AEE vs. VST: A Head-to-Head Stock Comparison
UpdatedHere’s a clear look at AEE and VST, comparing key factors like performance, valuation metrics, dividends, and financial strength. It’s built for investors or anyone curious to see how these two stocks match up.
Company Overview
VST stands out with 51.60 billion USD in market value—about 1.93× AEE’s market cap of 26.70 billion USD.
VST carries a higher beta at 1.18, indicating it’s more sensitive to market moves, while AEE remains steadier at 0.52.
| Symbol | AEE | VST |
|---|---|---|
| Company Name | Ameren Corporation | Vistra Corp. |
| Country | US | US |
| Sector | Utilities | Utilities |
| Industry | Regulated Electric | Independent Power Producers |
| CEO | Mr. Martin J. Lyons Jr. | Mr. James A. Burke CPA |
| Price | 96.5 USD | 152.07 USD |
| Market Cap | 26.70 billion USD | 51.60 billion USD |
| Beta | 0.52 | 1.18 |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| IPO Date | January 2, 1998 | October 5, 2016 |
| ADR | No | No |
Performance Comparison
This chart compares the performance of AEE and VST over the past year by tracking the growth of an initial $10,000 investment in each (starting one year ago).
Hover over the lines to see the investment’s value and total return (%) at specific dates.
Data is adjusted for dividends and splits.
Valuation Metrics Comparison
The section examines key financial ratios to assess the valuation of AEE and VST based on earnings, cash flow, sales, and book value. Pay attention to the following notable points where extreme values stand out.
- AEE has a negative Price-to-Free Cash Flow ratio of -14.73, signaling it consumed more cash than it produced over the last year—an important liquidity warning. In contrast, VST (P/FCF 20.90) indicates positive free cash flow generation.
| Symbol | AEE | VST |
|---|---|---|
| Price-to-Earnings Ratio (P/E, TTM) | 21.53 | 21.30 |
| Forward PEG Ratio (TTM) | 2.89 | 0.67 |
| Price-to-Sales Ratio (P/S, TTM) | 3.38 | 2.85 |
| Price-to-Book Ratio (P/B, TTM) | 2.13 | 10.71 |
| Price-to-Free Cash Flow Ratio (P/FCF, TTM) | -14.73 | 20.90 |
| EV-to-EBITDA (TTM) | 7.45 | 10.14 |
| EV-to-Sales (TTM) | 3.38 | 3.80 |
| EV-to-Free Cash Flow (TTM) | -14.72 | 27.84 |
Dividend Comparison
AEE’s dividend yield of 2.82% is about 386% higher than VST’s 0.58%, underscoring its stronger focus on returning cash to shareholders.
| Symbol | AEE | VST |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 2.82% | 0.58% |
Financial Strength Metrics Comparison
This section dives into the financial resilience of AEE and VST, spotlighting key metrics like liquidity, leverage, and debt coverage. Check out the standout observations below where notable differences or extremes pop up.
- With current ratios of 0.86 and 0.86, both AEE and VST have less current assets than short-term liabilities, which could strain their working capital and force reliance on additional financing.
- Both AEE (quick ratio 0.62) and VST (quick ratio 0.77) fall below 0.8, meaning their most liquid assets—excluding inventory—aren’t enough to meet short-term obligations. This could force them to rely on receivables, inventory turn, or external financing.
- VST is highly leveraged (debt-to-equity ratio 3.67), elevating both potential gains and risks, compared to AEE at 0.00, which maintains a steadier capital structure.
| Symbol | AEE | VST |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (TTM) | 0.86 | 0.86 |
| Quick Ratio (TTM) | 0.62 | 0.77 |
| Debt-to-Equity Ratio (TTM) | 0.00 | 3.67 |
| Debt-to-Assets Ratio (TTM) | 0.00 | 0.46 |
| Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) | 2.30 | 4.28 |