Should You Buy Vistra Stock While It's Below $200 -- Or Wait for a Better Yield?

Core Insights - Vistra Corp is a leading energy producer with a rapidly growing dividend, making it a potential candidate for income portfolios [1] - The demand for electricity from data centers, particularly in Virginia, has significantly increased, leading to Virginia becoming the largest energy importing state in 2023 [2][3] Company Overview - Vistra is based in Irving, Texas, and operates across the country with assets generating approximately 44,000 megawatts, including fossil fuel and renewable energy sources [5] - The company has a strong focus on the AI market, investing $4 billion in 10 natural gas power plants specifically for data centers and acquiring a nuclear fleet for $6.8 billion in 2024 [6] Financial Performance - In Q3 2025, Vistra reported adjusted EBITDA of $4.17 billion for the first nine months, reflecting a 13.9% increase compared to the same period in 2024 [7] - The company achieved an EBITDA margin of 29.9% and a net profit margin of 6.99% during the same quarter [7] Dividend Insights - Vistra has consistently paid and raised its dividend since 2019, with a current dividend yield of 0.54% [9] - The five-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) for its dividend is 10.7%, and the current payout ratio is 32.2%, indicating room for continued dividend growth [9] Market Position - Vistra's shares have increased by approximately 6% year to date, although the dividend yield has decreased due to significant share price growth [8] - The current market capitalization of Vistra is $57 billion, with a share price of $167.42 [9]