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PCG vs. VST: PG&E vs. Vistra Stock Comparison

How do PG&E (PCG) 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

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

Company profile comparison for PG&E (PCG) and Vistra (VST)
Profile ItemPCGVST
NamePG&E 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 Capitalization28.57 billion USD42.31 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateJune 1, 1972October 5, 2016
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

PCG
VST
GSPC
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PG&E (PCG) 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 PG&E (PCG) and Vistra (VST). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for PG&E (PCG) and Vistra (VST). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for PG&E (PCG) and Vistra (VST)
MetricPCGVST
Total Return (1Y)-19.03%-30.09%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)-6.50%57.95%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)2.05%49.55%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

PCG
VST
GSPC
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PG&E (PCG) 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 PG&E (PCG) 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 PG&E (PCG) is defensive at 0.17 and tends to be less market-sensitive — they sit on opposite ends of the beta spectrum.

Risk profile metrics for PG&E (PCG) and Vistra (VST)
MetricPCGVST
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)34.84%53.39%
Beta (5Y)0.171.38
Max Drawdown (5Y)-43.92%-48.80%
Avg. Volume (3M)39.33M5.98M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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PCG 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 PG&E (PCG) and Vistra (VST)
MetricPCGVST
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)-0.67-0.64
Sortino Ratio (1Y)-0.81-0.86

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Capital efficiency shows on one side only: PG&E (PCG) earns 8.89% on shareholders’ equity, ranked against its industry; Vistra (VST) has no ROE this period.

PCG

Utilities industry group

8.89%

Max
17.99%
Q3
12.01%
Median
9.44%
PCG
8.89%
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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PG&E (PCG) vs. Vistra (VST): VST does not report ROE, so it has no value marker; PCG is benchmarked against the Utilities industry group.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both PG&E (PCG) at 11.57% 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.

PCG

Utilities industry group

11.57%

Max
28.78%
Q3
17.30%
Median
12.73%
PCG
11.57%
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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PG&E (PCG) vs. Vistra (VST): A comparison of their net margin against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both PG&E (PCG) at 23.64% and Vistra (VST) at 31.12% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.

PCG

Utilities industry group

23.64%

Max
53.83%
Q3
31.12%
PCG
23.64%
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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PG&E (PCG) vs. Vistra (VST): A comparison of their operating margin against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for PG&E (PCG) and Vistra (VST)
MetricPCGVST
ROE (TTM)8.89%--
ROA (TTM)2.59%--
Net Margin (TTM)11.57%13.15%
Operating Margin (TTM)23.64%31.12%
Gross Margin (TTM)40.57%41.52%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both PG&E (PCG) at 2.11% 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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PG&E (PCG) vs. Vistra (VST): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

PG&E (PCG) at 2.61% 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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PG&E (PCG) vs. Vistra (VST): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for PG&E (PCG) and Vistra (VST)
MetricPCGVST
Revenue Growth (YoY)2.11%2.98%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)4.77%8.92%
EPS Growth (YoY)2.61%-69.98%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)12.00%--

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Short-term liquidity can only be read on one side of this pairing: PG&E (PCG) shows current ratio of 1.03 against its industry benchmark, while Vistra (VST) has no reading this period.

PCG

Utilities industry group

1.03

Max
1.90
Q3
1.17
PCG
1.03
Median
0.88
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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PG&E (PCG) vs. Vistra (VST): VST does not report current ratio, so it has no value marker; PCG is benchmarked against the Utilities industry group.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both balance sheets lean debt-heavy versus peers, but VST is more stretched: PG&E (PCG) at 1.88 sits in the higher-leverage quartile and Vistra (VST) at 3.73 is above its industry benchmark range.

PCG

Utilities industry group

1.88

Max
2.63
PCG
1.88
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
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PG&E (PCG) vs. Vistra (VST): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for PG&E (PCG) and Vistra (VST)
MetricPCGVST
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.03--
Debt / Equity (MRQ)1.883.73
Net Debt / EBITDA6.05--

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

PG&E (PCG) at 1.51% pays a yield in its industry’s typical range, while Vistra (VST) at 0.20% falls in the bottom quartile of its peers.

PCG

Utilities industry group

1.51%

Max
6.66%
Q3
3.58%
Median
2.85%
PCG
1.51%
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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PG&E (PCG) vs. Vistra (VST): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both PG&E (PCG) at 14.81% 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.

PCG

Utilities industry group

14.81%

Max
113.04%
Q3
68.72%
Median
56.38%
Q1
32.38%
PCG
14.81%
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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PG&E (PCG) vs. Vistra (VST): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for PG&E (PCG) and Vistra (VST)
MetricPCGVST
Dividend Yield (TTM)1.51%0.20%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)14.81%15.35%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

PG&E (PCG) at 9.61 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while Vistra (VST) at 16.80 is closer to its industry’s usual earnings multiple — a discount for PCG, though growth and earnings durability still matter.

PCG

Utilities industry group

9.61

Max
31.22
Q3
23.30
Median
19.64
Q1
15.17
PCG
9.61
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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PG&E (PCG) vs. Vistra (VST): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

PG&E (PCG) at 1.11 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while Vistra (VST) at 2.05 prices around its industry’s middle — PCG costs less per dollar of sales, though read it alongside growth and margins.

PCG

Utilities industry group

1.11

Max
6.35
Q3
3.63
Median
2.63
Q1
1.52
PCG
1.11
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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PG&E (PCG) vs. Vistra (VST): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

PG&E (PCG) at 0.87 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.

PCG

Utilities industry group

0.87

Max
3.12
Q3
2.21
Median
1.83
Q1
1.46
PCG
0.87
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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PG&E (PCG) vs. Vistra (VST): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for PG&E (PCG) and Vistra (VST)
MetricPCGVST
P/E Ratio (TTM)9.6116.80
P/S Ratio (TTM)1.112.05
P/B Ratio (MRQ)0.8716.10
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)-22.73%--