Vistra Corp. (VST)

Vistra Corp.'s stock price has increased significantly in the past six months. Vistra shares soared roughly 125% during the first six months of 2024, making it one of the top-performing S&P 500 companies. Vistra reported its Q1 2025 Adjusted EBITDA surged 53% year-over-year to $1.24 billion. Vistra announced its plan to acquire seven natural gas power plants for US$1.9 billion from Lotus Infrastructure Partners. Vistra received approval to extend the operation of its Perry Nuclear Plant through 2046. UBS raised its price target for Vistra from $160 to $207, maintaining a "Buy" rating. A "DeepSeek drama" triggered a wave of sell-offs, causing the stock to decline by 22% from its January 2025 peak, but the stock subsequently recovered. Vistra declared dividends on its common stock, Series B Preferred Stock, and Series C Preferred Stock.

Demand for and market prices of Vistra Corp.'s electricity and natural gas products and services are significantly affected by weather patterns. Demand and prices are typically higher during the summer and winter seasons due to more extreme temperatures, leading to fluctuations in the company's operating results. Vistra actively participates in the markets it operates in to manage these fluctuations and ensure business sustainability. The company's diversified asset base helps provide a buffer against market volatility.

Vistra Corp. is a leading integrated retail electricity and power generation company based in Irving, Texas, operating in the Electric Utilities industry. It serves approximately 4 to 5 million retail customers across 19 to 20 U.S. states, including major competitive wholesale markets. Vistra has a power generation capacity of approximately 41,000 MW, utilizing various fuel types. The company's services include retail electricity sales, wholesale energy sales, commodity risk management, fuel procurement, and logistics management. Vistra offers flexible electricity plans, fixed-rate contracts, variable-rate options, and over 50 renewable energy plans, organized into six business segments.

Vistra Corp. has a significant geographic footprint across the United States, serving customers and operating facilities from California to Maine. The company's retail segment serves approximately 4 to 5 million customers across 19 to 20 U.S. states and the District of Columbia. Its power generation and wholesale operations are active in all major competitive wholesale markets in the country, including ERCOT, PJM Interconnection, CAISO, ISO-NE, and NYISO markets.

Vistra Corp. has generally maintained a stellar reputation within the Utilities - Independent Power Producers industry, due to its historical legacy and operational excellence. Vistra is also recognized for its commitment to sustainability, aiming for a 60% reduction in CO2e emissions by 2030 and net-zero by 2050. However, Vistra's reputation has been significantly impacted by environmental concerns, as it was ranked as the No. 1 polluter in the United States for the 2024 Greenhouse 100 Polluters Index Report.

Vistra Corp.'s ownership is predominantly institutional, with these investors controlling between 79.08% and 86% of the company's shares. Major institutional owners include Vanguard Group Inc., BlackRock, Inc., and Fmr Llc. Major individual/insider owners include Brookfield Asset Management Inc., Oaktree Capital Group Holdings GP LLC, and Apollo Management Holdings GP LLC. The general public holds approximately 13% to 18% ownership, and recent data indicates insider selling.