Stock Spotlight: Vistry Group strategy pivot builds hope despite property woes

Shares up 30% year-to-date

Vistry Group's decision to double down on its partnerships business has been well received, but analysts have argued it may also come with downsides.

On Monday (11 September) last week, the FTSE 250-listed firm said it would return £1bn to shareholders and shift its strategy to focus on its partnership business, which sent its share price soaring more than 13% on the day as investors welcomed the news. "The new strategy is very positive - it creates by far the largest operator in the affordable homes sector at a time when we believe that both political parties are likely to accelerate policy in that area given the pressures and shortage of housing stock for key workers and rent inflation," said James Lowen, manager of the J O Hambro U...