Vistra CEO Burke Buys 6,665 Shares
Key Points
The purchase was valued at approximately $903,041.
The acquisition represents 0.54% of the total equity holdings held prior to the filing.
All shares were acquired indirectly.
James A. Burke, President and CEO of Vistra (NYSE:VST), purchased 6,665 shares of common stock at a weighted-average price of $135.49 per share on Aug. 31, 2026, and Sept. 1, 2026, according to a recent SEC Form 4 filing.
Transaction summary
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Transaction value | $903,041 |
| Shares purchased (indirectly held) | 6,665 |
| Post-transaction shares (directly held) | 61,690 |
| Post-transaction shares (indirectly held) | 1.2 million |
| Post-transaction value | $171.5 million |
Transaction value based on SEC Form 4 weighted average purchase price ($135.49); post-transaction value based on Sept. 01, 2026, market close ($138.08).
Key questions
- What entities facilitate the indirect holdings reported in this transaction?
The purchase was executed by JAMEB, LP, an entity jointly owned by Burke and his spouse, adding to a portfolio that includes the James A. Burke 2012 Irrevocable Trust and the Marti E. Burke 2012 Irrevocable Trust. - How does the transaction price compare to the company's market valuation?
The shares were acquired at $135.49 per share, while the stock was priced at $138.08 as of the Sept. 1, 2026, market close. - What is the extent of the CEO's equity stake following this purchase?
Burke maintains a total position of roughly 1.2 million shares, representing a 0.3% insider ownership interest in the power generation company. - What has been the recent performance context for the stock?
The shares were purchased following a 27% loss over the past 12 months, as of the Sept. 1, 2026, valuation date.
Company Overview
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Share Price (as of market close 2026-09-01) | $138.08 |
| Market Capitalization | $50.7 billion |
| Revenue (TTM) | $19.2 billion |
| Net Income (TTM) | $2 billion |
Company Snapshot
- Vistra operates as an integrated energy company providing retail electricity and natural gas supply to residential, commercial, and industrial customers across 20 U.S. states and the District of Columbia, while simultaneously generating electricity through diversified power generation assets.
- The company generates revenue through a dual-platform business model combining retail energy supply operations with wholesale power generation, leveraging its six operational segments (Retail, Texas, East, West, Sunset, and Asset Closure) to optimize market exposure and operational efficiency.
- Vistra serves a broad customer base encompassing residential, commercial, and industrial end-users throughout its operational footprint, positioning itself as a significant participant in the competitive retail electricity and independent power production markets.
Vistra represents a substantial player in the independent power producer and retail electricity supply sector with a market capitalization of $50.7 billion and TTM revenues of $19.2 billion. The company's integrated business model combines retail energy distribution with power generation capabilities, enabling diversified revenue streams and strategic positioning across multiple U.S. markets. With 6,390 employees and operations spanning 20 states, Vistra maintains competitive advantages through geographic diversification, operational scale, and integrated retail-to-generation capabilities.
What this transaction means for investors
The Vistra stock price has had an incredible run over the past five years, skyrocketing 719.4%. The past 12 months, however, have been a different story. Vistra shares are down 22%, while the S&P 500 is up 17.2% over the same period. That's why this recent transaction from the CEO should be welcome news for shareholders. While there are plenty of reasons to sell a stock, the main reason for an insider to buy is that they believe the stock price will go up.
With his purchase of 6,665 shares, Burke's holdings are now valued at $171.5 million. That shows significant alignment with Vistra's success. And along with this bullish signal from the CEO, analysts also appear bullish on what could be ahead. Of the 22 who cover the stock, 91% rate it a buy, according to CNN. From that group, the median one-year price target is $219. At the price of $151.10 as of this writing, the median price target represents a potential return of 44.9%. The highest price target, $305, would represent a massive 101.8% return. And even the lowest price target, $169, would still represent a gain of 11.8%.
Jack Delaney has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Vistra. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.