VST Falls 2.48% as Volume Ranks 114th on $800M Turnover Amid Analyst Upgrades and Divergent Institutional Bets

Vistra Corp. (VST) closed 2.48% lower on August 15, with a trading volume of $0.80 billion, ranking 114th in market activity for the day. The stock’s decline followed mixed institutional and analyst activity, alongside strategic updates from the company.

BMO Capital analyst James Thalacker raised VST’s price target to $229 from $191, maintaining an "Outperform" rating, citing strong Q2 adjusted EBITDA results and guidance revisions. The firm highlighted ongoing interest in the Comanche Peak nuclear project, which remains a key catalyst for future growth.

Vistra announced a quarterly dividend increase to $0.226 per share, effective September 30, up from $0.23. This adjustment reflects confidence in the company’s cash flow stability despite market volatility. Institutional investors, however, showed diverging signals: the Public Sector Pension Investment Board reduced its stake by 58.5% in Q1, while others like Northern Trust and Castle Hook Partners increased holdings in Q4.

Analyst sentiment remained cautiously optimistic. UBS raised its price target to $230, and Morgan Stanley upgraded the stock to "Overweight" with a $186 target. However, Goldman Sachs issued a "Neutral" rating with a $203 target, signaling a more tempered outlook. Insider activity also drew attention, with directors Scott Helm and John Sult selling significant portions of their holdings in June.

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