VST surfaced as a “trending” ticker, drawing extra attention that can amplify intraday moves but may not reflect fundamentals. Vistra Corp. (VST) Is a Trending Stock: Facts to Know Before Betting on It
• Neutral Sentiment: Sector context: rivals (notably Constellation) are also capitalizing on surging data‑center demand; investors are pricing the scarcity of reliable, dispatchable power across the industry. This makes Vistra’s move strategically logical but not unique. Constellation Energy Stock: Why Nuclear Is the New Tech Trade
• Negative Sentiment: Concerns about valuation, leverage and financing risk — Vistra carries high leverage and the large cash purchase raises questions about debt funding, dilution or uses of cash; investors are reassessing after a multi‑year rally. Is It Time To Reassess Vistra (VST) After Its Strong Multi Year Rally?
• Negative Sentiment: Business mix and execution risks — the deal increases exposure to natural‑gas generation (fuel price and emissions exposure vs. nuclear/clean alternatives) and investors worry about integration, potential premium paid and near‑term earnings impact. Vistra to buy Cogentrix Energy, 10 natural gas-fired power plants in $4B deal

Vistra Company Profile

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.