KEP vs. VST: Korea Electric Power vs. Vistra Stock Comparison
How do Korea Electric Power (KEP) 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
Korea Electric Power (KEP) and Vistra (VST) both fall under the Utilities industry group, but KEP is classified in Electric Utilities while VST is classified in Independent Power and Renewable Electricity Producers.
Vistra (VST) trades as ordinary local shares, while Korea Electric Power (KEP) trades as an ADR — compare with FX exposure, depositary-program fees, and dividend-withholding-tax differences in mind.
| Profile Item | KEP | VST |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Korea Electric Power Corporation Sponsored ADR | Vistra Corp. |
| Country/Region | South Korea | 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 | 14.38 billion USD | 42.31 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | October 27, 1994 | October 5, 2016 |
| Security Type | ADR | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | KEP | VST |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | -25.98% | -30.09% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 20.85% | 57.95% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 2.90% | 49.55% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | KEP | VST |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 46.68% | 53.39% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.97 | 1.38 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -55.55% | -48.80% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 949.70K | 5.98M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | KEP | VST |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | -0.65 | -0.64 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | -0.93 | -0.86 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Capital efficiency shows on one side only: Korea Electric Power (KEP) earns 16.60% on shareholders’ equity, ranked against its industry; Vistra (VST) has no ROE this period.
KEP
Utilities industry group
16.60%
- Max
- 17.99%
- KEP
- 16.60%
- Q3
- 12.01%
- 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)
Vistra (VST) at 13.15% keeps about the industry-typical share of revenue as profit, while Korea Electric Power (KEP) at 8.04% retains only a bottom-quartile share.
KEP
Utilities industry group
8.04%
- Max
- 28.78%
- Q3
- 17.30%
- Median
- 12.73%
- Q1
- 9.18%
- KEP
- 8.04%
- 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)
Vistra (VST) at 31.12% runs core operations around its industry’s norm, while Korea Electric Power (KEP) at 4.73% operates in the bottom quartile.
KEP
Utilities industry group
4.73%
- Max
- 53.83%
- Q3
- 31.12%
- Median
- 23.62%
- Q1
- 15.45%
- KEP
- 4.73%
- 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 | KEP | VST |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 16.60% | -- |
| ROA (TTM) | 3.04% | -- |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 8.04% | 13.15% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 4.73% | 31.12% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 15.97% | 41.52% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Korea Electric Power (KEP) at 4.31% 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
Korea Electric Power (KEP) at 144.73% sits above its peer range for EPS growth; Vistra (VST) at -69.98% sits below its range, putting their earnings trajectories at opposite ends.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | KEP | VST |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 4.31% | 2.98% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 11.03% | 8.92% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 144.73% | -69.98% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | -- | -- |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Short-term liquidity can only be read on one side of this pairing: Korea Electric Power (KEP) shows current ratio of 0.44 against its industry benchmark, while Vistra (VST) has no reading this period.
KEP
Utilities industry group
0.44
- Max
- 1.90
- Q3
- 1.17
- Median
- 0.88
- Q1
- 0.66
- KEP
- 0.44
- 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)
Both balance sheets lean debt-heavy versus peers, but VST is more stretched: Korea Electric Power (KEP) at 2.63 sits in the higher-leverage quartile and Vistra (VST) at 3.73 is above its industry benchmark range.
KEP
Utilities industry group
2.63
- KEP
- 2.63
- Max
- 2.63
- 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
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | KEP | VST |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 0.44 | -- |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 2.63 | 3.73 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 5.13 | -- |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Korea Electric Power (KEP) at 13,891.89% yields beyond its industry’s entire range — a level that invites a dividend-safety check — while Vistra (VST) at 0.20% sits in the bottom quartile of its peers.
KEP
Utilities industry group
13,891.89%
- KEP
- 13,891.89%
- Max
- 6.66%
- Q3
- 3.58%
- 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)
Both Korea Electric Power (KEP) at 12.22% and Vistra (VST) at 15.35% pay out less of their earnings than their industries typically do, keeping retention high — common for businesses prioritizing reinvestment.
KEP
Utilities industry group
12.22%
- Max
- 113.04%
- Q3
- 68.72%
- Median
- 56.38%
- Q1
- 32.38%
- KEP
- 12.22%
- 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 | KEP | VST |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 13,891.89% | 0.20% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 12.22% | 15.35% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Korea Electric Power (KEP) at 2.66 trades below its industry P/E ratio range, while Vistra (VST) at 16.80 is closer to a normal peer multiple — a clearer earnings-valuation discount for KEP, subject to growth and earnings quality.
KEP
Utilities industry group
2.66
- Max
- 31.22
- Q3
- 23.30
- Median
- 19.64
- Q1
- 15.17
- Min
- 3.34
- KEP
- 2.66
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)
Korea Electric Power (KEP) at 0.00 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while Vistra (VST) at 2.05 prices around its industry’s middle — KEP costs less per dollar of sales, though read it alongside growth and margins.
KEP
Utilities industry group
0.00
- Max
- 6.35
- Q3
- 3.63
- Median
- 2.63
- Q1
- 1.52
- KEP
- 0.00
- 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)
Korea Electric Power (KEP) at 0.38 sits in the lower P/B ratio quartile relative to book while Vistra (VST) at 16.10 prices above its industry range — a wide valuation gap against assets.
KEP
Utilities industry group
0.38
- Max
- 3.12
- Q3
- 2.21
- Median
- 1.83
- Q1
- 1.46
- KEP
- 0.38
- 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 | KEP | VST |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 2.66 | 16.80 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 0.00 | 2.05 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 0.38 | 16.10 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 4,799.31% | -- |