Vistra Corp. (VST)
Vistra is a major American power company that generates electricity from a mix of sources and sells it to homes and businesses across the country.
Is Vistra Corp. a good stock for a UK beginner?
The honest version: Vistra is a major American power company that generates electricity from a mix of sources and sells it to homes and businesses across the country.
Over about 2 years to 2026-07-31. This is the share price only - reinvesting the dividends would add to it. And it's the USD return - as a UK investor your actual £ return also moves with the exchange rate. Past performance is not a guide to the future, and it could just as easily have fallen.
Based on beta - how much the price swings versus the whole market. Bumpier isn't bad; it just means a rougher ride, which matters more the sooner you might need the money.
Prices move on results, news and the mood of the whole market - no single headline explains a day, and a quiet week is usually just noise, not a signal.
Leading the market in the transition to carbon-free power
Obsolescence of current power generation technology
What does Vistra Corp. do?
Vistra operates a massive fleet of power plants, including nuclear, solar, and natural gas facilities, to keep the lights on for millions of customers. Earnings come from generating this electricity and selling it through retail brands, effectively acting as the middleman between the power grid and your wall socket. Much depends on how they navigate the shift toward cleaner energy while keeping their massive infrastructure profitable.
On our factor screen it looks strongest on growth and income, and weakest on momentum.
- ✓Pays a dividend - about 0.6% a year
- ✓Growing - revenue up about 43% over the year
- !Carries a lot of debt - roughly 3.7x its equity
- ✓Strong return on shareholder money (ROE 43%)
- Growth screens high (91/100)
- Strong ability to turn shareholder money into profit
- Significant scale in the US energy market
- Diverse mix of power generation sources
- Momentum screens low (20/100)
- Heavy reliance on complex and aging infrastructure
- Potential for strict new environmental regulations
- Exposure to volatile wholesale energy prices
What do Vistra Corp.'s numbers mean?
How much money does Vistra Corp. make?
Revenue and profit by quarter, and how much of each sale turns into profit.
Does Vistra Corp. pay a dividend?
Yes - Vistra Corp. currently pays a dividend of about 0.6% a year (the yearly payout as a share of the price). A dividend is a slice of profit handed to shareholders; the yield moves as the price moves, and a company can cut or stop it.
When does Vistra Corp. report earnings, and how did recent quarters go?
Vistra Corp. is next scheduled to report on about 2026-08-07 - dates can move, and we don't predict results; this just tells you when to look.
Each quarter a company reports its results against what analysts expected. ‘Beating’ or ‘missing’ is about that expectation, not whether the business is doing well in absolute terms.
| Reported | Expected EPS: The earnings per share analysts expected for the quarter - the average of their forecasts. 'Beating' or 'missing' is measured against this number. | Actual EPS | vs expected |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-05-08 | $1.87 | $2.87 | Beat +53% |
| 2026-02-27 | $2.30 | $0.54 | Missed -77% |
| 2025-11-07 | $1.40 | $1.38 | Missed -1% |
| 2025-08-08 | $1.05 | $0.71 | Missed -32% |
| 2025-05-08 | $0.61 | $-0.93 | Missed -252% |
| 2025-02-28 | $1.45 | $1.14 | Missed -21% |
Across the last 6 quarters here, Vistra Corp. came in ahead of what analysts expected 1 time. One quarter is noise, not a trend.
See who else reports over the next two weeks →
Reported vs expected earnings per share (EPS) from published results; the expectation is the analyst consensus, not our view. Report dates are estimates that can move.
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American Electric Power Company, Inc.What are the scenarios for Vistra Corp.?
An illustrative range for the year ahead, with the assumption behind each case — not a prediction or a price target.
What are the pros and cons of Vistra Corp.?
How many points the write-up makes each way — a balance check, not a score or verdict.
- Strong ability to turn shareholder money into profit
- Significant scale in the US energy market
- Diverse mix of power generation sources
- High share price volatility compared to the broader market
- Low dividend yield for a utility company
- High price-to-book ratio suggests a premium valuation
- Heavy reliance on complex and aging infrastructure
- Potential for strict new environmental regulations
- Exposure to volatile wholesale energy prices
The write-up's own warning lights — if these start happening, the case above changes.
- A major shift in government policy away from current energy sources
- A sustained period of falling electricity demand
Built from public filings & market prices, checked for an education-only tone, and never a price target. How we make these →
This plain-English summary was auto-generated on 2026-08-01 from public data and checked for an education-only, no-advice tone (the figures above carry their own, usually fresher, 'as of' date). It's information, never a recommendation.