VST Stock is Trading Above 50 and 200-Day SMA: Buy, Hold or Sell?

Core Insights - Vistra Corp. (VST) is currently trading above its 50-day and 200-day simple moving averages, indicating a bullish trend [1][8] - The company's strategy focuses on expanding its business through investments in retail, renewable, and energy storage assets while aiming to reduce its carbon footprint [1] Financial Performance - Vistra has outperformed the Zacks Utility - Electric Power industry, the Zacks Utilities sector, and the S&P 500 over the past year [6] - The company has a return on equity (ROE) of 87.33%, significantly higher than the industry average of 10.41% [20] - Vistra's share buyback program has repurchased $5.2 billion worth of shares since November 2021, with an additional $1.5 billion authorized for execution by 2026 [15] Market Position and Demand Drivers - Vistra operates six nuclear power units with a total capacity of 6,448 megawatts, accounting for 16% of its total production, providing stable cash flow and low-cost electricity [11] - Rising electricity demand in core markets is driven by factors such as electrification in the oil and gas sector, LNG infrastructure expansion, and growth in AI-driven data centers [12] - The company has added 7,922 MW of zero-carbon generation since 2018 and continues to pursue new clean energy projects [12] Strategic Initiatives - Vistra's hedging strategy has secured nearly 100% of its forecasted 2025 generation and about 90% for 2026, mitigating earnings volatility [13] - The company is transitioning from fossil fuel assets to low-emission generation, aligning with national clean energy goals and benefiting from federal incentives [14] Valuation and Earnings Estimates - Vistra is trading at a premium valuation with a forward 12-month price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 26.31X compared to the industry average of 14.53X [16] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for VST's 2025 earnings per share shows a year-over-year decline, while 2026 estimates indicate improvement [17] Shareholder Returns - The board has approved a quarterly dividend of 22.5 cents for Q2 2025, reflecting a 3% year-over-year increase, with management targeting $300 million in annual dividend payments [24]