Latest news with #VST
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Raymond James Initiates Coverage of Vistra (VST)
Vistra Corp. (NYSE:VST) is included among the Best Nuclear Energy Stocks to Buy Right Now. It was recently reported that Raymond James has initiated coverage of VST with a 'Strong Buy' rating and a $216 price target, indicating an upside potential of almost 25%. Solar panel workers installing a new farm for clean energy generation. The analyst highlighted that Vistra has historically benefited from elevated power prices, positioning it well for an up-cycle. Moreover, after the recent passage of Senate Bill 6, the regulatory environment in Texas is becoming more favorable and could unlock a data center PPA at Comanche Peak soon. The analyst has also commended Vistra Corp. (NYSE:VST) for its shareholder returns, as the company has repurchased nearly one-third of its shares since 2021. Vistra expects to return at least $2 billion in total through share repurchases and dividends through the remainder of 2025 and 2026. Vistra Corp. (NYSE:VST) is the largest competitive power generator in the US with a capacity of approximately 41,000 MW, powered by a diverse portfolio that includes natural gas, coal, nuclear, solar, and battery energy storage facilities. The company made headlines in March when it acquired Energy Harbor, adding 4 GW of nuclear generation capacity to its portfolio and making it the owner of the second-largest competitive nuclear fleet in the United States. While we acknowledge the potential of VST as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. READ NEXT: 10 Cheap Energy Stocks to Buy Now and Disclosure: None. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
The Herald Scotland
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
'Exclusion labelled as support' for looked-after pupils
The latest report - 'Exclusion labelled as support': Care experienced children in Scotland's education system - was commissioned by Nicola Killean, the Children and Young People's Commissioner for Scotland, who argued that the evidence shows that 'too many children are being let down by the current education system.' Louise Hunter, CEO of Who Cares? Scotland, said that children's 'full right to education must be realised' and called the report a 'reality check' for those who claim that Scotland is on-track to keep The Promise by 2030. Researchers analysed a range of existing evidence related to the experiences of looked after pupils, including data on more than 1,200 advocacy requests submitted between April 2022 and March 2024. The commissioner also met with a focus group of advocacy workers, and young people themselves were also able to contribute either one-to-one or by participating in small group sessions. A key feature of The Promise was a commitment that 'all formal and informal exclusions of care experienced pupils would end', but the reality for children has been different. Although exclusion rates for looked after children have fallen significantly over the past decade, official data shows that they actually increased in the period between 2021 and 2023. The most recent figures revealed that 98 out of every 1000 care experienced pupils was formally excluded at least once in a year, almost six times higher than the levels seen in the broader pupil population. Informal exclusions and the use of part-time timetables are also widely reported and contribute to children's rights being 'breached'. Many care experienced young people continue to report feeling stigmatised at school, which the report states is partly due to 'stereotypes' portrayed in the media. Children referred to 'feeling othered for their clothing, transport, having to leave class and a general level of suspicion and rejection.' Those aged over sixteen were more likely to feel 'singled out' in school, although younger children tended to be more positive about their treatment. A major issue for looked after young people is the 'common experience' of changing schools, which can 'significantly disrupt their rights to education.' Sometimes these changes are requested by the pupils themselves, who may wish to be able to attend school with friends or family, but repeated placements moves for looked after children are also a key factor. The report notes that in the academic year 2022-23, almost one in seven children in care were moved more than once. Looked after pupils are also affected by a lack of appropriate support for learning in school, despite the fact that all care experienced children are regarded as having additional support needs, and the challenges involved in transitions from one stage of education to another. The new report highlights the positive impact of the Virtual School Teams (VST), explicitly praising the approach in Edinburgh where the team includes 'a Care Experienced Quality Improvement Officer, virtual headteacher, pupil support officers, educational psychologists and the lead for outdoor education.' READ MORE Virtual schools have been established to support care experienced pupils in more than half of local authorities, and are 'highly valued' by advocacy workers who feel that they are 'really useful in establishing measures to avoid exclusions or get young people back into school as soon as possible.' However, concerns are raised about a lack of access to digital learning or online schools for looked after pupil, with approaches varying from one council to the next and difficulty accessing services due to high levels of demand. The report ultimately makes three key recommendations, which it describes as 'interdependent'. The first is for the 'commitment to end formal and informal exclusions' for looked after children to be 'enforced immediately, better understood and properly resourced across local authorities.' The second recommendation is for 'all education authorities', up to and including the Scottish Government, to adopt 'a whole-school approach to supporting Care Experienced children and young people.' Finally, the report demands that the Scottish Government pass a new law that gives care experienced people the legal right to 'independent, relationship-based, lifelong advocacy.' Government statistics show that looked after pupils remain less likely to achieve the expected levels in literacy and numeracy, with some attainment gaps in this area increasing over recent years. They are also far less likely to achieve qualifications such as National 5s and Highers, less likely to move on to Higher Education, and more likely to be unemployed after leaving school. Commissioner Nicola Killean said: 'The report by Who Cares? Scotland reinforces findings from my recent report that too many children are being let down by the current education system. Every child has a right to an education that develops their personality, talents, and abilities to their full potential. But we know this isn't happening for lots of children who have care experience. It is important that we actively seek to include the views of children whose rights are most at risk as their voices can often be lost. 'This report shows that despite some examples of good practice, Care Experienced children and young people's right to education is often not being met. They are more often excluded from school than other children and are often given part-time timetables that they do not want. In some cases, a child can be on a timetable for as little as 30 minutes or one hour a week, even if they want to be in school for longer.' Louise Hunter, Chief Executive Officer at Who Cares? Scotland, said: 'Every child and young person in Scotland deserves to have an education that allows them to learn, flourish and dream big. But our report highlights that the most basic right to education for too many Care Experienced pupils is not being met. 'Scotland must uphold this right and within our report there are three recommendations on how to make this happen. First, there must be action on advocacy. The Government must legislate for a statutory right to independent, relationship-based, lifelong advocacy for all Care Experienced people who need it. 'Next, the commitment within The Promise to end the formal and informal exclusion of Care Experienced pupils must be enforced. Lastly, a whole-school approach to supporting Care Experienced children and young people must be adopted. Only then will we be able to ensure all pupils in Scotland are taught in communities that care.' A Scottish Government spokesperson said: 'The Scottish Government is resolute in our commitment to Keep the Promise and to ensure all care-experienced children and young people receive the vital support they need, to improve their life experiences and their educational outcomes. 'Over £60 million has been provided to local authorities through the Care Experienced Children and Young People fund as part of the Scottish Attainment Challenge and we are working with Education Scotland and local government to improve the educational outcomes of care experienced children and young people. 'Exclusion should only be used as a last resort - ultimately its use is a matter for local authorities as the statutory responsibility for the delivery of education rests with them.'
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Insiders At Vistra Sold US$39m In Stock, Alluding To Potential Weakness
Over the past year, many Vistra Corp. (NYSE:VST) insiders sold a significant stake in the company which may have piqued investors' interest. Knowing whether insiders are buying is usually more helpful when evaluating insider transactions, as insider selling can have various explanations. However, when multiple insiders sell stock over a specific duration, shareholders should take notice as that could possibly be a red flag. While insider transactions are not the most important thing when it comes to long-term investing, logic dictates you should pay some attention to whether insiders are buying or selling shares. AI is about to change healthcare. These 20 stocks are working on everything from early diagnostics to drug discovery. The best part - they are all under $10bn in marketcap - there is still time to get in early. Notably, that recent sale by Scott Helm is the biggest insider sale of Vistra shares that we've seen in the last year. That means that even when the share price was slightly below the current price of US$174, an insider wanted to cash in some shares. When an insider sells below the current price, it suggests that they considered that lower price to be fair. That makes us wonder what they think of the (higher) recent valuation. However, while insider selling is sometimes discouraging, it's only a weak signal. This single sale was just 16% of Scott Helm's stake. In total, Vistra insiders sold more than they bought over the last year. The chart below shows insider transactions (by companies and individuals) over the last year. By clicking on the graph below, you can see the precise details of each insider transaction! View our latest analysis for Vistra If you like to buy stocks that insiders are buying, rather than selling, then you might just love this free list of companies. (Hint: Most of them are flying under the radar). Over the last three months, we've seen significant insider selling at Vistra. In total, insiders dumped US$22m worth of shares in that time, and we didn't record any purchases whatsoever. In light of this it's hard to argue that all the insiders think that the shares are a bargain. Another way to test the alignment between the leaders of a company and other shareholders is to look at how many shares they own. Usually, the higher the insider ownership, the more likely it is that insiders will be incentivised to build the company for the long term. It's great to see that Vistra insiders own 1.0% of the company, worth about US$576m. Most shareholders would be happy to see this sort of insider ownership, since it suggests that management incentives are well aligned with other shareholders. Insiders haven't bought Vistra stock in the last three months, but there was some selling. Despite some insider buying, the longer term picture doesn't make us feel much more positive. But it is good to see that Vistra is growing earnings. While insiders do own a lot of shares in the company (which is good), our analysis of their transactions doesn't make us feel confident about the company. So while it's helpful to know what insiders are doing in terms of buying or selling, it's also helpful to know the risks that a particular company is facing. To assist with this, we've discovered 2 warning signs that you should run your eye over to get a better picture of Vistra. Of course Vistra may not be the best stock to buy. So you may wish to see this free collection of high quality companies. For the purposes of this article, insiders are those individuals who report their transactions to the relevant regulatory body. We currently account for open market transactions and private dispositions of direct interests only, but not derivative transactions or indirect interests. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Insiders At Vistra Sold US$39m In Stock, Alluding To Potential Weakness
Over the past year, many Vistra Corp. (NYSE:VST) insiders sold a significant stake in the company which may have piqued investors' interest. Knowing whether insiders are buying is usually more helpful when evaluating insider transactions, as insider selling can have various explanations. However, when multiple insiders sell stock over a specific duration, shareholders should take notice as that could possibly be a red flag. While insider transactions are not the most important thing when it comes to long-term investing, logic dictates you should pay some attention to whether insiders are buying or selling shares. AI is about to change healthcare. These 20 stocks are working on everything from early diagnostics to drug discovery. The best part - they are all under $10bn in marketcap - there is still time to get in early. Notably, that recent sale by Scott Helm is the biggest insider sale of Vistra shares that we've seen in the last year. That means that even when the share price was slightly below the current price of US$174, an insider wanted to cash in some shares. When an insider sells below the current price, it suggests that they considered that lower price to be fair. That makes us wonder what they think of the (higher) recent valuation. However, while insider selling is sometimes discouraging, it's only a weak signal. This single sale was just 16% of Scott Helm's stake. In total, Vistra insiders sold more than they bought over the last year. The chart below shows insider transactions (by companies and individuals) over the last year. By clicking on the graph below, you can see the precise details of each insider transaction! View our latest analysis for Vistra If you like to buy stocks that insiders are buying, rather than selling, then you might just love this free list of companies. (Hint: Most of them are flying under the radar). Over the last three months, we've seen significant insider selling at Vistra. In total, insiders dumped US$22m worth of shares in that time, and we didn't record any purchases whatsoever. In light of this it's hard to argue that all the insiders think that the shares are a bargain. Another way to test the alignment between the leaders of a company and other shareholders is to look at how many shares they own. Usually, the higher the insider ownership, the more likely it is that insiders will be incentivised to build the company for the long term. It's great to see that Vistra insiders own 1.0% of the company, worth about US$576m. Most shareholders would be happy to see this sort of insider ownership, since it suggests that management incentives are well aligned with other shareholders. Insiders haven't bought Vistra stock in the last three months, but there was some selling. Despite some insider buying, the longer term picture doesn't make us feel much more positive. But it is good to see that Vistra is growing earnings. While insiders do own a lot of shares in the company (which is good), our analysis of their transactions doesn't make us feel confident about the company. So while it's helpful to know what insiders are doing in terms of buying or selling, it's also helpful to know the risks that a particular company is facing. To assist with this, we've discovered 2 warning signs that you should run your eye over to get a better picture of Vistra. Of course Vistra may not be the best stock to buy. So you may wish to see this free collection of high quality companies. For the purposes of this article, insiders are those individuals who report their transactions to the relevant regulatory body. We currently account for open market transactions and private dispositions of direct interests only, but not derivative transactions or indirect interests. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Vistra Corp. (VST) Fell This Week. Here is Why.
The share price of Vistra Corp. (NYSE:VST) fell by 6.45% between June 3 and June 10, 2025, putting it among the Energy Stocks that Lost the Most This Week. Let's shed some light on the development. Solar panel workers installing a new farm for clean energy generation. A leading Fortune 500 integrated retail electricity and power generation company, Vistra Corp. (NYSE:VST) is the largest competitive power producer in the US with a capacity of approximately 41,000 MW. Vistra Corp. (NYSE:VST) surged earlier this month after BofA significantly raised its price target from $167 to $193, while maintaining a Buy rating, as investor attention sharpens around the utility sector's role in powering data infrastructure. The company even recently announced that it is expanding its portfolio with the acquisition of seven power plants spread across the country from Lotus Infrastructure Partners for $1.9 billion. So the recent downturn in share price could be due to profit-taking by investors. Moreover, there has also been news of insiders recently selling VST's shares, which may have also put some pressure on the stock. That said, institutional investors remain bullish on Vistra Corp. (NYSE:VST). Sound Shore Management stated the following regarding VST in its Q1 2025 investor letter: 'Finally, a strong contributor that we have discussed in past letters, power producer Vistra Corp. (NYSE:VST) continued its upward trajectory from last year into the first quarter. A long-term holding, Vistra is a low-cost provider with increasingly important carbon-free nuclear facilities to power data centers. We had been trimming our position as the stock approached our price target and sold the last of our holding early in the quarter.' While we acknowledge the potential of VST as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. READ NEXT: 10 Cheap Energy Stocks to Buy Now and Disclosure: None. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
