Vistra Corp. (NYSE:VST) Accelerates Gas And Nuclear Expansion, Near-Term Momentum Ahead

Vistra moves from capacity buildout into a growth phase supported by thermal and nuclear additions, while valuation and leverage pose pronounced constraints on upside. Technical momentum suggests modest near-term strength but lacks long-term trend confirmation.

Recent News

On September 29, 2025 the company announced plans to add two new natural gas units in the Permian Basin, raising the facility’s capacity substantially to meet rising Texas demand. On September 22, 2025 reporting noted a large, stock-linked payout opportunity for CEO James Burke tied to vested awards and the company’s share gains. In early October filings showed institutional interest and several analysts upgraded coverage and raised targets during August–September 2025.

Technical Analysis

ADX / DI+ / DI-: ADX at 10.44 signals no established trend; directional signals therefore carry short-term weight only. DI+ shows a dip-and-reversal, which reads bullish for immediate directional pressure, while DI- trends lower, reinforcing the same short-term bullish bias.

MACD: MACD registered a dip-and-reversal, indicating returning bullish momentum, but the MACD value ($1.30) sits below the signal line ($1.39), so momentum has improved without delivering a confirmed crossover. A confirmed MACD cross above the signal would strengthen the near-term bias; until then momentum qualifies as tentative.

MRO: MRO at -15.82 places the market price below the oscillator’s target, implying upward potential toward that target; the magnitude indicates a material, not marginal, degree of catch-up pressure.

RSI: RSI at 54.16 with a dip-and-reversal registers mild bullishness without overbought readings, consistent with a scenario that allows further upside without immediate exhaustion.

Price vs. Moving Averages & Ichimoku: Last close at $210 sits well above the 200-day average ($165.95) and above short-term EMAs (12-day EMA $203.75 and 26-day EMA $202.52), supporting bullish price positioning. Ichimoku lines (Tenkan $205.26, Kijun $199.12, Senkou A $199.44) place price above cloud and conversion/ base lines, reinforcing short-to-intermediate constructive bias.

Bands, Volatility, Volume: Price slightly above the 1x Bollinger upper band ($209.75) suggests intraday stretch; 42-day beta 2.44 and elevated 52-week beta 2.04 indicate above-average volatility—momentum moves may amplify directional moves while volume currently sits below recent averages.

 


Fundamental Analysis

Profitability & Margins: Trailing EBIT $651,000,000 and EBITDA $1,413,000,000 produce an EBIT margin of 15.32%. That margin sits below the industry peer mean of 18.42% and below the industry peer median of 25.06%, though above the sector low. Operating margin registers 13.72% and gross margin 36.31%, evidencing operating scale but lower relative EBIT efficiency versus the peer median.

Revenue & Earnings Trends: Total revenue $4,250,000,000 with reported YoY revenue growth of 8.06% but quarter-over-quarter revenue change negative (-4.13%). EPS came in at $0.81 versus an estimate of $1.00, an EPS surprise of -19.0%, signaling a single-period miss despite positive annual revenue growth.

Cash Flow & Capital Allocation: Operating cash flow $572,000,000 contrasts with free cash flow of -$118,000,000 and capital expenditures of -$690,000,000; free cash flow yield stands negative at -0.19%. The company reported end-period cash flow $495,000,000 and cash & short-term investments $458,000,000, reflecting meaningful ongoing capex investment that pressures free cash generation in the near term.

Balance Sheet & Leverage: Total debt $18,045,000,000 produces debt-to-assets of 47.31% and debt-to-equity of 768.85%. Debt-to-equity sits above the industry peer mean and median, while interest coverage at 2.63 narrowly exceeds the peer high, indicating available coverage but material absolute leverage.

Valuation Metrics: Trailing PE at 223.54 and price-to-book 27.03 represent elevated multiples; forward PE about 91.26 and enterprise multiple 57.34 also sit at high absolute levels. The current valuation as determined by WMDST classifies the stock as over-valued, reflecting stretched multiples alongside heavy leverage and near-term capex.

MOST-RECENT QUARTERLY REPORT
REPORT PERIOD ENDING: 2025-06-30
REPORT DATE: 2025-08-08
NEXT REPORT DATE: 2025-11-05
CASH FLOW  Begin Period Cash Flow 596.0 M
 Operating Cash Flow 572.0 M
 Capital Expenditures -690.00 M
 Change In Working Capital -539.00 M
 Dividends Paid -144.00 M
 Cash Flow Delta -101.00 M
 End Period Cash Flow 495.0 M
 
INCOME STATEMENT REVENUE
 Total Revenue 4.2 B
 Forward Revenue 1.9 B
COSTS
 Cost Of Revenue 2.7 B
 Depreciation 762.0 M
 Depreciation and Amortization 762.0 M
 Research and Development
 Total Operating Expenses 3.7 B
PROFITABILITY
 Gross Profit 1.5 B
 EBITDA 1.4 B
 EBIT 651.0 M
 Operating Income 583.0 M
 Interest Income 4.0 M
 Interest Expense 248.0 M
 Net Interest Income -273.00 M
 Income Before Tax 403.0 M
 Tax Provision 76.0 M
 Tax Rate 18.9 %
 Net Income 327.0 M
 Net Income From Continuing Operations 327.0 M
EARNINGS
 EPS Estimate 1.00
 EPS Actual 0.81
 EPS Difference -0.19
 EPS Surprise -19.0 %
 Forward EPS 1.73
 
BALANCE SHEET ASSETS
 Total Assets 38.1 B
 Intangible Assets 5.1 B
 Net Tangible Assets -239.00 M
 Total Current Assets 8.5 B
 Cash and Short-Term Investments 458.0 M
 Cash 458.0 M
 Net Receivables 2.2 B
 Inventory 965.0 M
 Long-Term Investments 1.5 B
LIABILITIES
 Accounts Payable 1.3 B
 Short-Term Debt 2.2 B
 Total Current Liabilities 9.4 B
 Net Debt 17.3 B
 Total Debt 18.0 B
 Total Liabilities 33.3 B
EQUITY
 Total Equity 2.3 B
 Retained Earnings -642.00 M
VALUATION & PER-SHARE METRICS EQUITY & PER-SHARE METRICS
 Book Value Per-Share 6.92
 Shares Outstanding 339.122 M
 Revenue Per-Share 12.53
VALUATION
 Market Capitalization 63.4 B
 Enterprise Value 81.0 B
 Enterprise Multiple 57.336
Enterprise Multiple QoQ -46.492 %
Enterprise Multiple YoY 195.21 %
Enterprise Multiple IPRWA high: 195.763
median: 61.125
VST: 57.336
mean: 57.166
low: -124.626
 EV/R 19.062
CAPITAL STRUCTURE
 Asset To Equity 16.253
 Asset To Liability 1.145
 Debt To Capital 0.885
 Debt To Assets 0.473
Debt To Assets QoQ 2.255 %
Debt To Assets YoY 588.273 %
Debt To Assets IPRWA high: 0.812
VST: 0.473
median: 0.461
mean: 0.426
low: 0.023
 Debt To Equity 7.689
Debt To Equity QoQ 2.123 %
Debt To Equity YoY 791.229 %
Debt To Equity IPRWA high: 9.543
VST: 7.689
median: 5.055
mean: 4.478
low: -4.218
PRICE-BASED VALUATION
 Price To Book (P/B) 27.025
Price To Book QoQ 44.08 %
Price To Book YoY 204.76 %
Price To Book IPRWA VST: 27.025
high: 17.657
mean: 7.631
median: 2.639
low: -8.667
 Price To Earnings (P/E) 223.543
Price To Earnings QoQ -260.31 %
Price To Earnings YoY 151.33 %
Price To Earnings IPRWA VST: 223.543
high: 195.49
median: 85.972
mean: 59.429
low: -191.421
 PE/G Ratio -1.195
 Price To Sales (P/S) 14.924
Price To Sales QoQ 33.22 %
Price To Sales YoY 107.607 %
Price To Sales IPRWA high: 32.99
VST: 14.924
mean: 9.478
median: 4.291
low: 0.068
FORWARD MULTIPLES
Forward P/E 91.259
Forward PE/G -0.488
Forward P/S 33.37
EFFICIENCY OPERATIONAL
 Operating Leverage -52.591
ASSET & SALES
 Asset Turnover Ratio 0.111
Asset Turnover Ratio QoQ 7.527 %
Asset Turnover Ratio YoY 11.872 %
Asset Turnover Ratio IPRWA high: 0.123
VST: 0.111
median: 0.059
mean: 0.051
low: 0.016
 Receivables Turnover 2.047
Receivables Turnover Ratio QoQ 1.633 %
Receivables Turnover Ratio YoY 1.75 %
Receivables Turnover Ratio IPRWA high: 5.965
mean: 2.062
VST: 2.047
median: 1.896
low: 0.691
 Inventory Turnover 2.812
Inventory Turnover Ratio QoQ -13.566 %
Inventory Turnover Ratio YoY 22.611 %
Inventory Turnover Ratio IPRWA high: 13.663
mean: 6.347
median: 3.78
VST: 2.812
low: 0.993
 Days Sales Outstanding (DSO) 44.584
CASH CYCLE
 Cash Conversion Cycle Days (CCC) 34.718
Cash Conversion Cycle Days QoQ 22.623 %
Cash Conversion Cycle Days YoY -2.298 %
Cash Conversion Cycle Days IPRWA high: 70.23
VST: 34.718
median: 18.587
mean: 9.795
low: -64.971
CAPITAL DEPLOYMENT
 Cash Conversion Ratio -4.474
 CapEx To Revenue -0.162
 CapEx To Depreciation -0.906
 
CAPITAL, LIQUIDITY & COVERAGE CAPITAL STRUCTURE
 Total Capital 20.4 B
 Net Invested Capital 20.1 B
 Invested Capital 20.1 B
 Net Tangible Assets -239.00 M
 Net Working Capital -950.00 M
LIQUIDITY
 Cash Ratio 0.049
 Current Ratio 0.899
Current Ratio QoQ 4.044 %
Current Ratio YoY -7.956 %
Current Ratio IPRWA high: 4.326
mean: 1.162
median: 0.933
VST: 0.899
low: 0.126
 Quick Ratio 0.797
Quick Ratio QoQ 4.059 %
Quick Ratio YoY -9.552 %
Quick Ratio IPRWA high: 1.341
mean: 0.93
median: 0.882
VST: 0.797
low: 0.266
COVERAGE & LEVERAGE
 Debt To EBITDA 12.771
 Cost Of Debt 1.126 %
 Interest Coverage Ratio 2.625
Interest Coverage Ratio QoQ -417.351 %
Interest Coverage Ratio YoY -29.468 %
Interest Coverage Ratio IPRWA VST: 2.625
high: 2.565
median: 1.111
mean: 0.974
low: -4.291
 Operating Cash Flow Ratio 0.077
TIMING / LIQUIDITY
 Days Payables Outstanding (DPO) 37.837
DIVIDENDS
 Dividend Coverage Ratio 2.271
 Dividend Payout Ratio 0.44
 Dividend Rate 0.42
 Dividend Yield 0.002
PERFORMANCE GROWTH
 Asset Growth Rate -0.215 %
 Revenue Growth 8.06 %
Revenue Growth QoQ -412.888 %
Revenue Growth YoY -68.88 %
Revenue Growth IPRWA high: 57.972 %
VST: 8.06 %
median: -2.427 %
mean: -6.169 %
low: -28.051 %
 Earnings Growth -187.097 %
Earnings Growth QoQ -5.951 %
Earnings Growth YoY -60.611 %
Earnings Growth IPRWA high: 833.333 %
mean: 9.49 %
median: -33.969 %
VST: -187.097 %
low: -500.0 %
MARGINS
 Gross Margin 36.306 %
Gross Margin QoQ 80.062 %
Gross Margin YoY -13.83 %
Gross Margin IPRWA high: 83.002 %
VST: 36.306 %
mean: 30.359 %
median: 20.705 %
low: 11.097 %
 EBIT Margin 15.318 %
EBIT Margin QoQ -399.707 %
EBIT Margin YoY -31.195 %
EBIT Margin IPRWA high: 67.076 %
median: 25.059 %
mean: 18.421 %
VST: 15.318 %
low: -107.458 %
 Return On Sales (ROS) 13.718 %
Return On Sales QoQ -368.401 %
Return On Sales YoY -38.382 %
Return On Sales IPRWA high: 51.841 %
median: 14.151 %
VST: 13.718 %
mean: 12.159 %
low: -50.384 %
CASH FLOW
 Free Cash Flow (FCF) -118.00 M
 Free Cash Flow Yield -0.186 %
Free Cash Flow Yield QoQ -51.562 %
Free Cash Flow Yield YoY -107.366 %
Free Cash Flow Yield IPRWA high: 3.197 %
VST: -0.186 %
median: -1.476 %
mean: -2.646 %
low: -15.325 %
 Free Cash Growth -30.178 %
Free Cash Growth QoQ -74.492 %
Free Cash Growth YoY -94.574 %
Free Cash Growth IPRWA high: 489.469 %
VST: -30.178 %
median: -89.134 %
mean: -106.849 %
low: -501.818 %
 Free Cash To Net Income -0.361
 Cash Flow Margin 17.106 %
 Cash Flow To Earnings 2.223
VALUE & RETURNS
 Economic Value Added 0.04
 Return On Assets (ROA) 0.856 %
Return On Assets QoQ -221.418 %
Return On Assets YoY -9.322 %
Return On Assets IPRWA high: 2.778 %
VST: 0.856 %
mean: 0.105 %
median: -0.056 %
low: -22.803 %
 Return On Capital Employed (ROCE) 2.267 %
 Return On Equity (ROE) 0.139
Return On Equity QoQ -222.123 %
Return On Equity YoY 18.984 %
Return On Equity IPRWA VST: 0.139
high: 0.096
median: 0.001
mean: -0.005
low: -0.194
 DuPont ROE 13.926 %
 Return On Invested Capital (ROIC) 2.628 %
Return On Invested Capital QoQ -527.317 %
Return On Invested Capital YoY -95.617 %
Return On Invested Capital IPRWA high: 3.499 %
VST: 2.628 %
median: 0.918 %
mean: 0.803 %
low: -12.057 %

Six-Week Outlook

Short-term price bias favors modest upside driven by converging momentum indicators—DI+ reversal, improving MACD momentum, negative MRO indicating catch-up potential, and price above major moving averages. The low ADX implies the move lacks trend confirmation, increasing sensitivity to headline risk and volatility given a 42-day beta above 2. Volume below recent averages reduces conviction behind sustained breakouts. Fundamental headwinds—negative free cash flow, elevated capex, and high leverage—limit the breadth of any rally and increase the probability of sharp pullbacks on adverse news. For active swing positioning, watch whether momentum indicators convert into confirmed trend signals; absent that, expect choppy, volatility-driven moves rather than a sustained trend.

About Vistra Corp.

Vistra Corp. (NYSE:VST) develops and manages an integrated retail electricity and power generation business. The company segments its operations into Retail, Texas, East, West, Sunset, and Asset Closure. It supplies electricity and natural gas to residential, commercial, and industrial clients throughout the United States and the District of Columbia. Vistra Corp. generates electricity, engages in wholesale energy transactions, and manages commodity risk, fuel production, and logistics. The company’s energy production portfolio includes natural gas, nuclear, coal, solar, and battery energy storage facilities, with a total generation capacity of approximately 41,000 megawatts. Serving around 5 million customers, Vistra Corp. provides reliable energy solutions across its diverse asset base. Originally founded in 1882 and headquartered in Irving, Texas, the company transitioned from Vistra Energy Corp. to Vistra Corp. in July 2020.



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