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EMA vs. VST: Emera vs. Vistra Stock Comparison

How do Emera (EMA) 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

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

Company profile comparison for Emera (EMA) and Vistra (VST)
Profile ItemEMAVST
NameEmera Inc.Vistra Corp.
Country/RegionCanadaUnited States
GICS SectorUtilitiesUtilities
GICS Industry GroupUtilitiesUtilities
GICS IndustryElectric UtilitiesIndependent Power and Renewable Electricity Producers
GICS Sub-IndustryElectric UtilitiesIndependent Power Producers & Energy Traders
Market Capitalization15.62 billion USD42.31 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateJanuary 5, 2010October 5, 2016
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

EMA
VST
GSPC
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Emera (EMA) 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 Emera (EMA) and Vistra (VST). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Emera (EMA) and Vistra (VST)
MetricEMAVST
Total Return (1Y)9.07%-30.09%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)18.64%57.95%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)6.45%49.55%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

EMA
VST
GSPC
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Emera (EMA) 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 Emera (EMA) 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 Emera (EMA) is defensive at 0.40 and tends to be less market-sensitive — they sit on opposite ends of the beta spectrum.

Risk profile metrics for Emera (EMA) and Vistra (VST)
MetricEMAVST
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)16.26%53.39%
Beta (5Y)0.401.38
Max Drawdown (5Y)-32.61%-48.80%
Avg. Volume (3M)713.97K5.98M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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EMA 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 Emera (EMA) and Vistra (VST)
MetricEMAVST
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.29-0.64
Sortino Ratio (1Y)0.43-0.86

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Capital efficiency shows on one side only: Emera (EMA) earns 7.56% on shareholders’ equity, ranked against its industry; Vistra (VST) has no ROE this period.

EMA

Utilities industry group

7.56%

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

Net Margin (TTM)

Both Emera (EMA) at 11.64% 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.

EMA

Utilities industry group

11.64%

Max
28.78%
Q3
17.30%
Median
12.73%
EMA
11.64%
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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Emera (EMA) vs. Vistra (VST): A comparison of their net margin against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Emera (EMA) at 17.85% and Vistra (VST) at 31.12% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.

EMA

Utilities industry group

17.85%

Max
53.83%
Q3
31.12%
Median
23.62%
EMA
17.85%
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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Emera (EMA) vs. Vistra (VST): A comparison of their operating margin against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Emera (EMA) and Vistra (VST)
MetricEMAVST
ROE (TTM)7.56%--
ROA (TTM)2.91%--
Net Margin (TTM)11.64%13.15%
Operating Margin (TTM)17.85%31.12%
Gross Margin (TTM)43.76%41.52%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Emera (EMA) at 21.89% 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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Emera (EMA) vs. Vistra (VST): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Emera (EMA) at 97.66% sits above its peer range for EPS growth; Vistra (VST) at -69.98% sits below its range, putting their earnings trajectories at opposite ends.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Emera (EMA) and Vistra (VST)
MetricEMAVST
Revenue Growth (YoY)21.89%2.98%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)4.97%8.92%
EPS Growth (YoY)97.66%-69.98%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)-1.62%--

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Short-term liquidity can only be read on one side of this pairing: Emera (EMA) shows current ratio of 0.73 against its industry benchmark, while Vistra (VST) has no reading this period.

EMA

Utilities industry group

0.73

Max
1.90
Q3
1.17
Median
0.88
EMA
0.73
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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Emera (EMA) vs. Vistra (VST): VST does not report current ratio, so it has no value marker; EMA is benchmarked against the Utilities industry group.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Emera (EMA) at 1.54 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.

EMA

Utilities industry group

1.54

Max
2.63
Q3
1.77
EMA
1.54
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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Emera (EMA) vs. Vistra (VST): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Emera (EMA) and Vistra (VST)
MetricEMAVST
Current Ratio (MRQ)0.73--
Debt / Equity (MRQ)1.543.73
Net Debt / EBITDA6.38--

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Emera (EMA) pays no dividend (yield 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Vistra (VST) reports a yield of 0.20%, ranking against industry peers normally.

EMA

Utilities industry group

0.00%

Max
6.66%
Q3
3.58%
Median
2.85%
Q1
0.66%
EMA
0.00%
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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Emera (EMA) 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; Emera (EMA) at 92.48% distributes an above-typical share — opposite departures from the band, with the risk sitting on EMA’s side.

EMA

Utilities industry group

92.48%

Max
113.04%
EMA
92.48%
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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Emera (EMA) vs. Vistra (VST): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Emera (EMA) and Vistra (VST)
MetricEMAVST
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.00%0.20%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)92.48%15.35%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Vistra (VST) at 16.80 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Emera (EMA) at 23.58 sits in the richer quartile — EMA needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.

EMA

Utilities industry group

23.58

Max
31.22
EMA
23.58
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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Emera (EMA) 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 Emera (EMA) at 1.75 and Vistra (VST) at 2.05 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.

EMA

Utilities industry group

1.75

Max
6.35
Q3
3.63
Median
2.63
EMA
1.75
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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Emera (EMA) vs. Vistra (VST): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Emera (EMA) at 1.80 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.

EMA

Utilities industry group

1.80

Max
3.12
Q3
2.21
Median
1.83
EMA
1.80
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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Emera (EMA) vs. Vistra (VST): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Emera (EMA) and Vistra (VST)
MetricEMAVST
P/E Ratio (TTM)23.5816.80
P/S Ratio (TTM)1.752.05
P/B Ratio (MRQ)1.8016.10
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)-9.18%--