EVRG vs. VST: Evergy vs. Vistra Stock Comparison
How do Evergy (EVRG) 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
Evergy (EVRG) and Vistra (VST) both fall under the Utilities industry group, but EVRG is classified in Electric Utilities while VST is classified in Independent Power and Renewable Electricity Producers.
| Profile Item | EVRG | VST |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Evergy 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 | 20.53 billion USD | 42.31 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | Nasdaq | NYSE |
| Listing Date | February 21, 1973 | October 5, 2016 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | EVRG | VST |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 20.55% | -30.09% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 26.35% | 57.95% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 10.88% | 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 Evergy (EVRG) is defensive at 0.48 and tends to be less market-sensitive — they sit on opposite ends of the beta spectrum.
| Metric | EVRG | VST |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 16.50% | 53.39% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.48 | 1.38 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -29.83% | -48.80% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 2.25M | 5.98M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | EVRG | VST |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.99 | -0.64 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 1.44 | -0.86 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Capital efficiency shows on one side only: Evergy (EVRG) earns 10.06% on shareholders’ equity, ranked against its industry; Vistra (VST) has no ROE this period.
EVRG
Utilities industry group
10.06%
- Max
- 17.99%
- Q3
- 12.01%
- EVRG
- 10.06%
- 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 Evergy (EVRG) at 16.67% 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.
EVRG
Utilities industry group
16.67%
- Max
- 28.78%
- Q3
- 17.30%
- EVRG
- 16.67%
- 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)
Evergy (EVRG) at 38.46% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of Vistra (VST) at 31.12%, which runs around its industry’s norm.
EVRG
Utilities industry group
38.46%
- Max
- 53.83%
- EVRG
- 38.46%
- Q3
- 31.12%
- 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 | EVRG | VST |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 10.06% | -- |
| ROA (TTM) | 3.12% | -- |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 16.67% | 13.15% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 38.46% | 31.12% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 52.95% | 41.52% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Both Evergy (EVRG) at 1.95% and Vistra (VST) at 2.98% post bottom-quartile revenue growth versus peers, pointing to weaker demand or pricing momentum than typical rivals.
EPS Growth
Evergy (EVRG) at -3.43% 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 | EVRG | VST |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 1.95% | 2.98% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 0.58% | 8.92% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | -3.43% | -69.98% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 3.83% | -- |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Short-term liquidity can only be read on one side of this pairing: Evergy (EVRG) shows current ratio of 0.49 against its industry benchmark, while Vistra (VST) has no reading this period.
EVRG
Utilities industry group
0.49
- Max
- 1.90
- Q3
- 1.17
- Median
- 0.88
- Q1
- 0.66
- EVRG
- 0.49
- 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)
Evergy (EVRG) at 1.47 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.
EVRG
Utilities industry group
1.47
- Max
- 2.63
- Q3
- 1.77
- EVRG
- 1.47
- 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 | EVRG | VST |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 0.49 | -- |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 1.47 | 3.73 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 5.39 | -- |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Evergy (EVRG) at 3.18% pays a yield in its industry’s typical range, while Vistra (VST) at 0.20% falls in the bottom quartile of its peers.
EVRG
Utilities industry group
3.18%
- Max
- 6.66%
- Q3
- 3.58%
- EVRG
- 3.18%
- 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)
Evergy (EVRG) at 61.92% 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.
EVRG
Utilities industry group
61.92%
- Max
- 113.04%
- Q3
- 68.72%
- EVRG
- 61.92%
- 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 | EVRG | VST |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 3.18% | 0.20% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 61.92% | 15.35% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Both Evergy (EVRG) at 19.50 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.
EVRG
Utilities industry group
19.50
- Max
- 31.22
- Q3
- 23.30
- Median
- 19.64
- EVRG
- 19.50
- 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 Evergy (EVRG) at 3.22 and Vistra (VST) at 2.05 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.
EVRG
Utilities industry group
3.22
- Max
- 6.35
- Q3
- 3.63
- EVRG
- 3.22
- 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)
Evergy (EVRG) at 1.86 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.
EVRG
Utilities industry group
1.86
- Max
- 3.12
- Q3
- 2.21
- EVRG
- 1.86
- 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 | EVRG | VST |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 19.50 | 16.80 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 3.22 | 2.05 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 1.86 | 16.10 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -7.14% | -- |