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Vistra Corp (VST) AI Stock Analysis

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VST

Vistra Corp

(NYSE:VST)

Select Model
Rating:66Neutral
Price Target:$135.00▲(1.16% Upside)
Action:reiterated
Date:11/07/26

The score is driven primarily by strong financial performance—especially robust recent and TTM cash generation—supported by a very constructive earnings call with higher guidance and long-term free-cash-flow outlook. Offsetting these positives are clear technical weakness (downtrend and negative momentum) and a less-compelling valuation profile (higher P/E and low yield), with leverage remaining a meaningful financial risk.

Positive Factors
Strong Cash GenerationVistra’s recent operating and free cash flow provides substantial internal funding for debt reduction, growth projects, and shareholder returns. Although cash generation varies by year, the strong TTM rebound demonstrates meaningful earnings-to-cash conversion and supports financial flexibility over the next several quarters.
Negative Factors
High LeverageElevated leverage reduces Vistra’s margin for error when power-market conditions weaken or refinancing costs rise. Debt obligations can absorb cash that might otherwise support investment or shareholder returns, while greater balance-sheet sensitivity makes maintaining credit metrics and deleveraging important ongoing priorities.

Vistra Corp Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Operating Revenue by SegmentBreaks revenue into the company’s major businesses (generation, retail energy, etc.), revealing which activities drive top-line growth. Because Vistra mixes wholesale market sales and retail contracts, changes in segment revenue expose sensitivity to power prices, weather and customer demand and help gauge stability of future cash flows.

-$10.00B-$5.00B$0.00$5.00B$10.00BMar 21Jun 21Sep 21Dec 21Mar 22Jun 22Sep 22Dec 22Mar 23Jun 23Sep 23Dec 23Mar 24Jun 24Sep 24Dec 24Mar 25Jun 25Sep 25Dec 25Mar 26Jun 26
Chart Insights

Texas and East generation revenues show large, quarter-to-quarter spikes—notably in Q1 2026—consistent with management’s report of record generation performance and availability that drove record adjusted EBITDA. Retail revenue has climbed steadily but Q1 retail EBITDA was muted by mild weather, highlighting revenue growth doesn’t guarantee margin expansion. Sunset’s disappearance after 2024 suggests asset retirements/sales that reduce legacy noise, while wide swings in Corporate & Other likely reflect hedging and non‑operational items; the pending Cogentrix deal and heavy hedging point to a larger, more stable revenue base ahead.

Data provided by:The Fly

Vistra Corp (VST) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

-40%-30%-20%-10%0%10%20%VST-23.16%SPY+14.28%Dec '25Jan '26Feb '26Mar '26Apr '26May '26Jun '26Jul '26Aug '26Sep '26Oct '26Nov '26
Market Cap
$44.79B
Dividend Yield
0.68%
Average Volume (3M)
6.09M
Price to Earnings (P/E)
17.8
Beta (1Y)
1.49
Revenue Growth
17.48%
EPS Growth
163.75%
Country
US
Employees
6,390
Sector
Utilities
Sector Strength
66
Industry
Independent Power Producers

Vistra Corp Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company Description

Vistra Corp., along with its various holdings, functions as a unified entity primarily engaged in retail electricity supply and power generation. The company organizes its operations across six distinct segments: Retail, Texas, East, West, Sunset, an...

How the Company Makes Money

Vistra makes money primarily by producing electricity and selling it into competitive wholesale power markets and by selling electricity (and related offerings) directly to end-use customers through retail power plans. 1) Wholesale generation revenue...

Vistra Corp Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Nov 06, 2026(Q3-2026)|% Change Since:18.21%|Next Earnings Date:Mar 03, 2027
Earnings Call SentimentPositive

The call was strongly positive, supported by record third-quarter adjusted EBITDA, higher 2026 guidance, the completed Cogentrix acquisition, robust year-to-date growth, improving credit metrics, expanded share repurchases, and a substantial long-term free cash flow outlook. The company also emphasized strong customer demand and contracting opportunities. Offsetting concerns included lower near-term ERCOT prices, overstated interconnection queues, grid-connection delays, and political and regulatory uncertainty affecting project timing.

Positive Updates

Record Third-Quarter Adjusted EBITDA
Vistra delivered approximately $2.4 billion of adjusted EBITDA in the third quarter, a company record. Adjusted EBITDA of $2.378 billion increased more than 50% compared with the third quarter of 2025.

Negative Updates

Lower ERCOT Prices
ERCOT prices have been trending lower. Vistra attributed this to several factors, including some cryptocurrency-mining facilities coming offline to convert into data centers and the data-center audit and permitting pause.

Company Guidance

Vistra narrowed its 2026 adjusted EBITDA guidance to $7.1 billion to $7.5 billion and its 2026 adjusted free cash flow before growth guidance to $4.3 billion to $4.7 billion, and introduced 2027 guidance of $7.7 billion to $8.5 billion of adjusted EBITDA and $4.3 billion to $5.1 billion of adjusted free cash flow before growth. The Cogentrix transaction is expected to deliver high single-digit adjusted free cash flow accretion over the near term, increasing to double-digit accretion beginning in 2029. Vistra still sees load growth of 4% to 6% in ERCOT and 2% to 3% in PJM through 2030, adjusted free cash flow per share growing from just under $10.5 in 2025 to approximately $14 in 2027, and approximately 70% growth in adjusted free cash flow before growth per share from 2027 to 2030, with a 2030 free cash flow per share outlook of $24; its planning assumes $1 billion a year in share repurchases, $300 million a year in dividends, and roughly $3 billion a year of share repurchases.

Vistra Corp Financial Statement Overview

Summary

Strong recovery with solid recent profitability and excellent TTM free-cash-flow generation (cash flow score 83; income statement score 78). The key offset is balance-sheet risk from high leverage (balance sheet score 52) and notable year-to-year volatility (2025 dip before TTM rebound).

Income Statement

78Positive

Balance Sheet

52Neutral

Cash Flow

83Very Positive
Financial statement breakdown
BreakdownTTMDec 2025Dec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021
Income Statement
Total Revenue20.59B17.74B17.22B14.78B13.73B12.08B
Gross Profit8.49B5.83B7.53B5.52B1.68B1.35B
EBITDA7.51B5.25B7.00B4.57B1.05B782.00M
Net Income2.71B944.00M2.66B1.49B-1.23B-1.27B
Balance Sheet
Total Assets45.03B41.55B37.77B32.97B32.79B29.68B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments2.74B816.00M1.19B3.48B455.00M1.32B
Total Debt21.15B20.39B17.36B14.68B13.34B11.01B
Total Liabilities38.57B36.44B32.19B27.64B27.87B21.39B
Stockholders Equity6.31B5.11B5.57B5.31B4.90B8.29B
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow1.93B129.00M2.48B3.78B-816.00M-1.24B
Operating Cash Flow5.76B4.07B4.56B5.45B485.00M-206.00M
Investing Cash Flow-4.26B-4.40B-5.28B-2.15B-1.24B-1.15B
Financing Cash Flow633.00M-74.00M-1.60B-294.00M-80.00M2.27B

Vistra Corp Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis SentimentNeutral
Last Price133.45

Price Trends

50DMA143.57Negative
100DMA147.04Negative
200DMA151.87Negative

Market Momentum

MACD-5.11Positive
RSI46.35Neutral
STOCH64.68Neutral

Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For VST, the sentiment is Neutral. The current price of 133.45 is below the 20-day moving average (MA) of 139.23, below the 50-day MA of 143.57, and below the 200-day MA of 151.87, indicating a bearish trend. The MACD of -5.11 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 46.35 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 64.68 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Neutral sentiment for VST.

Vistra Corp Risk Analysis

Vistra Corp disclosed 48 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Vistra Corp reported the most risks in the "Finance & Corporate" category.

Higher RiskSector Avg.Lower RiskFinance & CorporateTech & InnovationLegal & RegulatoryProductionAbility to SellMacro & Political
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy

Latest Risks Added

3 New Risks
1.We may not be able to consummate the Cogentrix Transactions on the anticipated terms, on the anticipated timeline, or at all, which could adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operation and stock price.Q4, 2025
2.Following the completion of the Cogentrix Transactions, we may not realize the anticipated synergies and other expected benefits of the Cogentrix Transactions on the anticipated timeline or at all.Q4, 2025
3.We may not be able to complete the Transactions, and even if completed, we may not realize the anticipated benefits of the Transactions.Q2, 2025

Vistra Corp Peers Comparison

Overall Rating

UnderperformOutperform
Sector (66)

Financial Indicators

VST against its peers
NameOverall RatingMarket CapP/E RatioROEDividend YieldRevenue GrowthEPS Growth
NEENEE69Neutral$180.93B15.4120.37%2.83%13.47%76.73%
CEGCEG68Neutral$94.87B21.9615.51%0.61%25.07%42.90%
EXCEXC67Neutral$47.12B17.758.95%3.64%6.67%-7.99%
VSTVST66Neutral$44.52B17.8448.14%0.68%17.48%163.75%
Sector *66Neutral$17.65B18.105.60%3.62%6.62%11.55%
NRGNRG63Neutral$20.40B17.1430.16%1.95%17.69%-17.99%
TLNTLN58Neutral$15.71B-66.79-18.95%―20.33%-214.53%

* Utilities Sector Average

Performance Comparison

-40%-20%0%20%VSTEXCNEENRGCEGTLNDec '25Jan '26Feb '26Mar '26Apr '26May '26Jun '26Jul '26Aug '26Sep '26Oct '26Nov '26
VST and its peers over the selected period
Show on chartTickerCompany NamePriceChange% Change
VSTVistra Corp.133.45-37.12-21.76%
EXCExelon Corp.45.611.393.14%
NEENextEra Energy Inc.85.994.355.32%
NRGNRG Energy Inc97.50-66.23-40.45%
CEGConstellation Energy Corporation274.73-59.14-17.71%
TLNTalen Energy Corp378.7123.676.67%

Vistra Corp Corporate Events

M&A Transactions

Vistra Completes Cogentrix Acquisition, Expanding U.S. Generation Portfolio

Positive
Nov 5, 2026

On October 30, 2026, Vistra completed its acquisition of Cogentrix Energy after receiving all required regulatory approvals. The transaction added 10 modern natural-gas generation facilities totaling approximately 5,500 megawatts in the PJM, ISO New...

Business Operations and StrategyPrivate Placements and Financing

Vistra Corp Completes $1.5 Billion Subordinated Notes Offering

Positive
Sep 24, 2026

On September 24, 2026, Vistra Operations Company LLC, an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Vistra Corp, completed an underwritten public offering of $850 million of 7.000% Series A Junior Subordinated Notes due 2057 and $650 million of 7.250% Serie...

Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.

Date of analysis: Nov 07, 2026