Vistra Corp. (VST) AI Stock Analysis
VST AI stock analysis summary
AI ResearchVistra Corp. (VST) is an integrated retail electricity and power generation company serving approximately 4.3 million customers with 38,700 megawatts of generation capacity. Over the trailing twelve months, the company generated $19.21B in revenue with a profit margin of 11.6%, though quarterly revenue fell 5.5% in the period ended June 30, 2026. The stock trades at a forward P/E of 13.3x with net debt totaling $19.46B.
- Market cap
- $51.02B
- Revenue (TTM)
- $19.21B
- P/E
- 25.6x fwd 13.3x
- 1Y return
- -27.3% S&P 500 16.8%
- Avg. target
- $210.10 38.2% vs last close
Bull case
- Analysts expect current fiscal year EPS to grow 339.4% to $9.58 along with revenue of $22.33B.
- The stock trades at a forward P/E of 13.3x, sitting below the S&P 500 Utilities peer median of 16.0x.
- Over the past five years, the company reduced its share count by 27.7% while deploying $1.03B to share repurchases in FY2025 alone.
Bear case
- Total debt stands at $19.89B against cash and short-term investments of only $435.0M as of June 30, 2026.
- For the quarter ended June 30, 2026, revenue fell 5.5% and earnings declined 6.2% year-over-year.
- Free cash flow decreased from $2.48B in FY2024 to $129.0M in FY2025 amid capital expenditures of $3.94B.
What Vistra does
Vistra Corp., along with its subsidiaries, operates as an integrated retail electricity and power generation company serving residential, commercial, and industrial customers across 20 states and the District of Columbia. Headquartered in Irving, Texas, the company operates across six segments: Retail, Texas, East, West, Sunset, and Asset Closure. It manages wholesale energy purchases and sales, commodity risk, fuel production, and logistics. Vistra possesses approximately 38,700 megawatts of generation capacity across natural gas, nuclear, coal, solar, and battery energy storage facilities, serving approximately 4.3 million customers.
Growth and profitability
Between FY2021 and FY2025, Vistra's revenue grew from $12.08B to $17.74B, reflecting a five-year revenue CAGR of 9.2% from FY2020 to FY2025. After recording net losses of -$1.27B in FY2021 and -$1.23B in FY2022, net income rebounded to $1.49B in FY2023 and peaked at $2.66B in FY2024 before decreasing to $944.0M in FY2025. Operating margin declined from 23.7% in FY2024 to 10.7% in FY2025. For the trailing twelve months, revenue reached $19.21B with an operating margin of 13.8% and EPS of $5.93. In the latest quarter ended June 30, 2026, quarterly revenue fell 5.5% and quarterly earnings dropped 6.2% year-over-year.
Balance sheet and cash flow
As of June 30, 2026, Vistra held $435.0M in cash and short-term investments against total debt of $19.89B, resulting in net debt of $19.46B. The company recorded a current ratio of 0.97 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.63 against shareholders' equity of $5.48B. In FY2025, Vistra produced operating cash flow of $4.07B and free cash flow of $129.0M after allocating $3.94B to capital expenditures. Capital allocation in FY2025 also included $1.03B for share buybacks and $498.0M for dividends paid.
Valuation and performance
Vistra trades at a trailing P/E of 25.6x, above the 20.9x median of its S&P 500 Utilities peers, but its forward P/E of 13.3x is below the peer median of 16.0x. Its EV-to-EBITDA ratio of 10.4x is also lower than the peer median of 12.2x, while its price-to-book ratio stands at 15.4x. Over the past year, VST shares fell 27.3%, underperforming the S&P 500 (SPY) return of 16.8%. Over a five-year period, VST gained 741.6% compared to 83.0% for the index.
VST dividend
Vistra pays a forward annual dividend of $0.92 per share, offering a dividend yield of 0.61% with a payout ratio of 11.1%. Dividends are distributed quarterly and have been paid for 8 consecutive years, registering a 5-year annualized dividend growth rate of 10.8%. Its most recent ex-dividend date was September 21, 2026.
What analysts expect
Wall Street analysts maintain 16 Strong Buy, 4 Buy, 0 Hold, 1 Sell, and 0 Strong Sell ratings on VST. The mean price target of $210.10 implies upside of 38.2% relative to the last close of $152.02. For the fiscal year ending December 31, 2026, consensus estimates project EPS of $9.58 and revenue of $22.33B. Vistra beat EPS estimates in 2 of the last 4 quarters, and its next earnings release is scheduled for November 6, 2026.
Key risks and what to watch
- A debt-to-equity ratio of 3.63 and net debt of $19.46B expose the company to significant debt service obligations.
- A current ratio of 0.97 indicates short-term obligations exceed current liquid assets.
- Net income fell from $2.66B in FY2024 to $944.0M in FY2025, highlighting potential earnings volatility in power generation.
- The stock exhibits a beta of 1.38, reflecting higher price volatility than the broader equity market.
AI-generated research summary. Written with AI from Quotelinks data as of October 16, 2026 and checked so every figure matches that data. For information only, not investment advice. Disclaimer
About this VST AI stock analysis
This page is an AI-written research summary of Vistra Corp. (VST). The text was generated on October 30, 2026 from Quotelinks data as of October 16, 2026 (company profile, annual results, latest balance sheet, valuation, price performance and analyst estimates). An automatic check rejects any draft that contains a figure not found in that data. It is not investment advice; verify figures on the linked tabs before making decisions.
Related: VST income statement, VST balance sheet, VST key metrics, VST analyst forecast, VST chart. See the VST stock overview for the latest quote and news.
VST AI stock analysis FAQ
What is Vistra's current dividend yield?
Vistra offers a forward dividend yield of 0.61% based on an annual dividend of $0.92 per share. The company has a payout ratio of 11.1% and has paid dividends for 8 consecutive years.
How much debt does Vistra carry on its balance sheet?
As of June 30, 2026, Vistra carried $19.89B in total debt and $435.0M in cash and short-term investments, resulting in net debt of $19.46B. Its debt-to-equity ratio was 3.63.
What are analysts' price targets for VST stock?
Analysts have a mean price target of $210.10 for VST, representing a 38.2% premium over its last closing price of $152.02. The ratings distribution includes 16 Strong Buy, 4 Buy, 0 Hold, and 1 Sell recommendations.
When is Vistra's next earnings report?
Vistra is scheduled to report its next financial results on November 6, 2026. For the current fiscal year ending December 31, 2026, analysts estimate consensus EPS of $9.58 and revenue of $22.33B.