Morgan Stanley Sees Data Centers Driving the Next Phase of Growth for Vistra (VST)

Group 1 - Vistra Corp. is recognized as one of the 15 Dividend Stocks with low payout ratios and strong upside potential [1] - Morgan Stanley analyst David Arcaro raised the price target for Vistra Corp. to $228 from $225, maintaining an Overweight rating, highlighting that utility performance will be significantly driven by data centers, with growth potential expected in 2026 [2] - S&P Global Ratings upgraded Vistra Corp. to investment grade, indicating a positive shift in the company's perception since its spinoff from Energy Future Holdings Corp. nearly a decade ago [3] Group 2 - Approximately 35% of Vistra's generation capacity is located within the PJM Interconnection grid, which is experiencing strong demand from data centers, and about 96% of the expected generation for 2026 is hedged against fluctuating wholesale power prices [4] - Vistra's shares have more than quadrupled since the beginning of last year, reflecting increased investor interest driven by the demand for power plants that support energy-intensive data centers [4] - Vistra operates as an integrated retail electricity and power generation company, supplying essential power resources to customers [5]