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NGG vs. VST: National Grid vs. Vistra Stock Comparison

How do National Grid (NGG) 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

National Grid (NGG) and Vistra (VST) both fall under the Utilities industry group, but NGG is classified in Multi-Utilities while VST is classified in Independent Power and Renewable Electricity Producers.

Vistra (VST) trades as ordinary local shares, while National Grid (NGG) trades as an ADR — compare with FX exposure, depositary-program fees, and dividend-withholding-tax differences in mind.

Company profile comparison for National Grid (NGG) and Vistra (VST)
Profile ItemNGGVST
NameNational Grid plc Sponsored ADRVistra Corp.
Country/RegionUnited KingdomUnited States
GICS SectorUtilitiesUtilities
GICS Industry GroupUtilitiesUtilities
GICS IndustryMulti-UtilitiesIndependent Power and Renewable Electricity Producers
GICS Sub-IndustryMulti-UtilitiesIndependent Power Producers & Energy Traders
Market Capitalization83.60 billion USD42.31 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateAugust 10, 2005October 5, 2016
Security TypeADRCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

NGG
VST
GSPC
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National Grid (NGG) 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 National Grid (NGG) and Vistra (VST). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for National Grid (NGG) and Vistra (VST)
MetricNGGVST
Total Return (1Y)13.00%-30.09%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)19.82%57.95%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)12.34%49.55%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

NGG
VST
GSPC
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National Grid (NGG) 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 National Grid (NGG) and Vistra (VST). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for National Grid (NGG) and Vistra (VST)
MetricNGGVST
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)22.32%53.39%
Beta (5Y)0.731.38
Max Drawdown (5Y)-39.20%-48.80%
Avg. Volume (3M)911.70K5.98M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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NGG 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 National Grid (NGG) and Vistra (VST)
MetricNGGVST
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.39-0.64
Sortino Ratio (1Y)0.54-0.86

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Capital efficiency shows on one side only: National Grid (NGG) earns 10.31% on shareholders’ equity, ranked against its industry; Vistra (VST) has no ROE this period.

NGG

Utilities industry group

10.31%

Max
17.99%
Q3
12.01%
NGG
10.31%
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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National Grid (NGG) vs. Vistra (VST): VST does not report ROE, so it has no value marker; NGG is benchmarked against the Utilities industry group.

Net Margin (TTM)

National Grid (NGG) at 21.15% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Vistra (VST) at 13.15%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

NGG

Utilities industry group

21.15%

Max
28.78%
NGG
21.15%
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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National Grid (NGG) vs. Vistra (VST): A comparison of their net margin against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both National Grid (NGG) at 28.64% and Vistra (VST) at 31.12% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.

NGG

Utilities industry group

28.64%

Max
53.83%
Q3
31.12%
NGG
28.64%
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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National Grid (NGG) vs. Vistra (VST): A comparison of their operating margin against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for National Grid (NGG) and Vistra (VST)
MetricNGGVST
ROE (TTM)10.31%--
ROA (TTM)3.33%--
Net Margin (TTM)21.15%13.15%
Operating Margin (TTM)28.64%31.12%
Gross Margin (TTM)100.00%41.52%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both National Grid (NGG) at -3.76% and Vistra (VST) at 2.98% post bottom-quartile revenue growth versus peers, pointing to weaker demand or pricing momentum than typical rivals.

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National Grid (NGG) vs. Vistra (VST): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Only one side can be read here: Vistra (VST) reports EPS growth of -69.98%, ranked against its industry; National Grid (NGG) has no EPS growth figure this period.

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National Grid (NGG) vs. Vistra (VST): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for National Grid (NGG) and Vistra (VST)
MetricNGGVST
Revenue Growth (YoY)-3.76%2.98%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)-6.53%8.92%
EPS Growth (YoY)---69.98%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)-30.59%--

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Short-term liquidity can only be read on one side of this pairing: National Grid (NGG) shows current ratio of 0.62 against its industry benchmark, while Vistra (VST) has no reading this period.

NGG

Utilities industry group

0.62

Max
1.90
Q3
1.17
Median
0.88
Q1
0.66
NGG
0.62
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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National Grid (NGG) vs. Vistra (VST): VST does not report current ratio, so it has no value marker; NGG is benchmarked against the Utilities industry group.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

National Grid (NGG) at 1.32 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.

NGG

Utilities industry group

1.32

Max
2.63
Q3
1.77
Median
1.35
NGG
1.32
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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National Grid (NGG) vs. Vistra (VST): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for National Grid (NGG) and Vistra (VST)
MetricNGGVST
Current Ratio (MRQ)0.62--
Debt / Equity (MRQ)1.323.73
Net Debt / EBITDA6.32--

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both National Grid (NGG) at 0.57% and Vistra (VST) at 0.20% offer bottom-quartile dividend income relative to share price versus industry peers.

NGG

Utilities industry group

0.57%

Max
6.66%
Q3
3.58%
Median
2.85%
Q1
0.66%
NGG
0.57%
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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National Grid (NGG) 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; National Grid (NGG) at 71.97% distributes an above-typical share — opposite departures from the band, with the risk sitting on NGG’s side.

NGG

Utilities industry group

71.97%

Max
113.04%
NGG
71.97%
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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National Grid (NGG) vs. Vistra (VST): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for National Grid (NGG) and Vistra (VST)
MetricNGGVST
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.57%0.20%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)71.97%15.35%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both National Grid (NGG) at 15.54 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.

NGG

Utilities industry group

15.54

Max
31.22
Q3
23.30
Median
19.64
NGG
15.54
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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National Grid (NGG) 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 National Grid (NGG) at 4.46 sits in the pricier quartile — NGG costs more per dollar of sales.

NGG

Utilities industry group

4.46

Max
6.35
NGG
4.46
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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National Grid (NGG) vs. Vistra (VST): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Measured against book value, both National Grid (NGG) at 9.36 and Vistra (VST) at 16.10 look expensive — each P/B ratio sits above its industry’s benchmark range.

NGG

Utilities industry group

9.36

NGG
9.36
Max
3.12
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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National Grid (NGG) vs. Vistra (VST): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for National Grid (NGG) and Vistra (VST)
MetricNGGVST
P/E Ratio (TTM)15.5416.80
P/S Ratio (TTM)4.462.05
P/B Ratio (MRQ)9.3616.10
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)-5.94%--