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CMS vs. VST: CMS Energy vs. Vistra Stock Comparison

How do CMS Energy (CMS) 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

CMS Energy (CMS) and Vistra (VST) both fall under the Utilities industry group, but CMS is classified in Multi-Utilities while VST is classified in Independent Power and Renewable Electricity Producers.

Company profile comparison for CMS Energy (CMS) and Vistra (VST)
Profile ItemCMSVST
NameCMS Energy Corporation Common StockVistra Corp.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorUtilitiesUtilities
GICS Industry GroupUtilitiesUtilities
GICS IndustryMulti-UtilitiesIndependent Power and Renewable Electricity Producers
GICS Sub-IndustryMulti-UtilitiesIndependent Power Producers & Energy Traders
Market Capitalization21.70 billion USD42.31 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateFebruary 21, 1973October 5, 2016
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

CMS
VST
GSPC
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CMS Energy (CMS) vs. Vistra (VST), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

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Trailing total returns for CMS Energy (CMS) and Vistra (VST). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for CMS Energy (CMS) and Vistra (VST). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for CMS Energy (CMS) and Vistra (VST)
MetricCMSVST
Total Return (1Y)-1.93%-30.09%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)11.79%57.95%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)6.25%49.55%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

CMS
VST
GSPC
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CMS Energy (CMS) vs. Vistra (VST), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

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Distribution of monthly total returns for CMS Energy (CMS) and Vistra (VST). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Vistra (VST) has an aggressive beta of 1.38, indicating higher sensitivity to broad-market moves, while CMS Energy (CMS) is defensive at 0.31 and tends to be less market-sensitive — they sit on opposite ends of the beta spectrum.

Risk profile metrics for CMS Energy (CMS) and Vistra (VST)
MetricCMSVST
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)17.58%53.39%
Beta (5Y)0.311.38
Max Drawdown (5Y)-28.04%-48.80%
Avg. Volume (3M)3.84M5.98M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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CMS and VST are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for CMS Energy (CMS) and Vistra (VST)
MetricCMSVST
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)-0.35-0.64
Sortino Ratio (1Y)-0.49-0.86

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Capital efficiency shows on one side only: CMS Energy (CMS) earns 5.31% on shareholders’ equity, ranked against its industry; Vistra (VST) has no ROE this period.

CMS

Utilities industry group

5.31%

Max
17.99%
Q3
12.01%
Median
9.44%
Q1
7.56%
CMS
5.31%
Min
2.17%

VST

Utilities industry group

--

Max
17.99%
Q3
12.01%
Median
9.44%
Q1
7.56%
Min
2.17%
VST
--
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CMS Energy (CMS) vs. Vistra (VST): VST does not report ROE, so it has no value marker; CMS is benchmarked against the Utilities industry group.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both CMS Energy (CMS) at 9.72% 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.

CMS

Utilities industry group

9.72%

Max
28.78%
Q3
17.30%
Median
12.73%
CMS
9.72%
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%
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CMS Energy (CMS) vs. Vistra (VST): A comparison of their net margin against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both CMS Energy (CMS) at 28.45% and Vistra (VST) at 31.12% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.

CMS

Utilities industry group

28.45%

Max
53.83%
Q3
31.12%
CMS
28.45%
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%
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CMS Energy (CMS) vs. Vistra (VST): A comparison of their operating margin against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for CMS Energy (CMS) and Vistra (VST)
MetricCMSVST
ROE (TTM)5.31%--
ROA (TTM)3.07%--
Net Margin (TTM)9.72%13.15%
Operating Margin (TTM)28.45%31.12%
Gross Margin (TTM)40.76%41.52%

Growth

Revenue Growth

CMS Energy (CMS) at 13.63% sits in the top revenue growth quartile, while Vistra (VST) at 2.98% is in the bottom quartile, showing a clear gap in revenue momentum.

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CMS Energy (CMS) vs. Vistra (VST): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

CMS Energy (CMS) at 4.19% is around its peer norm for EPS growth, while Vistra (VST) at -69.98% falls below its industry range, a notably weak earnings reading.

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CMS Energy (CMS) vs. Vistra (VST): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for CMS Energy (CMS) and Vistra (VST)
MetricCMSVST
Revenue Growth (YoY)13.63%2.98%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)-0.22%8.92%
EPS Growth (YoY)4.19%-69.98%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)6.84%--

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Short-term liquidity can only be read on one side of this pairing: CMS Energy (CMS) shows current ratio of 0.95 against its industry benchmark, while Vistra (VST) has no reading this period.

CMS

Utilities industry group

0.95

Max
1.90
Q3
1.17
CMS
0.95
Median
0.88
Q1
0.66
Min
0.29

VST

Utilities industry group

--

Max
1.90
Q3
1.17
Median
0.88
Q1
0.66
Min
0.29
VST
--
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CMS Energy (CMS) vs. Vistra (VST): VST does not report current ratio, so it has no value marker; CMS is benchmarked against the Utilities industry group.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both balance sheets lean debt-heavy versus peers, but VST is more stretched: CMS Energy (CMS) at 1.96 sits in the higher-leverage quartile and Vistra (VST) at 3.73 is above its industry benchmark range.

CMS

Utilities industry group

1.96

Max
2.63
CMS
1.96
Q3
1.77
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
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CMS Energy (CMS) vs. Vistra (VST): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for CMS Energy (CMS) and Vistra (VST)
MetricCMSVST
Current Ratio (MRQ)0.95--
Debt / Equity (MRQ)1.963.73
Net Debt / EBITDA6.33--

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

CMS Energy (CMS) at 3.21% pays a yield in its industry’s typical range, while Vistra (VST) at 0.20% falls in the bottom quartile of its peers.

CMS

Utilities industry group

3.21%

Max
6.66%
Q3
3.58%
CMS
3.21%
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%
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CMS Energy (CMS) vs. Vistra (VST): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Vistra (VST) at 15.35% retains more earnings than its industry usually does; CMS Energy (CMS) at 80.45% distributes an above-typical share — opposite departures from the band, with the risk sitting on CMS’s side.

CMS

Utilities industry group

80.45%

Max
113.04%
CMS
80.45%
Q3
68.72%
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%
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CMS Energy (CMS) vs. Vistra (VST): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for CMS Energy (CMS) and Vistra (VST)
MetricCMSVST
Dividend Yield (TTM)3.21%0.20%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)80.45%15.35%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Vistra (VST) at 16.80 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while CMS Energy (CMS) at 24.71 sits in the richer quartile — CMS needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.

CMS

Utilities industry group

24.71

Max
31.22
CMS
24.71
Q3
23.30
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
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CMS Energy (CMS) vs. Vistra (VST): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

On P/S ratio, both CMS Energy (CMS) at 2.42 and Vistra (VST) at 2.05 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.

CMS

Utilities industry group

2.42

Max
6.35
Q3
3.63
Median
2.63
CMS
2.42
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
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CMS Energy (CMS) vs. Vistra (VST): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Both look rich against book: CMS Energy (CMS) at 2.28 sits in the upper P/B ratio quartile, and Vistra (VST) at 16.10 prices even higher, above its industry range.

CMS

Utilities industry group

2.28

Max
3.12
CMS
2.28
Q3
2.21
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
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CMS Energy (CMS) vs. Vistra (VST): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for CMS Energy (CMS) and Vistra (VST)
MetricCMSVST
P/E Ratio (TTM)24.7116.80
P/S Ratio (TTM)2.422.05
P/B Ratio (MRQ)2.2816.10
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)-9.54%--