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LNT vs. VST: Alliant Energy vs. Vistra Stock Comparison

How do Alliant Energy (LNT) 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

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

Company profile comparison for Alliant Energy (LNT) and Vistra (VST)
Profile ItemLNTVST
NameAlliant 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 Capitalization18.85 billion USD42.31 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNYSE
Listing DateFebruary 21, 1973October 5, 2016
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

LNT
VST
GSPC
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Alliant Energy (LNT) 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 Alliant Energy (LNT) and Vistra (VST). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Alliant Energy (LNT) and Vistra (VST)
MetricLNTVST
Total Return (1Y)12.31%-30.09%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)18.55%57.95%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)9.28%49.55%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

LNT
VST
GSPC
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Alliant Energy (LNT) 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 Alliant Energy (LNT) 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 Alliant Energy (LNT) is defensive at 0.50 and tends to be less market-sensitive — they sit on opposite ends of the beta spectrum.

Risk profile metrics for Alliant Energy (LNT) and Vistra (VST)
MetricLNTVST
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)17.65%53.39%
Beta (5Y)0.501.38
Max Drawdown (5Y)-25.59%-48.80%
Avg. Volume (3M)2.73M5.98M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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LNT 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 Alliant Energy (LNT) and Vistra (VST)
MetricLNTVST
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.46-0.64
Sortino Ratio (1Y)0.66-0.86

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Capital efficiency shows on one side only: Alliant Energy (LNT) earns 12.36% on shareholders’ equity, ranked against its industry; Vistra (VST) has no ROE this period.

LNT

Utilities industry group

12.36%

Max
17.99%
LNT
12.36%
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
--
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Alliant Energy (LNT) vs. Vistra (VST): VST does not report ROE, so it has no value marker; LNT is benchmarked against the Utilities industry group.

Net Margin (TTM)

Alliant Energy (LNT) at 20.74% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Vistra (VST) at 13.15%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

LNT

Utilities industry group

20.74%

Max
28.78%
LNT
20.74%
Q3
17.30%
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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Alliant Energy (LNT) vs. Vistra (VST): A comparison of their net margin against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Alliant Energy (LNT) at 30.27% and Vistra (VST) at 31.12% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.

LNT

Utilities industry group

30.27%

Max
53.83%
Q3
31.12%
LNT
30.27%
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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Alliant Energy (LNT) vs. Vistra (VST): A comparison of their operating margin against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Alliant Energy (LNT) and Vistra (VST)
MetricLNTVST
ROE (TTM)12.36%--
ROA (TTM)2.47%--
Net Margin (TTM)20.74%13.15%
Operating Margin (TTM)30.27%31.12%
Gross Margin (TTM)45.05%41.52%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Alliant Energy (LNT) at 9.57% 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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Alliant Energy (LNT) vs. Vistra (VST): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Alliant Energy (LNT) at 16.73% 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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Alliant Energy (LNT) vs. Vistra (VST): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Alliant Energy (LNT) and Vistra (VST)
MetricLNTVST
Revenue Growth (YoY)9.57%2.98%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)1.23%8.92%
EPS Growth (YoY)16.73%-69.98%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)4.77%--

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Short-term liquidity can only be read on one side of this pairing: Alliant Energy (LNT) shows current ratio of 0.51 against its industry benchmark, while Vistra (VST) has no reading this period.

LNT

Utilities industry group

0.51

Max
1.90
Q3
1.17
Median
0.88
Q1
0.66
LNT
0.51
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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Alliant Energy (LNT) vs. Vistra (VST): VST does not report current ratio, so it has no value marker; LNT is benchmarked against the Utilities industry group.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Alliant Energy (LNT) at 1.61 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.

LNT

Utilities industry group

1.61

Max
2.63
Q3
1.77
LNT
1.61
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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Alliant Energy (LNT) vs. Vistra (VST): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Alliant Energy (LNT) and Vistra (VST)
MetricLNTVST
Current Ratio (MRQ)0.51--
Debt / Equity (MRQ)1.613.73
Net Debt / EBITDA6.67--

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Alliant Energy (LNT) at 2.88% pays a yield in its industry’s typical range, while Vistra (VST) at 0.20% falls in the bottom quartile of its peers.

LNT

Utilities industry group

2.88%

Max
6.66%
Q3
3.58%
LNT
2.88%
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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Alliant Energy (LNT) vs. Vistra (VST): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Alliant Energy (LNT) at 58.84% 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.

LNT

Utilities industry group

58.84%

Max
113.04%
Q3
68.72%
LNT
58.84%
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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Alliant Energy (LNT) vs. Vistra (VST): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Alliant Energy (LNT) and Vistra (VST)
MetricLNTVST
Dividend Yield (TTM)2.88%0.20%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)58.84%15.35%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Alliant Energy (LNT) at 20.24 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.

LNT

Utilities industry group

20.24

Max
31.22
Q3
23.30
LNT
20.24
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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Alliant Energy (LNT) vs. Vistra (VST): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Vistra (VST) at 2.05 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while Alliant Energy (LNT) at 4.18 sits in the pricier quartile — LNT costs more per dollar of sales.

LNT

Utilities industry group

4.18

Max
6.35
LNT
4.18
Q3
3.63
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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Alliant Energy (LNT) 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: Alliant Energy (LNT) at 2.41 sits in the upper P/B ratio quartile, and Vistra (VST) at 16.10 prices even higher, above its industry range.

LNT

Utilities industry group

2.41

Max
3.12
LNT
2.41
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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Alliant Energy (LNT) vs. Vistra (VST): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Alliant Energy (LNT) and Vistra (VST)
MetricLNTVST
P/E Ratio (TTM)20.2416.80
P/S Ratio (TTM)4.182.05
P/B Ratio (MRQ)2.4116.10
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)-8.11%--