Vistra Tumbles 1.43% Amid $610M Volume Slump, Drops to 157th in Trading Activity Despite Analyst Price Target Hike

On August 14, 2025, Vistra (VST) closed down 1.43% with a trading volume of $0.61 billion, representing a 27.43% decline from the previous day. The stock ranked 157th in trading activity among listed companies. Recent analyst activity has highlighted potential catalysts for the stock, including updated price targets and valuation adjustments.

Bank of America Securities analyst Ross Fowler raised Vistra’s price target to $220 from $214, maintaining a "Buy" rating. The revision reflects higher EBITDA forecasts and updated assumptions for power and capacity pricing, including a discounted cash flow analysis for a potential 20-year long-term power purchase agreement at Comanche Peak. The move underscores renewed confidence in the company’s operational and financial outlook.

Investor activity has shown mixed signals. Institutional stakeholders such as Hudson Capital Management LLC and American Century Companies Inc. have increased holdings, while entities like Swiss National Bank and Seven Eight Capital LP have reduced positions. These actions suggest a spectrum of strategic views on Vistra’s near-term trajectory, though no major institutional shifts have triggered significant volatility.

The strategy of buying the top 500 stocks by daily trading volume and holding them for one day from 2022 to now delivered moderate returns. The 1-day return was 0.98%, with a total return of 31.52% over 365 days. This indicates the strategy captured some short-term momentum but also reflected market volatility and potential timing risks.