AEP vs. VST: American Electric Power vs. Vistra Stock Comparison
How do American Electric Power (AEP) and Vistra (VST) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.
Company Profile
American Electric Power (AEP) and Vistra (VST) both fall under the Utilities industry group, but AEP is classified in Electric Utilities while VST is classified in Independent Power and Renewable Electricity Producers.
| Profile Item | AEP | VST |
|---|---|---|
| Name | American Electric Power Company, Inc. | Vistra Corp. |
| Country/Region | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Utilities | Utilities |
| GICS Industry Group | Utilities | Utilities |
| GICS Industry | Electric Utilities | Independent Power and Renewable Electricity Producers |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Electric Utilities | Independent Power Producers & Energy Traders |
| Market Capitalization | 68.90 billion USD | 42.31 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | Nasdaq | NYSE |
| Listing Date | January 2, 1962 | October 5, 2016 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | AEP | VST |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 8.60% | -30.09% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 22.18% | 57.95% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 12.81% | 49.55% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
Vistra (VST) has an aggressive beta of 1.38, indicating higher sensitivity to broad-market moves, while American Electric Power (AEP) is defensive at 0.46 and tends to be less market-sensitive — they sit on opposite ends of the beta spectrum.
| Metric | AEP | VST |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 18.45% | 53.39% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.46 | 1.38 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -29.56% | -48.80% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 3.64M | 5.98M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | AEP | VST |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.23 | -0.64 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 0.33 | -0.86 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Capital efficiency shows on one side only: American Electric Power (AEP) earns 10.60% on shareholders’ equity, ranked against its industry; Vistra (VST) has no ROE this period.
AEP
Utilities industry group
10.60%
- Max
- 17.99%
- Q3
- 12.01%
- AEP
- 10.60%
- Median
- 9.44%
- Q1
- 7.56%
- Min
- 2.17%
VST
Utilities industry group
--
- Max
- 17.99%
- Q3
- 12.01%
- Median
- 9.44%
- Q1
- 7.56%
- Min
- 2.17%
- VST
- --
Net Margin (TTM)
Both American Electric Power (AEP) at 14.21% and Vistra (VST) at 13.15% keep about the typical share of revenue as profit for their industries — neither bottom line stands out from peers.
AEP
Utilities industry group
14.21%
- Max
- 28.78%
- Q3
- 17.30%
- AEP
- 14.21%
- Median
- 12.73%
- Q1
- 9.18%
- Min
- -0.20%
VST
Utilities industry group
13.15%
- Max
- 28.78%
- Q3
- 17.30%
- VST
- 13.15%
- Median
- 12.73%
- Q1
- 9.18%
- Min
- -0.20%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Both American Electric Power (AEP) at 26.89% and Vistra (VST) at 31.12% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.
AEP
Utilities industry group
26.89%
- Max
- 53.83%
- Q3
- 31.12%
- AEP
- 26.89%
- Median
- 23.62%
- Q1
- 15.45%
- Min
- -4.90%
VST
Utilities industry group
31.12%
- Max
- 53.83%
- Q3
- 31.12%
- VST
- 31.12%
- Median
- 23.62%
- Q1
- 15.45%
- Min
- -4.90%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | AEP | VST |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 10.60% | -- |
| ROA (TTM) | 3.04% | -- |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 14.21% | 13.15% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 26.89% | 31.12% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 46.62% | 41.52% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
American Electric Power (AEP) at 10.93% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while Vistra (VST) at 2.98% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.
EPS Growth
American Electric Power (AEP) at 19.35% is around its peer norm for EPS growth, while Vistra (VST) at -69.98% falls below its industry range, a notably weak earnings reading.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | AEP | VST |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 10.93% | 2.98% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 3.66% | 8.92% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 19.35% | -69.98% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 14.04% | -- |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Short-term liquidity can only be read on one side of this pairing: American Electric Power (AEP) shows current ratio of 0.51 against its industry benchmark, while Vistra (VST) has no reading this period.
AEP
Utilities industry group
0.51
- Max
- 1.90
- Q3
- 1.17
- Median
- 0.88
- Q1
- 0.66
- AEP
- 0.51
- Min
- 0.29
VST
Utilities industry group
--
- Max
- 1.90
- Q3
- 1.17
- Median
- 0.88
- Q1
- 0.66
- Min
- 0.29
- VST
- --
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
American Electric Power (AEP) at 1.62 is near its industry mid-range for debt-to-equity ratio, while Vistra (VST) at 3.73 sits above its benchmark range, pointing to a heavier debt load relative to equity.
AEP
Utilities industry group
1.62
- Max
- 2.63
- Q3
- 1.77
- AEP
- 1.62
- Median
- 1.35
- Q1
- 0.84
- Min
- 0.00
VST
Utilities industry group
3.73
- VST
- 3.73
- Max
- 2.63
- Q3
- 1.77
- Median
- 1.35
- Q1
- 0.84
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | AEP | VST |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 0.51 | -- |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 1.62 | 3.73 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 5.76 | -- |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
American Electric Power (AEP) at 3.00% pays a yield in its industry’s typical range, while Vistra (VST) at 0.20% falls in the bottom quartile of its peers.
AEP
Utilities industry group
3.00%
- Max
- 6.66%
- Q3
- 3.58%
- AEP
- 3.00%
- Median
- 2.85%
- Q1
- 0.66%
- Min
- 0.00%
VST
Utilities industry group
0.20%
- Max
- 6.66%
- Q3
- 3.58%
- Median
- 2.85%
- Q1
- 0.66%
- VST
- 0.20%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
American Electric Power (AEP) at 62.09% keeps its payout within the industry’s typical band; Vistra (VST) at 15.35% pays out less than peers usually do, retaining more of its earnings — a policy difference more than a quality gap.
AEP
Utilities industry group
62.09%
- Max
- 113.04%
- Q3
- 68.72%
- AEP
- 62.09%
- Median
- 56.38%
- Q1
- 32.38%
- Min
- 0.00%
VST
Utilities industry group
15.35%
- Max
- 113.04%
- Q3
- 68.72%
- Median
- 56.38%
- Q1
- 32.38%
- VST
- 15.35%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | AEP | VST |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 3.00% | 0.20% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 62.09% | 15.35% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Both American Electric Power (AEP) at 20.67 and Vistra (VST) at 16.80 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.
AEP
Utilities industry group
20.67
- Max
- 31.22
- Q3
- 23.30
- AEP
- 20.67
- Median
- 19.64
- Q1
- 15.17
- Min
- 3.34
VST
Utilities industry group
16.80
- Max
- 31.22
- Q3
- 23.30
- Median
- 19.64
- VST
- 16.80
- Q1
- 15.17
- Min
- 3.34
P/S Ratio (TTM)
On P/S ratio, both American Electric Power (AEP) at 2.92 and Vistra (VST) at 2.05 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.
AEP
Utilities industry group
2.92
- Max
- 6.35
- Q3
- 3.63
- AEP
- 2.92
- Median
- 2.63
- Q1
- 1.52
- Min
- 0.00
VST
Utilities industry group
2.05
- Max
- 6.35
- Q3
- 3.63
- Median
- 2.63
- VST
- 2.05
- Q1
- 1.52
- Min
- 0.00
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
American Electric Power (AEP) at 2.10 sits near its industry’s typical P/B ratio, while Vistra (VST) at 16.10 prices above its benchmark range — VST looks rich relative to book.
AEP
Utilities industry group
2.10
- Max
- 3.12
- Q3
- 2.21
- AEP
- 2.10
- Median
- 1.83
- Q1
- 1.46
- Min
- 0.34
VST
Utilities industry group
16.10
- VST
- 16.10
- Max
- 3.12
- Q3
- 2.21
- Median
- 1.83
- Q1
- 1.46
- Min
- 0.34
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | AEP | VST |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 20.67 | 16.80 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 2.92 | 2.05 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 2.10 | 16.10 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -11.28% | -- |