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DUK vs. VST: Duke Energy vs. Vistra Stock Comparison

How do Duke Energy (DUK) 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

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

Company profile comparison for Duke Energy (DUK) and Vistra (VST)
Profile ItemDUKVST
NameDuke Energy CorporationVistra Corp.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorUtilitiesUtilities
GICS Industry GroupUtilitiesUtilities
GICS IndustryElectric UtilitiesIndependent Power and Renewable Electricity Producers
GICS Sub-IndustryElectric UtilitiesIndependent Power Producers & Energy Traders
Market Capitalization99.63 billion USD42.31 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateMarch 17, 1980October 5, 2016
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

DUK
VST
GSPC
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Duke Energy (DUK) 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 Duke Energy (DUK) and Vistra (VST). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Duke Energy (DUK) and Vistra (VST)
MetricDUKVST
Total Return (1Y)7.39%-30.09%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)17.76%57.95%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)8.82%49.55%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

DUK
VST
GSPC
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Duke Energy (DUK) 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 Duke Energy (DUK) 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 Duke Energy (DUK) is defensive at 0.32 and tends to be less market-sensitive — they sit on opposite ends of the beta spectrum.

Risk profile metrics for Duke Energy (DUK) and Vistra (VST)
MetricDUKVST
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)17.00%53.39%
Beta (5Y)0.321.38
Max Drawdown (5Y)-24.16%-48.80%
Avg. Volume (3M)4.11M5.98M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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DUK 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 Duke Energy (DUK) and Vistra (VST)
MetricDUKVST
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.18-0.64
Sortino Ratio (1Y)0.27-0.86

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Capital efficiency shows on one side only: Duke Energy (DUK) earns 10.10% on shareholders’ equity, ranked against its industry; Vistra (VST) has no ROE this period.

DUK

Utilities industry group

10.10%

Max
17.99%
Q3
12.01%
DUK
10.10%
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
--
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Duke Energy (DUK) vs. Vistra (VST): VST does not report ROE, so it has no value marker; DUK is benchmarked against the Utilities industry group.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both Duke Energy (DUK) at 16.16% 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.

DUK

Utilities industry group

16.16%

Max
28.78%
Q3
17.30%
DUK
16.16%
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%
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Duke Energy (DUK) vs. Vistra (VST): A comparison of their net margin against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Duke Energy (DUK) at 30.03% and Vistra (VST) at 31.12% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.

DUK

Utilities industry group

30.03%

Max
53.83%
Q3
31.12%
DUK
30.03%
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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Duke Energy (DUK) vs. Vistra (VST): A comparison of their operating margin against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Duke Energy (DUK) and Vistra (VST)
MetricDUKVST
ROE (TTM)10.10%--
ROA (TTM)2.92%--
Net Margin (TTM)16.16%13.15%
Operating Margin (TTM)30.03%31.12%
Gross Margin (TTM)52.58%41.52%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Duke Energy (DUK) at 6.19% 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.

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

EPS Growth

Duke Energy (DUK) at 10.51% 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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Duke Energy (DUK) vs. Vistra (VST): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Duke Energy (DUK) and Vistra (VST)
MetricDUKVST
Revenue Growth (YoY)6.19%2.98%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)3.87%8.92%
EPS Growth (YoY)10.51%-69.98%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)23.75%--

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Short-term liquidity can only be read on one side of this pairing: Duke Energy (DUK) shows current ratio of 0.68 against its industry benchmark, while Vistra (VST) has no reading this period.

DUK

Utilities industry group

0.68

Max
1.90
Q3
1.17
Median
0.88
DUK
0.68
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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Duke Energy (DUK) vs. Vistra (VST): VST does not report current ratio, so it has no value marker; DUK is benchmarked against the Utilities industry group.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Duke Energy (DUK) at 1.63 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.

DUK

Utilities industry group

1.63

Max
2.63
Q3
1.77
DUK
1.63
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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Duke Energy (DUK) vs. Vistra (VST): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Duke Energy (DUK) and Vistra (VST)
MetricDUKVST
Current Ratio (MRQ)0.68--
Debt / Equity (MRQ)1.633.73
Net Debt / EBITDA5.38--

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Duke Energy (DUK) at 3.29% pays a yield in its industry’s typical range, while Vistra (VST) at 0.20% falls in the bottom quartile of its peers.

DUK

Utilities industry group

3.29%

Max
6.66%
Q3
3.58%
DUK
3.29%
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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Duke Energy (DUK) vs. Vistra (VST): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Duke Energy (DUK) at 62.76% 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.

DUK

Utilities industry group

62.76%

Max
113.04%
Q3
68.72%
DUK
62.76%
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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Duke Energy (DUK) vs. Vistra (VST): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Duke Energy (DUK) and Vistra (VST)
MetricDUKVST
Dividend Yield (TTM)3.29%0.20%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)62.76%15.35%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Duke Energy (DUK) at 18.74 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.

DUK

Utilities industry group

18.74

Max
31.22
Q3
23.30
Median
19.64
DUK
18.74
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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Duke Energy (DUK) 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 Duke Energy (DUK) at 2.99 and Vistra (VST) at 2.05 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.

DUK

Utilities industry group

2.99

Max
6.35
Q3
3.63
DUK
2.99
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
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Duke Energy (DUK) vs. Vistra (VST): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Duke Energy (DUK) at 1.83 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.

DUK

Utilities industry group

1.83

Max
3.12
Q3
2.21
DUK
1.83
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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Duke Energy (DUK) vs. Vistra (VST): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Duke Energy (DUK) and Vistra (VST)
MetricDUKVST
P/E Ratio (TTM)18.7416.80
P/S Ratio (TTM)2.992.05
P/B Ratio (MRQ)1.8316.10
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)-2.76%--